Our Projects
The society has many ongoing projects which keeps us busy. Some of the more long term ones are listed below.
Emmco/Email Ltd/Electrolux whitegoods factory.
A group of members has been cataloguing and identifying a collection of tens of thousands of photographs and documents following the closure of the Electrolux plant in 2016. The factory, and its predecessor the Small Arms Factory, were for 70 years the major employers in Orange. The whitegoods factory manufactured a range of goods including fridges, freezers, washing machines, electric fans and heaters. The workforce included highly skilled engineers, fitters and turners, boilermakers, toolmakers, electrical fitters and sheet metal workers. An apprenticeship scheme ensured there was not only a constant supply of new skilled workers but also somewhere school leavers could find meaningful employment.
A group of members has been cataloguing and identifying a collection of tens of thousands of photographs and documents following the closure of the Electrolux plant in 2016. The factory, and its predecessor the Small Arms Factory, were for 70 years the major employers in Orange. The whitegoods factory manufactured a range of goods including fridges, freezers, washing machines, electric fans and heaters. The workforce included highly skilled engineers, fitters and turners, boilermakers, toolmakers, electrical fitters and sheet metal workers. An apprenticeship scheme ensured there was not only a constant supply of new skilled workers but also somewhere school leavers could find meaningful employment.
CWD Negative Collection
The CWD Negative Collection comprises all the images taken by the Central Western Daily photographers from 1955 to 2000. They were given to our society for safekeeping in 2010. Those from 1955 to 1970 are the old-style large negatives while those form 1971 to 2000 are 35mm. They cover everything that happened in Orange and district, including news items, social events, sporting activities, businesses and much more.
Since 2010 we have been steadily working on this massive project to preserve the negatives, scan them and make the images available to the public. They have been featured in two exhibitions at Orange Regional Museum: ‘All in a Day’s Work’ and ‘Child’s Play’, to great acclaim. Our volunteers are currently dating and cataloguing the 35mm negatives from the 1970s to ensure they are more easily searchable.
The CWD Negative Collection comprises all the images taken by the Central Western Daily photographers from 1955 to 2000. They were given to our society for safekeeping in 2010. Those from 1955 to 1970 are the old-style large negatives while those form 1971 to 2000 are 35mm. They cover everything that happened in Orange and district, including news items, social events, sporting activities, businesses and much more.
Since 2010 we have been steadily working on this massive project to preserve the negatives, scan them and make the images available to the public. They have been featured in two exhibitions at Orange Regional Museum: ‘All in a Day’s Work’ and ‘Child’s Play’, to great acclaim. Our volunteers are currently dating and cataloguing the 35mm negatives from the 1970s to ensure they are more easily searchable.
History of the Dalton family
The society has made a special study of the Dalton family over a number of years. James Dalton Junior escaped the grinding poverty of rural Ireland in 1849 and built a hugely successful business empire, along with his brother Thomas, comprising the iconic Dalton’s Store in Orange, a vast pastoral enterprise in western NSW, and a hugely successful import-export business based in Orange and Sydney.
In November 2019 society member and author Elisabeth Edwards launched her book ‘Wearing the Green: The Daltons and the Irish Cause’, under the auspices of the society. The book relates the story of this remarkable family and highlights their support for the Catholic Church in Orange and Sydney as well as their championing the causes for land rights and Home Rule in Ireland. The book is available at Collins Books in Orange as well as directly from the society at $60.
The society has made a special study of the Dalton family over a number of years. James Dalton Junior escaped the grinding poverty of rural Ireland in 1849 and built a hugely successful business empire, along with his brother Thomas, comprising the iconic Dalton’s Store in Orange, a vast pastoral enterprise in western NSW, and a hugely successful import-export business based in Orange and Sydney.
In November 2019 society member and author Elisabeth Edwards launched her book ‘Wearing the Green: The Daltons and the Irish Cause’, under the auspices of the society. The book relates the story of this remarkable family and highlights their support for the Catholic Church in Orange and Sydney as well as their championing the causes for land rights and Home Rule in Ireland. The book is available at Collins Books in Orange as well as directly from the society at $60.
Central West railway history
Members Euan Greer and John Glastonbury have between them a wealth of knowledge about railway history. The recent Rail 140 events in Orange, held in April 2017, was the culmination of months of research and preparation. Euan Greer and Ross Maroney recently published a booklet about railway hotels in Orange. John Glastonbury is currently sifting through a vast number of railway documents donated to our society by Cowra War Museum.
Members Euan Greer and John Glastonbury have between them a wealth of knowledge about railway history. The recent Rail 140 events in Orange, held in April 2017, was the culmination of months of research and preparation. Euan Greer and Ross Maroney recently published a booklet about railway hotels in Orange. John Glastonbury is currently sifting through a vast number of railway documents donated to our society by Cowra War Museum.
Statements of significance about objects in our collection
Volunteer Tony Bouffler is gathering information on key items in the society’s collection to write statements of significance. His work ensures we have a good understanding of local history and special items in our collection.
Fruit growing history
The district fruit growing history was once central to the district’s economy. It was the subject of a series of History Alive meetings held by our society. The society now has a large database of orcharding history.
Mining history
The society hosted a series of History Alive meetings covering all aspects of the mining industry in the district and now has a significant database of information about gold, copper and marble mining in the district.
Accessioning and updating existing databases
A team of volunteers meets weekly to accession items into our collection and update information on existing items.
Database of Orange people and places
Member Ross Maroney has built up a huge database of information about people who lived and worked in the Orange district, as well as streets, houses and businesses.
Oral history
The society has completed a number of oral histories featuring local people. This is a valuable addition to our local databases. Volunteer Judy Chapman has started transcribing them.
Volunteer Tony Bouffler is gathering information on key items in the society’s collection to write statements of significance. His work ensures we have a good understanding of local history and special items in our collection.
Fruit growing history
The district fruit growing history was once central to the district’s economy. It was the subject of a series of History Alive meetings held by our society. The society now has a large database of orcharding history.
Mining history
The society hosted a series of History Alive meetings covering all aspects of the mining industry in the district and now has a significant database of information about gold, copper and marble mining in the district.
Accessioning and updating existing databases
A team of volunteers meets weekly to accession items into our collection and update information on existing items.
Database of Orange people and places
Member Ross Maroney has built up a huge database of information about people who lived and worked in the Orange district, as well as streets, houses and businesses.
Oral history
The society has completed a number of oral histories featuring local people. This is a valuable addition to our local databases. Volunteer Judy Chapman has started transcribing them.