Discover history of Hillcrest

By Barbara Knox

Black Coal to Diamond, by myself and Graham Thwaite, is about “Hillcrest” at Stanwell Park, the Hargrave family, coal deposits in the Northern Illawarra and 60 years of aged care on the site.

Our new book was officially launched on 23 September at historic Hillcrest House with about 60 people in attendance, including Michael Adams (author of several books about Stanwell Park) and Janet Lee (Helensburgh Historical Society).

The book is about the Hillcrest site at Stanwell

Park, but it also encompasses the surrounding areas from Otford to Clifton. It provides historical information about the family of John Fletcher Hargrave and his four children (Ralph, Lawrence, Gilbert and Alice), who called this area home and how they helped put the area on the map.

There is also insight into other characters, such as boarding house proprietors, who encouraged visitors to stay in such a remote place.

Readers will learn about Margaret Campbell, who donated the Hillcrest site to UPA in 1961 for aged care use, the building of the early retirement cottages and the restoration of Hillcrest House achieved together with Friends of Hillcrest Group. The book also covers the more recent building of the new Hillcrest Retirement Village and Frank & Jess Kennett Home on the site.

The 360-page book contains many beautiful photos, some of which were only uncovered during the three years of research for the book, published by Hillcrest custodians, UPA Sydney.

To buy a copy of the book at a cost of $45, please contact Barbara Knox from Hillcrest Village on 8197 9304 or email barbara.knox@sydney.upa.org. au. It would be a beautiful Christmas gift.