On this page members of the Maitland and District Historical Society are sharing their research into a variety of aspects of the history of our locality. New stories will be added as they become available.
Use search to find stories about the person, place, topic or keyword you are interested in.
Origins and development of the Ambulance Service in Maitland
The Maitland Ambulance Station was founded in 1924 in High St, later being moved to Rutherford. Its early development was based on public subscriptions, not government funding.
Maitland’s loss of the regional capital role
Maitland was once known as the ‘Hub of the Hunter and the ‘Capital of the North’. Both labels had lost currency by 1900.
Maitland: ‘Hub of the Hunter’ and ‘Capital of the North’ in the mid-1800s
For decades, Maitland was, for the north of the colony of New South Wales, the principal centre of commerce and industry apart from Sydney. It was patronised from hundreds of kilometres away.
A dignitary’s death and funeral, 1893
In the nineteenth century, the funerals of important public figure were significant occasions. This was very much the case with Richard Young, the sitting Mayor of West Maitland at the time of his death.
John Gillies, mayor and MP
John Gillies was for two years the Mayor of West Maitland and became for 20 years a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, known best for his promotion of the interests of Maitland.