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.
Benjamin family and business
Morris and Mary Ann (nee Israel) Benjamin lived and worked in Maitland in the second half of the nineteenth century. The family business, M Benjamin (and Sons), operated from High Street in West Maitland from 1867 to 1899. The Benjamins were members of Maitland’s early Jewish community. Their story highlights aspects of the nature and history of that community.
George Yeomans, entrepreneur of early Maitland
George Yeomans was an important figure in the early Wallis Plains. He was an explorer and developed many commercial interests in the Maitland area and elsewhere.
Pharmacies in High St during the 1950s and 1960s
Pharmacies have existed in Maitland’s High St since the 1830s. One, at 455 High St, operated continuously though under various ownerships from 1889 to about 1978.
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.