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.
The Falls: first river crossing point at Maitland
Crossing the Hunter River from Wallis Plains (the site of today’s Maitland) in the early years of European settlement was no easy matter. In most places the river was deeper than it now is, and its silty, sandy, shifting bed made it difficult for horses, bullocks, wagons and drays to get purchase except at a few locations.
Trolling, 1890s-style in the Maitland Mercury
Letters to the Editor of the Maitland Mercury in the 1800s often saw entertaining debates between correspondents on the topics of the day. Some were similar in tone to the trolling of modern times.
Stan Dunkley, Maitland’s Town Clerk, 1949-1966
Stan Dunkley was a long-time Town Clerk of Maitland during a period of many floods and much new urban development.
The Gallery site
The history of the Maitland Regional Art Gallery site provides glimpses into European occupation and settlement in Maitland.
Maitland Scientific Society
An overview of the membership and activities of the Maitland Scientific (and Historical Research) Society that was active between 1887 and 1918, and that was a precursor to today’s history and heritage organisations in Maitland.