Stanton Library

North Sydney Heritage Centre

1st FloorStanton Library234 Miller StreetNorth Sydney NSW 2060

Phone: 02 9936 8400Fax: 02 9936 8440

email: localhistory@northsydney.nsw.gov.au

• books, reports, serialsand newspapers

• maps and plans

• photographs, slidesand postcards

• artworks

• ephemera

• social history artefacts

• rare books

• videos

• oral histories

• North Sydney Councilarchives includingrate/valuation books,minute books,correspondence,building registers

• selected communityarchives

• family history resources

What do we hold?

Photographs from Face of North SydneyInside pages [left to right]: Aboriginal carving at Balls Head, c.1895 Pacific Highway Crows Nest, c.1935Inside fold: The Lock family, Cremorne, 1942

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Aims of the CentreWe aim to document North Sydney’s social and

cultural heritage with a particular focus on the

natural and built environments. The Centre

collects and makes available primary and

secondary materials for research. The Historical

Services staff at the Centre conduct research,

mount regular exhibitions and organise public

programmes.

These include:

•The Face of North Sydney contains the entire collection of photographs and small pictures.

• Naming North Sydney contains historical information about local street and place names.

• The Historic Plaque Register is a detailed list of the historic markers in the local area.

• Building North Sydney has building plans submitted to Council between 1930 and 1949.

• The Mosman Daily Index has references to newspaper articles relating to the area from January 2004.

• 1890s Block Plans NSW Survey Generals’ plans showing land subdivision and built form at that time.

Walking ToursGuided walking tours of the local area are usually conducted by Historical Services staff during the National Trust Heritage Festival (March/April) and History Week (September). Bookings are essential. For details see Council’s website closer to these times.

Accessing the CollectionsMany items including books, building applications and newspapers on microfilm and oral histories are on open access. Most other material is kept in secure storage and can be accessed with help from Historical Services staff or the information desk on the ground floor.

To view Council Archives, Community Archives and original artworks, please make an appointment with Historical Services staff.

The Library’s computer catalogue is the best means of searching for local studies material. Keyword and subject searches are recommended. The catalogue can also be accessed via the North Sydney Council website.

When searching for newspaper articles before 2002, use the Local Studies Card Index. This can also be used to find other resources in the North Sydney Council Archives and the North Shore Historical Society Journal.

Heritage DatabasesResearchers are encouraged to explore the various heritage databases via the North Sydney Council website.

The Centre houses several collections including the David Earle Local Studies Collecton which contains comprehensive research ‘vertical files’, picture collections, books, reports, videos and family history databases. This includes Internet History Resources providing online records for family history research in NSW 1850 - 1920. The Merle Coppell Oral History Collection has over 300 interviews relating to the local area. The North Sydney Council and Community Archives includes rate and valuation books, building registers, correspondence files, minute books and maps and plans useful for conducting research into buildings and sites as well as North Sydney history in general.

PublicationsHeritage leaflets on a variety of local subjects are available within the Centre. These and self-guided local walking tours can be downloaded through the Council’s website.

The Library also sells various local history publications. Details of these may be found under Library at the North Sydney Council website www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au

Hours of Opening

Specialist staff are available to assist with information

enquiries during the following hours:

Mondays–Saturdays 1-5pm

Appointments can be made with Historical Services

staff outside these times. Please ask at the Information

Desk for assistance when the Local Studies Reference

Desk is closed.