I'm going to Canberra!

I am on holidays for a month y’all! I am getting back into my much loved genealogy and figuring out which ancestors I would like to spend more time with over the next few weeks.

This Saturday I am off to Sydney for two weeks to hang out with my Aunty. During my schooling years, we went to Sydney 3 – 4 times a year. Now, it is usually one or two. I really love Sydney and know my way around the CBD better than my Dad & Aunt sometimes! My Aunty has all the family heirlooms so I imagine I will be taking some photos, recording details, and scanning while I am there.

One exciting part of my holiday is that my Aunty & I are going to Canberra for a couple of days. For my overseas genea-friends, Canberra is the capital of Australia and is where the Federal Parliament sits. The last time I went to Canberra I was 12 or 13, so I wasn’t really into history or politics then. But now I am, and I’m very excited to check it all out. The initial reason for going to Canberra is that I am going to a Criminology conference at the Australian Institute of Criminology on Friday, July 4^th. As I was going to be in Sydney anyway, I was originally planning to fly to Canberra on Thursday night and fly back to Sydney after the conference or early Saturday morning. However, my Aunty suggested that we make it a road trip of sorts and spend a couple of days there exploring. We are arriving on the 3rd and leaving on the 6th. I am so keen and spent some time procrastinating before my exams by researching the places we must go. So, here is our current to-do list…

1. Australian War Memorial (AWM)

When I began my adventures in genealogy, I discovered that my Great Grandmother’s 1^st Cousin’s name, Alexander Croal, is inscribed in the Roll of Honour. It is the #1 thing on our list.  

2. National Archives of Australia (NAA)

I am really keen to check out the NAA. It is where Shauna Hicks is having the launch of National Family History Month this year. After reading a recent post of hers about her visit to Canberra and the NAA, I am keen to check it out and see their current exhibition, A Place to Call Home: MigrantHostel Memories.

3. Paperchain Bookstore

Shauna also recommended a bookstore called Paperchain. I love books and reading and cute little bookstores! 

and genealogy! :D

4. National Library of Australia (NLA)

If we have time, I’d like to see the NLA and have a sticky beak at their Treasures Gallery & Canberra: Then & Now exhibition.

5. Cockington Green Gardens

A distant cousin recommended that my Aunt & I visit the Cockington Green Gardens. I had never heard of it before, but after some googling and browsing their website for a good while, we definitely have to go! It looks so cute! Their website states that it is a 'delightful and fascinating display of meticulously crafted miniature buildings set within beautifully landscape gardens.' 

Cockington Green  Gardens
[Source: Google Images]

If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know, particularly food places too as I am sure we will be eating out a lot!

Alexander Croal.

Alexander Croal, my 1st cousin 3x removed. He was my Great Grandmother Elizabeth Croal’s cousin.

Born: 1878, Scotland.
Arrived: 1883, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Died: 1916, Sydney. Aged 38.

He was part of the 19th Battalion of Newtown, NSW. He enlisted on 14 May 1915 (see enlistment form below). He left Australia for Egypt with the 2nd Reinforcements in June 1915. After 4 months at Gallipoli, Alexander was hospitalized with jaundice but later contracted pulmonary tuberculosis whilst in hospital at Helopolis. He was sent back to Australia in January, but died at the 4th General Hospital in Randwick, NSW on 14 July 1916.