Blue Plaque in Wentworth Falls to honour architect and historian Beryl Mary McLaughlin
One of the first women graduates of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture, Beryl Mary McLaughlin, will be honoured with a Blue Plaque in the Blue Mountains.
The plaque will be installed in Wentworth Falls in the coming months, to recognise her legacy as an architect and enthusiastic amateur historian who lived from 1888 to 1988. It will also celebrate her generous patronage of the Blue Mountains Historical Society, which saw her estate 'Tarella' in Wentworth Falls transferred to the Society upon her death.
In 1922, Beryl Mary McLaughlin became one of the first women to receive a Bachelor of Architecture from the newly established School of Architecture at the University of Sydney.
Later in life, McLaughlin became a prominent member of the Wentworth Falls community. She was active in the region’s civil defence activities during the Second World War and was a generous supporter of the Blue Mountains Historical Society.
McLaughlin was nominated for a Blue Plaque by the Blue Mountains Historical Society, which is housed in a building which she designed and subsequently donated to the Society.
Blue Plaques NSW celebrates well-known characters many of us are familiar with, but also brings attention to lesser-known stories of people and events that shaped a particular community, town, or field of work or study.
McLaughlin’s plaque is one of 14 chosen from 117 nominations made by the public and assessed by independent historians in the second round of the NSW Government’s Blue Plaques program. The new plaques will be installed in coming months, joining the 35 already in place.
Heritage NSW is working with experts and potential property owners to finalise the plaque’s location and once installed it will be listed on the Blue Plaques NSW website www.blueplaques.nsw.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe:
“The second round Blue Plaques recognises the diverse individuals, events and perspectives that make the history of NSW so intriguing.
“Whether you’re exploring Sydney or the Blue Mountains, or taking a drive off the beaten track to regional towns like Grafton and Pambula, there’s a Blue Plaque for you to discover.
“The installation of each new plaque brings added interest to the heritage of an area, encouraging locals to explore their backyards, and inviting those from further afield to learn more about the history of these communities.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Blue Mountains and Parliamentary Secretary for Heritage Trish Doyle:
“Through this Blue Plaque, the Blue Mountains will honour Beryl McLaughlin, who was not just a woman of great accomplishment, but a cherished member of our community. She dedicated her life to the service of others and the preservation of our shared history.
“The annual McLaughlin Memorial Lecture serves as a living tribute to Beryl's unwavering dedication. Her generosity echoes through time, leaving an indelible mark on the Blue Mountains Historical Society.
“This Blue Plaque will ensure that the memory of the McLaughlin family remains eternally intertwined with the fabric of the Blue Mountains community.”
Full list of round two Blue Plaques
| Subject | Recognition | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Butler | A woman without formal engineering qualifications who had a central role in the development of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. | Sydney CBD |
| Emma Jane Callaghan | Aboriginal midwife, activist, nurse, and Indigenous Culture Recorder. | Phillip Bay, Sydney |
| Susan Katherina Schardt | Born blind, Schardt established the Commonwealth Home for Destitute Invalids, now known as Royal Rehab. | Ryde |
| Dorothy Simpson McGregor Drain | One of the first Australian female war correspondents, who reported on the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She was also a poet, columnist, and Editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly. | Glebe |
| Establishment of the first recorded life savers club | Founded in February 1907, the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club was the first recorded Surf Lifesaving Club in Australia. | Bondi |
| Sir William Dobell | A portrait and landscape artist and three-time winner of the Archibald Prize. | Wangi Wangi |
| Syms Covington | A cabin boy on the HMS Beagle who became assistant to Charles Darwin. Syms later worked as a businessman and postmaster in Pambula. | Pambula |
| Charmian Clift | A prolific writer and essayist. | Kiama |
| Pearl Mary Gibbs | A prominent female activist in the Aboriginal rights movement, Gibbs was heavily involved in the development of the Day of Mourning and the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. | Sydney CBD |
| Ioannis (Jack) and Antonios (Tony) Notaras | Greek immigrant businessmen known for establishing Grafton’s still-thriving Saraton Theatre. | Grafton |
| Beryl Mary McLaughlin | One of the first three women graduates of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture. | Wentworth Falls |
| Ken Thomas | Trucker and entrepreneur known for establishing the TNT transport empire and for his contributions to road safety. | Murrumburrah |
| Grace Emily Munro | Co-founder and first president of the Country Women’s Association. | Bingara |
| First release of myxomatosis | The CSIRO released myxomatosis in Balldale in 1950, to combat a severe rabbit problem. It was the world’s first successful biological program for control of a mammalian pest. | Balldale |