Tracing the history of Hunter River

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Tracing the journey of the Hunter River from its origins to today will be the focus of a talk at Maitland Gaol tonight.

Archeologist Sue Singleton will lead the discussion of the Bones of the River as part of Maitland City Council’s Look Who’s Talking local history program.
Rather than focus on the floods in Maitland, the talk will reveal the layers of history buried beneath the ebb and flow of the river’s tides.
“The focus of the river is often on the flooding and the effect that has had, as well as the mitigation works that have occurred as a result,” Ms Singleton said.
“[The council] instead came up with the idea of looking at the bones of the river, looking right back into its origins and how it was formed.

Tickets to the event cost $15 including wine and canapes, with the talk to run from 6pm to 8pm.
Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning any Maitland City Library branch or online at www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/library/events

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 21, 2013.

Crossing of the Blue Mountains Bicentenary

Call for registrations.

The year 2013 marks the bicentenary of the first officially acknowledged crossing of the Blue Mountains by European settlers. The crossing was made by Gregory Blaxland; William Lawson; William Charles Wentworth; a local guide; three convict servants; four pack horses and five dogs in May 1813. After three weeks of trekking through the scrub the party reached Mount Blaxland seeing an expanse of potential farming land below. The crossing is considered significant as it led to the opening up of the western plains of NSW to settlement.

The HCNSW will be running a year long marketing and publicity campaign to encourage and promote community engagement in the bicentenary through locally arranged events.

More information at History Council website.

The ’55 flood revisited

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Hundreds were missing, feared dead, while countless more were stranded on rooftops and up trees above the murky brown floodwaters that had wreaked havoc on the city.

Fifty-eight years on from the most infamous natural disaster in Maitland’s history the memories live on and will be recounted at a special event commemorating the 1955 flood.
Talks, photos and video footage will bring the horror and devastation of the flood alive at Maitland Town Hall on February 26.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 15, 2013.

Lands title claim over Lochinvar School of Arts hall

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Lochinvar School of Arts hall could be eligible for an Aboriginal lands title claim.

With the Lochinvar School of Arts trust set to fold and Maitland City Council steering clear of the matter, the hall and land on the New England Highway will fall to the state government.
Information provided to council advised that Aboriginal lands councils have, under similar situations, lodged title claims.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 14, 2013.

‘Knockout’ result: Maitland Jewish Cemetery

From the Maitland Mercury report:
One of the most prominent ­members of the local Jewish community has congratulated Maitland City Council on a plan to care for one of the state’s most historic cemeteries.

Joe Eisenberg counted among the Friends of Maitland Jewish Cemetery, was at Tuesday night’s council meeting when the plan was adopted.
“It’s an absolute knockout,” Mr Eisenberg, Maitland Regional Art Gallery cultural director, said.
The Friends have been central to preservation works and documenting the history of the old burial ground.
Their work uncovered photographs of the Louth Park site from the turn of the last century, depicting a white picket fence that council plans to reinstate.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 14, 2013.

Council says $45,000 too steep for Samuel Clift table

From the Maitland Mercury report:
History or not Maitland City Council won’t be forking out $45,000 for a dinner table.

Councillors baulked at the price tag on the Emilio Zuccani crafted table that was almost certainly belonged to Samuel Clift, a pivotal man in the development of Maitland.
“I agree with the body of the report and I don’t think it fits council’s role to buy the table,” Cr Bob Geoghegan said at last night’s council meeting.
The dining suite was recently discovered by the Maitland City Heritage Group member Andrew Coates in a Southern Highlands antique shop.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 13, 2013.

No lifeline likely for school of arts

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland City Council is unlikely to float a lifeline to the Lochinvar School of Arts hall.

A report by council corporate services executive manager Graham Tolhurst, for the consideration of councillors tomorrow night, states the ailing hall doesn’t fit the town’s planned population boom.
The hall was once home to a popular library and boxing gym but has suffered a decline in use and subsequent fall in revenue that has seen it succumb to the ravages of time.
Flaking paint reveals extensive dry rot in the weatherboards as well as drainage issues.
The Department of Primary Industries-Catchment and Lands NSW notified council of the opportunity to save the heritage-listed hall.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 11, 2013.

Heritage hope for cemetery

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland’s historic Jewish cemetery would be nominated for a place on the state heritage register under plans for the site’s future care.

 

Heritage listing is one of the goals of a conservation management plan that will be put before Maitland City Council tomorrow night.
“Implementation of the plan by council will assist in the site’s long-term protection,” council heritage officer Clare James said in a report to council.
The cemetery has already been noted as a site of state heritage significance and further investigations point to it being a fitting addition to the heritage register, which would make it eligible for state funds.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 11, 2013.

Port Macquarie Historical Society and Museum

Port Macquarie Historical Society and Museum was delighted to be named joint recipient of the Port Macquarie Hastings Community Group of the Year Award at the 2013 Australia Day Awards Ceremony on Port Macquarie’s Town Green. A small group of volunteers were on hand to share the moment; receiving a certificate and a beautiful Australia Day medallion from Australia Day ambassador Karen Banton.
The museum, its collection and themed displays tell the stories of Port Macquarie's rich and unique history and heritage. From the first settlers the Birpai people, British settlement in 1821 through to Port Macquarie's contemporary history as a tourist resort and sea-change town

Museums and Galleries NSW

Museums & Galleries New South Wales are developing a new website. M & G have established a blog to provide information about their progrees:

We envisioned an easily searchable website representing every museum, gallery and keeping place in NSW to the public. This website would tell the collective stories of volunteer museums, show the programing strength of public galleries and unveil the hidden stories of collections everywhere. Organisations would be able to update information themselves or in partnership with us.

The cost of a piece of Maitland history - $45,000

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland has the opportunity to recover a piece of furniture that could have been central to some of the city’s most historically interesting conversations, but at a whopping $45,000.

The dining suite belonged to Samuel Clift and took pride of place at the family’s residence Roseneath, on Day Street East Maitland, a recently restored Georgian residence.
The table and chairs were passed down from generation to generation and is believed to be the very same item for sale in an antique store in the Southern Highlands.
The Clifts were a large family of influential pastoralists in the northern districts of NSW.

Maitland City Heritage Group, a Maitland City Council committee, recently found the dining suite.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 11, 2013.

Convict barracks find new lease of life

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A building once used to house convicts and their families at historic Tocal Homestead will be reincarnated into self-contained accommodation for visitors and wedding guests.

Built in the late 1830s as housing for convict workers on the property, the Tocal Barracks fell into a state of disrepair ­during the 1920s.
But now the building is about to be granted a new lease on life.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 8, 2013.

Restored painting brings bygone era to life

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A painting of Maitland’s Morris Cordial Factory has been restored to its former glory.

 

Painted by Aland Watts, the work has been painstakingly restored by Morpeth art ­conserver Duncan Harty and presented to the Maitland Historical Society.
In 1877, Lewis Morris founded the Lewis Morris Aerated Water and Cordial Factory in Bulwer Street, West Maitland, but aside from being an astute businessman it also appears Mr Morris had a heart of gold.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 7, 2013.

Historic show gets a brand new look

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Hunter River Agriculture and Horticultural Association has a new web page promoting the city’s show and other show ground events thanks to the generosity and talents of Maitland businessman Paul King.

Mr King operates Infosolve in Elgin Street and designed the web page gratis with administration and functionality in mind.

The focus of the design took into account the historic roots of the association and the city’s show as it heads into the future.
The web page is an easy to navigate guide for anyone planning to visit this year’s Maitland Mercury Hunter River Super Show.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 5, 2013.

After 55 years, it’s time to cut and run

From the Maitland Mercury report:
For 55 years iconic barber  Leigh McIntyre has trimmed the short back and sides of many a Maitland man and boy, but now it’s time to say goodbye.
“You have to pull the pin sooner or later and I’ll be 70 next birthday so I want to travel while I am still capable,” Mr McIntyre said.
“But I’ve heard plenty of stories ... and I’ve told some too.”
Mr McIntyre became a barber in 1958 when he was just 15.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 30, 2013.

Maitland Town Hall’s rich history

From the Maitland Mercury report:
On January 26, 125 years ago, Maitland City Council laid the foundation stone of the West Maitland Town Hall.

It is not known where the mayor Dr RJ Pierce laid the stone in January 1888, but when the town hall was erected two years later his stone was carefully installed within the front portico on the west wall.
Once the first stone was safely laid, the West Maitland Municipal Council proceeded to advertise for suitable designs, offering a first prize of 70 pounds and a second prize of 20 pounds.
Thirty-five entries were received but Maitland architects scooped both prizes.
The consolation prize went to the ­senior firm of JW Pender, a Scottish builder turned architect who had settled in the Hunter in 1857.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Jan. 25, 2013.

Crossing the Blue Mountains bicentenary

THE CROSSING 1813:2013

2013 Centenary

The year 2013 marks the bicentenary of the first acknowledged crossing of the Blue Mountains by European settlers. The crossing was made by Gregory Blaxland; William Lawson; William Charles Wentworth; a local guide; three convict servants; four pack horses and five dogs in May 1813. After three weeks of trekking through the scrub the party reached Mount Blaxland seeing a vast expanse of potential farming land below. The crossing is considered significant as it led to the opening up of the western plains of NSW to settlement.

The History Council of New South Wales is delighted to announce it will be running a year long marketing and publicity campaign to encourage and promote community engagement in the bicentenary through locally arranged events.

U.K. National Archives

Australasia Through a Lens

The U.K. National Archives has released online thousands of early photographs and drawings of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and other Pacific Islands, just in time for Australia Day.
You can cow view images of Australian towns, buildings, landmarks and people, dating back as far as the mid-nineteenth century.

The photographs have been uploaded to the photo-sharing website Flickr so that you can tag and contribute comments and suggestions to help improve the descriptions.