Saturday, June 20, 2015

The changing face of Maitland's High Street

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Mercury photographer Cath Bowen delved into the archives to bring to life the ever changing face of High Street, Maitland.        

Full article at Maitland Mercury, June 19, 2015.                         

Kurri Kurri Coalfields Heritage Group digitises photographs and oral collection

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Nothing can replace the spoken word of a person telling their life story and that is what Brian Andrews of the Kurri Kurri Coalfields Heritage Group is passionate about.
Mr Andrews and other volunteers have been working with the University of Newcastle Library’s Cultural Collections to digitise the museum’s collection of photographs and oral history.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 18, 2015.

Maitland Library to show off collection of historic maps

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A collection of historic maps detailing Maitland’s history from the late 1800s through to the early 1970s will be revealed telling a meticulous story of the city’s past.
The collection of 150 maps – dating from 1841 to 1973 – will be available to the public this week as part of Maitland City Library’s ‘Romance of Maps’.
The launch of the digitised historic map collection coincides with an exploration of maps by estate cartographer Claire Philp.
“For the first time, the diverse range of maps collected by Maitland City Library has been collated and digitised and will be accessible to the community through the library’s website,” Maitland City Librarian Keryl Collard said.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 17, 2015.

Raymond Terrace march to mark 100 years for women in police

From the Maitland Mercury report:
To help mark the occasion a custom-made police baton is making its way around the state and is due to arrive in Raymond Terrace on Saturday.
In 1915, the first two women joined the NSW Police Force.
Now, 100 years on, there are 4542 female sworn officers and 2581 female unsworn officers across the state.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 16, 2015.

Hundreds gather to recall life in Greta Migrant Camp

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Greta Migrant Camp community is like a big family, Greta Migrant Camp Celebrations organiser Tanya Petrot says.
Hundreds of people gathered at Greta Workers Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to share and learn about the history of the old camp that was home to about 100,000 migrants who escaped Europe after World War II.
Ms Petrot said many people brought their own historical artefacts to show others at the reunion, including old documents from family members who spent time living in the camp.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 14, 2015.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Elizabeth Matt recalls growing up in Greta Migrant Camp

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Hundreds of people with family connections to Greta Migrant Camp will attend 66th anniversary celebrations as part of Refugee Week this month.
Greta Migrant Camp was the biggest migrant camp in Australia, taking in 100,000 refugees escaping war torn Europe after World War II.
The theme of the celebration is Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow starting with a free film night on Friday, June 12.
The 1984 movie Silver City will be shown at Greta Workers Club. Doors open at 6pm and the film starts at 7pm.
An exhibition and official opening will be held on Saturday, June 13 at Greta Workers Club at 10am. The free event will include bus trips to the former camp site, exhibits of memorabilia, photographs and costumes.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 11, 2015.

We Were There: Mercury archival photos identified

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Mercury's readers have helped identify several people in photographs from our archives featured in our We Were There column.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 11, 2015.

Greta Migrant Camp families celebrate anniversary

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Seven-year-old Maira Kalnins from Latvia was the 50,000th displaced person to arrive at Greta Migrant Camp.
The pretty blonde haired girl was chosen from a ship filled with people to greet the-then Australian immigration minister Arthur Calwell on board a ship at Fremantle, before it sailed to Newcastle.
She delivered a speech she had learned by heart and she was presented with a beautifully dressed doll whose eyes opened and closed and a toy koala.
The now married Mrs Maira Kluina, 73, lives in Turramurra and still has the toy koala.
She will come back to Greta with her brother Inar and sister Sandra, who was born there, for the 66th anniversary celebrations at the camp site this weekend.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 10, 2015.

Maitland City Library: The Romance of Maps

Maps have been around for centuries and have proven to be remarkably adaptable and useful.
So, why do maps - even the simplest ones - continue to fascinate us?
Claire Philp is only one of a handful of estate cartographers worldwide, charting in meticulous detail the topographical features and buildings on properties she has been commissioned to document.
Join Claire Philp to explore the romance of maps in all their variety and beauty, and celebrate the launch of Maitland City Library's historic map collection.           

Thursday 18 June
6.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Maitland Gaol
Free

Book now
Look Who's Talking 2015

Council support for Maitland cathedral precinct

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle contacted Maitland City Council earlier this year to see if the city would be its partner in an application for state government mining royalties to establish a cathedral precinct in the CBD.
The diocese wants to restore St John’s Cathedral, Bishops House and the Pro Cathedral.
But it has asked council to be its partner for a funding application for a proposed new cathedral square and expanded car par between the existing buildings and the river.
Upgrades to St John’s Cathedral have already been funded and a development application has been submitted to council.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 8, 2015.

New NSW Anzac Centenary web pages at State Records

A range of new pages have been added to our NSW Anzac Centenary website. These include:

Saturday, June 6, 2015

The history of Maitland's vaults has been uncovered

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The mystery surrounding subterranean Maitland has unravelled.
Late last month the Maitland City Heritage Group issued a call out to help unearth the secrets of the city’s underground basements.
As part of the search The Maitland Mercury published a series of black and white images featuring late historian Harry Boyle in an unidentified basement. 
What came forward is this.
“We believe the basement is located in High Street (the old Scobies Chambers) and used at the end of WWII as a packing area for parcels to be sent to Britain as part of a program called ‘Bundles for Britain,” Maitland City Council heritage officer Clare James said.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury,

​Tale of boxing legend Darcy edges close to the big screen

From the Maitland Mercury report:
It’s been years in the making, but finally the cinematic teaser telling the tale of Les Darcy has gone public.
Filmed and produced by childhood friends Zac Garred and Tom Arthur, The Ballad of Les Darcy (based on Peter FitzSimons’ book) is a celluloid nod to Maitland’s boxing legend.
This month – in association with Eponine Films – Garred and Arthur have released the teaser of the ­highly anticipated film.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 2, 2015.

National Trust magazine, May-July 2015

National Trust magazine, May-July 2015 includes:
  • Newcastle's way forward - radical change or cultural uniqueness
  • Macquarie's Military Hospital
  • Charles Meere paintings conserved
  • Love, desire and riches - the fashion of weddings
  • The Great War hits Broken Hill

Australian PM thanks Commonwealth War Graves Commission for contribution to Gallipoli 100 commemorations

The Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Tony Abbott MP, has thanked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the contribution it made to the Gallipoli 100 commemorations.
The Prime Minister also thanked the CWGC for the work it does in caring for the last resting places of Australian servicemen and women all around the world. A full copy of the Motion to the House of Representatives can be read here.

Peter FitzSimons’ Les Darcy talk: Maitland Regional Art Galley and Maitland City Library

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Social Scene photos - Peter Fitzsimons with Maitland City Librarian, Keryl Collard at Maitland Regional Art Galley. Peter Fitzsimons spoke about the boxing legend, Les Darcy.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 1, 2015.