21 May, 2016

'More Hidden Hamilton - further stories of people, place and community'

My personal quest to understand Hamilton began in 2013 when we moved here to live. I shared my discoveries through my Hidden Hamilton blog and Facebook page. After the publication of my book ‘Hidden Hamilton', based on the first year of my blog, I thought that was enough. I was wrong.


Ever since the book came out, in November 2014, people have been in touch with me: adding information to what I’d written, identifying people and places in photos, and suggesting ideas for new stories. More people have become involved, commenting on the Facebook pages of Hidden Hamilton and Lost Newcastle. 


I've had more conversations, and met even more people with deep connections to my suburb.


Inevitably, ‘More Hidden Hamilton – Further stories of people, place and community’ came into being.


‘More Hidden Hamilton’ will be published on 28 June, 2016. 


Hunter Press has pre-publication special offers to purchase one or both books - the offer ends 19 June, when the book will be available at our usual outlets. 


Go to http://hunterpress.com.au or enlarge the flyer at the end to see the details. 


People ask me – how is ‘More Hidden Hamilton’ different from the first book, ‘Hidden Hamilton’?


More Hidden Hamilton’ is rich with new stories of Hamilton places and people, ordinary and extraordinary. It also enlarges on a couple of very popular stories from my first book. 


However, there is one enduring thing that remains with me after my exploration of the forces that have shaped Hamilton over more than a century of challenges and change. That is a better understanding of the many ways in which community can be created, and how a sense of home and belonging can be achieved in what may seem the most ordinary of settings.


It’s learning for our times.


And there is another community that has grown as a result of my personal quest.


Hidden Hamilton, the blog and the books, would not exist without people who have willingly shared their stories, as well as those who have connected me with them.


My thanks to them, and also to everyone who has commented on the Hidden Hamilton blog, and the Hidden Hamilton and Lost Newcastle Facebook pages. Quite a few of your lively and informative comments have been reproduced in More Hidden Hamilton’, with permission of course. 


And so the stories have become a dialogue, a conversation, layer upon layer, to reveal the social fabric of our suburb, Hamilton.






(Click on the image to enlarge)




2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Ruth, I am wondering if you know of where there might have been boarding house(s) along Beaumont St circa 1926? It is where my grandparents met, and now I work there after living all over the globe - and didn't know its significance until I read my mother's memoir. Unbelievable serendipity! Thank you, Susan.

Ruth Cotton said...

Anonymous (Susan)
It was very common for women who had lost the breadwinner from their families to set up a boarding house to support themselves. I have heard of different ones through my Hamilton research but can't give you anything specific. I suggest you explore the digitised newspapers on Trove (http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?q=). Best of luck, Ruth Cotton.