“Canowindra Pioneer Register Pre-1901, Stories Behind the Plaques” includes stories and photographs of more than 150 families who settled in Canowindra before 1901.

The book follows on from the Canowindra Historical Society's 2001 Centenary of Federation Pre-1901 Pioneer Wall by inviting families who put plaques on the wall to tell their family's pioneering story.

The 180-page book includes the background of Canowindra's development and a dateline of significant events in the district.

Historian Dorothy Balcomb says it also contains a brief outline of the pre-1901 development of the villages and localities surrounding Canowindra such as Bangaroo, Cargo, Davy's Plains and Toogong.

“The pre-1901 pioneer pages not only include the usual dates and places of births, deaths and marriages typical of a traditional pioneer register, but also documents each family and its contribution, however small or great, to the district,” she said.

Pre-ordered copies are already being delivered and copies are available to purchase for $30 from Canowindra Historical Museum caretaker Helen Coyle on 6344-1754 and in Orange from Gwen Wythes on 6361-9920, Dorothy Balcomb on 6360-0618 or Jan Harrison on 6364-0258.

Enquiries can also be addressed to The Secretary, Canowindra Historical Society and Museum Inc, PO Box 76, Canowindra, NSW, 2804.

Members of the Canowindra Historical Society will have copies of the publication for sale at the Old Vic Inn in Gaskill Street from 9am to 1pm on Saturday, January 19.