'The Brooklands Story' launched

Our latest exhibition - 'The Brooklands Story' - was launched today under a sunny sky by the Chair of the Act Heritage Council, Dr Ken Heffernan. The exhibition features three generations of the branch of the Southwell family that began with Richard, son of patriarch Thomas Southwell, when he made the original selection of 'Brooklands' in 1877. The exhibition is the story of both the place and the people over the past 145 years, prompted by the fact that current owners Kingsley and Cynthia Southwell are selling - and moving into Hall village.

Storyboards tell the highlights of each family, and of the Wallaroo/Brooklands school that was established after Richard donate two acres of land for that purpose. A fascinating array of household and farming objects, a selection of family photos, special items and awards of particular family members all help to tell the story.

MC Phil Robson introduced Ralph Southwell, President of the Southwell Family Society, to outline the wider story of the Southwell family that sprang from Thomas's home at Parkwood. Thanks to the generosity of Kingsley, the Brooklands story is now well covered in the Southwell Family Archive - a collaborative project between the Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre and the Society.

Ken Heffernan then gave some background to the early history of the Ginninderra district, and particularly the way in which the village of Hall, established in 1882, became home for a steady stream of early settler families in their later years. We now know that Kingsley and Cynthia are destined to be the latest of them, having just purchased a new home for themselves in the village!