Canowindra Historical Society seeking “pioneer families”

If your family was living in the Canowindra district before 1901 and aren’t remembered on the Pioneers’ Wall at the Canowindra Museum yet, the Canowindra Historical Society is eager to hear from you.

The Canowindra Historical Society and Museum plan to unveil new plaques at its Open Day during the October long weekend to encourage more families to get involved. 

“We want to try and encourage more families to record the history of their families formally, in our register,” said Chris Berkeley, committee member of the Canowindra Historical Society.

Details needed include who in your family first came to the district, when and where from. Most plaques also give brief details of the pioneer’s occupation, their children and sometimes a few words on their life here, for example, business or property names.

Already, the Wiradjuri people and 107 settler families are represented. The family of Matthew Thomas and Willena Dwyer added their plaque last month.

The Pioneers’ Wall was erected in 2001 as part of the Bicentenary celebrations. It honours

the families residing here before Federation in 1901 and so records their connections to

today’s citizens.

“It is remarkable how often the Society is contacted by people seeking information on family history,” President of the Canowindra Historical Society, Dr Jennifer Wythes, said. “So, we really appreciate receiving information about our local pioneers and their descendants.”

The early European settlers came mainly from England, Ireland or Scotland – both as free

migrants and ex-convicts, or their descendants. Some were from more distant parts of the

world.

The Pioneer Wall was designed by the Canowindra local, Pamela Brown. Construction of the wall was undertaken by master craftsman bricklayer, the late Bill Scheer. The gates and fence were fabricated by Don Lawrence. The Pioneer Wall was deliberately placed on the street side of the gates and fence so that they can be inspected at any time.

“The whole idea was just so there’d be a public recognition of families who’d been in the district for a good long while,” Mr Berkeley said. When asked about stories of the local families who currently sit immortalised upon the wall, he couldn’t help but laugh: “There’s hundreds!” he said. “Unfortunately I don’t have any offhand though, I’m afraid.”

But for those interested the Canowindra Historical Society has plenty of information up on their website, and they plan to republish the “Pioneer Register” in the next year.

There is ample space on the wall for additional plaques and the Canowindra Historical Society would welcome more pioneer families. If you are interested, please contact the museum at canowindrahistorical@gmail.com with details as soon as possible, with final details by Monday, June 26.

For those interested in having a look at the wall, it stands directly out the front of the Canowindra Museum.

“Anybody can inspect the wall at any time, we don’t have it behind a fence or anything,” Mr Berkeley said.