Central Coast Council Library Service will be ‘Connecting People, Places and the Past’ as part of the 2019 Australian Heritage Month celebrations, on now until 19 May.

Two major exhibitions paying homage to local history and beloved children’s author May Gibbs will be on display during the Festival, with Libraries also relaunching their new platform Central Coast Memories.

Council Section Manager Library Futures and Planning, Benjamin Hartley said this online resource showcases historic photographs, postcards, and other memorabilia held in the Library's Local History collection.

“The site delves into the region’s rich history and illustrates the transformation of the region from simple beginnings as a timber getting, and agricultural area to more recent times,” Mr Hartley said.

“We will be commemorating the early timber industry through the ‘Broad Axes and Bullock Bells’ photographic exhibition, which illustrates the working lives of the bullockies, sawyers and saw-millers, with images dating as far back as the early 1900’s.”

The display is on exhibition at Tuggerah Library now until Friday 24 May, then Kincumber Library from Monday 3 June to Thursday 4 July.

“Sure to be a family favourite, the ‘May Gibbs: Celebrating 100 Years’ exhibition is also now on display at Erina Library and Lake Haven Library until Friday 17 May,” Mr Hartley added.

“The display explores May Gibbs’ early work, the characters of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, Ragged Blossom and Little Obelia, her process and examples of how the war influenced her work.”

Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraryevents for more information regarding these and other library events that will be hosted during the Heritage Festival, including the May Gibbs and 1812 NSW Census curator talks.

Mayor Jane Smith said it was incredible to see the region’s rich history through Central Coast Memories, and how the area has developed over the decades.

“This is a fantastic resource delivered by our Library Service – not only for history enthusiasts and students, but anyone with a love for the Coast,” Mayor Smith said.

“This is just another way our libraries are working hard to meet the expectations of our community, making it easier to interact online anywhere, anytime.”

To access our online resources including Central Coast Memories visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraries or email history@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au for further assistance.

ENDS