at Penrith City Library

31 August 10am – 4pm

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Emu Plains Convict Farm’s establishment and Penrith’s early colonial history.

PLUS – the launch of the revised edition of Lorraine Stacker’s history of the convict farm – Chained to the soil on the Plains of Emu

With the U3A Theatre group performing The Exile of Erin as an encore to the conference

History Conference –
Where: Peter Goodfellow Theatrette
Cost: $25 bookings via penrith.city/library


Speakers will explore this early colonial period and give insights into researching your family and local history

Conference Speakers include:

Professor Grace Karskens – historian and archaeologist – Rediscovering Lost Histories of the River: Convicts, Aboriginal People and River Places

Lorraine Stacker – Emu Plains Convict Farm historian – Chained to the Soil on the Plains of Emu

Martyn Killion – Tracing NSW Convicts using the State Archives Collections

Steve Ford – historical land researcher – The House on the Hill – Dungarth – Owners and Occupiers

Family History Fair

Where: Library lower lounge
Cost: Free entry
bookings not required

Meet local historical groups from outer Western Sydney and beyond and gain tips and guidance for conducting your own research.

For further information about these events please email: researchservices@penrith.city; or phone Lorraine on 02 47327886, or Ann-maree on 0247327860.