Published in 1888, William Frederic Morrison produced the 'Aldine Centennial
History of New South Wales' in a two volume set as a comprehensive and
beautifully illustrated record of the history of New South Wales and its
prominent inhabitants.
The first volume is divided into thirty-three chapters and covers topics
including the early explorers, geography, aborigines, flora and fauna, governors
of New South Wales as well as the Constitution. Volume two has another four
chapters which complete the history section. The fascinating part of this set of books (apart from the
hundreds of superb illustrations throughout), is the large biographical section which consists of
nearly half of the whole set.
The biographies of noted identities cover not only those from Sydney city,
but also from the suburbs and regional areas. Each are grouped by town and have
at least a paragraph on each person, though some are quite extensive. Details
can include parents' names, emigration details, birth place, education, and
employment history. Usually there are additional anecdotal details such as C.T.
Abbott, a hospital superintendent, whose hospital at Wagga Wagga "possesses
excellent accommodation for all purposes ... and both the exterior and interior
of the hospital reflect credit on the management of Mr Abbott".
Those with biographies are listed under the following towns: Adelong, Albury,
Armidale, Bathurst, Bega, Bethungra, Blayney, Boggabri, Bombala, Bowral,
Braidwood, Bungendore, Camden, Campbelltown, Carcoar, Casino, Cobargo, Cooma,
Coonamble, Cootamundra, Corowa, Cowra, Deepwater, Dubbo, East Maitland,
Emmaville, Fernmount, Forbes, Frederickton, Glen Innes, Glencoe, Gosford,
Goulburn, Grafton, Grenfell, Gulgong, Gundagai, Gunnedah, Gunning, Inverell,
Jerilderie, Jerry's Plains, Junee Junction, Kiama, Lithgow, Lismore, Liverpool,
Maitland, Manly, Mittagong, Molong, Moree, Morpeth, Moss Vale, Mudgee,
Murrumburrah, Murrurundi, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narrandera, Newcastle, Orange,
Parkes, Parramatta, Penrith, Picton, Plattsburg, Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan,
Quirindi, Raymond Terrace, Richmond, Rylstone, Scone, Singleton, Sydney,
Tamworth, Tenterfield, Tumut, Uralla, Wagga Wagga, Walcha, Walget, Walgett,
Wallsend, Wellington, West Maitland, Windsor, Wollongong, Yass, Young.
Publishers Note: A unique feature of this work is that there have been a
number of variant editions (at least eleven) published of this title. Volume one
is always the same for each, but the biographies are divided into towns, and not
all towns have been included in each edition. You will find all 'accessible'
volumes have been reproduced here on a single CD.
High quality scanned images of the whole of the original books. This CD has been
bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed, enlarged
and printed out if required.
