THE story of Ebenezer Vickery, Chairman of the FitzRoy Ironworks at Mittagong from 1864 to 1872, will be presented at the next Berrima District Historical Society general meeting on Thursday (February 23). John Vickery, from the Tamworth Historical Society, will give a talk about his great-grandfather Ebenezer, who played a significant role at the Iron Works. One of the very few items from Ebenezer that the family still has is the seal of the FitzRoy Ironworks (pictured) and John will bring it to the meeting for all to see. FitzRoy is an historically interesting ironworks as it is the site where the first Australian iron ore was smelted with Australian coal to pig-iron. Ebenezer was a controversial person, the son of a bookmaker, who made himself one of the wealthiest persons in the colony. John will include a little of Ebenezer's family background and his life, together with some photographs and comments about his ancestor's business enterprises that he has managed to accumulate. Members and visitors are welcome to attend, starting at 7.30pm at Mittagong Research Centre (upstairs), Old Council Chambers, Bowral Road, Mittagong.