Have you ever wondered about the layers of ordinary, everyday folk who put in the hard work, transforming Camden from bush terrain into villages and townships?

Camden Libraries, alongside Camden Historical Society and Camden Area Family History Society, is shining a spotlight on the people behind the ploughing, planting and constructing the built environment of today this History Week!

This year, the annual, state-wide celebration’s theme is ‘From the Ground Up’. With History Week running from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 September, residents are encouraged to get involved in the following activities which will go up across the Camden Libraries Facebook page and website:

• An online exhibition, entitled ‘Camden’s Grass Roots – people and places’, which will contain lots of information written by Council’s Local Studies Librarian and supported with photographs;
• Special History Week Storytime sessions, delivered by passionate Camden Libraries staff, on Monday 6, Wednesday 8, Friday 10 September, 10am;
• A video inviting residents to share family photos from the past, on Tuesday 7 September, 9am;
• An instructional video on how to start your family tree on Ancestry.com, which is a free e-resource for Camden Library members, on Thursday 9 September, 9am; and
• Local primary and high school students will have the chance to submit writing pieces about the history behind the establishment of their schools, ‘from the ground up’. All entries are to be submitted electronically by email to nlnlibrary@camden.nsw.gov.au by Monday 17 September.

Mayor of Camden, Cr Therese Fedeli, said History Week was one of her favourite celebrations because Camden’s heritage was so rich and interesting.

“The Camden area was virgin bushland. It was home to the Tharawal, Dharug and Gundungurra people, whose traditional country and landscapes have evolved into today’s rapidly changing environment,” Cr Fedeli said.

“Camden had to be built ‘from the ground up’. I am blown away by the photographs in the Camden’s Grass Roots – people and places exhibition because they show just the types of structure needed from the Camden’s pioneers to establish all aspects of everyday living.

“We are all familiar with the ‘famous’ and important people of our local community’s past – all the names we find on our street signs and buildings. But this week is so fantastic to uncovering a whole other part of Camden’s story, which is what this week is all about.

“The program has something for everyone, and I encourage you to get involved.”

For more information about the activities mentioned about, visit library.camden.nsw.gov.au/events

For more information on History Week, visit historycouncilnsw.org.au

For more information on the societies involved, visit camdenhistory.org.au or cafhs.org.au