The History of
Cape Banks Family History Society
in a Timeline

The history of Cape Banks Family History Society Inc. has been extracted from our monthly newsletter and award-winning journal, Kith & Kin, and presented below as a timeline for easy reading.

Click a button below to reveal a timeline of the society’s history for that period.

1980s

1984

  • January 1984 – initial formation of group by local like-minded people

1985

  • March 1985 – inaugural public meeting of the group held at the Maroubra Central Library
  • March 1985 – initial name of Cape Banks Peninsula Family History Group
  • August 1985 – Christine Yeats, NSW State Archives, first guest speaker
  • October 1985 – held our first Annual General Meeting
    October 1985 – first issue of Kith & Kin
  • 1985 – purchased the set of NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages on microfiche
  • 1985 – transcribed the remaining headstones at Prince Henry (Coast) Hospital Cemetery

1986

  • January 1986 – began transcribing the 746 remaining headstones of Botany Cemetery Pioneer Memorial Park
  • April 1986 – completed transcribing the 746 remaining headstones of Botany Cemetery Pioneer Memorial Park
  • May 1986 – moved into our first Research Room at Portland Crescent, Maroubra
  • July 1986 – purchased the set of Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages on microfiche
  • August 1986 – published Botany Cemetery Pioneer Memorial Park headstone transcriptions
  • September 1986 – began transcribing Botany Cemetery Church of England section headstones

1987

  • May 1987 – held our first family history seminar presented by Janet Reakes
  • September 1987 - Cape Banks FHS accepted as a member of the Federation of Family History Societies in England
  • November 1987 – began transcribing the Botany Cemetery Roman Catholic section headstones
  • December 1987 – completed transcribing the Botany Cemetery Church of England section headstones

1988

  • February 1988 – name changed to Cape Banks Family History Society Inc.
  • March 1988 – published the Botany Cemetery Church of England headstone transcriptions

1990s

1990

  • August 1990 – completed transcribing the Botany Cemetery Roman Catholic section headstones
  • September 1990 – began transcribing the Botany Cemetery Congregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Children and Jewish section headstones
  • October 1990 – published the Botany Cemetery Roman Catholic section headstones

1991

  • August 1991 – completed transcribing the Botany Cemetery Congregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Children and Jewish section headstones
  • November 1991 – published the Botany Cemetery Congregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Children and Jewish section headstones

1992

  • March 1992 – began transcribing the Botany Cemetery General Section headstones
  • November 1992 – moved our Research Rooms to Maroubra Bay Public School
  • November 1992 – began transcribing the Randwick General Cemetery headstones

1993

  • August 1993 – completed transcribing the Randwick General Cemetery headstones

1994

  • 1994 – published the Randwick General Cemetery headstones
  • January 1994 – completed transcribing the Botany Cemetery General Section headstones
  • September 1994 – held a Roadshow presented by members of the Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra Inc.
  • November 1994 – participated in the family history fair held at Randwick Town Hall

1995

  • January 1995 – published the Botany Cemetery General Section headstones
  • March 1995 – moved to our new Research Rooms at the Scouts Hall, 113A Paine Street, Maroubra
  • March 1995 – 10th Anniversary Dinner

1996

  • September 1996 - began transcribing the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume II, 1896-1912

1997

  • 1997 - published the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume II, 1896-1912

1998

  • April 1998 – began transcribing the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume I, 1887-1895
  • September 1998 – we had Lady Mary Teviot, Overseas Liaison Officer for the Federation of Family History Societies as our guest speaker
  • October 1998 – completed transcribing the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume I, 1887-1895
  • 1998 - published the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume I, 1887-1895

1999

  • January 1999 – began transcribing the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume III, 1913-1922
  • September 1999 - completed transcribing the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume III, 1913-1922
  • 1999 - published the Walter Carter Pty Ltd, Funeral Directors, Funeral Books, Volume III, 1913-1922

2000s

2000

  • September 2000 – Olympic Games held in Sydney

2005

  • March 2005 – 20th Anniversary Dinner

2007

  • August 2007 – launch of our publication Maroubra & District Pioneer Register Pre-1945

2009

  • March 2009 – launch of our publication Maroubra and District Memories
  • 2009 - digitisation of Botany Cemetery, Randwick General Cemetery, Prince Henry (Coast) Hospital & Walter Carter Funeral Directors’ publications

2010s

2010

  • March 2010 – 25th Anniversary Dinner

2012

  • August 2012 – Cape Banks FHS wins the prestigious Nick Vine Hall Award for a society with less than 500 members for our journal Kith & Kin

2015

  • March 2015 – 30th Anniversary Dinner
  • July 2015 - monthly General Meetings moved to Vonnie Young Auditorium at Lionel Bowen Library, Maroubra
  • September 2015 - Cape Banks FHS wins the prestigious Nick Vine Hall Award for a society with less than 500 members for our journal Kith & Kin

2016

  • May 2016 – The First Fleeter Memorial at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park opened

2018

  • September 2018 – wins the Dorothy Fellowes Website Award for a website designed and administered by a member

2020s

2020

  • March 2020 – 35th Anniversary luncheon cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic
  • March 2020 - Research Rooms closed due to Covid-19 pandemic
  • September 2020 - re-opening of our Research Rooms with strict health protocols in place and limited number of members able to attend each open day

2021

  • March 2021 – moved into our new Research Rooms at the Coast Centre for Seniors, Little Bay
  • September 2021 - NSW & ACT Family History Society's State Conference held online due to Covid-19 restrictions

2022

  • September 2022 - NSW & ACT Family History Society's State Conference held online due to Covid-19 restrictions

2023

  • March 2023 - digitisation of our quarterly journal Kith & Kin completed with the assistance of a grant from the Royal Australian Historical Society
  • September 2023 - publish our 150th edition of our award-winning journal, Kith & Kin.