Area History

Hustle and Bustle within Central Maitland

Not unlike the majority of Maitland, High Street grew without apparent planning giving the main street its great charm. The original bullock track became fixed as the line of High Street with its delightful meandering curves and no attempt to turn it into straights. At almost every turn with Maitland you come upon an architectural delight with a myriad of historic buildings giving the City much character. Few cities are so lucky to retain the fine buildings erected within ten years of settlement.  Landmark buildings erected over 170 years ago stand alongside fine modern buildings, a harmonious mix of new and old.

Maitland has long been an industrious area and since the 1820s central Maitland has been home to industry, trade and commerce. Its riverside location, stores and warehouses gave the settlers many a task to undertake within the frontier town. Maitland was home to a wide range of business, including flourmills, breweries, a bacon and tobacco factory, soap and candle making and salt store. Iron workers, blacksmiths and saddlers also thrived at this time. During the 1850s a series of riverside merchants traded, most notably David Cohen & Co and Owen & Beckett experienced great success. Interspersed within the retail area of central Maitland were a selection of services and outlets such as tailors, hairdressers, wig makers, confectioners, photographers and dressmakers who added to the sense of vitality and diversity within the area.

The 20th century brought changes to the way in which people shopped. Major department stores such as Woolworths and Hustler’s brought a sense of variety and choice to the people of Maitland. Traders took advantage of the latest “cash and carry” trends and the arrival of new season household items, blankets, clothes, fabrics, wines and spices made for brilliant advertising and adventurous shopping. Today the Maitland Heritage Mall offers a series of speciality stores within a unique shopping environment and industry is primarily focussed within the suburbs of Thornton and Rutherford.

Steamed in History

Maitland has a strong relationship with steam operated machinery and transportation. In 1909 a steam tramway service was launched. The tramway linked East Maitland to Maitland as well as taking passengers over the Long Bridge to Telarah. The route for the tram was up the centre of High Street with a junction at Church Street leading to West Maitland Train Station. Whilst much civic pride was taken in the efficient public transport unfortunately the service ceased in 1926 in favour of the bus system present today.

Each year Maitland celebrates the nostalgia of steam with its regional festival Hunter Valley Steamfest. Steamfest sets Maitland afire with the sights and sounds of steam engines, market stalls and entertainment. Attracting around 80,000 people each year Hunter Valley Steamfest is a great event for families, steam enthusiasts and the community. Click here for more information on Hunter Valley Steamfest.

River of Recreation

Maitland is most fortunate to be situated on the banks of the Hunter River a rich resource for the City. Not only did the river provide a most important method of transport and an outlet for trade but it also offered the people of Maitland a unique recreational space. Articles from the local newspaper, The Maitland Mercury dating from 1877 feature stories of local people enjoying the Hunter River;

    “It was interesting to see large numbers of locals indulging in a river bath, swimming hither and thither, diving great distances …I heard an admixture of shout and laugh as the air filled with laughter and water.”

In 1844 the townspeople of Maitland began to organise a series of River Regattas, providing days of entertainment, boat owners and observers alike enjoyed their time on the river. Jovial celebrations, splashes of colour and world championship challenges were all a part of the regatta experience. The regatta was not only a recreational activity, as on a more serious note, the regatta series led to the formation of the Hunter River Rowing Club. The purpose of the Club was to develop and train a team of men prepared to risk their lives in feats of rescue during flood time.

A City of Floods

Over 200 floods have occurred on the Hunter River since settlement, 13 of those extending the peak limit of 10.7 metres.  Of these 13, all have had a direct effect on the City of Maitland.
In the 19th century it was said that ‘never a Christmas would pass without the River claiming a victim or two’.

Between 1830 and 1834 Maitland experienced five floods.  The 1832 flood was severe with water reaching about 29 feet (8.9m) and killing seven people.  The 1834 flood water reached the same height.  In the winter of 1857 the Hunter River rose again to record heights, reaching 30 feet (9.2m).  Experiencing continual flooding for the next three decades, the floods of the 1890s were the most disastrous.  With much of the riverbank collapsing and many people being left without homes or personal possessions, the people of Maitland had thought they had experienced the worst.

However, the 1940’s and 1950’s saw an increase in rainfall and the River rose again. 

In February 1955, Maitland and the Hunter Valley experienced its most severe flood.  The 1955 Maitland Flood was the first Australian natural disaster to be broadcast by the media on an international scale and is considered Australia’s worst flood. The waters reached 41 feet (12.5m) and caused damage of catastrophic proportions.  The volume of flood water was enough to fill 1.5 million Olympic Swimming pools and the cost of damage, in today’s currency, would have been over $2 billion. 7000 buildings and homes were damaged and the flood claimed the lives of 14 people. The 1955 flood was also the first Australian natural disaster to be transmitted world wide via modern media technologies.

Quite a number of organisations and individuals assisted in the gallant rescue operation.  Just under 1000 military personnel were called to assist and surf crews from 15 Newcastle Surf Clubs played a pivotal role in the rescue mission. 

Due to the lack of specialised flood boats, the surf crews rowed surf boats (at night only guided by torchlight) to rescue those people who were stranded.  Reaching speeds of up to 10 knots and battling extremely dangerous conditions the contribution of these surf crews to the rescue operation is immeasurable.

“On Friday night there were two men on the roof of a green cottage….they were standing and yelling for help and signalling.  At 6:00am on Saturday when the water was tearing across the bridge at a terrific pace, a surfboat crew battled its way through to the house.  When they reached it, they found, besides the two men on the roof, two more men, three women and four children and brought them off.   They then went to the bridge to take off people who had been clinging to it all night”.

“Words are not capable of telling the tale of the magnificent job done by these surfboat crews.  They worked till they nearly dropped from fatigue.  Without them the death toll would have been much higher”…..Senior Constable assisting in the rescue mission.

The First Inhabitants

It is said that Baiame is the ancestral being of the indigenous people of the Hunter Valley. Baiame created the earth and sent other spirits to create the live and natural features of the valley however, the Aboriginal lifestyle and sense of identity was overwhelmed by the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century. In a positive step towards regaining Aboriginal identity within the area and to encourage progress and independence within the Maitland Aboriginal community the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council was formed. The Mindaribba group provide educational, health and culturally enriching experiences and services for the Maitland district.