Welcome
Welcome to the Mosman Historical Society’s website. It provides information on both the Society itself and Mosman’s rich history.
Dalton (Jack) Carroll founded the Society in 1953. An incorporated community organisation, it promotes the history and heritage of Mosman as well as of Australia as a whole. It is an affiliate member of the Royal Australian Historical Society.
The Society's Speaker meetings are held on the SECOND WEDNESDAY in the months of March, May, July, September and November at 7pm in Mosman Library, 605 Military Road, Mosman 2088. Visitors welcome.
The website provides information on the Society's activities and events and how to become a member. It also includes links to a wide range of relevant history resources. Photographs presented on each page of the site are from the collection of the Mosman Library and are displayed with the approval of the Mosman Library. The Society wishes to thank the Library for the use of their photographs.
MOSMAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY POSITION ON NEW STATE PLANNING RULES
OUR HERITAGE POSITION
Mosman Historical Society promotes heritage values, and encourages the conservation of Mosman's places of natural, indigenous and built heritage. This includes adaptive re-use that is sympathetic to heritage places, and has minimal impact on their cultural significance.
Mosman Historical Society shares the concern of many community members that, in its present form, the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy will result in significant losses of Mosman's precious heritage.
Given our heritage position, Mosman Historical Society endorses the approach of Mosman Council as specified below. We expect that these initiatives should produce better heritage outcomes for Mosman.
Work progresses on Mosman Masterplan
• Work is progressing strongly on Mosman Council’s long-term strategic Masterplan that will guide how our area grows and changes into the future.
• This plan is seeking to amend how the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy (LMR) is applied in some areas of Mosman. Council representatives recently met with the NSW Department of Planning, one of several scheduled meetings to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved for Mosman.
• A detailed assessment of Mosman’s existing infrastructure and housing capacity analysis is underway, to help ensure that future planning decisions are realistic, sustainable and in the community’s longterm interest.
Community feedback will play an important role in shaping the Mosman Masterplan. Stay informed about the latest developments and opportunities for community consultation; regular updates on the Mosman Masterplan are available on Council's website and at yourvoicemosman.com.au.
Current Activities
The Slippery Symbols of Australia – Talk by Richard White on Wednesday 8 April 2026 at 7.00pm.
See Activities & News for further information.
MOSMAN: Times Gone By
Mosman Historical Society has published a new book: 'MOSMAN: Times Gone By', a collection of researched articles on many aspects of the early settlement and development of Mosman on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, as well as research on local historical homes, many now lost, and stories of life in Mosman from the 1800s, researched over many years by Society members.
Available from May 2023. Please follow this link to download and complete the order form.
The Rangers Estate, Mosman
Click here to access our free eBooklet covering the history of The Rangers Estate, Mosman. It is illustrated with many images from the Mosman Local Studies Collection and old newspapers. The size is around 20MB, and pages 2 and 4 are deliberately blank in case you want to print the document. Printing in black and white will cost around $25 at Officeworks or Snap. Considerably more for colour.
If you have any corrections, comments or additional material we would love to hear from you.
mosmanhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Clifton Gardens: A History
Click here to access our free eBooklet covering the history of the Clifton Gardens hotels, pleasure grounds and residential areas. It is illustrated with many images from the Mosman Local Studies Collection and old newspapers. The size is around 38MB, and pages 2 and 4 are deliberately blank in case you want to print the document. Printing in black and white will cost around $25 at Officeworks or Snap. Considerably more for colour.
If you have any corrections, comments or additional material we would love to hear from you.
mosmanhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Blog
Plaques in Mosman — The Parmentier Bench →
Mosman's Houseboats →
Student's Anzac History Prize 2018 →
