AGM followed by a presentation by Wayne Hanley

The Annual General Meeting of the Blue Mountains Historical Society will be held on Saturday April 10th at 10.00 am, following which Dr. Wayne Hanley will present our April talk. The meeting and talk will be held at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.

Using images and anecdotes, Dr Hanley’s presentation, “MASTERS OF THE HOUSE”, will discuss a special era in the Blue Mountains, when grand guesthouses were at the height of their popularity in the 1920s, 30s & 40s. To do so, he will reveal the lives of two well-known and distinctly different innkeepers of the times, George Phillips of ‘Glenella’ in Blackheath and Horace Gates of ‘Homesdale’ in Katoomba, highlighting their divergent personalities and their markedly different contributions to the physical and social environments of their respective towns during a time that has now disappeared for ever.

Dr Wayne Hanley is a Past- President of the Blue Mountains Historical Society. He combines an interest in the history of the Blue Mountains with a strong geographical background. Wayne’s research throughout his career and since his retirement has had a wide focus because of his interest in the impact man has had on his environment. However, he is also fascinated by the local pub history of his home village, Blackheath, and the other Mountain villages. This will provide the inspiration for Saturday’s talk. It certainly promises to be interesting, entertaining and challenging as we learn more about two of the men who were so important in the development of Blackheath and Katoomba.

Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available from 9.45 am in a Covid-safe environment.

Because of continuing restrictions on the number of people who can be seated in our rooms during the coronavirus, it would be of assistance if those wishing to attend could ring the Blue Mountains Historical Society on Tuesday or Friday the week prior to the meeting to book a seat. The Society’s phone number is 4757 3824.