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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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