The book, Digging up the Past, is the result of five years of research from Berrima District Historical Society and Family History Incorporated volunteer, Carol Nolan, who has been assisted with the project by another society member, Carolyn Dougherty.

The tale is unlike most stories of the past with a new perspective of Highlands’ history drawn from obituaries, inquest results and death notices published in local newspapers, including the Bowral Free Press, The Scrutineer and The Robertson Advocate.

But while the book may appear to have morbid origins it has provided a colourful, sometimes tragic, but always intriguing insight into a bygone era.

It is a story that captures the hardships and challenges of people in the 1800s while highlighting the culture and traditions of the community.

And it would appear from the book that funerals were something of a social event during the early years, with hundreds of people turning out to most burials.

The list of mourners read like a who’s who of the Highlands, as people were highlighted in order of importance on death notices and obituaries.

“Bodies would lie in a house while as many as 300 mourners came to pay their respects,” Mrs Dougherty said.

“It was a tradition for four young girls, dressed in their Sunday school best, to carry the coffin of any child who died.”

Ms Nolan said she studied every microfilm of local newspapers from 1874 to 1900s to gather the information for the book.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Wednesday, July 30

jackie.meyers@ruralpress. com