Discover your family history

Monday, 29 July 2019

National Family History Month is an annual August event celebrating family history and genealogy by encouraging people to take a dive into their past to see where they come from.

Penrith City Library will be celebrating National Family History Month with interesting events held throughout August. Family historians or people interested in diving into the world of their lineage and community are encouraged to attend the workshops to help them get started using useful resources available at the Library.

The Library is also celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the Emu Plains Convict Farm with a Convicts and Colonists Historical Conference, featuring speakers and historically accurate re-enactments to take you back in time to Penrith during the early colonial era.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said that researching family and local history is a great way to learn more about where you come from, and that National Family History Month is an opportunity to find out about the resources available to assist you in your research.

“Researching family history is one of the most popular hobbies in the world,” said Cr Fowler.

“The Penrith City Library realises that and has valuable resources available for family historians and those interested in looking into their local history,” he said.

“Penrith is celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the Emu Plains Convict Farm with a Convicts and Colonists History Conference. The convict farm is a rich piece of local history that had an important hand in shaping Penrith into what it is today, and the Conference will be invaluable to anyone who is interested in their local community history,” he continued.

Tickets are available now at Penrith Library. Book your tickets now through penrith.city/events or call 4732 7891.

National Family History Month Events

Online Ancestry Resources Workshop

What:  Get started researching your family history using online resources. This workshop focuses on Penrith City Library’s two major databases, “Ancestry” and “FindMyPast”.

When:             Monday 5 August, 10am-12pm.

Where:            Peter Goodfellow Theatrette, Penrith Library.

Details:           FREE. Bookings are essential.

Your Life in Records Workshop

What:  What can you find in government records and photographs? Research the local area using local government records and the photographic collection available at Penrith City Library.

When:             Monday 12 August, 10am-12pm.

Where:            Peter Goodfellow Theatrette, Penrith Library.

Details:           FREE. Bookings are essential.

Convicts and Colonists History Conference

What:  Celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the Emu Plains Convict Farm with historically accurate re-enactments from Acting Factor and presentations from Professor Grace Karskens, a historian and archaeologist professor; Lorraine Stacker, Emu Plains Convict Farm historian; Steve Ford, historical land researcher; and State Records archivist.

When:             10am – 4pm, Saturday 31 August.

Where:            Peter Goodfellow Theatrette, Penrith Library.

Details:           $25 ticket per person.

Family History Fair

What:  Learn how to begin researching local community history and your own family history from professional historical researchers.

When:             10am – 4pm, Saturday 31 August.

Where:            Lower lounge, Penrith Library.

Details:           FREE.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Monday, 29 July 2019.