Search Results for: south solitary island

Richard William John Crossingham and his wife Amelia May (Townsend) were stationed on South Solitary Island for 10 years from 1883 to 1893. Richard was just the 5th Keeper to be appointed to South Solitary Island. He was a builder and stone mason and he and Amelia had married in St Leonards in January 1883 … Continue reading “The serving sons of South Solitary Island Lightkeeper Richard William John Crossingham”

In the pages of the South Solitary Island Visitor log book are two very important and separate entries – one dated 10 July 1914 and the other on the 23 September 1914. Both entries having been made as Lightkeepers left the Island to join the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the 1914-1918 War. One keeper … Continue reading “South Solitary Island Lighthouse – Keepers at Gallipoli”

The South Solitary Island Lighthouse Optic (SSILO) is the largest and one of the most significant items in the collection of Coffs Harbour Regional Museum. In early 2020, Coffs Harbour City Council commissioned a Management Plan to inform how best to preserve, protect and promote the SSILO into the future. Undertaken by International Conservation Services … Continue reading “South Solitary Island Lighthouse Optic Management Plan”

South Solitary Lighthouse Keepers and Families circa 1935, Right Back: Jessie and Wilfred Tulk , Picture courtesy of Coffs Harbour Regional Museum 07-4467. This month is the the 140 year anniversary of the South Solitary Island lighthouse.  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on a small island?  Many people might … Continue reading “Life as a Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife on South Solitary Island”

This is a guest post of the memories of Ken Morley, contributed by Marie Davey. T.S. Vendetta is a Naval training school for young people 14 to 18 years interested in a possible future career in the Navy.  There is no commitment.  The T.S. stands for “Training Ship” and it was started to encourage young … Continue reading “Memories of the T.S. Vendetta”

Early in 2018, the Coffs Harbour History Services team put out a call for information about four subjects: Gallows Beach; the location of Calder Brae; life in the old police station which is the current Museum’s home; and the origins of a porthole from a wrecked ship.Gallows Beach A surfing afficionado explained that such terminology … Continue reading “Solving our history mysteries: "it's a long lane that has no turning"”

The first in an occasional series. Gallows Beach Do you know how Gallows Beach, between Corambirra Point and Boambee Beach, earned its name? Did the name come from a surfer tradition or something a little more sinister? Surfing World may have featured it in the 1960s. If you have copies of this  magazine from the 1960s with … Continue reading “History Mysteries – seeking your help”

In 2014, the Coffs Harbour City Libraries celebrated their 50th anniversary of service to the Coffs community with a blog called 50 years 50 stories. Many of those stories touch on the early days of the region’s development, sharing the quirky – how one branch library came to be in a cell block lock-up; the uncensored; and the climactic. … Continue reading “Welcome”