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.

Janis Wilton 14/6/26 Janis Wilton 14/6/26

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.

Chas Keys 18/8/25 Chas Keys 18/8/25

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.

Chas Keys 15/8/25 Chas Keys 15/8/25

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.

Chas Keys 14/1/22 Chas Keys 14/1/22

Thomas Dimmock, printing entrepreneur

The evolution of the Thomas Dimmock family printing business in High St, Maitland.