May Gibbs – an exhibition celebrating 100 years of Gum-Nut Babies

The City of South Perth Historical Society is celebrating a centenary of May Gibbs becoming a published author in Australia with a special exhibition featuring her first Australian books, Gum-Nut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies at Heritage House Cultural Centre from Saturday 15 October to 31 January 2017.

Some information from the Historic Society:

May lived much of her youth in South Perth and drew inspiration for her early stories from the Western Australian bush. May arrived in Sydney in 1913 with a large portfolio of art gleaned from her year’s spent in the local bushland.  Within months the first Gum-Nut babies appeared peeping out from behind gum leaves in the Christmas 1913 cover of the Sydney Mail, illustrations for The Magic Button by Ethel Turner and Little Bush Poppy by Edith Graham.  May created at this time her iconic Gum Leaf bookmark, from the Western Australian Marri ‘Red Gum’ the most prolific of local trees (and the gumnut we know so well) which she placed in copyright in Dec 1913, a series of cheeky and nostalgic Post Cards for troops in 1914 saw the emergence of May’s little bush sprites named ‘the Spirit of the Bush’ which developed into her first two children’s books, Gum-Nut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies in 1916.

Society President Lynn O’Hara said generations of children, their parents and grandparents world-wide have enjoyed May’s stories of the Gum-Nut and Gum-Blossom Babies who loved to play tricks on their bushland friends.

“Through her stories and art May Gibbs introduce Australians of all ages to the beauty and uniqueness of the Australian bush and our society is proud to mark this important anniversary with a display of her work” we would wish to acknowledge the wonderful support of the City of South Perth and their extensive May and Herbert Gibbs Art collection. Mrs O’Hara said.

TO VISIT

Opening Hours

15 October 2016 – 30 November 2016
Tue – Sun, 1 pm -4 pm
Fri, 10 am-4 pm

1 December 2016 – 31 January 2017
Fri, 10 am – 4 pm
Sat – Sun, 1 pm – 4pm

Location

Heritage House Cultural Centre
Cnr Mends Street and Mill Point Road
South Perth, WA, 6151

For more information

City of South Perth Historical Society
9367-9243
http://www.southperthhistoricalsociety.org/

Brekkie with a bit of history

In case you were snoozing through all your alarms this morning and missed out on 720 ABC’s Breakfast, visit the link below to have a listen to a very special bit of history on the early days of the South Perth Council Offices…

Click here to listen to the full discussion.

And if you enjoy wandering through that precinct and you’re itching for more on the history of the Mends Street area (and also snoozed through last fortnight’s Brekkie spot), visit the link below to learn more about the early beginnings of the Windsor Hotel…

Click here to listen to the full discussion.

Now I’m off to buy a stamp…

‘The Trials and Tribulations of the Chinese Market Gardeners of Perth’

The City of South Perth Historical Society are hosting another talk on the topic of the Chinese Market Gardens in Perth, including special mention of items and identities from South Perth’s market gardens history.

See details below and RSVP to book a spot for what promises to be a very interesting talk:

 

“A Park for all Reasons” Exhibition

Presented by the City of South Perth Historical Society, the exhibition “A Park for All Reasons” covers the story of Sir James Mitchell Park from its inception to the present day with a focus on the Chinese Market Gardens.

There will be a display of photographic images, maps of the park over the last 100 years, plus a display of more than 30 artifacts from market gardens in South Perth and its surrounds.

Special guest Kaylene Poon, a specialist in W.A. on local Chinese history will be present on opening night to talk to guests and answer questions on early Chineset history in W.A.

“A Park for All Reasons” Exhibition Details:

5 – 19 March 2016
Daily, 10 am – 4 pm

Heritage House Cultural Centre,
111 Mill Point Road, South Perth

Gold coin donation

The exhibition will feature market garden tools from the City of South Perth’s Local History Collection in addition to a number of items on loan for a limited period from the City of Armadale.

 

“History Talks” Event Details:

Following the exhibition, attend a special “History Talks” event hosted by the Historical Society with guest speaker Bruce Devenish, author of Sir James Mitchell – Premier & Governor of Western Australia.

Date: Sunday 20 March, 2016 at 2.00 pm
Venue: South Perth Bowling Club, 2 Mends Street, South Perth
Admission: $5.00 per head (includes afternoon tea)

 

For more information on the exhibition see South Perth Historical Society or contact info@southperthhistoricalsociety.org.

 

 

‘Heritage Exhibition’ 2015

If you’re looking to keep warm and dry this weekend why not visit Heritage House Cultural Centre in South Perth and have a look at the Historic Society’s latest Heritage Exhibition?

Held annually, the Heritage Exhibition showcases winning entries from the Phillip Pendal Young Heritage Award.

Also on display this year is a special mini-exhibition on the Chinese Market Gardeners, including a couple of original historic market garden tools from the City of South Perth’s Local History Collection.

See the flyer below for more details and visiting hours:

“Mamie”, May Gibbs Exhibition at Heritage House

The City’s Fiesta celebrations may be over….. but Heritage House Cultural Centre is still open for visitors to see the Historical Society of South Perth’s latest exhibition titled “Mamie“.

Mamie was May Gibbs’ childhood name, and the exhibition “explores the artistic and social development of her early years in South Perth” before she departed for Sydney at the age of 36.

The exhibition includes various pieces on loan from the Gibbs family, as well as pieces from the City of South Perth’s own May and Herbert Gibbs Art Collection.

Photograph by Peter Palmer, Historical Society member.

• Where: Heritage House Cultural Centre, 111 Mill Point Road, South Perth
• When: until end of May 2015
• Cost: FREE

Gallery opening hours:

• Fridays: 10 am – 4 pm
• Saturdays: 1 pm – 4 pm
• Sundays: 1 pm – 4 pm

Council Photoboards featured in Heritage House Exhibition

Have you visited the latest historical exhibition at Heritage House Cultural Centre?

The City of South Perth Historical Society are currently hosting an exhibition featuring memorabilia from the City of South Perth’s Local History Collection:

Original photoboards showing photographs of early Roads Board chairmen, mayors, councillors and staff are on display, as well as the original gavel used on the old Roads Board table and the trowel used when the Roads Board building (now Heritage House Cultural Centre) was officially opened in 1904.

The exhibition is open to the public on Fridays from 10 am – 4 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm – 4 pm until the end of January 2015.

The Council Photoboards are available for viewing online at any time through Picture South Perth:

For details about the exhibition, contact the City of South Perth Historical Society on 9367-9243.

Heritage House Cultural Centre is located on the corner of Mill Point Road and Mends Street.

Open House – South Perth

As part of Open House Perth, iconic destinations around Perth open their doors to the public for touring free of charge over the course of a two-day weekend. This is an exciting opportunity to explore some really great spaces in W.A.

This year Open House Perth has incorporated some of South Perth’s most iconic locations in its 2014 program.

Open House Perth will take place on Saturday 1 November and Sunday 2 November 2014.

Visit the pages below for some of South Perth’s featured destinations and a bit of background information:

The City of South Perth Historical Society will be hosting the Open House events at Heritage House Cultural Centre, Old Mill Theatre and South Perth Bowling Club. Visit those spaces on November 1-2 to see the Society in action!

Phillip Pendal ‘Young Heritage’ Award Exhibition

Today, the City of South Perth Historical Society launched their annual Heritage Exhibition for the Phillip Pendal Young Heritage Award.

Honouring the late Phillip Pendal, the award “aims to provide local students with an opportunity to explore and share the rich heritage and history of our City”.

Phillip George Pendal (1947-2008) was a W.A. politician, as well as a journalist, historian, writer, and the founding president of the City of South Perth Historical Society.

He was actively involved in the City’s history since the 1980s and some of his many accomplishments include conceiving of the idea for the South Perth Heritage Trail in 1988, establishing the Historical Society in 1989, and being actively involved with the Old Mill and the May and Herbert Gibbs Art Collection with the City in the 1990s.

He authored many books including a number relating to South Perth’s history:

       

• “A thing of beauty…” St. Columba’s, South Perth, Western Australia / Phillip Pendal. [1986]
• May & Herbert Gibbs : the people the places : the story of the Collection of the City of South Perth / by Chris Sharkey & Phillip Pendal. [2000]
• South Perth : the vanishing village / edited by Phillip Pendal & Kerry Davey. [2002]
• Hands that heal : the story of a unique Australian : the community-owned South Perth Hospital / by Phillip Pendal. [2006]
• Continuity in change : the journey of Catholic education in Western Australia from 1843 to 2008 / Phillip Pendal. [2008]

Pass by the South Perth or Manning Libraries to have a look at these publications!

 And visit Heritage House in the next month to check out this year’s young heritage entries and exhibition!

• Where: Heritage House Cultural Centre, 111 Mill Point Road, South Perth
• When: Friday 20 June 2014 – Sunday 20 July 2014
• Cost: FREE

Gallery opening hours:

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday – Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
• Saturday: 1 pm – 4 pm
• Sunday: 1 pm – 4 pm

‘Spirit of Art’ Exhibition

The South Perth Historical Society are back with a special Christmas exhibition at Heritage House Cultural Centre featuring the work of two local artists, Kelly Cocks and Nola Bolton.

So if you’re looking to escape from the heat this weekend, pop in to the gallery on the corner of Mill Point Road and Mends Street and have a look.

Also on display are a selection of artworks from the City of South Perth’s May and Herbert Gibbs Collection.

The exhibition is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm – 4 pm up until January.