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Old Maitland
A series of articles published in the Newcastle Morning Herald over a period of time
OLD MAITLAND, THE SELECTION OF ITS SITE
From the Newcastle Morning Herald
17th August, 1929
The fact that the town of West Maitland occupies a site on low-lying country, with soil that would have been more adapted for agricultural than for township purposes is patent even to the casual observer, who wonders why the pioneers did not build the town on the highlands between East Maitland and Morpeth or on the hills west of the town.
Writing in 1853 on this subject, the late Rev. Dr. J.D. Lang says - "By the greatest mismanagement, etc, on the part the local Government at an earlier period in the history of the colony, an irreparable injury was done to one of the principal districts of New South Wales. In the important district of the Hunter's River, the only proper site for an 'inland town', viz, an extent of elevated ground at the head of the navigation of the river (Morpeth) had through carelessness or want of foresight, been granted in the usual way to a free emigrant colonist, a retired naval officer (Lieut. E.C. Close), during the administration of Sir Thomas Brisbane. The proprietor of the ground would have surrendered his grant to the Government, and taken perhaps double or triple the extent somewhere else, or perhaps such a compensation in money as would have been (be merest trifle to the local Government at the time. But after haggling for years with this gentleman, and at last refusing to accede to his moderate terms. General Darling at length (1820) announced the spot which he had graciously pleased to fix on for a town, by proclaiming its boundaries and causing certain Government buildings to be erected in the vicinity (Maitland, now East Maitland), but the people whose private interests had led them to settle in that part of the country on the site of the present town of West Maitland), had in the meantime been erecting buildings, of an inferior and temporary character in the first instance, at a spot upwards of a mile distant, where building ground was easily procurable, but where the whole of the land for a considerable distance in all directions is subject to inundation the flood having one occasion risen to the very eaves of the houses. For these people, however, the Government proclamation came too late as they preferred remaining where they were, and running the risk of inundations to a removal to the Government township."
The consequence has been that there are now three towns, viz East Maitland, or the Government town, with a population of *1099, West Maitland; or the people's town in the swamp, with a population of *:3131; and Morpeth, the proprietor's (Close's) snug little fancy town, at the head of the navigation, the only proper site for a town, of all three, with a population of *754.
Dr. Lang's reference to the ease with which land could be obtained at Wallis Plains, the site of the present town of West Maitland, during the first twenty years of settlement, recalls some stories told by the old hands, few of whom are willing to go into details of the days of bark humpies and bullock tracks. It has been truly written that the men who know wont tell, while those who can tell don't know, and that the old hands who do know, and are willing to talk are vague as to date, etc. However, there are a few old colonists in Maitland, who are exceptions to the rule, who remember much of their own experience, and of the fireside talk of their elders.
An area of land now occupied by very valuable buildings in High-street was sold in the early twenties by an old grantee for a few gallons of rum. Rum was apparently, one of the
From the Newcastle Morning Herald
17th August, 1929
The fact that the town of West Maitland occupies a site on low-lying country, with soil that would have been more adapted for agricultural than for township purposes is patent even to the casual observer, who wonders why the pioneers did not build the town on the highlands between East Maitland and Morpeth or on the hills west of the town.
Writing in 1853 on this subject, the late Rev. Dr. J.D. Lang says - "By the greatest mismanagement, etc, on the part the local Government at an earlier period in the history of the colony, an irreparable injury was done to one of the principal districts of New South Wales. In the important district of the Hunter's River, the only proper site for an 'inland town', viz, an extent of elevated ground at the head of the navigation of the river (Morpeth) had through carelessness or want of foresight, been granted in the usual way to a free emigrant colonist, a retired naval officer (Lieut. E.C. Close), during the administration of Sir Thomas Brisbane. The proprietor of the ground would have surrendered his grant to the Government, and taken perhaps double or triple the extent somewhere else, or perhaps such a compensation in money as would have been (be merest trifle to the local Government at the time. But after haggling for years with this gentleman, and at last refusing to accede to his moderate terms. General Darling at length (1820) announced the spot which he had graciously pleased to fix on for a town, by proclaiming its boundaries and causing certain Government buildings to be erected in the vicinity (Maitland, now East Maitland), but the people whose private interests had led them to settle in that part of the country on the site of the present town of West Maitland), had in the meantime been erecting buildings, of an inferior and temporary character in the first instance, at a spot upwards of a mile distant, where building ground was easily procurable, but where the whole of the land for a considerable distance in all directions is subject to inundation the flood having one occasion risen to the very eaves of the houses. For these people, however, the Government proclamation came too late as they preferred remaining where they were, and running the risk of inundations to a removal to the Government township."
The consequence has been that there are now three towns, viz East Maitland, or the Government town, with a population of *1099, West Maitland; or the people's town in the swamp, with a population of *:3131; and Morpeth, the proprietor's (Close's) snug little fancy town, at the head of the navigation, the only proper site for a town, of all three, with a population of *754.
Dr. Lang's reference to the ease with which land could be obtained at Wallis Plains, the site of the present town of West Maitland, during the first twenty years of settlement, recalls some stories told by the old hands, few of whom are willing to go into details of the days of bark humpies and bullock tracks. It has been truly written that the men who know wont tell, while those who can tell don't know, and that the old hands who do know, and are willing to talk are vague as to date, etc. However, there are a few old colonists in Maitland, who are exceptions to the rule, who remember much of their own experience, and of the fireside talk of their elders.
An area of land now occupied by very valuable buildings in High-street was sold in the early twenties by an old grantee for a few gallons of rum. Rum was apparently, one of the
* text blurred and hard to read
means of exchange in those days, for the late Mr. Roland Yeomans used to tell of an offer made on some land by Mary Hunt or Molly Morgan, the price stipulated being so many gallons of rum, which was doled out from the Government stores, and was of course, a valuable commodity. It is said that there are old deeds in existence showing that the rum was the chief consideration in the transfer of certain lands in the town.
Lieut. Edward Close came to Sydney in 1817 with the 48th Regiment, and by the favour of the Governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, was able in 1821, to settle at Green Hills (now Morpeth), in full possession of a fine area of land between the present site of Maitland and the Hunter River at Green Hills. He was the first chairman of the Maitland Bench of Magistrates, first warden of the Maitland District Council, and first President of the Maitland Hospital, he died in May 1866, aged 76 years. He was in many senses a good citizen, but had a very strong objection to either sub-dividing or selling his land, a policy that was detrimental to the welfare of the pioneer settlement.
1839
The New South Wales Government Gazette of February 20th, 1839, publishes the following description of the towns of East and West Maitland:-East Maitland - Commencing at the north-west corner of Goldenham's 500 acres, and bounded on the south by his northern boundary line bearing east, then by its continuation as the northern boundary of a portion of 320 acres reserved for the extension of the town: and further easterly at the northern boundary line of Davis' 200 acres to the north-east corner thereof on part of the east by a line bearing north about 100 chains; on part of the north by a line bearing west to a southerly continuation of Eckford's eastern boundary line; on the remainder of the east by that continuation and by the said boundary line bearing north to his north-east corner; again on the north by Eckford's northern boundary line to the river; and on the residue of the north by Hunter's River to its continuance to Wallis Creek; and on the west by Wallis Creek south-easterly to the north-west corner of Goldenham's 500 acres as aforesaid.
West Maitland - Commencing at the Hunter River at the confluence with the river, of a creek dividing the allotments of Hall and Balcot; and bounded on part of the north by that creek so far as it bears westerly; thence by a continued west line to the south-west corner of Hall's allotment; on the west by Balcot's western boundary and its southern continuation to P.F. Campbell's northern boundary line; again on the north by the boundary line bearing west to his north-west corner; again on the west by the western boundary line of Campbell and Luke Ralfe's lands to the north-west corner of J.T. Hughes four acres; on part of the south by the northern boundary line of that land bearing east to Swamp Creek; on the remainder of the south and part of the east by that creek to its confluence with Wallis Creek; and thence by Wallis Creek to its own confluence with the Hunter River; and on the residue of the east and north by that river to its confluence with the creek dividing the allotments of Hall and Balcot as aforesaid.
There were three doctors in Maitland in 1839 Drs. David Sloan, James Cochrane and *A.O. ?.
On the 15th April, 1839 tenders were called for the erection of a stone gaol at Maitland.
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