Timeline

45,000 to 60,000 years ago

Aboriginal people moved into Country

late 1780s

first wave of European diseases introduced by Aboriginal people travelling from Sydney

1790

escaped convicts reached Port Stephens area from Sydney, probably travelled to nearby areas including Maitland

1797

Lieut John Shortland in HMS Reliance unsuccessfully sought escaped convicts in Lower Hunter

1801

Lieut James Grant sailed to site of today’s Maitland, named the general area Schancks Forest Plains after John Schancks, designer of the government sloop HMS Lady Nelson

Lieut-Col William Paterson on HMS Lady Nelson led a survey party to map the area from Lake Paterson to west of Bolwarra Heights

Ensign Francis Barrallier mapped the lower reaches of Hunter and Williams Rivers, and later in the year the lower Paterson

attempt to establish a penal settlement at King’s Town (later Newcastle) failed

1804

penal settlement established at Newcastle

timber-cutting (principally of cedar) by convict work gangs along lower Hunter River and its tributaries: the beginning of radical change in the vegetation assemblage especially on the floodplains of the Hunter and its tributaries

circa 1810

timber-getters established a base (The Camp) at the then confluence of the Hunter River and Wallis Creek (near the present Maitland Regional Athletics Centre)

1812

Governor Lachlan Macquarie ordered settlement of five individuals (four convicts and one free man) on 30-40 acre blocks at Patersons Plains on both sides of the Paterson River, upstream of today’s Woodville

1815

James Meehan, guided by Aborigines, followed Indigenous route from Hawkesbury River to the Hunter, this later became the basis for the Great North Road and Buchanan Road

1818

Governor Lachlan Macquarie visited the district and named it Wallis Plains after James Wallis, Commandant at Newcastle

Macquarie ordered establishment of a farming settlement at Wallis Plains

1818-19

about 12 people took up unsurveyed 30-40 acre blocks at Wallis Plains (between sites of Raworth and the present Belmore Bridge)

small military detachment to provide protection against bushrangers and Aborigines

1819

two floods at Wallis Plains

1819-20

John Howe, assisted by Aboriginal guides, identified second overland route from Hawkesbury to Patricks Plains (Singleton), then downstream to Wallis Plains

 1820

very big flood inundated all blocks at Wallis Plains

1821

Edward Charles Close took up land at The Green Hills (later Morpeth)

first Anglican clergyman, George Middleton, appointed to Newcastle; established a glebe at Patersons Plains

1822

Henry Dangar began surveying large grants, moving up the valley

1823

Henry Dangar undertook formal surveys of original small holdings at Paterson Plains and Wallis Plains

James Mudie constructed a wharf at Wallis Plains in the Horseshoe Bend meander near today’s High Street (Port of Maitland); a cattle yard and grain store established next to the wharf

Newcastle penal station closed; new penal station established at Port Macquarie

soldier settlement at Veterans Flat (now Mt Pleasant floodplain), on blocks between Walka and Dagworth

1824

regular passenger and goods boat service connected Wallis Plains to Newcastle

punt established at The Falls (upstream from present Belmore Bridge)

1825

William Powditch and Frederick Boucher established a store near Mudie’s wharf

small bridge (precursor to the Long Bridge) built across swampy flood-prone land below Campbells Hill

Samuel Clift built Toll House on bank of Wallis Creek

1826

massacre of 18-20 Wonnarua at Bridgman Estate, Fal Brook

Molly Morgan established The Angel Inn on her block on the track that became High Street; leased to George Yeomans (first licensed hotelier in Wallis Plains)

the Clergy and School Lands Corporation established to advance the education of children

1827

Alexander McLeod built a toll bridge across Wallis Creek

Nowlands Pass over the Liverpool Range above Murrurundi used by William Nowland; became the optimal route to the inland because the routes over the head of Dart Brook and across the Blue Mountains were steeper

school classes conducted in building owned by ‘Gentleman’ John Smith to the east of Wallis Creek

1828

court house and lock-up established at Old Banks (Paterson River)

store ship ‘St Michael’ (170 tons) moored at Morpeth: used as a wharf, retail facility and for storage

possibly six vessels operating between Wallis Plains and Morpeth, Newcastle and Sydney; included Perseverance and Monitor

census: Wallis Plains - approximately 1600 residents (82% male, 72% convict of ex-convict, 48% Catholic) with average age of 28 years

1829

Surveyor General Sir Thomas Mitchell instructed George Boyle White to survey the town of Maitland on the hills to the east of Wallis Plains mostly out of flood reach

Post Office established'; mail service linked Wallis Plains to Newcastle and Sydney

first Circuit Court proceedings held at Wallis Plains

school established on Stockade Hill, East Maitland; building also used for Church of England services

Samuel Clift built Bridge House on bank of Wallis Creek

Church of England cemetery (Glebe) established at East Maitland

1830

Maitland Inn built (on site of present Town Hall)

first burials in the Glebe Cemetery, though earlier burials in the area are known

first Roman Catholic church north of Sydney built at East Maitland

1831

Sophia Jane, first steamship, arrived at Morpeth

steamship William the Fourth launched near Clarencetown

flood washed away the bridge over Wallis Creek; rebuilt by Dumaresq brothers

1832

Sophia Jane and William the Fourth began regular steamship services between Morpeth and Sydney, carrying passengers, freight and mail

first wharf constructed at Morpeth

Great North Road completed providing access to the Hawkesbury

Scots Kirk (first purpose-built church) opened near St Andrews St

first known flood fatalities in Maitland area (six or seven people drowned)

possible massacre of 12 Aborigines in Gostwyck area

John Swan appointed pound keeper at Patersons Plains to detain stray livestock

1833

Long Bridge constructed across Veterans Flat; replaced smaller bridge built in 1825

first race meeting held at Maitland, organised by John Eales of Duckenfield

(East) Maitland proclaimed a town

village of Paterson gazetted

land made available for sale at (East) Maitland

circa 1834

Henry Sempill established Maitland’s first steam-driven flour mill; ‘Gentleman’ John Smith may have established another such mill at East Maitland at about the same time

1834

Anglican parish of St Peter’s established at East Maitland; Rev C K Rusden rector

Queens Wharf built at Morpeth

1835

massacre of 10 Aborigines at Barrington Tops

Maitland officially renamed East Maitland, and Wallis Plains renamed West Maitland

first Catholic Church north of Sydney built at East Maitland

1836

David Cohen and Co (importers) opened office in High St, West Maitland

Edward Denny Day appointed Police Magistrate for the district

St Mary’s School designated as a denominational school

1837

foundation stone for St James Anglican Church, Morpeth

Wesleyan (Methodist) church services conducted in West Maitland

1838

Presbyterian Church opened Largs School

Anglican Parish of St Mary the Virgin established at West Maitland with William Slack the rector

1839

separate Catholic parishes established for West and East Maitland; first Catholic Church ceremonies conducted in a slab hut in Horseshoe Bend

Branch of CBC (Commercial Banking Company) Bank established in High St, West Maitland

Mechanics’ Institute and Subscription Library founded in West Maitland

1840

first Methodist Chapel completed

Maitland Lodge of Unity (Freemasons) formed

St James Church of England, Morpeth, consecrated by Bishop William Broughton , Bishop of Australia

Walli House built near Wallis Creek

1841

Hunter River Gazette and Journal of Agriculture, Commerce, Politics and News published its first edition; went out of business in mid-1842

massacre of 20 Aborigines at Black Camp Creek, Williams River; 2 Europeans also killed

Morpeth and Hiland Crescent Cemeteries established for non-Anglican burials

Michael Scobie established beekeeping hives in Maitland area

Dean Lynch established Temperance Society in West Maitland

Hunter River Gazette published its first issue in December (closed in mid-1842)

1842

Edward Capper opened a hardware store in High St, West Maitland

first recorded cricket match, between ‘eleven gentlemen of Maitland and eleven belonging to Morpeth’

Maitland Jockey Club formed

Immigrants’ Home (Caroline Chisholm Cottage) provided hostel for homeless people in Mill Street cottages in East Maitland built earlier by ‘Gentleman’ John Smith

Maitland Benevolent Asylum opened in the Immigrants’ Home

town of Greta surveyed and named

Hunter River Society (later Hunter River Agricultural Society) launched

1843

Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser established, initially as a weekly newspaper

Maitland District Council (first local government body in Maitland area) proclaimed

NSW Legislative Council elections: D’Arcy Wentworth became member for Northumberland Boroughs (Newcastle, East and West Maitland); RIchard Windeyer became member for Durham (included Paterson)

Maitland Benevolent Asylum moved from Immigrants Home to Hannan House, Hannan St, West Maitland

Anglican churches dedicated at West Maitland (St Mary’s) and East Maitland (St Peters) on same weekend; Glebe Cemetery at Rathluba also dedicated

EP Capper & Sons open business in High St

1844

foundation stone for St John the Baptist Chapel laid in Cathedral St (Church St), West Maitland

foundation stone for Maitland Gaol laid by Edward Denny Day

first rowing regatta held on Hunter River at Maitland

first ‘ploughing matches’ conducted in the Maitland area during a ‘Show’ under the auspices of the Hunter River Agricultural Society; show held at the Albion ground, High St and displayed livestock, agricultural equipment and other exhibits

1845

Maitland Cricket Club established

1846

foundation stone laid for Maitland Hospital, Campbells Hill, by Edward Denny Day

St John the Baptist Chapel, West Maitland, completed

Jewish Cemetery established in South Maitland

1847

Bishop of Newcastle (William Tyrrell) consecrated in Westminster Abbey

Catholic Diocese of Maitland (East Maitland parish only) created as titular see for Co-Adjutor Bishop of Sydney

foundation stone of Free Presbyterian Church laid

1848

Charles Henry Davis consecrated in England as first Catholic Bishop of Maitland

Maitland Gaol officially opened, taking in first prisoners

1849

public (government) primary schools opened at Largs, Hinton and Mulbring

Maitland Hospital building opened

Duncan Sim established an iron and brass foundry and machinery factory at Morpeth

first burials at Jewish cemetery, South Maitland

1850

Woodville (later Iona) Public School opened

Campbells Hill Cemetery established for burials of all denominations

1851

William Arnott established a bakehouse in West Maitland

foundation stone of Methodist (now Uniting) Church laid, High St, West Maitland

new bridge built by government over Wallis Creek; designed by Edmund Blackett

David Cohen established stores and warehouse in High St, West Maitland

1851-52

large-scale brickmaking began in East Maitland

1853

Hunter River Railway Company formed in Sydney to build railway line from Newcastle to Maitland

Church of England Grammar School, the first high school in Maitland, opened

Bank of NSW opened a branch in High St, West Maitland

1854

School of Arts (with library and reading room) established in Victoria St, West Maitland

1855

Hunter RIver Railway Company liquidated; assets taken over by colonial government

High School of Maitland (also known as THe Manse School, later Maitland Boys High School) opened in Free Church St, West Maitland, by Rev William McIntyre; Dr John Fraser first headmaster

1856

fire brigade station established in West Maitland

Maitland based seat of Northumberland Boroughs (two members) transferred from Legislative Council to Legislative Assembly

first local use of gas for lighting, at the Hunter River Hotel, East Maitland

Maitland Mechanics Institute (later Maitland Literary Institute) founded

1857

railway line from Newcastle reached East Maitland, bypassing Morpeth

Congregational Church in High St, West Maitland, completed

repeated flooding - February, April, June, July, August

1858

railway line reached West Maitland (original station a little east of the present one)

Methodist (now Uniting) Church completed in High St, West Maitland

St Paul’s Anglican Church established in South Maitland

1859

Campbells Hill livestock saleyards established

Maitland Mechanics’ Institute building opened in Banks St, East Maitland

Maitland based seat of Northumberland Boroughs abolished; replaced by single-member seats of West Maitland, Morpeth and East Maitland

1860

telegraph service inaugurated in Maitland allowing messages between Morpeth, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide; when connected to Singleton allowed information to be received in advance of arrival of floodwaters

McIntyre religious riot in Free Church St when Presbyterian Rev William McIntyre of the Free Scots Church proposed to give a lecture on ‘The heathenism of popery, proved and illustrated’

East Maitland Court House opened

Morpeth School of Arts established

volunteer infantry companies formed in West Maitland, East Maitland and Morpeth

West Maitland Gas Works began production

1862

East Maitland Municipal Council formed (first mayor: Stephen Scholey)

Morpeth Court House completed; also housed Post and Telegraph Office

1863

West Maitland Municipal Council formed (first mayor: W H Mullen)

first Woodville Bridge across Paterson River completed

1864

government-built railway branch line from East Maitland to Morpeth opened

Dr John Fraser opened School for Boys in Sauchie House (Castle) and Dupplin House

1865

fire in High St, destroyed four properties roughly opposite Rose St and Smith St

Morpeth Municipal Council formed (first mayor: J B Robertson)

1866

Pitnacree Bridge (first bridge across the Hunter River in the Maitland area) opened

Public Schools Act brought numerous denominational schools under colonial government control; some schools in Maitland closed; Catholics began process of moving from lay to religious-led schools to avoid government control

1867

St Mary’s Anglican Church completed in Church St, West Maitland

Catholic Diocese of Maitland enlarged to cover all of north-eastern; first resident bishop (James Murray) established St John’s Church in West Maitland as a cathedral

Hunter Beekeepers Association formed

1868

Dominican nuns arrived in Australia and established St Mary’s Girls School (originally named St Josephs) in West Maitland

Chinese market garden established at Telarah

1869

Belmore Bridge completed as a tolls-based bridge; use of The Falls as a river crossing largely ended

West Maitland floating baths constructed; bathing of men and women strictly segregated

fire destroyed most of former Rose Inn, High St

1870

West Maitland Water Brigade formed ‘for the purpose of protecting life and property in time of flood’; supported financially by the West Maitland Council; similar brigades formed soon after in East Maitland and Morpeth

West Maitland floating baths destroyed by flood

Bank of Australasia built in High St, West Maitland

1870-71

Grossmann and Brough Houses built in Church St, West Maitland

1871

St James Church, Morpeth, damaged by fire

1873

Hunter River Agriculture and Horticultural Association purchased current Maitland Showground site

Maitland Gas Light Company formed

1874

West Maitland Public School opened

mid-1870s

statue of Jocko Graves (Maitland’s Little Black Boy) installed in High St, West Maitland by Friend & Co as a hitching post

1876

Woodville School of Arts established

1878

gas street lighting introduced in West Maitland

Dimmocks printing firm established, purchased from Henry Thomas who founded it in 1854

Largs School of Arts established

wood engraving of Maitland (depicting Maitland from the air) produced; creator unknown

circa 1878

Girls High School established by Mrs Johnston as a private school in The Manse, Free Church St, West Maitland

1879

Pig Run meander (downstream of Horseshoe Bend) cut off when Hunter River changed course during flood

Maitland Synagogue opened

1880

Public Instruction Act removed state assistance from denominational schools; numerous small Maitland schools closed and state public schools thus grew; Maitland Catholic schools continued without state assistance

Maitland Floating Baths Co constructed new floating baths on pontoons at end of Odd St, West Maitland

1881

current Maitland Post Office opened

1883

St Joseph’s School for Girls at Lochinvar opened

St John’s Catholic Church named a Cathedral

Maitland Rowing Club founded; purchased the floating baths

first use of telephone in Maitland; exchange located in Telegraph Office in High St, West Maitland; use first restricted to commercial establishments and the Maitland Hospital

1884

West Maitland Boys’ High School opened in Sauchie House (Castle) and Dupplin House, Church St, West Maitland; operation taken over by government as with Girls’ High School which became Maitland Girls’ High School

foundation stone laid for Maitland Benevolent Asylum (now Benhome) in Regent St, West Maitland; a facility for long-term and mentally ill and indigent people

1885

Horseshoe Bend Public School opened

beginning of technical classes (leading to the founding of Maitland Techical College) in Maitland

Johnston’s Shoes established in High St, West Maitland

Bicycle enthusiasts formed the Maitland Bicycle Club

1886

T W Edgeworth David discovered Greta Coal Seam

East Greta Coal Mining Company formed

first road race conducted by the Maitland Bicycle Club

1887

Walka Water Works started operating, supplied water to Maitland and Newcastle

new St Peter’s Church opened in East Maitland

Masonic  Lodge Room opened in Victoria St, West Maitland

1888

roller skating rink opened in High St, West Maitland; later used for concerts, boxing and showing of films

first residential subdivision at Lorn, between Belmore Rd and Melrose St: beginning of a ‘garden suburb’

Maitland Permanent Building, Investment and Loan Society and Savings Bank (now the Mutual Bank) founded by local business interests

Galton’s department store opened in High St, West Maitland

East Maitland Gas Works opened; operated by East Maitland Council

foundation stone laid for West Maitland Town Hall

1889

rail bridge over Hawkesbury River completed, allowing direct rail travel from Maitland and Newcastle to Sydney

Fry Bros funeral services established

touring British Lions Rugby Union team played in Maitland; captain (Robert Seddon) drowned in Hunter River after falling from a canoe

1890

opening of West Maitland (now Maitland) Town Hall

Largs/King Island meander cut off by a flood

floating baths destroyed by flood

Trappaud Rd Bridge over Wallis Creek built; took cattle off High St and out of CBD

1891

Maitland Police Station connected to telephone service

last ploughing matches organised at a Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association Show

1892

Maitland Technical College moved into premises previously occupied by the Northumberland Coach Factory

Maitland Boys’ High School relocated to East Maitland

statue of the Little Black Boy relocated to south side of High St by AD Macdonald, Tobacconist & Newsagent

1893

line later known as South Maitland Railways opened; eventually served 26 mines on South Maitland coalfields

arrival of Marist Brothers in Maitland'; taught at Campbells Hill and West Maitland

most severely consequential flood to date in Maitland area: 5 people killed; Long Bridge badly damaged; work on ‘The Cut’ to sever the Horseshoe Bend meander completed by the flood

1894

opening of re-built Long Bridge

Maitland Girls’ High School relocated to Grossmann House, Church St, West Maitland

1895

first steam-powered locomotives used on South Maitland Railways

Maitland Lands Office constructed; had previously operated in St Peter’s Church Hall

1896

Maitland Court House opened in High St, West Maitland; operated initially as both a police station and courthouse

1898

Morpeth Bridge opened

Maitland Synagogue closed

1899

Maitland Golf Club inaugurated

1900

Telephone Exchange and Telegraph Office relocated to enlarged Post Office, corner High St and Bourke St, West Maitland

1901

first federal election - Maitland part of House of Representatives seat of Hunter

in Maitland Town Hall, Edmund Barton (Member for Hunter) made first policy speech by an Australian Prime Minister

Hinton Bridge opened

1904

first passenger trains between Cessnock and Maitland via East Greta Junction

state seats of East Maitland and West Maitland absorbed into single seat of Maitland

Luskintyre Bridge opened

1908

Lochinvar School of Arts established

1909

steam tram service inaugurated between East and West Maitland (including West Maitland Railway Station and Regent St via a separate lane constructed on Long Bridge)

Dame Nelllie Melba sang in West Maitland Town Hall to an audience of 800

Maitland Technical College building opened in High St, West Maitland

circa 1910

end of Chinese market gardening in Maitland area

1913

Marist Brothers schooling consolidated on one site in Free Church St, West Maitland

Garden Picture Palace cinema (later Palace Theatre) opened in High St, West Maitland

severe flood in Maitland area

1915

anti-German sentiment led to Beckmann St, South Maitland, being renamed Anzac St after petition by residents

BHP Steelworks established in Newcastle

1916

Maitland’s Les Darcy became heavyweight boxing champion of Australia

Princes Picture Theatre opened in Melbourne St, East Maitland

1917

Les Darcy died in USA, body returned to Maitland for burial

1919

Spanish flu pandemic hit in Maitland; Maitland Benevolent Society facility (now Benhome) selected as quarantine site; probably fewer than 20 Maitland residents died

Brough House opened as hostel for country girls attending Maitland Girls High School

1920

state seat of Maitland greatly enlarged; elected three members under proportional representation

1921

J Kirkwood and Co Produce Merchants opened in Church St, West Maitland

1922

Maitland Town Hall and Maitland streets electrified; power generated by West Maitland Council

1923

speedway racing began at Maitland Showground

West Maitland Rowing Club formed

electricity supply began in East Maitland

1924

electricity supply began in Morpeth

first ambulance station opened at corner of High St and Albert St (now Grant St), on later site of Maitland City Council administration building

1925

steam trams ceased operation

1927

state seat of Maitland reduced in size and reverted to single member

‘Back to Maitland’ week celebrations in November

1929

Maitland branch of Country Women’s Association of NSW formed

Walka Water Works closed

electricity supply to rural areas began

1930

most severe flood in Maitland since 1893

1932

Charles Kingsford-Smith conducted joy flights from Rutherford Racecourse

circa 1932

Maitland Sports Ground built as a job-creation project in former river bend, Horseshoe Bend

1933

St John the Baptist Cathedral moved to Cathedral Hall and original church became a hall

1938

new concrete Long Bridge opened

1939

King George V Memorial Swimming Pool opened at Maitland Park

West Maitland Sewerage System inaugurated

Greta Army Camp established for training of soldiers for Second World War

1940

radio station 2HR (2 Hunter River) established studios in Maitland after relocation from Singleton; transmitter at Lochinvar

1941

Rotary-CWA Service to Soldiers Building opened in Bulwer St.

1943

municipal abattoir established

1944

municipalities of West Maitland, East Maitland and Morpeth amalgamated along with parts of Bolwarra, Tarro and Kearsley Shires

1945

City of Maitland proclaimed; West Maitland Town Hall became Maitland Town Hall

Burlington Mills textile factory opened at Rutherford in buildings of former federal government munitions factory

1946

Maitland Library established by Maitland City Council in the former Australian Joint Stock Building in High St, West Maitland

1947

Maitland District Pipe Band (now City of Maitland Pipes and Drums) founded

1949

Greta Army Camp converted for use as Greta Migrant Camp

East Maitland Library established in former Maitland Literary Institute building

severe flood on Hunter River

1950

final cargo shipped downstream from Morpeth

1951

Pitnacree Bridge left high and dry after river changed course by cutting off Pitnacree meanders during a flood

electricity generated at Walka Water Works by Maitland City Council

1952

highest recorded flood at Maitland; substantial evacuation from floodplain including central Maitland

last speedway meeting held at Maitland Showground

1953

Morpeth branch railway line closed

1954

radio 2HR call sign changed to 2NX; operations moved to Newcastle

Morpeth Library established in former Morpeth Court House

1955

record flood in Maitland area; 11 people killed; unprecedented damage in central Maitland, South Maitland and rural areas

1956

Maitland State Emergency Service Unit founded

new concrete and steel Long Bridge opened

Maitland RSL sub-branch headquarters formally opened

1957

site of Maitland Aerodrome acquired by Royal Newcastle Aero Club

1959

Dorothy Thomsen first female elected to Maitland City Council

1960

Greta Migrant Camp closed having accommodated an estimated 100,000 migrants during its existence

Maitland and East Maitland gasworks closed following formation of Aberdare County Council and beginning of gas production at Aberdare

Rutherford Library opened as part of the first stage of the Rutherford Civic and Commercial Centre

1963

Maitland Marist Bros and the Dominican Convent high schools built new science blocks using state aid to denominational schools

Bank of NSW building, High St, Maitland demolished

Maitland Girls’ High School relocated to East Maitland, required demolition of Cumberland Hall

Royal Newcastle Aero Club transferred operations from Broadmeadow to Maitland Aerodrome

1964

new Belmore Bridge opened; original one closed after 95 years

Congregational Church converted to drama theatre of Maitland Repertory Society

1965

C B Alexander Presbyterian Agricultural College (now Tocal College) opened

1966

Sauchie House demolished

1967

Heddon Greta Drive-in cinema opened

1968

Maitland Library began operations in purpose-built facility next to Belmore Bridge

1969

Brough House closed as hostel for Girls High School

1970

fire destroyed top floors of David Cohen and Company building, High Street, West Maitland

1971

biggest flood in Maitland area since 1955

fire destroyed Capper’s building in High St, West Maitland

1972

first stage of Greenhills shopping centre opened

end of Cessnock-Maitland train passenger service

Bradmill (formerly Burlington Mills) reached peak employment (1600) at Rutherford

1973

tariff cuts and devaluation led to halving of Bradmill workforce

1975

Maitland City Art Gallery established at Brough House, Church St, West Maitland

riot at Maitland Gaol

1977

several men escaped from Maitland Gaol

Second Stage, Green Hills shopping centre: The Big W Store at East Maitland opened

Maitland and District Historical Society founded

1978

West Side Drive-in cinema opened at Anambah

circa 1979

Pender Brothers building and St Mary’s Hall demolished to accommodate Pender Place shopping centre

1980

bombing of Woolworths store, High St, West Maitland

1981

Hunter Valley Training Company established to facilitate training of apprentices

new Council administration building opened next to Maitland Town Hall

1982

Horseshoe Bend Public School closed; main building relocated to Largs Public School

Pender Place shopping centre opened

1983

Bradmill’s Rutherford factory taken over by National Textiles Ltd

1984

West Side Drive-in cinema closed

1985

Tocal Field Days inaugurated at Tocal College

1986

Steamfest inaugurated to celebrate steam heritage of Maitland area

Galton’s Department Store closed

1987

Maitland Abattoir and Campbells Hill Saleyards closed

1988

Maitland Inner City Bypass (Ken Tubman Dr and Allan Walsh Dr) and Les Darcy Dr completed; Regent St bridge closed to through traffic; new section of Cessnock Rd opened between Maitland Station roundabout and Gillieston Heights

Maitland Heritage Mall opened; part of High St closed to traffic

Maitland’s two public high schools made co-educational, and names changed

Catholic Diocese of Maitland renamed DIocese of Maitland-Newcastle and seat moved to Hamilton

1990

Reading CInemas opened on site of former gas works off Ken Tubman Drive

1996

Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council founded

1997

Maitland Visitors’ Centre opened

Maitland City Council dismissed; administrator appointed

1998

Maitland Gaol closed

1999

Thornton Library opened; Morpeth Library closed

BHP Newcastle steelworks closed; source of work for Maitland residents lost

2000

National Textiles factory closed (formerly Burlington Mills/Bradmill) closed; 300 jobs lost

Les Darcy Memorial unveiled in King Edward Park, East Maitland

2003

Maitland Regional Art Gallery (formerly Maitland City Art Gallery) established in former premises of Maitland Technical College, High St, Maitland

2006

first Maitland Groovin’ the Moo festival held at Maitland Showground

2007

‘Pasha Bulker’ flood

2009

Central Maitland Structure Plan adopted by Council; advocated revitalisation of the CBD and increasing the population of central Maitland to pre-1955 level

2010

Harry Boyle Bridge opened

2013

International-standard hockey complex completed in Maitland Park

2014

Hunter Expressway opened

2015

‘superstorm’ flood from intense local rainfall; damage by storm water rather than from the river

opening of ‘The Levee’ Shared Zone; limited vehicular movement allowed through core of CBD

2017

flyover of Maitland Station roundabout completed for traffic travelling west to east on New England HIghway and Les Darcy Drive

2018

High St Shared Zone connected to Riverside Walk

major expansion of Stockland Green Hills completed

2019-20

Maitland Regional Athletics Centre constructed at Smyth Field in former bend of the Hunter River

2020

work commenced to raise Cessnock Rd at Testers Hollow intending to reduce frequency of closure due to flooding

2020-23

COVID-19 detected in Maitland in early 2020, restrictions imposed; behaviour modifications introduced as throughout NSW; lockdowns included Maitland

Maitland became part of Hunter Valley lockdown as result of Delta and Omicron strains of COVID-19 cases being detected locally and in nearby council areas; some COVID deaths in Maitland

2021

plans announced and work commenced to create large-scale residential development at Lochinvar

2022

opening of new Maitland Hospital at Metford; closure of old Maitland Hospital after over 170 years on the Campbells Hill site

highest flood since 2007 at Belmore Bridge; Gillieston Heights cut off from all road access

road at Testers Hollow raised 1.5 metres to improve flood security

2023

last Groovin’ the Moo festival in Maitland

new Maitland City Council administration building opened; Town Hall refurbished