THE FOUNDING OF THE SOCIETY The Society was formed in 1983 by a group of people who shared a common interest in understanding the history of the Lower Hawkesbury region and the two major adjacent valleys of the Macdonald River and Mangrove Creek. The Society is not based in any one town or local government area. Its area of interest extends into the Shires of Hornsby and Baulkham Hills and the Cities of Hawkesbury and Gosford. Because the region is divided by rivers and rugged high country the local members often have to travel an hour or more in order to attend a meeting which is only a short distance from their homes as the crow flies. Many of the Society’s members live in other districts and even in other States but have a special interest in the area, some because of family connections in earlier generations. It is not unusual for people to travel from Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley to participate in the Society’s excursions and meetings. The early meetings of the Society were held wherever it could beg or borrow a suitable venue, but it was soon able to acquire a lease on the Lower Hawkesbury Wesleyan Chapel in order to make use of it as a local history centre. Built in 1855 of Hawkesbury sandstone, this Chapel is situated on the northern bank of the Hawkesbury at Greens, near Gunderman, and is thus centrally located between the settlements of Wisemans Ferry, St Albans and Spencer. In 1986, with the aid of a grant from the Australian Bicentennial Council, the Society was able to purchase the building from the Uniting Church. The Chapel now serves as the permanent base for the Society’s activities and as a centre for the study of the history created by the colourful pioneers of the local area who worked so hard amid isolation, floods and the vagaries of nature to create a home for themselves and future generations. So that the Society can proceed with the restoration of the Chapel and its adaptation to its current uses, it is necessary for further funds to be raised to supplement the original grant provided for the purchase of the building.  Now, proceeds from talks and tours go towards restoration and maintenance of the Chapel. The Society has operated for over forty years, and we hope with the support of our members, it will continue to research and promote the history of the Lower Hawkesbury for years to come.