Grandest party - July 1858
22 July 1858 witnessed the grandest party to celebrate the opening of the East Maitland to West Maitland section of the Great Northern Railway. The Mercury noted afterwards (on 29 July 1858) that people from Newcastle to Murrurundi, from Dungog to Wollombi attended the opening day, causing the population of West Maitland to double for the day.
On the day of celebration, Governor-General Sir William Denison arrived in Newcastle at 5:30am on the steamer Paterson. His entourage consisted of his aide-de-camp and private secretary, Mr Hunt, MLC; Messrs Buckley, Hodgson, and Weekes (Members of the Legislative Assembly); Captain Martindale (Commissioner of Railways); Captain Ward, Colonel Percival and Lieutenant Fitzgerald of the 12th Regiment; Mr. Merewether; and one or two other gentlemen who had come from Sydney.
The party proceeded to the Metropolitan Hotel, opposite the station where they were met by Mr Robertson, Secretary for Lands and Public Works; Mr Scott, the police magistrate of Newcastle; and a number of residents of the city. The arrival at such early an hour was somewhat unexpected and few townspeople were there to provide a welcome.
Following rest and refreshment, the Governor-General inspected the wharves and then proceeded to the barracks, where he examined the museum of geological specimens collected by Mr Keene, the Government Inspector of Coal Fields. The Volunteer Artillery Corps fired a salute of nineteen guns in the barracks yard and at its conclusion his Excellency complimented the gunners on the zeal they had displayed and expressed the hope that their numbers may increase, but that their services might not be required. He also promised the corps another gun and ammunition.
On returning to the hotel the Governor-General was welcomed by the Lord Bishop of Newcastle, the Rev Canon Wilton; Reverends L. H. Ramsey, Gibson and Woolnough; Dr Stacy, Warden of the District; Mr Scott, Police Magistrate; Captain Livingstone; Messrs Bingle, Boswell, Coles, Hannell, S. Kemp, C. Kemp, Mitchell and Tully. After the obligatory welcoming speeches and replies, Sir William Denison and his entourage boarded the special train and proceeded to Maitland.
The train passed under a small arch of evergreen at Waratah Station and proceeded to East Maitland. The welcoming committee on the platform were, among others, Rev Rusden; Rev Purves; and Messrs Atkinson, Bates, Chambers, Cobcroft, Cooper, Cox, Davidson, Dodds, Douglas, Field, Gooch, James, Johnstone, Kingsmill, Lawn, McLoughlin, O'Meagher, Ottley, Whytlaw and Wisdom. On the arrival of the train at East Maitland, a salute was fired, followed by speeches and replies.
After light refreshments, the party re-boarded the train and proceeded to West Maitland.
West Maitland had been decorated with flags, flowers, greenery and triumphal arches. About 4000 people crowded around the station to welcome the Governor-General. The band of the 12th Regiment (from Sydney) entertained the throng. The train arrived at 12 o’clock and the band struck up Rule Britannia and See the Conquering Hero Comes as the party alighted, and was greeted with ‘vociferous cheering’. The welcoming party consisted of Mr Jones, MP; Mr Dickson, MP; Dr Aldcorn, MP; and Messrs Kingsmill, G. Vindin, H. Vindin, Owen, Levy, Dickson, Burns, Russell, Dodds, Kemp, Wilkinson, Gibb, Telfer, Colyer, Green, and Cobby; Drs McCartney and Scott; Rev Chapman; and Messrs Collett, Borthwick, Robinson and Middleton.
Addresses were made from local institutions, the children of Maitland and its neighbourhood, and the Odd Fellows (of which the Governor-General was a brother). After responding, the Governor departed in Mr Gill’s newly painted carriage drawn by four matching chestnut horses, for the Northumberland Hotel. Cheering crowds lined Elgin and High Streets as the carriage passed by.
At one o’clock there was a Vice Regal reception for district notables and, an hour later, the party travelled by carriage to the School of Arts for a luncheon.
The School of Arts hall was tastefully decorated with flowers and foliage, and the gallery above housed part of the band of the 12th Regiment to provide musical entertainment. The chair was occupied by Bourne Russell on whose right sat the Governor-General, the Solicitor General, Captain Martindale and members of the Legislative Assembly Messrs Jones, Gordon and Dickson. On the Chairman’s left were the Secretary of Lands and Public Works, Colonel Percival; Mr Weekes, MLA; Captain Ward; Captain Scott, aide-de-camp to the Governor; and Mr A. Denison, private secretary to the Governor. The vice chairmen were Messrs Briggs, Green and Vindin.
The children were not forgotten. After the welcome ceremony, the attendant children assembled in an adjacent paddock with several clergymen, teachers and some members of the organising committee. Mr. Pearce arrived with his cart and enthusiastically distributed oranges, buns, nuts and other treats to the assembled and surprised children.
The navvies, the men who had worked on the railway, had their own dinner in the goods shed. Two long tables seated 200 workmen, ‘whose good humoured and happy faces’, the Mercury observed, ‘were sufficient adornments to the building’. Speeches were made, toasts were drunk and Mr Wright, the contractor, praised the workers for the job they had completed. The workmen expressed their eagerness to take the line on to Singleton and Armidale.
The Friendly Societies celebrated with their own gatherings. The Foresters (Court Robin Hood, 2487), also celebrating their fifth anniversary, had a lunch provided by J. Brackenberg of the Australian Inn. The Grand United Order of Oddfellows retired to Mr Tuck’s Commercial Hotel for their lunch. The remaining two Lodges proceeded in procession to East Maitland, in company with the new Lodge lately formed in that town, to have their lunches.
Festivities continued into the evening, and many businesses and residences displayed lighted decorations and ’transparency’ pictures in their windows:
Over Mr Blair’s door was inscribed the letters GNR. The Commercial Hotel, FitzRoy Hotel and the Bird-in-Hand were illuminated very tastefully and many emblems were noticed. The stores of Messrs Wolfe and Gorrick, Messrs Owen and Beckett, and Messrs Solomon Vindin and Co were likewise illuminated.
A planned pyrotechnic display was stalled following a blaze that gutted Messrs Scott’s building containing the fireworks. On short notice, the committee managed to procure suitable fireworks and a credible display was staged. The Mercury observed: ‘many were the ejaculations of delight uttered in witnessing them’.
The Railway Demonstration Ball was held at the School of Arts, where a temporary dance hall was constructed at the rear. The 12th Regiment Band provided the music and the hall was converted into a supper-room. The Governor-General, accompanied by his private secretary, his aide-de-camp, and Captain Ward arrived at 9pm. Dancing began about 10 o’clock. At about half past eleven the vice-regal party left the ball room, was driven to the West Maitland Station, and was farewelled by members of the committee and about 100 citizens.
By 24 August, the Mercury reported that the High Street station was almost ready for occupation. The platform was almost complete and the station building was being roofed with slate. The station opened for passenger traffic on 25 October 1858.
Map of Maitland showing current and historical railways.
(Cartography: Lawrence Henderson)
The next step was to take the railway line on to Singleton. This is the focus of Part 7 of my account of the building of the Great Northern Railway.
References
Henderson, Lawrence, ‘Our past: Maitland’s grand party at opening of rail line’, Maitland Mercury, 31 August 2020.
