Welcome to the web site of the Blue Mountains Family History Society (BMFHS). Here you will find details of activities and events planned by the Society, details of our volunteer researchers in the Family History Area of the Springwood Branch of the Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) Library, plus links to other sections of this site (Resources, Members, Blue Mountains, Facebook, Application Forms etc)
Please also check out our Posts section where you will find posts/blogs on activities and events undertaken by BMFHS. You will also be able to comment on these posts. Also in Posts are downloadable copies of our monthly Newsletter.
NEXT MEETING – 10 October 2025
Our ninth meeting for 2025 will be held on Friday 10 October 2025 commencing at 10:00am.
The meeting will be held in the small community hall at the rear of the Springwood Presbyterian Church on Macquarie Road, Springwood.
Meeting Agenda:
10:00am Welcome to renewing members and (hopefully) some new members to their first meeting.
10:05am Minutes of the September 2025 meeting, approval and business arising.
Secretary’s Report and approval
Treasurer’s Report, approval and approval for new payments
General Business
10:45am Morning Tea/Coffee and Biscuit ($2.00)
11:00am Guest Speaker session – Ian Kendall – DNA – an overview and family history tools
12:00noon Meeting close – Next meeting Friday 14 November 2025 (A.G.M.)
Ian Kendall is a member of the Blue Mountains Family History Society. His talk will be on “DNA – an overview and family history tools”. As well indicating ethnic origins, DNA is a very handy tool for family historians confirm (or not) our research into our ancestors. FamilyTreeDNA, Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com are the main testing companies for genealogical DNA and each organisation have various tools (both free with membership or additional cost) to assist with family research.
BOB HOWARD AND COOLGARDIE SAFE AWARDS 2024
The Bob Howard Award and the Coolgardie Safe Award are awarded annually.
The Bob Howard Award is awarded to the best researched article published in The Explorers’ Tree
The Coolgardie Safe Award is awarded to an article published in The Explorers’ Tree that may ‘not satisfy the criteria of the Bob Howard Award but is worth preserving and exudes a breath of fresh air’
The articles published in The Explorers’ Tree reflect the genealogical interests of the BMFHS members and can also reflect our childhood memories and our contemporary lives and times. Our memoirs will become the day-to-day family history of the future and will inform future family historians of what it was like to live in the 20th and 21st centuries. We encourage all members of BMFHS to submit an article. All articles will be considered for the Bob Howard Award or the Coolgardie Safe Award.
Awards for 2024 were presented at the September Meeting by our talented reviewer, Vicki Edmunds – senior Librarian with the Blue Mountains City Library based in Springwood. These are the awardees for 2024:
The Bob Howard Award
Winner:
Starting in Stone; how a couple of bankrupt Scottish stonemasons did OK in their new country by Adrian Howie
Having been to the Q Station and seen the stone rock carvings by stonemasons in the rock, it was so interesting to learn a back-story of how a stonemason made his way to Sydney. The photos are a lovely touch throughout the story, the sailing ship records, primary sources such as newspaper articles and secondary sources such as books of stonemason compilations has really rounded out this very thought-provoking story of early immigration of a skilled person and how they fared in the colony of Sydney. How lovely that this story then concludes with the overview of the Navua property in Grose Wold near Richmond. The sources really painted a very vivid picture for the reader.
Runner Up:
Serendipity in Family History or Finding the Johnston Brothers, Carters in Bombo (Kiama) NSW ca1883-1892 by Helen Allan
I always enjoy reading about how people overcome dead ends in their Family History research, and the serendipity in finds along the way. This research piece by Helen used cemetery inscriptions, death registry and certificates and original photographs. I was not aware of a Quarry in Bombo and the photo from Kiama Library is excellent. Plus a sad ending to the story which is, unfortunately, typical of many family deaths – complete accidents.
The Coolgardie Safe Award
Winner:
Chimney Sweep to Land Owner by Chris Wenman
What an amazing story to unearth about your GGG Grandfather, John Thomas Harris. From the streets of London, with stories of assault and pawning of a watch, to the court transcript at the Old Bailey, I was hooked! How interesting to be able to read transcripts of statements from the court hearing. It really paints a picture. Learning about the pardon/transportation option and being part of the Second Fleet, then arrival at Sydney Cove was also a very interesting moment in time. Hearing about the connections, the acquiring of property and the living conditions in the Nepean Valley should be mandatory for all young people.
Runner Up:
And a Box of Chocolates by Lynne Tocher
The story of Lynnes first job with Darrel Lea is an absolute treasure. Learning about the high calibre confectionary practices of Darrel Lea was eye-opening. No wonder I loved these chocolates growing up! And to learn that their factory was under the Southern Pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – how fun! I never knew that the walnuts would have had to be imported, and the staff could eat as much chocolate as they wanted (so long as they did not eat the walnuts), I am not sure I would have ever left this job – EVER!
MEMBERSHIP, BOTH NEW AND RENEWAL for 2025
Renewal for membership for the period 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026 is now DUE.
The Membership RENEWAL Form and for NEW Memberships can be downloaded from HERE.
The form can be printed and completed and emailed as attachment to xploretree@yahoo.com.au or opened in a PDF application (eg Adobe Reader) and completed on your computer and emailed to the above email address.
Payment can be made in cash at a meeting of BMFHS, or to a Library Volunteer in Springwood Library on a Thursday 10:00am – 1:00pm OR
paid by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) to the BSB and Account Number on the Form.
In all cases, it is essential that the renewal form is sent to BMFHS.
EXPLORERS’ TREE
| EXPLORERS’ TREE | The June 2025 issue of our excellent journal, Explorers’ Tree was available and posted to those members who have paid for postage or was distributed at our June 2025 meeting. Members not at the meeting will be able to collect their copy from the Family History Centre in the Springwood Library. Now would be an ideal time to put pen to paper (fingers to the keyboard) and write an article for Explorers’ Tree making our Editor very happy. The following issue of Explorers’ Tree will be published in October 2025. I am sure that in the past twelve months you have discovered interesting things about your ancestors. Please consider writing an article (short or long) and send it to the editor for inclusion in an upcoming issue of Explorers’ Tree. Our Journal is held in both the State Library and the National Library as well as in other genealogy collections including in the USA. Articles for Explorers’ Tree can be emailed to bmfhsweb@gmail.com, posted to PO Box 97, Springwood NSW 2777 or delivered in person at any general meeting. |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
HIP, HIP HOORAY!
The activities of volunteers in the Family History Research Centre in Springwood Library have RESUMED as the renovations and upgrade of Springwood Library have been completed and were official reopened on Saturday 6th May 2023 with a wonderful Open Day activities. Many thanks to President Ann who led two information sessions about our volunteer activities in the Library.
The volunteer research assistance in Katoomba Library has also re-started with the first session for 2025 to be Tuesday 11th February 2025. Research assistance in Katoomba Library will he held on the Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month from 10:00am to 12:00noon. Bookings with the circulation desk in the Library are essential.
In Springwood our Volunteers can assist you with your family history research and they can be found on the lower floor of the renovated library just off the car park. The first session of volunteer research assistance in the Springwood Library will be Thursday 6th February 2025. Research assistance in Springwood Library will he held every Thursday of each month from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Bookings with the circulation desk in the Library are essential.
Research assistance in Springwood Library by our skilled volunteers is available every Thursday 10:00am – 1:00pm. Please make a booking with the Circulation Desk in the Library.
Research assistance continues via email and will still be available. Please refer to our Contact details.
SOCIETY EXCHANGE JOURNALS:
As the majority of other Family History Exchange Journals are now delivered in digital/PDF format, these are held in a directory in the BMFHS Society’s computers in the Family History section of the Springwood Library. These are available when a Society Volunteer is on duty as these computers are restricted by password to BMFHS members only.
All digital/PDF exchange journals will be received by the BMFHS Web Site Manager, in order to include these on the BMFHS Library computers.
FACEBOOK – Blue Mountains Family History Society has its own Facebook page. Please check us out, “like” us, leave comments, post historical photos or just read what others have to say about us.
http://www.facebook.com/BlueMountainsFamilyHistorySociety
Please check our FaceBook page regularly as often there are notices of short-term interest, such as free searches on Ancestry or Find my Past or special discounts on Certificate Transcriptions, that are available for only a weekend or limited time. Also you will find *details of activities and events both of BMFHS and many other genealogical, family history or local history societies and groups.