Port of Yamba Historical Society
Christmas Information- Save the date
This year we’ve decided to get together a little way out of town, in a very relaxed atmosphere for festive evening drinks and light refreshment if you wish as a food van will be on the premises. Hope you can enjoy the end of year merriment with us.
Friday 5th December 2025, from 5pm till 7pm
Gin Distillery Yamba – 11 Uki Street, Yamba
Live Music with Soft Confusions – vocalist and guitarist
Pay Your Own way
Summer Holiday Closure
Over the summer holidays the museum will be closed from:
2 PM on Sunday
December 21st 2025
re-opening
10 AM on Saturday
January 3th 2026
A pleasurable holiday safe and happy time to all our members and friends over the festive time ahead.
Welcome to our New Members
Col Shephard and Nicky Trotter
We are so happy to have you join our community of history enthusiasts. As new members, you play a vital role in preserving and celebrating our shared heritage. Come into the museum and explore the exhibits, attend events, and meet other museum members. Thank you for becoming a member of the museum !
Extraordinary People find Extraordinary Things
Fate has a way of leading you to things that need to be found! Yamba golfers Mark Rice and Chris Holst were on a golfing trip up in the Armidale region in August when the snowstorm hit the area closing the golf courses. What to do? Walking around the township of Uralla, they decided to try the highly recommended ‘Pie Mechanic’. Munching on “the most delicious sausage rolls in the country” they strolled further along the street front, stopping to view a bookshop window.
Two original documents in the window with the word ‘Yamba’ immediately attracted them and on further reading they found these were 1859 and 1901 NSW Legislative Assembly Government Documents relating to funding for the Yamba Breakwall. “These were both very interesting reading and we both were surprised. The first was for the original breakwall funding and the second was for the extension, in great detail,” said Mark. They asked the bookshop owner how he obtained them and he replied that he’d bought them at a reputable online auction he regularly uses.
Later that day over a beer, further discussion took place about the
documents and Mark and Chris decided they were of historical
significance to Yamba and they should purchase them for the total
asking price of $200 and donate them to Yamba Museum “where they belong”. Apparently there were approximately 60 copies of these documents at the time but how many are still in existence is unknown.
Mark phoned the bookshop owner to learn the shop would be closed the following day as he was flying to Sydney. Mark quickly jumped into action and organised to meet the owner at the airport the next
morning. He paid the $200 cash in exchange for the original documents.
The bookshop owner was most excited to learn the documents were being donated to Yamba Museum.
The Museum Collection Team will be processing these historical
documents and prepare a special exhibit, so watch this space!
Gai Pritchett
The object is a small rubber bulb syringe, often used as an ear or nose syringe.
Mystery Item
Random Artworks by Graham Macke and Julianne Gosper ....
24 October - 23 November 2025
Graham Mackie’s annual art exhibition, Random, opened on October 24 with a huge crowd, buying raffle tickets, chatting in the Yarning Circle as they listened to local musicians. It marked the 24th anniversary of this distinguished and popular event. It also celebrated over five decades of enduring friendship, originally forged at the Macquarie University Rugby Club. The group, formally known as the Gentlemen of Art Touring Society (GOATS), has continued to grow and thrive, embodying a spirit of camaraderie and artistic appreciation with the odd game of Golf and Tennis thrown into the mix.
This year’s exhibition also featured Julianne Gosper who presented a compelling showcase of her creative talents. Several artworks were sold at the launch and continued to sell during the month long exhibition.
An Exhibition of Paintings of Cats - Jackie Carstairs
IMPRESSIVE ‘CATS’ EXHIBITION
A gathering of 34 guests attended the ‘invite only’ opening on Saturday 6th Sept with music provided by friend Helen Hernshaw and MC Michael Balk. The Old Kirk at Yamba Museum proudly exhibited the latest of Jackie Carstairs works with ‘Cats’. Jackie captured the inquisitiveness and playfulness of cats and as one visitor said: “I could relate to the activities of the cats in the works and recognised hers doing the same thing.” Another commented on the unusual colours that blended beautifully together.
Jackie also celebrated her 90th birthday in September.
Special guest at the launch was Oscar Tamsen who, like Jackie, spent years living in South Africa. A surprise guest, Leita, a former Zimbabwe resident was introduced to Jackie, sparking memories and new friendships. Seven exhibition works had sold by the following day. All guests congratulated museum staff about the supper supplied especially the culinary talents of Vice President Brenda Salisbury. The occasion was described as ‘perfect’ with artist Jackie Carstairs honoured with a magnificent native flower arrangement.
Rugby 50 Years on
Yamba Rugby Club started in 1975 when Doug Anderson, Kev Durkin & Bob Clark decided to enter a team in the Far North Coast RU competition.
Norm Ratjens was appointed Club Coach and Bob Clark the inaugural captain. Fifteen year old Rob Mcpherson and Peter Engel were enticed into the team along with the experienced Peter McDonnell and Doug Anderson. In the first few seasons the results were mixed with a few good victories against the old foe Grafton Redman. In 1981 Steve Miller took over as coach and the results became positive - players such as Club Captain Mark Burns, Steve Powter, David Durrington performed solidly in the backs while Stan Bright, Harry Woods and Chris Searant were dominate up front.
In 1982 Yamba won its first Premiership under the leadership of back-rower Kim Morgans and Coach Steve Miller. In 1983 Mark Burns gave the name ’Buccaneers’ to Yamba Rugby as he had played for the Pirates in Tamworth. That year the newly named Buccaneers were finalists and in 1984 were defeated in the Grand Final against Byron Bay. In 1985 the club was elevated into First Grade and struggled there for the next five seasons due to the lack of depth mainly due to injuries but still managed some memorable victories and were competitive in that arena.
Junior Rugby was first established with an Under 18 team coached by Doug Anderson. Later Andy McLennan established a Junior Rugby on a Friday night in 2002, which was a massive success, producing such players as Wallabies Kane Douglas and Jed Holloway as well as Conor Young who has represented Canada. All these players also played for Southern Districts in the Shute Shield.
The bottom field at Yamba is now known as Kane Douglas Rugby Park.
The Junior Buccaneers are now flourishing with 10 teams playing on a Friday night. This season will start with a “History of Yamba Buccaneers Rugby Club” Exhibition at the Old Kirk, Yamba Museum, opening 5:30pm Friday 4th April and closing Saturday 26th April. Followed by a 50th Anniversary dinner at Yamba Surf Club on Saturday 5th July and finally Old Boys on the last home game of the season.
The Buccaneers have won Senior Premierships in 1982, 2006, 2010 and 2018 with numerous defeats in grand finals during that period.
What's happening in Summer 2025 - 2026
DECEMBER
Fri 5 - Committee meeting - 9.00am
Fri 5 - Christmas Party
at the Gin Distillery - 5pm - 7pm
Sun 21 -Sue Godfrey exhibition closes Sun 21 - Museum closes for 2 weeks
JANUARY
Sat 3 - Museum re-opens
Sat 10 - Bidhiinja Exhibit Openning
Sat 17 - Book Launch Yamba Library,
Treelands Drive 10 - 11 am
FEBRUARY
Mon 13 - Committee meeting - 9.00am
Fri 20 - AVID 9.30 - 11.30
Annual Volunteer Information Day
Sun 1 March - Bidhiinja Exhibit closes
Thank you for taking the time to read your museum newsletter! Hopefully over the summer holidays you visit, maybe bring friends, or family to the museum to learn more about where we live.
Staying informed about our latest exhibitions, events, and historical insights, is helping us spread awareness and appreciation for our local heritage. We look forward to sharing more fascinating stories and updates with you. Thank you for being a part of our museum community!