Family History officer Susan Lark said four years of research had gone into the publication.

Volunteers investigated the lives of 900 families who lived in Kiama, Jamberoo, Gerringong, Broughton Creek, Foxground, Shellharbour and Albion Park prior to 1920.

“Our volunteers used records of births, deaths and marriages from the Kiama Courthouse to trace 7500 people from 900 families,” Ms Lark said.

“This meant tracking the lives of 7500 people, including many who moved around Australia, as well as to South Africa, Canada, the USA, UK, Europe and New Zealand.”

Ms Lark said the research had exposed the seam of talent from the region, including:

*George Fuller (b.1861, Kiama) – Premier of NSW;

*Sir Joseph Carruthers (b. 1856, Jamberoo) – Premier of NSW;

*Sir William Portus Cullen (b. 1855, Jamberoo) - Chief Justice of NSW;

*Charmian Clift (b. 1923, Kiama) - author.

The Family History Centre published the first volume of Pioneers and Settlers of the Police District of Kiama prior to 1920, in 2010.

“Since that time we have uncovered many more families who made their home in the district in this time, so began work on another volume,” she said. 

Ms Lark said many of the families detailed in Pioneers and Settlers remained prominent in the community, such as descendants of Henry Havelock Honey (1850-1929), who include Kiama councillor Mark Honey.

Henry Havelock Honey was born in 1850 in the Parish of St Veep, Cornwall, England.

Henry’s parents were John Honey and his wife Catherine. Traveling with his parents and ten-year-old brother Thomas, Henry sailed to a new life in Australia, arriving on the immigrant ship Tartar in 1857.

After residing at a number of properties in the Kiama and Jamberoo areas the Honey family eventually settled on their own farm at Spring Hill, Kiama.

Henry Havelock Honey married Jane Robb in 1875.

Jane Robb was the daughter of Kiama pioneer settler James Robb and his wife Agnes McIntosh.

Henry became a prominent member of the Kiama community. For many years Henry was the manager of the Pioneer Butter Factory and at one time was also the chairman of the butter factory’s board.

It was through his efforts that the drainage of the Terragong Swamp took place turning it into prime farming land.

Considered to be one of the best rifle shooters in the county, Henry help establish the South Coast Rifle Union and held an executive position on the National Rifle Association.

Upon its formation Henry joined the Kiama Volunteer Infantry Company and rose through the ranks until he retired with the title of Colonel.

Henry and Jane were the parents of eight children who were all born and raised in the Kiama area.

Jane was well-known and respected for her devotion to her family and to her local church.

Her name was mentioned many times in the Kiama Independent as being a member of church committees and fundraising activities.

“It is fitting to be able to release this second volume as part of Family History Month, and acknowledge the contribution made by these families to the development not only of our district, but to Australia,” Ms Lark said. 

Pioneers and Settlers in the Police District of Kiama (prior to 1920) is available on CD, allowing researchers to access its alphabetical index of family names or make use of the search facility.

The first volume is also now also available electronically.

Orders can be made via the Family History Centre website: fhc.kiama.nsw.gov.au