Maitland & District Historical Society Inc

28/05/2026

Our Patron, Cameron Archer will be the speaker at Maitland Historical Society on Tuesday 2nd June 2026, held at our rooms, 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland at 5 30pm. All welcome.

Cameron Archer is best known as a former long-serving Principal of Tocal Agricultural College, President of the Paterson Historical Society and author of several books.

Topic: Federation: Personalities, Pragmatists and Visionaries

Have you ever wondered how Australia became a nation? How did six quarrelsome, self-interested colonies put aside their differences and agree to unite as the Commonwealth of Australia? At the Society’s next history talk, Cameron Archer will explore these questions. The Origins and Federation of Australia. Drawing on five decades of political debate, popular will and remarkable characters—from Henry Parkes to Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin—the presentation charts the long and often turbulent road to Federation on 1 January 1901.

The address is drawn from Cameron’s research at the time of the Centenary of Federation, and from the public address he delivered at St Ann’s Presbyterian Church, Paterson, on 8 July 2001—itself a building with deep connections to John Dunmore Lang, one of Australia’s earliest advocates of Federation. Cameron also published a small booklet on the subject through the Paterson Historical Society at the time. This is an opportunity to hear a well-researched and lively account of one of the most important chapters in Australia’s history—told with a strong local connection.

Members of the public are most welcome to attend the talk. The Society asks for a donation of $5 to cover the costs of refreshments before and after the talk.

People wishing to contact the Society can do so by email ([email protected]) or by phone (0468 438990). Details on how to join the Society are found at https://www.maitlandhistorical.org/membership-application.php

04/05/2026

Ruth Trappel will be our speaker at Maitland and District Historical Society on Tuesday 5th May 2026, held at our rooms, 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland at 5 30pm.

Ruth Trappel has had an interest in all aspects of Maitland's history for over 40 years and is an active member of the Maitland & District Historical Society for most of these years. Ruth Trappel has been a key person in the Historical Society including serving as a past president. She is currently our Curator.

Ruth's talk on Edward Denny Day will cover his life story including the Myall Creek Massacre, apprehending the Jew Boy gang, his contribution as the Police magistrate of Maitland and his involvement in Maitland's history. All are welcome. Both Society members and the general public.

Members of the public are most welcome to attend the talk. Our $5 entry fee includes refreshments before and after the talk.

People wishing to contact the Society can do so by email ([email protected]) or by phone (0468 438990). Details on how to join the Society are found on our website, https://www.maitlandhistorical.org/membership-application.php

03/04/2026

Lynn Hart to be speaker to Maitland & District Historical Society on Tuesday 7th April 2026 at our rooms at 3 Cathedral Street Maitland at 5 30 pm

Lynn has been a member of the West Wallsend District Heritage Group for 3-years and is the secretary for the group. Lynn is a researcher and carries out the tours of the Sugar Valley Library Museum for various groups and individuals.

In 2001, Lynn was awarded Lake Macquarie City Council Citizen of the Year for 42-years’ service to St John Ambulance. He is an Electrician by trade and still works part-time for Vulcan Steel as a Safety Coordinator.

Lynn has a general interest in all things historical and local history. But he is specifically interested in Mining, Industrial, Hotels, Trains, Trams, Transport and the Military.

Relevant to the military subject today, Lynn’s Great Grandfather served in the British Army for 16-years in the 17th Lancers and most notably served in the South African Zulu War in 1879. He emigrated to Australia in the mid 1880’s. Lynn’s Grandfather served in World War 1 with the 36th Battalion and fought on the Western Front. Lynn’s Father served in World War 2 and was captured in 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese. He spent 3½ years as a P.O.W in Changi Prison, and on the Death Railway.

While Lynn has not served himself, he has been deeply impacted by his father and grandfather.
Lynn's talk will cover:-

• Wallabies Recruiting March officially started in Narrabri and leaving on the 7th December 1915, winding its way down through the Hunter Valley arriving in West Maitland on 4th January 1916. The marchers then continued via West Wallsend and arrived in Newcastle on 8th January.
• Formation of the 34th Battalion (Maitland’s Own) and their camp at Maitland Showground, later Rutherford Camp.
• Embarkation for Europe in May 2016.
• Their time in Bulford Army Camp, Saulsbury UK.
• Arrival at the Western Front, some battles and some of the notable local Maitland soldiers who paid with their lives, and also Captain Clarence Jeffries who won the Victoria Cross at Messines.
•
After the talk Lynn is happy to answer questions.

Picture: 34th Battalion “Maitland’s Own” from The Harrower Collection

Members of the public are most welcome to attend the talk. The Society asks for $5 to cover the costs of refreshments before and after the talk.

People wishing to contact the Society can do so by email ([email protected]) or by phone (0468 438990). Details on how to join the Society are found at https://www.maitlandhistorical.org/membership-application.php

27/02/2026

Vicki Osborn will be our speaker at Maitland and District Historical Society on Tuesday 3rd March 2025, held at our rooms, 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland at 5 30pm.

Vicki Osborn, a retired teacher and a member of Maitland & Beyond Family History Inc (MBFH). Has been researching her own family history for the past 35 years.
Since 2018 Vicki has coordinated the society’s ‘Female Convict Project’. The group has now identified 1200 female convicts connected to Maitland for the society’s database. A beautiful bonnet has been created for each female convict by the society’s members and friends.

During Vicki’s presentation she will provide an over-view of Female Convict transportation to
Australia; outline the progress of MBFH’s Female Convict Project; tell stories about some of the
female convicts connected to Maitland; and share the Female Convict Project’s future plans. A small sample of bonnets will also be on display.

Members of the public are most welcome to attend the talk. Our $5 entry fee includes refreshments before and after the talk.

People wishing to contact the Society can do so by email ([email protected]) or by phone (0468 438990). Details on how to join the Society are found on our website, https://www.maitlandhistorical.org/membership-application.php

12/02/2026

Come and see our free display at the McDonald Pavillion at Maitland Show. In keeping with the theme of "My show making memories" we are showing memories. Featuring many George Steele photos from 1962 at the Maitland Show, the Junior Farmers Club (1928 to 1965) and pictures of Maitlands agricultural past.

04/10/2025

Paula Beavan will be the speaker at Maitland & District Historical Society on Tuesday 7th October 2025, held at our rooms, 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland at 5 30pm.

Paula Beavan grew up in the Hunter Valley where her love of a reading and a good yarn inspired a desire to write. On discovering a family connection to one of the Hunter Valley first settlers she turned her hand to historical fiction. Paula won the Australian Romance Readers Association 2021 Favourite Debut Romance Author for Daughter of the Hunter Valley; and her second novel, Among the Gum Trees, was published in 2024.

Members of the public are most welcome to attend the talk. The Society charges $5 which also covers refreshments & light supper before and after the talk.

People wishing to contact the Society can do so by email ([email protected]) or by phone (0468 438990). Details on how to join the Society are found at https://www.maitlandhistorical.org/membership-application.php

28/08/2025

28/08/2025

Tom McLean will be the speaker at Maitland and District Historical Society on Tuesday 2nd September 2025, held at our rooms, 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland at 5 30pm.

Waterloo was a decisive battle and many veterans of the Napoleonic Wars settled in the Maitland District. One was Benjamin Lee of the 14th Light Dragoons who arrived in 1829 to supervise the Bolwarra Estate for Thomas Potter MacQueen. While many writers reported that Benjamin Lee was not at the Battle of Waterloo his son Charles Alfred Lee and others stated that he was there, and this view is supported by some independent evidence. Charles was a credible witness being the Member for Tenterfield for 28 years and a Minister for Public Works. Thomas Potter MacQueen purchased 80 acres on the Paterson River in 1834 and later called the property "The Pool's Farm. Several hundred acres were added in future years and subsequently his son, John Leonard Lee, obtained the property and erected the mansion "Leeholme".

Benjamin's and his family's numerous strong links to the Maitland District will be examined making the question important to local historians.

Tom McLean is the great, great, great grandson of Benjamin Lee and the grandson of (Trevor) Lance Lee - pictured in the hay loft of the barn at Bolwarra House that he owned. The Oakhampton wool-wash was owned by Edward Cameron Lee, (his great, great grandfather) from 1861 to 1900 during which time it was renovated and managed by George McLean, his great grandfather.

I thought photos of Benjamin's descendants might evoke more response and set the tone to be a lot on Maitland local history.

Members of the public are most welcome to attend the talk. The Society asks for a donation of $5 to cover the costs of refreshments before and after the talk.

People wishing to contact the Society can do so by email ([email protected]) or by phone (0468 438990). Details on how to join the Society are found at https://www.maitlandhistorical.org/membership-application.php

01/08/2025

Maitland & District Historical Society will be welcoming back DIANE BLISHEN as guest speaker for next Tuesday 5 August 2025 at 5 30 pm in our rooms – upstairs, at 3 Cathedral Street Maitland. She will continue her “mapping project” talk from December last year, giving a rare incite into Maitland’s past. Diane has a wealth of information. This was a popular event last year, so come early to get a seat.

Twelve years ago, Diane began her mapping project which involved overlaying old maps and plans over Google Earth. Some maps and plans are not freely available, so she has purchased these. The overlaying is just part of the project, by creating polygons and placemarks she has incorporated research with sources, it makes the project somewhat interactive. She uses Land Title Records to confirm locations. All research in the project has documents to support it. She started researching more than 30 years ago, yes that’s right before the internet, flash drives, email. While the digital material today is a great resource, she obtained her most useful material by scrolling through unindexed, undigitized microfilm and paper documents, having collected a huge amount of material including letters written by our earliest settlers, surveyors, architects, magistrates the list goes on, containing material not widely known, if at all, from people who were there at the time! By making the overlays see-through you can see today’s landscape through the documents, bringing the past and present together. It is a work in progress covering earliest land grants, the river and its changes, churches, schools, pubs, bridges, tram, punts the list goes on. This talk will not be available on Zoom for members.

A small charge of $5 includes light refreshments both before and after the speakers’ delivery.