Thursday, October 22, 2015

Acquisition of shops to make way for river link at The Levee in Maitland CBD

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Council has had to turn to the Land Acquisition Act to fulfil plans to build an archway to link The Levee with the riverbank.
The link, part of stage two of The Levee, will require three buildings to be demolished.
Long negotiations between Maitland City Council and the owners of two of the buildings have to date been unsuccessful. The acquisition act was brought into play.
Those owners will be compensated for their properties.
Of the three shops marked for demolition, one is council owned.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Oct. 20, 2015.

The 10th Annual Harry Boyle OAM Heritage lecture

The 10th Annual Harry Boyle OAM Heritage lecture will be held at Brough House, Church St, Maitland on Friday 30th October, 2015.

This lecture will be presented by Carol Duncan, Journalist, former ABC Presenter and founder of Lost Newcastle. Her lecture is titled History in the Suburbs.

The evening commences at 6.30 with drinks and canapes and followed by the lecture at 7.00pm. $25 or $20 (NT members).
All monies go towards the upkeep of Grossmann and Brough Houses.

Bookings essential: Janece 49334450 or email janece.mcdonald@newcastle.edu.au
 
 

Writing Family History - University of Tasmania

Secrets, twists, triumphs and tragedies; bring the stories of ancestors to life! Writing Family History is a fully online unit from the University of Tasmania. Join students around Australia for an introduction to writing non-fictional and fictional narratives based on real genealogical records.
Online: Writing Family History is part of a fully online suite of units to enable flexible study.

Free access to Ancestry.com Library: Gain free access to billions of historical documents, millions of historical photos, plus local narratives, oral histories and other resources that span from the 1500s to the 2000s.

Unit Objectives
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
  • Use and reflect on a range of key strategies and techniques for writing narratives based on genealogical records;
  • Contribute to a supportive online workshop environment by giving and receiving constructive critical feedback on short writing exercises;
  • Produce a coherent piece of short fiction or non-fiction based on genealogical research.
After completing Writing Family History, the opportunity exists to undertake further units within the Associate Degree in Arts.
http://www.utas.edu.au/arts/writing-family-history

Telarah Public School 125th anniversary

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Telarah Public School community has capped off its 125th anniversary celebrations with a successful community open day.
The informal open day was a chance for the Telarah community to visit and tour the school, look at some of the new classrooms, enjoy old photos and see how far the school had come since it opened more than a century ago.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury,  Oct. 19, 2015.

First look at new Morpeth seniors' housing estate plan

From the Maitland Mercury report:
After much speculation and tension developers have unveiled their plans for seniors’ living in the grounds of the old Morpeth Bowling Club.
Given a list of six options for the site the developer Morpeth Land Company wants to build a medium density village for the over 55s beside the old Morpeth Bowling Club.
The clubhouse is under refurbishment for use as a childcare centre and the land between it and Morpeth Common has been slated for the 22 single-storey villas.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Oct. 15, 2015.

Morpeth development a divisive issue for council

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Councillor Loretta Baker said few topics had divided Maitland City Council as the vote on medium density housing at Morpeth.
Cr Baker, who was deputy mayor until last month, had opposed the inclusion of the former bowling club land in plans to meet the city’s future growth as part of a Labor voting block.
The council planning department had recommended the Edward Street site in the Maitland Urban Settlement Strategy be refused because development posed a threat to the character of the village.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury,

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Maitland Regional Museum hosts WWI Tunnelling Corps exhibition at Brough House

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Maitland Regional Museum has begun to unearth the forgotten stories of the World War I Tunnelling Corps with its latest exhibition.
Museum director Janece McDonald said the strong turnout on the opening night, the diverse groups who had ­visited the exhibition and the exhibition’s success in unearthing untold history highlights the need for Maitland Regional Museum to be granted funding for its own space.
Currently the museum does not have its own designated building but instead relies on community spaces to host exhibitions in its name.
Dr McDonald said numerous descendents of tunnellers have attended the exhibition to tell and immortalise their ancestor’s stories. She told The Mercury the tale of a Cessnock man, a son of a tunneller, who was keen to shed light on his father’s experience in the corps.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Oct. 13, 2015.

Inside History - issue 30 - September/October 2015

Inside History magazine is for people passionate about Australian and New Zealand genealogy, history and heritage, with features and practical tips to help you trace your family tree and discover the life your ancestor led. Whether you want to explore convict history, find your Anzac, identify photographs or trace your family tree, our trusted expert advice will help you discover your past.
In issue 30, the Sep-Oct edition of Australia’s favourite history and genealogy magazine, you’ll discover:
  • New evidence of the First Fleet landing place – has history got it wrong?
  • Who Do You Think You Are? is back! Meet celebs Luke Nguyen and Ray Martin (and their fascinating ancestors)
  • How to write a compelling family history, as esteemed historian Graeme Davison talks us through his own research and writing process
  • 85 new genealogy resources to help further your family tree
  • The post-war lives of our World War I diggers revealed in the National Archives of Australia’s repatriation files
  • The 1827 Parramatta Female Factory riot – was it Australia’s first workers’ action?
  • The life and times of the leatherworkers of yesteryear
  • How to research Irish convicts
  • Inside History‘s genie guide to Canberra
  • Life on the home front: our military history expert helps solve a reader’s mystery photo about wartime Australia
  • The latest history news, events, book and app reviews
Available to borrow as an emagazine at Maitland City Library: http://www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/Library/resources

Maitland City Council agrees to potential rezoning of historic Morpeth

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Councillors dismiss officers concerns about development of Morpeth Bowling Club site

Maitland councillors have dismissed concerns about development on the former Morpeth Bowling Club site and agreed to add it to its land bank.
The site will now be included in the Maitland Urban Settlement Strategy and will soon be considered for rezoning .
Brad Everett, a Morpeth Land Company director, said the council report “was not balanced” and urged the councillors to support the proposal.
He said the company was “trying to get the best outcome” and “not seeking to have the land rezoned”.
The council has confirmed a proposal to rezone the land general residential and build 22 to 30 high-density homes will be put before the councillors at another meeting.
Vocal Morpeth residents filled the chamber and urged the councillors to “protect the heritage of the village”.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Oct. 13, 2015.

Council officers recommend rejection of DA for old Morpeth Bowling Club site

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Plans to build houses around old Morpeth Bowling Club have again failed to find favour with Maitland City Council’s planning division.
And they’ve recommended councillors officially reject the plans on Tuesday night.
Council planners listed seven reasons the land was unsuitable for residential development in the report to councillors.

The report said there was no need for housing in that area because there was 20-plus years of residential land supply nearby and such development would threaten the character of the village.
Council’s firm stance follows a veiled threat last month from developer, Morpeth Land Company, which said it would build a caravan park if a plan for up to 30 homes was refused.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Oct. 12, 2015.

Maitland council tested by range of development proposals in Morpeth

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Heritage rich Morpeth is under siege from developers who have tested Maitland City Council with various plans and proposals in recent weeks.
The plans target the village fringes, overlooking rural land, assessed against the ageing Morpeth Management Plan.
“There’s an unresolved issue on the edges of Morpeth and council might need to revise this plan,” Hill Top Planners director Richard Bennett said.
“They’re experiencing pressure on the edges of the village.”
But council has defended the plan it adopted 15 years ago.
“The Morpeth Management Plan is an important part of ­council’s decision-making framework for development in and around Morpeth,” council urban growth manager Ian Shillington said.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Oct. 7, 2015.

Maitland council held to ransom over Morpeth development application

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A developer is threatening to create a trailer park in historic Morpeth unless Maitland council approves a high-density housing estate in the village.
Morpeth Land Company wants to build 23 to 30 homes on the former Morpeth Bowling Club site and sell the existing clubhouse as a childcare centre.
A council report issued last month recommended that the company’s proposal to have the land included in the Maitland urban settlement strategy, which governs future land development and is the first step in the approval process for the housing estate, be denied.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Oct. 6, 2015.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Australian TV Documentary looking to reunite family members.

An Australian TV documentary series that aims to help find long lost relatives, is looking for participants.

If you are desperate to trace a lost family member and have been searching with no success,we would like to hear from you – perhaps we can help (at no cost to you).
We understand that this is a very emotional quest and we will always be very sensitive to seekers who respond to us.
The programme will follow the stories of people who have, for one reason or another, experienced long term separation from members of their family and are seeking to be reunited with them.
The aim of the programme is to help people who are struggling to find enough information to move closer to a reunion.  The programme hopes to track down lost relatives and follow the stories from the search through to the reunion.
 
More information at family search requests

10th Annual Harry Boyle OAM Heritage lecture

The 10th Annual Harry Boyle OAM Heritage lecture will be held at Brough House, Church St, Maitland on Friday 30th October, 2015. This lecture will be presented by Carol Duncan, Journalist, former ABC Presenter and founder of Lost Newcastle. Her lecture is titled History in the Suburbs. The evening commences at 6.30 with drinks and canapes and followed by the lecture at 7.00pm. $25 or $20 (NT members). All monies go towards the upkeep of Grossmann and Brough Houses.
Bookings essential : Janece 49334450 or email janece.mcdonald@newcastle.edu.au

Archival revival: Looking back at 1966 Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Photographs of faces and places in Maitland from 1966.

Full article available at: Maitland Mercury, Oct. 1, 2015.

BHP Newcastle reunion to celebrate 100 years

From the Maitland Mercury report:
 Dozens of Maitland people who have links to BHP are expected to attend the final big reunion of employees in Newcastle this Saturday – marking 100 years since the company opened there.
Billed as the “last hurrah” BHP Reunion, it will be held at Newcastle District Tennis Club, Broadmeadow, at 12.30pm on Saturday.
This month also marks 16 years since the closure of BHP’s The Front End in Newcastle, where so many people from Maitland had been employed.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Sept. 24, 2015.

Four steam trains and four Tiger Moths for Steamfest

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Four steam trains, across four tracks, with four Tiger Moths overhead, equals one hell of a teaser for the 2016 Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest.
The spectacle will be a world-first if organisers can gain the necessary permission in time for the 30th anniversary celebration.
“It’s a big task, but we’ve written the letters and we’re hopeful we can get permission,” Steamfest committee member Peter Garnham said.

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

Long wait for return of historic locomotives to Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The two locomotives that represent the pinnacle of the steam era – the 3801 and 3830 – won’t return to Maitland for at least a year or two. 
Organisers of the annual Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest are relieved, however, there’s at least a public plan to return the 3801 and 3830 to service.
They were taken out of service in 2008 and 2009 respectively and the radio silence on their restoration has frustrated rail buffs.

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