Helga Hill Oral History

DETAILS

Overview
Helga Hill provides a detailed account of the history of her property at Carters Ridge, formerly part of the Ridgewood district, and its early settlement. The farm originally appeared on 1892 survey maps and was established by the Greber family, who migrated from northern New South Wales in the early 20th century. They first built a slab hut before constructing the main house around the 1920s. The Grebers operated a dairy farm and also produced casein, a natural polymer derived from milk products and used for manufacturing buttons and buckles in an era before the development of man-made plastics.

Hill describes the area’s early community life, including local tennis clubs, Ridgewood School events, and the clearing of dense vine scrub for farming—much of the timber burned because settlers were prohibited from selling it. She also recounts historic place name changes, expressing concern that renaming Ridgewood to Carters Ridge erased local heritage. The property’s neighbour, Tab Greber, who arrived as a child in the 1920s, shared much of this history before his death in 2017.

Hill and her husband continue to participate in community traditions, including revived ANZAC services at Ridgewood Hall. She reflects on the area’s agricultural past—particularly bean growing—and notes renewed community growth after years of decline following dam impacts.

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Oral History Transcript

Audio

IDENTIFIERS

Subject (Keywords)Farming

CONNECTIONS

PlaceRidgewood HallPersonHelga HillFamilyGreber Family

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Helga Hill Oral History