Every old building in Paterson has a story behind it – and all will be revealed during this Sunday’s annual historic walk.
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President of the Paterson Historical Society, Dr Cameron Archer, will host the event which starts at 1pm on April 2 at the courthouse museum.
The walk will take visitors around the centre of the village and describe the origins of European settlement and the thousands of years or Aboriginal habitation will be acknowledged.
“Paterson is bountiful and would have supported a considerable population of Aboriginal people but sadly few records are available regarding their lives in the area,” said Dr Archer.
‘We do know that the Aboriginal name for the river was Yimmang and that Tocal is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning large or plenty.
“The Europeans found the valley suited their needs so they quickly occupied it and by the 1840’s Aboriginal people were completely alienated from their traditional lands and hunting grounds.”
The village of Paterson was a terminus for shipping and until the railway line was put through in 1911. Since then road transport has displaced rail transport.
Dr Archer said Paterson has a number of fine public and private buildings all of which are well cared for and presented. These include the Paterson Court House Hotel, Paterson Tavern, St Pauls and St Ann’s Churches, CBC Bed and Breakfast which was the former CBC Bank, Post Office, former Rectory, Annandale, former and current School of Arts and the Paterson Court House Museum.
Cost for the walk is $5 per adult (no charge for children) which includes museum entry and afternoon tea. Along with the museum’s extensive display, a clothes washing and ironing demonstration will be held.
