Ryde District Historical Society

07/11/2026

🔎𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦! 🕵️‍♀️

Was anyone around #10 Chauvel Street North Ryde, specifically on Father's Day 5 Sep 2004? One of our followers has a wonderful memory of that day when wild weather brought an extraordinary amount of hail to the area!

There was so much hail that she and her children scooped it up and built a snowman! Meanwhile, people were having their own fun, riding boogie boards down the slope of the park on Coxs Road!

Sadly, our follower has since lost her photos of this rather memorable day and is hoping someone else might have captured the fun on camera. She remembers people driving past her house just to stop and take photos.

Could you have photographs of the snowman, the boogie board riders or even just the hail-covered park tucked away in an old photo album or box?

If you have anything, we'd love to hear from you. You might just help our follower rediscover a very special memory! As she says, "Maybe I'll get lucky." 🤞

06/11/2026

🪟 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝑾𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆 🪟

"A home's windows are its eyes"

Here are some windows spotted around Gladesville over the years. Perhaps you know of some other special windows in the suburb? We'd love to hear about them in the comments.

04/11/2026

⭐It's All About West Ryde and Meadowbank ⭐

Join us for our final Open Day of 2026 and discover some local history you may not know about!

Sunday 15 Nov from 11am to 2pm at Willandra, Willandra Ave Ryde.

Explore West Ryde and Meadowbank through historic images and memorabilia. You might even spot a familiar street, a long-lost landmark or a place that brings back memories!

Wander through beautiful Willandra, watch our special video "Images of Ryde", and enjoy a chat with our friendly volunteers.

Love local history? Browse our range of RHDS publications available for purchase.

Cooper's Tank Works - do you have memories of this iconic place at West Ryde?

03/11/2026

Join us for a FREE walking tour through 🪦Field of Mars Cemetery🪦 with our volunteer host from the Ryde District Historical Society.

Sunday 22 November 11am to 12:30pm. Meet at 10:50am at the white cottage within the cemetery grounds.

As we walk among the headstones, we'll remember and share the tragedy, triumph and quiet heroism of those who served - stories that deserve to be remembered.

Our OWN special REMEMBRANCE DAY tribute.

Book at this link to save your place on this tour

Hear about those who have served … their lives, their service and their sacrifice. www.rydehistory.org.au

02/11/2026

Look out for that dust! An old vehicle makes its way along Victoria Road, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake. What a glimpse of a bygone era! The location appears to be somewhere near the West Ryde Pumping Station. Date unknown.

Is this a clue? The name Babcock & Wilcox is stenciled onto the timber structure. Could this have been a temporary site shed used by the company while working on the pumping station?

31/10/2026

🪟 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝑾𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 🪟

"A home's windows are its eyes"

Here are some windows spotted around Denistone over the years. Perhaps you know of some other special windows in that area? We'd love to hear about them in the comments.

29/10/2026

27/10/2026

🪟 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝑾𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑹𝒚𝒅𝒆 🪟

"A home's windows are its eyes".

Windows can be more than something to look through. From decorative glass to beautiful shapes and intricate details, they can give a home its own unique character.

Here are some windows spotted around West Ryde over the years. Perhaps you know of some other special windows in West Ryde? We'd love to hear about them in the comments.

25/10/2026

History sleuths of Ryde District, can you help solve a mystery?

This image is in our database. The only information we have is Tennyson Road Gladesville. No date nor any description of this event. The house was built in 1925.

Image shows a neighbourhood gathering or celebration or community event? Men dressed as firemen, an old fire pump and hose. Sign on the pump could be "Bullford"? or similar?

It would be appreciated if anyone can shed some light on this image.

23/10/2026

⭐️FREE WALKING TOUR AT FIELD OF MARS CEMETERY⭐️

⭐FEW SPACES LEFT FOR THIS SUNDAY⭐

Sunday 25 Oct 11am to 12:30pm. Meet at the White Cottage in the cemetery grounds (admin offices area) at 10:50am. No need to register.

Join our volunteer host for a fascinating guided tour exploring the Italian burial traditions found in the Field of Mars cemetery. Along the way, hear the stories behind some of the Italian families that settled in the Ryde area from the late 1920s.