Do you know the Deans from Carrington? Or did your relative Emma Kenning work as a housemaid at Government House between the years 1895 and 1899?

They’re questions that could help solve a mystery and reunite a family with their precious memories.

The clues have been uncovered by The Friends of the University, a group of 28 volunteers who donate two days a week to sift through 48,000 books over 11 months for a 41-year-old event that attracts thousands of visitors to the Great Hall at the University of Newcastle.

The dedicated book lovers have been unboxing, dusting, wiping, fanning, sorting and stacking thousands of literary works for the past few months, in preparation for its iconic Book Fair event this weekend.

Tucked away in a corner of the University of Newcastle each week, the volunteers have uncovered some rare, historically significant, personal treasures.

With little to no way of knowing who the donors are, they’re hoping the Newcastle Weekly readers can help find missing pieces of the puzzle.

“This year we’ve found a wonderful photograph, labelled on the back ‘Samuel Bailey Kenning’,” says Friends of the University Book Fair convenor Lesley Gent.

“While the photograph itself is not unusual, what is though are two invitations to functions at Government House, Sydney – one to a Ball the other to a Garden Party.

“These were sent out in the time of Governor and Viscountess Hampden (Governor of NSW 1895 to 1899).

“To add to the history of this family, and social history, on the reverse side of the invitations Emma Kenning, who was a housemaid at Government House, has written her duties.

“She indeed had a full workload each week.”

The sheer volume of books makes it difficult for the group to trace the origin of donations.

“There’s up to 48,000 books, vinyl records, CDs and DVDs that have been donated, mostly in cardboard boxes, for what could be up to 11 months before our volunteers sift through them all,” Lesley explains.

“It would be far too difficult to trace the owners of each box.

“We have no way of knowing to whom these items belong as they no doubt came in an unmarked box.

“I think it would be nice if the items could be returned to the family though.” 

The donations are dropped from suburbs all over the Hunter region.

“Every single book that comes in is cleaned and all the pages are flipped,” adds Lesley.

“We find some marvellous treasures in amongst the pages.

“They may have been used as bookmarks or been put there for safekeeping.

“Many have been eaten by silverfish, some are very rare books, and no doubt a lot of them have many stories to tell.”

Lost and Found:

A weathered and worn, stamped and embossed souvenir telegram inviting its addressee to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the treasured items uncovered over the past few months.

Addressed to ‘Dean’ of ‘Darling Street, Carrington’, the yellowed, taped and partly torn souvenir telegram envelope features an image of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and two stamps marks.

One of the stamp marks reads ‘Sydney Harbour Bridge NSW 20 March 9pm 1932‘.

The other reads ‘Posted on Bridge During Opening Celebrations‘.

The envelope is accompanied by an invitation that features the Commonwealth of Australia coat of arms, a crest detailing facts and figures of the freshly completed bridge, as well as a stamp from the Postmaster-General’s Department.

The message on the telegram reads ‘Dean, Darling Street, Carrington, Post Sydney Harbour Bridge, Arrived Safely With Goods Regards Billy Band 6pm SJ’.

The location of the telegram’s origins reads ‘Station From: North East Pylon Words: 13 Time Lodged: 6pm.’

The crest featured reads: ‘Location: Dawes Point to Milson’s Point, Sydney. Chief Engineer JJC Bradfield, D.SC.Ens., ME., M.Inst. C E., M.I.EAust. Contractors for the main bridge. DORMAN, LONG & COY, LTD Middlesborough & London Completed Cost-Bridge & approaches: £ 9,900.000. Length of Bridge and approaches: 2 miles 33 chns. Length of arch span: 1650 FT Highest point of arch above high water: 440FT Height of pylons: 285 FT Clearance at high water for shipping: 170FT Width of arch deck: 160FT Central roadway 57FT wide 4 electric railway tracks (4’8 1/2″ gauge) 2 footways each 10FT wide Bridge commenced: 28 July 1923 Bridge completed: 1932 Bridge opened: 19th March 1932 This message has been received subject to the Post and Telegraph Act and Regulations’

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