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.
‘Ducks’ and ‘alligators’ in Maitland’s floods
The amphibious ‘ducks’ and ‘alligators’ used in the flood of 1955 were not ideally suited to the tasks they took on, but they made important contributions and became legendary nevertheless.
Otto Baldwin, colonial entrepreneur with wide-ranging interests
Otto Baldwin was an explorer who became an important land-owner, businessman and philanthropist in the Maitland area and further afield.
The Maitland Lions Club and ‘Lionsville’
The newly-formed Maitland Lions Club performed a service to floodplain residents after the 1955 flood by developing a subdivision in an area beyond flood reach and relocating their houses to it.
Floods bigger than the 1955 flood?
Floods bigger than the epic flood of 1955 should be thought of as being inevitable in Maitland. What happened at Lismore in 2022 gives a clue as to what could happen in the Maitland area.
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.