Steamfest gains momentum : photos

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Steam locomotive 5917 has been given the green light to appear at this weekend’s Maitland Toyota Hunter Valley Steamfest, following a four-year repair program. 

Maitland City Council’s events co-ordinator Adam Franks said the engine's rejuvenation had been a lengthy process.

This engine will haul the Singleton excursion on Saturday and the Barrington Bullet and Stroud Road excursions on Sunday. 

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 10, 2014.

Grossmann House - Heritage Festival

The National Trust Heritage Festival event for the Friends of Grossmann House is a journey amongst the schools and churches of Central Maitland. The heritage walk will end with an afternoon tea at the old Maitland Girls High School Hostel, now Brough House, where a display of school memorabilia will be on view.
Bookings essential, Phone Holly 49344314.

Maitland St Mary's clock tower tours

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Maitland would not be the same without the clock and chiming bells of St Mary’s Anglican Church.

It was the people of Maitland who insisted that the church tower have a clock, so changes were made to the structural design of the steeple.

When everything was completed in 1887, the clock and chiming bells were started on Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Day on June 21.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 9, 2014.

St John's Cathedral Maitland restoration

From the Maitland Mercury report:

A plan to resurrect one of Maitland’s oldest Catholic dwellings is inching closer to fruition with the launch of an appeal to raise money for the multi-million dollar project.

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is on a mission to raise funds for the refurbishment of St John’s Cathedral as part of plan to restore the eastern end of High Street into a cathedral precinct.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 8, 2014.

Heritage group questions Glebe Paddock development

From the Maitland Mercury report:

A member of the Glebe Heritage Preservation Group has questioned the Newcastle Anglican Diocese’s right to develop a historic paddock for housing.

Maitland City Council considered the church’s application to change the land’s rural zoning to residential last night.

“The land was originally gifted to the Anglican Church, it could be assumed, in the spirit of benefiting the people of Maitland,” resident and member of the preservation group Nerryn Bennett said.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 8, 2014.

$10k grant to publish Anzac book

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Ann Campbell and Robyn Wickham will bring the stories of Maitland men and women who participated in the Gallipoli ­campaign to life.

The Maitland and District Genealogical Society members have co-written a book that details the stories of 270 men and women from the area who were involved at Gallipoli from the landing on April 25, 1915, to the evacuation in late December.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Wednesday April 16, 2014.

World War I hero deserves recognition : Editorial

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Maitland has never shied away from honouring its famous sons.

A magnificent bronze statue was erected in honour of Australian boxing champion Les Darcy at King Edward Park in East Maitland in 2000.

Now Maitland RSL sub-branch vice-president Fred Goode has put ­forward another name for our city to consider for further recognition – Joseph Maxwell.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 2, 2014.

Maitland war hero the world forgot

From the Maitland Mercury report:

The Maitland RSL sub-branch has launched a campaign to ­honour the city’s only Victoria Cross recipient, Joseph Maxwell.
Mr Maxwell fought at Gallipoli in World War I and was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery and ­leadership in an attack on the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme line, near Estrees, north of St Quentin in France on October 3, 1918.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 2, 2014.

Maitland Gaol’s first 20 years revealed

From the Maitland Mercury report:

The deep, dark stories of Maitland Gaol’s first 20 years are about to be revealed.

During the past few years haematologist turned Hunter historian Dr Pamela Harrison has been working on a chronological account of the gaol’s earliest years.

In her book – Life and Death in Maitland Gaol; The First Twenty Years 1849-1869 – Harrison has unearthed examples of extreme ­justice, sadness and tragedy with women the most likely victims.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 1, 2014.

East Maitland Court House will no longer be used for criminal cases

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Criminal matters will no longer be heard in the iconic East Maitland Court House with cases being moved to Newcastle. A spokesperson from the Office of Chief Justice told the Mercury a decision had been made to move district court matters from East Maitland to a new court precinct in Newcastle.

Historic day: East Maitland Court House has seen some hardened criminals through its doors including the infamous serial killer Ivan Milat.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, March 31, 2014.

 

Historic trees are an important part of our heritage

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Millers Forest resident Susan Shillingford is to be applauded for her call to catalogue and preserve historic trees in the district.

Her heartfelt appeal follows the removal of a beautiful Moreton Bay fig in her rural community, a move she fears could put other iconic trees at risk.

Ms Shillingford has made a hobby of researching the history of greenery in the Hunter and believes there are about 100 similar fig trees in the area.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, March 31, 2014.

Kurri Nostalgia Festival Photo Gallery

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Photos from all the glitz, glamour and fun that is the Kurri Nostalgia Festival.
The models strutted their stuff in Sunday afternoon's retro fashion parade.

By CESSNOCK ADVERTISER March 29, 2014.
Gallery can be viewed at Maitland Mercury website, 29 March 2014.

National Trust Heritage Festival - Newcastle Event

Miss Porter’s House (Newcastle’s only National Trust House) will open during the National Trust’s Heritage Festival.
Hazel Porter’s decision to bequeath her family’s home to the National Trust represents a milestone in the journey of Newcastle’s heritage activism. Today we celebrate the Porter family and their generous contribution to Newcastle.

Presented by:
Miss Porter's House

Saturday 12 April 2014

Start Time: 1pm

End Time: 4pm

Miss Porter's House
434 King Street
Newcastle West 2302 NSW

Maitland and District Genealogy Society

Maitland and District Genealogy Society are holding an Open Day on Saturday 26 April, 9.30am - 3.00pm.
This is  FREE event.

Location:  Mounted Police Barracks, Lindesay Street, East Maitland.

Website: http://www.mdgs.org.au/