The Ashfield & District Historical Society is a not-for-profit community organisation founded in 1973. The Society promotes interest in the history of Ashfield and the surrounding suburbs of Dobroyd Point, Haberfield, Summer Hill, Ashbury, Hurlstone Park Croydon and Croyden Park in Sydney’s inner west.

The Society produces quality publications, organises varied activities and supports research into their local history. ADHS has a proud record of promoting heritage conservation in Ashfield and surrounding suburbs for nearly 50 years.

Ashfield & District Historical Society holds a huge number of resources that can assist researchers with their own projects, including:

• Subdivision Plans
• Water Board Plans
• Ashfield Council Rate Books, 1872-1890 (microfilm)
• Ashfield Council Minutes 1872-1920 (microfilm)
• Ashfield Council Valuation Books, 1908-10, 1920, 1922-26 (microfiche)
• Ashfield Council Building Applications 1909-1980 (microfiche)
• Sands‘ Sydney Directories (microfiche)
• Wise’s Post Office Directory of Ashfield 1936 (hard copy)
• NSW Post Office Directory for 1904 (CD-Rom)
• The NSW Telephone Exchange List of Subscribers for 1913 (CD-Rom)
• The Advertiser, 1888-1909, Ashfield newspaper (microfilm)
• The Ashfield Argus, 1924-1960 (incomplete, microfilm)
• Newspaper Cuttings (1960s-1990s)
• NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages (CD-Rom)
• Soc. of Australian Genealogists Cemetery Transcriptions for Rookwood, Macquarie Park, Waverley & South Head (CD- Rom)
• Gravestone Inscriptions (Hard Copies)
• 1901 Commonwealth Census (Microfiche)
• 1903 Commonwealth Electoral Roll (Hard Copy)
• Electoral Roll for the Seat of Evans 1954 (Hard Copy)
• Ashfield Council Minutes (Microfiche)
• Miscellaneous Maps and Plans
• Ashfield Council Valuation Books (Microfiche)
• Photographs
• Heritage Studies and Conservation Plans
• Institutions and Places
• Schools
• Churches
• Family Histories

The Society’s Rooms at Thirning Villa are open on the Second Saturday and the Last Saturday of each month between 11 am and 4 pm. Weekday visits can be arranged by appointment only.

The open days at the rooms attract a wide range of researchers including homeowners, university students, professional consultants, conservationists and those interested in their family trees. Often on these days, an eclectic mix of stimulating personalities with a variety of interest topics provides great conversation and a wonderful opportunity to learn about the local history of Ashfield.

Postal address:
PO Box 20, Ashfield, NSW, Australia 2131