Bega Valley Genealogy Society's history detectives celebrate 30 years at the Old Pambula Courthouse

After its beginnings in August 1987 and five years searching for a home for the library and research centre, the society is now celebrating 30 years in the Old Pambula Courthouse and Police Station.

The inaugural meeting was held at Pambula Public in 1987 and for the next five years the BVGS continued looking for a suitable home. In 1990, through the co-operation of the Merimbula Imlay Historical Society and with approval of the Bega Valley Shire Council space was made available to the BVGS in the Old School Museum in Merimbula for a period of time.

This meant that at last the BVGS could invite members of the public to use it facilities. Until this point secretarial records and the 'library' had been located either under Joan Brown's bed or in the boot of Noreen Hartfield's car and carried to and from meetings in boxes. In 1992 the BVGS was operating out the CWA Hall, Toallo St, Pambula.

But in April 1992, the Merimbula News Weekly reported the official opening of the BVGS's library and research centre at its new location at the Old Pambula Court House and Police Station, would take place in the Court House April 4 with a ceremony performed by Jim Snow, member for Eden Monaro after the society became rental tenants through the Baddeley Reserve Committee/Bega Valley Shire Council Trustees for 23 years.

Early in 2015 the Baddeley Reserve Committee was discontinued and in July 2015 the BVGS entered into a lease agreement with the BVSC Trustees which has now been place for seven years.

The 30-year rental hasn't been without incident though. In 1994, when there was a move by the government to sell the building but the public outcry caused the state government to further consider its options.

In 2020 there was great concern over a proposal to increase rents but happily this was resolved.

BVGS president Liz McIntyre said they had a lovely historical building to use as their library and research centre.

"It also houses our large local and archive collections, a place where we can welcome locals, tourists and help them with their family history researches," Ms McIntyre said.

The society's members are fastidious in their research, something Deb Dunn knows well.

Deb and husband Mike, bought the historic but very rundown Baddeley Cottage in Pambula. Their renovations were chronicled for ABC's Restoration Australia.

Ms Dunn said they were so grateful for the work the society had done for them.

"We had a folder one inch thick from Margaret Sly (BVGS member and researcher) who established the history of the house and land and a whole other history which she uncovered," Ms Dunn said.

Melbourne based author Ian Hunter has also used the services of the society. Mr Hunter is writing a fictional novel based around the true life events of Fred Piper's bus journeys between Cooma and Bega after WWI. Piper's Lookout on Brown Mountain was named in Fred Piper's honour.

Society members are working on another old building in the area that has recently changed hands and has new owners keen to uncover its history.

BVGS member and researcher Pat Raymond said people contacted them from all over the world, the UK, New Zealand and America.

"People contact us because they have a connection to the area, and are looking for their family history and what they did. We have a lot more resources than on the internet. For example we can trace electoral rolls from 1860-1930," Ms Raymond said.

"They email or ring us and if we've done something on the family before or know the connections then it gives us a head start," she said.

Ms Raymond is also very knowledgeable on local military history having authored 'Remembering WWI soldiers' a history of all soldiers from the Bega Valley in World War 1.

She said the society held the rate books for Bega from 1885-1950s, Mumbulla Shire Council 1907-1953 and Imlay Shire Council 1907-1953.

"This means if someone wants to trace the history of their home it is possible to do this by using these rate books."

Joan Brown, who back in the early days of the BVGS had kept the papers under her bed, for want of an office, is still an active member.

"We had a lady in on Tuesday from Queensland, searching for her family history," Ms Brown said.

"They want information, stories from the newspapers."

Some people just want to know about the building and its history. The Old Pambula Courthouse and Police Station is the only courthouse in the Bega Valley Shire which is accessible to the general public, others are either still in use or sold off.

Ms McIntyre said tthe Court House was a National Trust Building and was NSW Heritage listed.

"Pambula businesses have focused on the town's heritage in an effort to establish a separate identity for the town, a theme which has been promoted to the tourist for many years. We are glad we are a part of that and will be for many years to come," Ms McIntyre said.

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