The Local Studies collection is designed to reflect the past, present and future of the Randwick local government area through the ongoing collection of relevant local material.
The Local History core collection is accessible to the public at the Bowen Library during business hours. Access to archival material and other items of historical significance is by appointment only. Please contact us to make an appointment.
The Library also holds an extensive collection of family history resources covering records held in Australia, including local cemetery records. Local studies index search
Visit Walking Coastal Sydney for access to brochures, phone applications and coastal walk maps from Pittwater to Sutherland.
Randwick, by Pauline Curby
To celebrate Randwick City Council's 150th anniversary, Council commissioned professional historian, Pauline Curby,to write a fully referenced, illustrated, comprehensive new history of Randwick.
The 406 page hardcover book celebrates the history of one of New South Wales' oldest local government areas and tells the story of the diverse range of people who live in this scenic part of Sydney. Indigenous Australians, Anglo-Celtic Australians and more recent migrants all feature in its pages, as do jockeys, surf lifesavers, bodgies and widgies. Social problems such as the care of neglected children and the issues of crime and punishment, drinking and gambling are also part of the rich tapestry of this history.
A deluxe limited edition of the book is available from Randwick's Libraries and the Council at a cost of $120. The standard hardcover version can be purchased for $69.95 and is available at the above outlets as well as all good bookstores. For more information, call 9314 4888.
Read a sample of Randwick by Pauline Curby - Chapter 1 (pdf 3.67MB)
Check out the in-depth review of our Randwick book by Pauline Curby in the academic journal, Reviews in Australian Studies (Vol 5, no.1, 2011)
Have a look at the latest review (pdf 78 kb) of Randwick in History Australia (Vol 9, no. 1, 2012)
