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.