Author(s): Brody, Carolyn ; Forster, Peter ; Acker, Margitta

Canberra

urns 50, The Story of a Canberra Suburb, 1964 - 2014, is a collection of short stories that are typical examples of the history and life in Curtin for the first fifty years. These stories are derived from archives and residents recollections based on research, face-to-face interviews, recorded conversations and/or personal experience in the community. The book was written and produced by a group of dedicated volunteers.In 1962, Woden Valley was a sheep grazing area with a rural population of 9. 'Curtin' was gazetted in 1962 and commemorated John Joseph Curtin - Prime Minister. The National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) planned Curtin and in 1964 and the first residents moved in. Many of the early settlers liked the rustic surrounds - sheep grazing over the back fence, a real creek in which to find yabbies and on the northern side of what became the overpass to Hughes. The book has stories about the shops, schools, churches and community groups as well as the early days of the suburb and tragedies such as the 1971 Floods and 2003 Bushfires. There are some great yearns and memories of living in Curtin. Most will enjoy the Facebook excerpts and there are details about Curtin street names.