Armadale Libraries & Heritage

The Martin Cairn, when in its original location at the corner of Clifton and Martin Streets, marked the place of the first house in Kelmscott, built in 1830 by the military stationed there.

🐎From about 1842, the property belonged to Mr Henry Martin who lived there until his death. Mr Martin, with his family, was a farmer, horse breeder and timber carter.

🎖️To commemorate the centenary of the 63rd Regiment, a Cairn with a Centenary Tablet was constructed circa 1930. It was unveiled in 1931.

👷In 1962 – 63 the Cairn was relocated and rebuilt in Clifton Street opposite Martin Street and can still be seen there.

📸 Image 1:
1930 - Image shows the original location of the cairn on the farming property belonging to the Martin family along Clifton Street, Kelmscott.
Standing L-R: Elsie Martin, Jim Martin, Frances McCallum, Mrs Hilda Martin (with baby Dorothy), Alf Martin, George Hicks.
Front: Fred Martin. Sitting: Laurie Hymus (?), Henry and Joyce Martin.

📸 Image 2:
After 1931 when the memorial was unveiled - The marble inscription was removed from the top of this first cairn which was situated on the property and re-attached to the new cairn which was built on the verge outside of Lot 26 Clifton Street, Kelmscott.
Standing L-R: Mr Fred Martin, Jack Hicks Jnr, Alfred Martin and Hilda Martin.

Courtesy of Birtwistle Local Studies Library.

🦜 Wingspan Games Group
📅 Fridays weekly
🕑 10am – 1pm
📍 Armadale Library
🎟️ https://buff.ly/ELAnPtu

Join this weekly board game group playing Wingspan, a fascinating board game about the avian world, featuring a special edition with Australian birds.

Whether you’re new to Wingspan or have played before, you’re welcome to join us.

The game sessions will be guided by Befriend host and board game enthusiast, John.
💛 This is a friendly, relaxed group for adults that embraces all abilities.

⭐️ Armadale Young Writers’ Awards open for entry today 🖋️

This creative writing competition is open to students in years 3 to 12 who reside or attend school in the City of Armadale. Entries must be prose only and stories should be 2000 words or less.

Entry is online only and access to the entry form will only be available from 1 to 30 June 2026.

We look forward to seeing the amazing creative talents of our young local writers. Enter your story for a change to win a cash prize!

👉 For full details and to enter visit: https://buff.ly/pvjnvZw

📣 PSA
The City of Armadale Libraries and History House Museum are closed today (Friday 29 May 2026) for an all-staff training day.

Normal business will resume Saturday 30 May 2026.

🏆Congratulations to all of our winners!

The award presentation for the FOCUS Photographic competition was held on Friday 22 May and here is Mayor Ruth Butterfield with some of the amazing winners who helped us capture the changing face of Armadale with this years’ theme of Bridges & Waterways!

The presentation was attended by Councillors, the judges, award winners and their families with Mayor Ruth Butterfield presenting prizes in the following categories:
📷 Bridges & Waterways – Photograph
📷 Bridges & Waterways – Drone
📷 Open Theme – Historical Pre-2000

💛 Thank you to everyone who entered. All the images provided help us to capture the history of our City for future generations!

📷 Congratulations to the winner of the FOCUS – Bridges & Waterways – Drone Category!

We sought photographs taken by drones that captured the City’s waterways - both natural and man-made - and bridges that span water or roads.

🏆1st Place – Bridges & Waterways - Drone Category
Twilight by Russell Floyd

📷 Congratulations to the winners of the FOCUS – Bridges & Waterways – Photograph Category!

We sought photographs taken by drones that captured the City’s waterways - both natural and man-made - and bridges that span water or roads.

🏆 1st Place - Bridges & Waterways - Photograph Category
Stilling Basin by Tania Rutley

🏆 2nd Place - Bridges & Waterways - Photograph Category
Childhood Fun by Aprilyn Candy

🏆 3rd Place - Bridges & Waterways - Photograph Category
Forrestdale Lake Fog by Brianna Nicholls

🏅Honourable Mention
Champion Lake Reeds by Graham Ringer

🏅Honourable Mention
Martin’s Ford by Heidi Heerema

📷 Congratulations to the winners of the FOCUS – Open Theme - Historical Pre-2000 Category!

We sought images showing any aspect of how life was in any of the suburbs within the City of Armadale’s borders before the year 2000.

🏆1st Place - Open Theme - Historical Pre 2000 Category
Sawmill Place, Roleystone (1993) by Glenn Martin

🏆2nd Place - Open Theme - Historical Pre 2000 Category
Westfield Road (1991) by Janice Barker

🏆3rd Place – Open Theme - Historical Pre 2000 Category
Grandfather East (1922) by Michelle Lane

🌳Family Tree Group – Monthly Gathering🌳

At the May meeting of the Birtwistle Local Studies Library Family Tree Group you will find out about the counties of England, Scotland and Wales, and why you might need to know about them.

📅 Thursday 28 May
🕑 10am – 12noon
📍 Armadale Library
👥 All welcome – monthly sessions

These friendly monthly gatherings are a great opportunity to:
🌿Discover new tools and resources for family history research
🌿Share your research successes
🌿Get help with tricky genealogy questions
Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, come along and connect with others who share your passion for uncovering the past.