History of Brooklyn Pathfinder
Researching the History of Brooklyn.
The best place to begin local history research at Hornsby Library is the Library Catalogue which is accessible from the Hornsby Shire Council Web Site or within the Library using the Web OPAC.
Try a search such as “Brooklyn History” as a subject keyword to direct you to items that give a general history of the Shire and its suburbs. Two books which make a good starting point are:
Pioneers of Hornsby Shire, 1788-1906: a history compiled by the Research Committee of the Hornsby Shire Historical Society by Hornsby Shire Historical Society. Sydney: Library of Australian History, 1979.
994.41 HOR
The shaping of Hornsby Shire by Claire Schofield. Hornsby : Hornsby Shire Council, 1988.
994.41 SCH
In addition to books and pamphlets held in the Local Studies Section of Hornsby Library there are:
Archives
Archives are held in the Local Studies Stack Collection and include Council and Community Organisation’s minutes, letters, financial records and letters.Databases
The Street and Name Index is a valuable database available online through Councils Website and gives a history of names and localities within the Shire.Electoral Roles
Electoral Roles for Hornsby are held from 1959-1991.Heritage Reports
These provide valuable information on Hornsby Shire’s built and landscaped heritage. The Hornsby Shire heritage study gives a description of the 510 built items, 254 landscape items and 95 archaeological items listed as having local, regional or State heritage significance.Magazines
Local Colour, the magazine of the Hornsby Historical Society is a valuable tool for local history research. There are copies available for loan as well as a complete set from January 1971 to date in the Reference Collection in the Local Studies Section of Hornsby Library.Maps and Plans
These include early parish maps and subdivision plans. Parish maps can be view from the Department of Lands site at www.lands.nsw.gov.au.Newspapers
Some local newspapers have been microfilmed and may be examined at Hornsby. They include The Advocate (incomplete run) and The Cumberland Argus.Photographs
The Local Studies Section hold photographs for subjects relating to most of the suburbs in Hornsby Shire. You can view digital copies of many of these photographs through the online catalogue.Rate Books
Rate books are a useful resource for identifying the approximate date of the construction of a property and the names of the rate payers. Microfilm copies are available for viewing within the library.Vertical Files
Pamphlets and newspaper clippings, letters and reports are held in the vertical files. They are in alphabetical order. Look under the name of the suburb.A list of useful publications
HORNSBY SHIRE COUNCIL. RATES DEPARTMENT.
Valuation and rate books [microfilm] : Hornsby Shire Council, 1928-1982.
Hornsby : The Council, 1928-1982.
R 352.135 Hor Held at Hornsby Central Library in the Local Studies Reference Collection.
HORNSBY SHIRE COUNCIL.
RATES DEPARTMENT.
Valuation and rate books [microfilm] / Hornsby Shire Council, 1907-27.
Hornsby : The Council, 1907-1927.
R 352.135 Hor Held at Hornsby Central Library in the Local Studies Reference Collection.
HORNSBY SHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Pioneers of Hornsby Shire, 1788-1906 : a history compiled by the Research Committee of the Hornsby Shire Historical Society. Syd. : Library of Australian History, 1983.
R 994.4/Hor Held at Hornsby Central Library in the Local Studies Reference Collection.
JOHNSON, NOEL E.
History of Brooklyn / by Noel E. Johnson.
Brooklyn, N.S.W: The author, 1993.
R 994.41 Joh Copies are available for loan
RICHMOND, TOM.
Brooklyn's Harbour: the history of the Railway Embankment, McKell Park and Brooklyn's links with the…. Brooklyn: The author, 2000.
R 994.41 Ric Held at Hornsby Central Library in the Local Studies Reference Collection.
RICHMOND, TOM.
Brooklyn, Federation village: Brooklyn's links with the Federation movement in Australia.
Brooklyn: The author, 2001.
R 994.41 Ric Copies are available for loan
RICHMOND, TOM.
Brooklyn underground : transcriptions and family histories for Lower Hawkesbury burials.
Berowra Heights, NSW: Deerubbin Press, 2003.
929.5 RIC Copies are available for loan
RICHMOND, TOM.
Policing Peat's Ferry: the story of early police work at Brooklyn.
Brooklyn: The author, 1999?
RQ 363.209 Ric Held at Hornsby Central Library in the Local Studies Reference Collection.
RICHMOND, TOM.
Love among the prawns: Brooklyn families and characters..
Berowra Heights, NSW: Deerubbin Press, 2003.
R 994.41 Ric Copies are available for loan
PEAT'S FERRY AND BROOKLYN PROGRESS COMMITTEE.
Minute book, 1891-1898 / Arranged and edited by Tom Richmond.
Brooklyn: The editor, 1998.
R 994.41 Pea Copies are available for loan
METZKE, MARI.
Hornsby Shire : pictorial history. Alexandria : Kingsclear Books, 2004.
R 994.41 MET Copies are available for loan
PERUMAL MURPHY WU PTY LTD.
Hornsby Shire heritage study.
Hornsby : Hornsby Shire Council, n.d.
R 711.409 Per Held at Hornsby Central Library in the Local Studies Reference Collection.
Vertical File
Brooklyn - History.
PAM Broo Held at Hornsby Central Library in the Local Studies Reference Collection.
Other Resources to place the history in a broader context:
Books
ANDERSON, KEN.
Sydney's suburbs : how and why they were named.
Sydney : Kangaroo, 1989.
R 994.41 And
BRODSKY, ISADORE.
North Sydney, 1788-1962.
Sydney : Municipal Council of North Sydney, 1963.
994.41 Bro
KENNEDY, BRIAN.
Sydney and suburbs : a history & description / by Brian and Barbara Kennedy.Sydney : Reed, 1982.
R 994.41 Ken
POLLON, FRANCES.
The book of Sydney suburbs / Compiled by Frances Pollon. Original manuscript by Gerald Healy.
Syd. : A. & R., 1988.
R 994.41 Pol
Newspapers
Cumberland Argus, September 22, 1888 - December 261935.
Sydney : Cumberland Argus, 1888-1935.
MIC 079.944 Cum
Cumberland Free Press, June 22, 1895 - June 26, 1897.
Sydney : Cumberland Free Press, 1895-1897.
MIC 079.944 Cum
Cumberland Times, January 1, 1903 - June 1, 1911, incomplete.
Sydney : Cumberland Times, 1903-1911.
MIC 079.944 Cum
Photographs
PICMAN
The PICMAN catalogue contains records of the pictures, manuscripts, oral history and printed posters collections of the Mitchell Library, Sir William Dixson Library and Dixson Galleries - www.sl.nsw.gov.au/picman
Picture Australia
PictureAustralia is a service hosted by the National Library of Australia to provide a single access point to the digitised pictorial collections- www.pictureaustralia.org
