August German SIG Meeting - Monday 10th August 2026

   

Join us at 1.30 pm on Monday 10th August 2026 for the next meeting of our German Special Interest Group.

Our German SIG is a fantastic way to explore your heritage and connect with like-minded locals researching their Germanic background in friendly discussions. We share information on researching your Germanic ancestors, including resources, techniques, history and customs.

Coming up at our August meeting will be several topics of interest to anyone with Germanic ancestors or researching their German family history including:

• Our special guest speaker will be journalist Rosalie Horner, who will speak about her historical novel, Waltzing Mathilde: Letters to a Little Girl. It’s based on the true story of her grandmother Mathilde Plate’s unaccompanied 1890 voyage from Hannover to Australia, aged 12; and how she then survived in the often-violent art world of 19th century Sydney – it promises to be an exciting talk!
  
  
• Group discussion of German family history successes and failures since our last meeting
  
  
• Plus Tony Karrasch's always-informative update on what's been happening in the online German family history world

Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just starting your family tree, you’re warmly invited to attend. Come and join us for the discussion, then stay for afternoon tea and a convivial chat - guests welcome!

Date: Monday 10th August 2026

Time: 1.30 pm

Location: Old Gordon Public School building, 799 Pacific Hwy (cnr Pacific Hwy & Park Ave)

Parking: Subject to time limits in Council’s Wade Lane carpark (entry via Park Ave or St Johns Ave)

Train: Our rooms are a short walk from Gordon Station.

For a map, please see our Contact page, https://khs.org.au/contact-us/#hours

For more details, see our website, https://khs.org.au/german-sig

Please keep an eye on our website's Events page in case of any last-minute changes. https://khs.org.au/events/

August 2026 General Meeting - Saturday 15 August

                              

Guest Speaker:
Denis Smith

Join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1
at 2 pm on Saturday 15 August 2026 for

Why the First Fleet was Such a Success

Denis Smith explores the remarkable story behind the First Fleet’s 250-day, 15,000-mile voyage from Portsmouth in May 1787 - from the careful planning that made it possible, to the inspired choice of Arthur Phillip to lead it. He will also look at why Botany Bay was chosen, and uncover some of the lesser-known episodes along the way.

The talk also sheds light on Lord Sydney’s role in shaping the expedition, including his part in selecting Governor Phillip. Along the way, Denis tackles some intriguing colonial questions: why did Phillip raise the British flag at Sydney Cove in January 1788 when Captain Cook had already claimed the east coast? And what role did Matthew Flinders play in the naming of Australia?

An engaging and thought-provoking presentation - join us at the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society to discover the story behind the voyage that changed a continent.

Free entry, no booking required. You are welcome to stay for refreshments and a chat following the presentation.

About Denis Smith, OAM, MRSN

Born in Waverton, Denis is a retired electrical engineer who has always maintained a great interest in history. He is vice president of the Fellowship of First Fleeters; and past president of both Lane Cove Historical Society and the Matthew Flinders Society.

Denis is a First Fleet descendant of 1st Class Marine John Barrisford and his wife Hannah, who came out on the Prince of Wales in 1788. They spent three years in Sydney, then to Norfolk Island, settling on a land grant of 160 acres. When they closed down Norfolk Island in 1808, the family transferred to Hobart on 500 acres.

As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.

The venue is Gordon Library Meeting Room 1, in the Old Gordon Public School, which adjoins the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon (corner Pacific Highway and Park Avenue).

It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station.

For a map and parking information, see our Contact page.

Special Presentation - Saturday 1 August 2026

                              

Guest Speaker:
Fiona Sullivan

Join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1
at 2 pm on Saturday 1 August 2026 for

Researching Local History
Using the State Archives Collection

Note: there will be no General Meeting on this day. This is a special addition to our Speakers Program, which is why it's not on our usual day. 

The NSW State Archives Collection documents the daily work of the NSW Government and its agencies from 1788 to today. This vast collection of records is an invaluable resource for Local historians, from tracing the development of an area, through to its schools, buildings and local businesses, to recording key events that have impacted the community over time.

Join Fiona Sullivan with this special presentation in which she outlines how to begin searching this vast collection, and highlights the many (and sometimes unexpected) records that can help you unlock the Local History of Ku-ring-gai and NSW.

Free entry, no booking required. You are welcome to stay for refreshments and a chat following the presentation.

About Fiona Sullivan

Fiona is the Manager, Access Services, at Museums of History NSW, where she oversees access to the State Archives Collection, both onsite and online. Fiona is passionate about Archives and Libraries, the people who use them, and the impact that they have on people’s lives.

As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.

The venue is Gordon Library Meeting Room 1, in the Old Gordon Public School, which adjoins the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon (corner Pacific Highway and Park Avenue).

It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station.

For a map and parking information, see our Contact page.