History Week 2010

History Council of NSW

History Week (4 - 12 September 2010) is the annual, state-wide celebration of history organised by the History Council of New South Wales. This year’s theme is ‘Faces in the Street’ and seeks to encourage people to explore the life stories of famous identities and lesser known people. Discover some fascinating stories about people and places through talks and tours at the Powerhouse Museum and Powerhouse Discovery Centre.

TALKS

Pub painting by Tom Woodman, 1939. PHM collection.
Jan Stewart models Simona
fashion for Sportsgirl in linen,
styling by Hazel Benini

Fashion on the street: photographs by Bruno Benini
Wednesday 8 September, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Free with Museum admission

Italian-born, Melbourne-based Australian fashion photographer Bruno Benini (1925-2001) took to the streets with glamorous models to capture international and Australian fashion. From the 1950s through to the 1990s, Benini used the street as a metaphor for youthful vitality, evoking innovative, humorous and energetic fashion looks, stories and moods for the press. Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator of Creating the look: Benini and fashion photography will reveal some of the amazing photographs from Benini’s archive, including many previously unpublished works that have recently been digitized from original negatives and transparencies. This talk will be followed by a tour of the Creating the look exhibition. Tour numbers limited. book online

Calculating women: the Weapons Research Establishment’s female computing team
Sunday 12 September, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Free with Museum admission

Join curator of space technology Kerrie Dougherty as she looks at the fascinating story of the ‘computing women’ of Woomera, who undertook the tedious mathematical calculation work needed to analyse missile and rocket tests in the days before electronic computers and when they were in their infancy. book online

TOURS

Powerhouse Discovery Centre Open Day
Saturday 11 September, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Powerhouse Discovery Centre, 172 Showground Road, Castle Hill
Admission: $25 family, $8 adult, $5 child/concession (additional costs may apply for some tours or programs on the day).

The Powerhouse Discovery Centre’s September Open Day will support this year’s History Week theme with a highlights tour of objects associated with ‘eccentrics’ in the Powerhouse collection, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games ceremony costumes and props to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sydney Games. Bookings not required.

Rock ’n’ Roll heritage trail, Kings Cross
Sunday 12 September, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Kings Cross (meeting place to be advised on booking).
Cost: free

Join Powerhouse Museum curator Peter Cox on a guided tour of the streets of Kings Cross, looking at people and places of significance in Australian rock ’n’ roll history, from the sites of Surf City and the Manzil Room to Sydney Stadium. Not suitable for children. Bookings essential on 9217 0330 or email peterco@phm.gov.au.

 

For more events and activities during History Week, visit the History Week website