HISTORY PROJECTS ON THIS WEBSITE
- Disabilities Project
- General Gordon - Steam Stern-Wheeler
- HMAS Parramatta & HMAS Swan WWI Wrecks
- Japanese Sydney Harbour Attack 1942
- Juno Point Defences
- Past Events and Presentations
- Patricia Cam
- Rathmines, The largest Sea Plane Base In the Southern Hemisphere
- West Head Battery
- West Head Battery Signs Unveiled
- World War I Exhibition 2015
- World War II
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STARTING WITH A LAUGH
Here is an unique photo of the Tour de France 1940. Thanks to Ernie for the photograph. |
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Peter Rea TV INTERVIEW - NBN NEWS
Secrets of the Hawkesbury River Revealed - HMAS Swan PLAY THE VIDEO www.nbnnews.com.au/2017/12/31/secrets-of-the-hawkesbury-river-revealed/ |
PATRICIA CAM
The Patricia Cam was built at George Beattie's ship yard 'Palermo' on the Brisbane Water, New South Wales Central Coast. It was launched in 1940, requisitioned by the Australian Navy in 1942 it was sent to Darwin.
On 22 Jan 1943 it was attacked and sunk by an IJN Aichi E13A (Jake) sea plane.
Construction of a 1:50 scale model has commenced. Photo: Bill Bollard
The Patricia Cam was built at George Beattie's ship yard 'Palermo' on the Brisbane Water, New South Wales Central Coast. It was launched in 1940, requisitioned by the Australian Navy in 1942 it was sent to Darwin.
On 22 Jan 1943 it was attacked and sunk by an IJN Aichi E13A (Jake) sea plane.
Construction of a 1:50 scale model has commenced. Photo: Bill Bollard
GENERAL GORDON
One hundred and twenty years ago the great Australian eastern railway had reached from Brisbane to Gosford on the North Arm of Broken Bay. From the south the line joined Adelaide with a wharf on the Hawkesbury, a total of 2,600 klm. While one of the longest bridges in the world was flung across the river, the General Gordon transported the passengers. More...
One hundred and twenty years ago the great Australian eastern railway had reached from Brisbane to Gosford on the North Arm of Broken Bay. From the south the line joined Adelaide with a wharf on the Hawkesbury, a total of 2,600 klm. While one of the longest bridges in the world was flung across the river, the General Gordon transported the passengers. More...
'OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT' AWARDS
On Friday 17 June 2016, Peter was in Sydney undertaking further research for the General Gordon Project when Dora phoned him and said that they had just received a hand delivered envelope to their home which contained two individual National Parks & Wildlife Service Awards for ‘Outstanding Achievement’.
Dora and Peter wish to point out that they receive a lot of support from a lot of people and they wish to thank all those who have provided and continue to provide so much support for their work.
On Friday 17 June 2016, Peter was in Sydney undertaking further research for the General Gordon Project when Dora phoned him and said that they had just received a hand delivered envelope to their home which contained two individual National Parks & Wildlife Service Awards for ‘Outstanding Achievement’.
Dora and Peter wish to point out that they receive a lot of support from a lot of people and they wish to thank all those who have provided and continue to provide so much support for their work.
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4HRs MODELING PROJECT WITH A DEMENTIA GROUP AND A DISABILITIES GROUP
Following up on a proposal from Central Coast Care via Delphis Australia where a history modelling program was commenced, 4HR intiated a similar project with Central Coast Disabilities Network. Both have proven very successful and were used as pilot programs. CCDN is now undertaking a major work about the WWII Greek & Crete campaigns, with one member aiming to undertake public speaking on the subject. More... |
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COUNCIL GRANT FOR HISTORY FERRY TOURS 2015
Gosford City Councillor Vicki Scott presents a cheque to 4HR, which allow history ferry tours to commence in November 2015. 4HR successfully gained a grant from Gosford City Council, and auspiced by Brisbane Water Historical Society to conduct History Ferry Tours on the Hawkesbury and Broken Bay aboard Central Coast Ferries 'Sorrento'. |
Despite his appearance in this picture, Peter was lost for words on the night.
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GOSFORD COUNCIL HERITAGE AWARD 2015
10 June 2015 the Gosford City Council Heritage Awards were announced. Peter Rea from 4HR was nominated for the ‘Historical Research & Publication’ section and the 'Outstanding Achievement Award'. The final presentation of the night was the 'Outstanding Achievement Award', which went to Peter. The award was in recognition of the research and the exhibition works so far produced by Peter and those works currently in production which will be unveiled progressively. Peter points out this award would not have been possible without the support and assistance of others as mentioned on this website (particularly his wife Dora). |
4HR TAKES ON A MAJOR ROLE IN A NEW REGIONAL TOURISM PUSH.
In conjunction with the Central Coast Inter-Active War Museum, 4HR invited 40 people from Local Government, the tourism Industry and various aspects of local History/Heritage to a dinner/networking/strategy night.
Following this very successful first steep further initiatives are being planned. See 'Local News'
In conjunction with the Central Coast Inter-Active War Museum, 4HR invited 40 people from Local Government, the tourism Industry and various aspects of local History/Heritage to a dinner/networking/strategy night.
Following this very successful first steep further initiatives are being planned. See 'Local News'
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a model for the central coast marine discovery centre, TERRIGAL.Peter Rea built this model of the HMAS Adelaide. The model was built for display in the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Terrigal.
The ex-HMAS Adelaide was scuttled as a dive wreck at Terrigal/Avoca Beach in April 2011. |
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WE BUILD A UNIQUE AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY
With the assistance of the office of NSW Heritage and the NSW-NPWS, 4HR will be taking the drawings done in conjunction with Jack 'Bluey' Mercer, the RAA - NSW Branch and W.H.A.T. to build a railway. Left: Our light horseman is checking a few of the parts that have been purchased, with all the work 4HR has on for Anzac 2015 we promised we would not start on the railway until May, well that didn't work! See more under the 'Inclined Railway' heading on our West Head Battery page. |
FEDERAL ANZAC GRANT 2014
To commemorate those Anzacs who died and suffered from their wounds as a result of the 1914-18 war, we have been allocated a small part of Federal Government grant funding to cover materials and expenses for a series of exhibitions for the Anzac Centenary Year. The application went in May 2014, a letter of approval, dated Dec. was received in Feb. 2015. The funds were transferred on 24 April, only one day before Anzac Day!
To commemorate those Anzacs who died and suffered from their wounds as a result of the 1914-18 war, we have been allocated a small part of Federal Government grant funding to cover materials and expenses for a series of exhibitions for the Anzac Centenary Year. The application went in May 2014, a letter of approval, dated Dec. was received in Feb. 2015. The funds were transferred on 24 April, only one day before Anzac Day!
MICK EVANS HMAS SYDNEY MODEL
Mick Evans with the 2nd ship he built for 4HR. The 1.8 m long model is housed in a display case made by Bateau Bay Men's Shed with internal lighting by Peter Adderley.
Also within the case is a 1:350 scale SMS Emden, a specially drawn 1:350 illustration of Sydney, other graphics produced by Peter Rea and historic photos relating to the 1914 Sydney/Emden engagement.
Mick Evans with the 2nd ship he built for 4HR. The 1.8 m long model is housed in a display case made by Bateau Bay Men's Shed with internal lighting by Peter Adderley.
Also within the case is a 1:350 scale SMS Emden, a specially drawn 1:350 illustration of Sydney, other graphics produced by Peter Rea and historic photos relating to the 1914 Sydney/Emden engagement.
CONSTRUCTION OF WWI DIORAMAS - Updated 18/4/16
The construction commenced in June 2014 with a Gosford City Council Community Grant for materials. At the same time a Federal Government grant was applied for, it took about 5 months just to gain grant approval. Appeals to Canberra and the Member for Robertson fell on deaf ears. With over a thousand hours work to be done the long promised funds finally arrived just 48 hours before ANZAC Day. Personal funds kept the projects moving slowly. Also during this time the $AU dropped dramatically effectually reducing the amount required...all very disappointing More….
The construction commenced in June 2014 with a Gosford City Council Community Grant for materials. At the same time a Federal Government grant was applied for, it took about 5 months just to gain grant approval. Appeals to Canberra and the Member for Robertson fell on deaf ears. With over a thousand hours work to be done the long promised funds finally arrived just 48 hours before ANZAC Day. Personal funds kept the projects moving slowly. Also during this time the $AU dropped dramatically effectually reducing the amount required...all very disappointing More….
MEMBER FOR GOSFORD VIEWS 4HR's WORK 2015
'If we don't know where we came from how can we know where we're going' said Member for Gosford Chris Holstein to around 60 people at Gosford's Henry Kendall Museum on 21 Feb. 2015. The Hon. Member also took time to look at the historic models 4HR had on loan to the museum and talk to 4HR about their ongoing work which he highlighted in NSW Parliament last year.
'If we don't know where we came from how can we know where we're going' said Member for Gosford Chris Holstein to around 60 people at Gosford's Henry Kendall Museum on 21 Feb. 2015. The Hon. Member also took time to look at the historic models 4HR had on loan to the museum and talk to 4HR about their ongoing work which he highlighted in NSW Parliament last year.
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GRANT 2015 - MINISTER FOR HERITAGE & ENVIRONMENT 1/2/15
Funding to cover expenses for building an historic working model and diorama of a unique Australian inclined railway at the West Head Battery. MINISTER FOR HERITAGE UNVEILS SIGNS 2014
On 14 November 2014 Rob Stokes, Minister for Heritage & Environment unveiled signs at Commodore Heights presenting information about the West Head Battery. Much of the information on the signs is based on the original graphics by Peter Rea completed over the past 18 months. A few months ago the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service gained the OK from 4HR to use the artwork on the signs. |
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GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY GRANT 2014
In June 2014, 4HR was successful in its application for a Community Development Grant from Gosford City Council. The funds will be used to meet the cost of materials and other out of pocket expenses for an exhibition regarding the Centenary of Anzac. More... |
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WEST HEAD AWARENESS TEAM RECEIVES HERITAGE AWARD 2014
Peter & Dora Rea as members of the the 'West Head Awareness Team' receive a 2014 Heritage Award from Heritage Council of NSW. Mentions in Parliament: Rob Stokes MP, Minister for Heritage Chris Holsein MP, Member for Gosford |
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RAE JOINS THE TEAM
Last year we were happy to make the acquaintance of Rae Crosbie, former merchant seaman and current maker of some superb hand crafted wooden model ships, Rae was then building a Spanish Galleon. He said by years end he would finish the Galleon, he offered to assist with one of 4HRs projects in 2015. True to word Rae contacted us December 2014 and has now set forth to build a Chinese War Junk to illustrate the 'Opium Wars' part of the 'Events That Led To The 1941/45 Pacific War'. More... |
4HR has been working on a number of subjects related to various war periods, these have been collected under the title...
WE START A WORLD WAR
…and it's going to be a big one, opening shots were fired June 2014, with the purchase of a model of HMAS Swan see HMAS Swan. We also started assembling components for a number of dioramas; 'WWI Field Hospital', 'The First Troop Convoy (including the HMAS Sydney/SMS Emden engagement)', 'The Australian Light Horse at Beersheba' and the first to be completed 'The Western Front' which is really about to take shape with Doug (R) and Lee (L) from Gosford Men's Shed, finishing the base board. More...
…and it's going to be a big one, opening shots were fired June 2014, with the purchase of a model of HMAS Swan see HMAS Swan. We also started assembling components for a number of dioramas; 'WWI Field Hospital', 'The First Troop Convoy (including the HMAS Sydney/SMS Emden engagement)', 'The Australian Light Horse at Beersheba' and the first to be completed 'The Western Front' which is really about to take shape with Doug (R) and Lee (L) from Gosford Men's Shed, finishing the base board. More...
SUBMARINES OFF THE COAST
In May 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy's Eastern Attack Group comprising of 8 submarines rendezvoused at a point between Maitland Bay and Broken Bay on the New South Wales Central Coast. More...
In May 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy's Eastern Attack Group comprising of 8 submarines rendezvoused at a point between Maitland Bay and Broken Bay on the New South Wales Central Coast. More...
JUNO POINT DEFENCES
On the Hawkesbury River near Patonga, Central Coast NSW, is a WW2 defence site which supported 18 pound guns and was a control point for a system of underwater electronic detection loops and a minefield on the river bed. More...
On the Hawkesbury River near Patonga, Central Coast NSW, is a WW2 defence site which supported 18 pound guns and was a control point for a system of underwater electronic detection loops and a minefield on the river bed. More...
HMAS PARRAMATTA AND HMAS SWAN
The HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Swan were two ships of the six Australian River Class Torpedo Boat Destroyers (TBD) that were built between 1909 and 1915. The Parramatta was the first ship ever built for the Australian Navy and the Swan was the first warship ever laid down in Australia.
The wrecks of these two historic ships rest in the Hawkesbury River. More...
The HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Swan were two ships of the six Australian River Class Torpedo Boat Destroyers (TBD) that were built between 1909 and 1915. The Parramatta was the first ship ever built for the Australian Navy and the Swan was the first warship ever laid down in Australia.
The wrecks of these two historic ships rest in the Hawkesbury River. More...
RATHMINES RAAF SEAPLANE BASE
On Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, was the largest seaplane base in the southern hemisphere during WW2. More...
On Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, was the largest seaplane base in the southern hemisphere during WW2. More...
WEST HEAD BATTERY
Between the mouth of the Hawkesbury and Pittwater is Ku-ring-gai National Park. Within the park, below the cliffs of Commodore Heights is an old defence complex known as West Head Battery (WHB). It's dual 4.7" guns, two story command post and railway system including a 150m long inclined railway make it unique in Australia. More...
Between the mouth of the Hawkesbury and Pittwater is Ku-ring-gai National Park. Within the park, below the cliffs of Commodore Heights is an old defence complex known as West Head Battery (WHB). It's dual 4.7" guns, two story command post and railway system including a 150m long inclined railway make it unique in Australia. More...
WWII THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PACIFIC WAR
For the past four years 4HR has been assembling scale models
preparing for the exhibitions to be displayed in 2016/17, the 75th anniversary of incredible events that occurred in the first six months of the Pacific War.
It took four great European Nations (plus the USA), four centuries to build empires that Japan destroyed four months.
For the past four years 4HR has been assembling scale models
preparing for the exhibitions to be displayed in 2016/17, the 75th anniversary of incredible events that occurred in the first six months of the Pacific War.
It took four great European Nations (plus the USA), four centuries to build empires that Japan destroyed four months.
WOY WOY TUNNEL NAVVIES CAMP
The Hawkesbury River Rail Bridge (opened 1889) and the Woy Woy Tunnel (opened 1887), were the last links in a railway system that linked Brisbane through Sydney and Melbourne to Adelaide. 600 labourers known as 'navvies' and their families were encamped at the southern end of the tunnel for 3 years during construction.
The Hawkesbury River Rail Bridge (opened 1889) and the Woy Woy Tunnel (opened 1887), were the last links in a railway system that linked Brisbane through Sydney and Melbourne to Adelaide. 600 labourers known as 'navvies' and their families were encamped at the southern end of the tunnel for 3 years during construction.
Other people's projects
ANZAC DAY POPPIES...'THE' most popular Anzac Centenary event.
It's hard to believe this grass roots project failed to gain any of the $125,000 lavished on the seat of Robertson by the Abbot Federal Government.
Gosford City Council came to the rescue and it proved to be a truly great success, one which we hope will be emulated in years to come.
4HR congratulates all involved. More...
It's hard to believe this grass roots project failed to gain any of the $125,000 lavished on the seat of Robertson by the Abbot Federal Government.
Gosford City Council came to the rescue and it proved to be a truly great success, one which we hope will be emulated in years to come.
4HR congratulates all involved. More...
STEVE AND HIS FATHER FRED'S FLEET...a life long project
In April 2015 we had the pleasure of meeting Frederick James Wickham and his son Steve John. As a result we had the opportunity to photograph their fleet of mostly operational warship models.
Steve has offered assistance with a model or two for 4HR's upcoming diorama of the WWII engagement of HMS Prince Of Wales and HMS Repulse with Japanese airpower in December 1941.
In April 2015 we had the pleasure of meeting Frederick James Wickham and his son Steve John. As a result we had the opportunity to photograph their fleet of mostly operational warship models.
Steve has offered assistance with a model or two for 4HR's upcoming diorama of the WWII engagement of HMS Prince Of Wales and HMS Repulse with Japanese airpower in December 1941.
Empire Bay Heritage Boat Shed
Information about the future of this boat shed can be found on the Facebook page of the Empire Bay Heritage Boat Shed Association.
Click on the title above.
Information about the future of this boat shed can be found on the Facebook page of the Empire Bay Heritage Boat Shed Association.
Click on the title above.
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Endeavour Ship
Bleddyn Jenkins with his beautifully constructed Endeavour Ship. Donated to Peter Rea, President of Central Coast Model Makers Mens Shed to be put on public display. Click on the title above for more info. |
