York in the 1850s
Past Event
Does that hill look familiar? It should if you live in York! This is McCartney Street from Avon Terrace, looking towards Mt Brown in about 1858. The first steam engine made in Western Australia was constructed here, working the mill that is shown in this picture. What happened to the weathervane on top of the mill?
Who saved the townspeople when convicts rebelled in 1852? Who was the Duke of York, and where did he live? When was the first bridge built and who paid for it? How could someone be Resident Magistrate, run a mill and a retail store on Avon Terrace all at the same time? Who owned all the properties in the centre of town? Where was the best place to stay? How many early buildings survived and what happened to the ones that didn’t?
Rob Garton-Smith presents a fascinating 90 minute walk through York as it was in the 1850s, with commentary on the buildings – the people – the issues and the scandals.
Two sessions:
3pm September 15th starting at the Town Hall
11am October 7th starting at the Town Hall
Free