The Newcastle-Hunter Studies Symposium

NEWCASTLE / HUNTER STUDIES SYMPOSIUM

Presented by the Humanities Research Institute, University of Newcastle
in partnership with Newcastle Art Gallery

The Newcastle Hunter Studies Symposium
Friday 3 May 2013
10.00am – 4.30pm
Newcastle Art Gallery
Free

About the Symposium
Scholarship on Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, has the potential to illuminate national and transnational themes in historical and contemporary research, as well as to deepen the city’s and the region’s understanding of itself.

This symposium brings together, for the first time, members of the present generation of humanities and social sciences researchers focusing on Newcastle and the Hunter. This event is part of a broader project to collect past and present scholarship on the city and the region. It showcases the breadth and depth of studies being undertaken; it introduces this work to the community; and it is an occasion to discuss how future studies of the city and the region might proceed.

Welcome

Papers

Mark Dunn – Aboriginal Guides in the Hunter Valley

Dr Lisa Ford and Dr David Roberts – Newcastle and the Transformation of Penal Practice in the Colony of New South Wales

Dr David Murray – Words for the Heat of Deeds: Creative non fiction and the writing of cultural history

Helen English – Music, Power and Public Space: a Case Study in Newcastle, NSW

Gaye Sheather – Local Sites and Sounds:  A History of live mainstream music in licensed venues Newcastle, NSW, during Australia’s Oz Rock Era (1970s and 80s)

Dr Keri Glastonbury – Rough and Tumblr: Blogging Newcastle

Panel Discussion -  The Place of Newcastle and the Hunter in History
Chair: Dr Julie McIntyre

Speakers:

Professor Erik Eklund, Monash University

Dr Nancy Cushing, University of Newcastle

Dr Julie McIntyre, University of Newcastle

Gionni Di Gravio, University of Newcastle

Images from the Day

Newcastle Hunter Studies Symposium

Audience

Lauren van Katwyk – Newcastle Art Gallery

Ron Ramsay

Professor Hugh Craig

Dr Nancy Cushing

Aboriginal Guides of the Hunter Valley

Mark Dunn

Dr Nancy Cushing and Mark Dunn

Mark Dunn

Dr David Roberts

Dr David Roberts

Dr David Roberts

Dr David Roberts

Words for the Heat of Deeds

Dr David Murray

Dr David Murray

Aboriginals

Elizabeth Ellis and Gallery Staff

Dr Julie McIntyre

Helen English

Gaye Sheather

Dr Keri Glastonbury

Dr Julie McIntyre

TREASURES OF NEWCASTLE FROM THE MACQUARIE ERA
2 March – 5 May 2013
A State Library of NSW and Newcastle Art Gallery partnership exhibition
Sponsored by Noble Resources International Australia

Treasures of Newcastle from the Macquarie era (2 March – 5 May 2013) provides an exceptional opportunity for the Newcastle/Hunter Studies Symposium. The exhibition, featuring the Macquarie Collector’s Chest and works by colonial artists Joseph Lycett, Edward Close and Richard Browne, was drawn from the significant collections of Newcastle Art Gallery and the State Library of NSW, and is the most important collection of historic and artistic material related to this city ever to be assembled.

Local Treasures: Progressive Sydney – The Newcastle, Mayfield and Toronto Bits (1938)

Cover of “Progressive Sydney as it stands today” (1938)

Day Shift – 16/04/2013 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist, Newcastle University

University of Newcastle Archivist Gionni Di Gravio explores a work entitled “Progressive Sydney as it stands today : a pictorial directory of its most attractive centres, in sepia” published in Adelaide by G.H. Baring, 1938.

This unusual book was loaned to us by Mr Russell Rigby, our Coal River Working Party colleague, from his family’s collection, and contains some interesting streetscapes and individual business shop fronts in Newcastle prior to 1938 including advertisements for some of the businesses who paid for their place in the publication. Some recreational sites such as the Bogey Hole are also featured.

The Blue Room, Newcastle’s Famous Cafe (1938)

 

The Bogey Hole Baths (1938)

 

Newcastle is described as “The Big Industrial and Tourist Centre”,  Mayfield, as “Popular Mayfield – Newcastle’s Leading Suburb” and Toronto as “Beautiful Lake Macquarie District – Toronto in its Beauty”. Those three places represent the Hunter Region in this book. There are some fantastic and exotic places mentioned, such as the Blue Room, and Mayfield’s Casino Inn Bar.

The series of 63 images from the work relating to Newcastle, Mayfield and Toronto can be viewed here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157633226705430/

We have digitised all relevant pages in large and smaller formats, as well as creating separate individual images of streetscapes and businesses as well.

We thank Russell Rigby for bringing this interesting snapshot of the local business community to our attention.

Gionni Di Gravio
April 2013

Newcastle in 1887 – The Knaggs Map

Plan of the Port of Newcastle: reduced from recent surveys by officers of the Harbours & Rivers Department ; outer soundings by Captn. F.W. Sidney, R.N. ; inner soundings corrected to June 1879 / Lithographed by Forster & Co., 2 Crow Street, Dublin, Ireland. Courtesy of the National Library of Australia

 

This is an excellent plan of the City and Port of Newcastle (Australia) in 1887 and published by R.C.Knagg’s & Co., Nautical Stationers and Chart-sellers, Newcastle, N.S.W. It shows the soundings of the harbour, the various harbour and earth works underway, details of the vegetation and landscape of Newcastle.

This plan is an excellent key to understanding the Aboriginal landscape of Newcastle as it shows the ancient dune system that ran from Cottage Creek, around Steel Street with its central point being the Cook’s Hill (on Laman Street). The swamps later became the site of the No 1 Sports Ground and is where Aboriginal people hunted for food. On the surrounding dune they were born, lived and were buried over millenia. In 1881 a set of Aboriginal burials was unearthed on Parry Street and on the edge of the ancient dune system. More on this story is here: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/aboriginal-burial-ground-discovered-on-parry-street/

The original map is held in the National Library of Australia http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1671314

Gionni Di Gravio
University Archivist and Chair, Coal River Working Party
11 April 2013

Ludwig Leichhardt in Newcastle

Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt (1813-1848?), Prussian born naturalist and explorer, visited Newcastle and the Hunter Region on his journey of explorations through Australia during the years 1842-1843.

We have prepared this timeline below of his chronological movements throughout Newcastle and the Region to assist a German documentary team, planning to produce a documentary for German Television to co-incide with the 200th anniversary of Leichhardt’s birth.

Where possible we have illustrated his travels with contemporary sketches and plans executed close to the time from our own collections, as well as those of the National Library of Australia and State Library of New South Wales.

The information has been sourced from The letters of F.W. Ludwig Leichhardt collected and newly translated [from the German, French and Italian] by M. Aurousseau (London : Published for the Hakluyt Society by Cambridge University Press, 1968).

The University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections in the Auchmuty Library hold’s Marcel Aurousseau’s personal library. He is the translator of Leichhart’s letters into the English language. The original letters are held in the State Library of New South Wales Mitchell Library.

LEICHHARDT
AROUND NEWCASTLE ON FOOT

Monday 19th September 1842

Leichhardt leaves Sydney by sea for Newcastle with Alexander Walker Scott.

Tuesday 20th September 1842

Leichhardt arrived Newcastle in morning and takes breakfast with Alexander Walker Scott. Taken to Scott’s  Salt Works (built around 1836 – ref. Bingle) on Stockton and visits rest of Scott’s property there.

The Town of Newcastle and its Harbour in 1844 (Courtesy of the National Library of Australia NLA F72 1844)

Wednesday 21st September 1842

Excursion in South West Direction

Friday 23rd September 1842

Leichhart visits Ash Island and stays at Scott’s house there for 3-4 days. How it looked at the time was recorded in the sketch by Conrad Martens, and the frontpiece to the Scott Sister’s Lepidtoptera

Ash Island 12th May 1841 by Conrad Martens

Flyleaf Ash Island 12th May 1841
from [Album of] Pencil sketches, watercolours, etc.
by C. Martens, O.W. Brierly, S.T. Gill, John Rae, C. Rodius and others, ca. 1823-1863
View Album:http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=404878

Frontispiece – Scott’s Australian Lepidoptera Volume 2
showing the original pier and entrance to Scott’s house and farm from the River

Sunday 25th September 1842

Leichhardt meets Reverend C.P.N. Wilton and studies the coastal geological section at Nobby’s Island and southward.

77. Nobby Rock, Newcastle, 13th May 1841

Item 77 Nobby Rock, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Monday 26th September 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (61) to Lt Robert Lynd

 

Tuesday 27th September 1842

Visit to Valley of the Palms (Glenrock Lagoon) with Alexander Walker Scott

Saturday 1st October 1842

Studies coastal section at the South head of Newcastle; begins sea-bathing

Sunday 2nd October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (62) to Lt Robert Lynd. Fishing from the rocks with Alexander Walker Scott.

Monday 3rd – Tuesday 4th October 1842

Visit to Tilligerry with Major Crummer and Mr Bolton (Customs Officer)

Wednesday 5th October 1842

Returns to Newcastle

Saturday 8th October 1842

At Nobby’s Island

f.5 Nobby’s Newcastle. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.

f.5 Nobby’s Newcastle. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. [1843?]
from Portfolio collection of views, mainly in New South Wales, volume 5, ca. 1836-1873 drawn by Conrad Martens
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=825931#

Wednesday 12th October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (63) to W. Kirchner and writes that he has been to the coal seams, Nobbys Island, Valley of the Palms, and Ash Island “It’s a romantic place, which I like well enough to think that, perhaps – I’d be content to live and die there.”

Saturday 15th October 1842

A visit to Sugarloaf mountain to visit A. W. Scott’s cattle station at Minmi

Sunday 16th October 1842

At the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain

Tuesday 18th October 1842

Lynd arrives in Newcastle

Friday 21st October 1842

To Ash Island with Lynd, A.W. Scott and Bolton

Wednesday 26th October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (64) to Dr William Nicholson Newcastle Upon Tyne – writes with a description of Newcastle, Nobbys Island, Aborigines, whose teeth are ground like those of Egyptian mummies, creatures called congivoi, Aboriginal kings, Telligerry Creek and Major Crummer

Friday 28th October 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (64) to Dr William Nicholson Newcastle Upon Tyne – describes Aboriginal fires, black snakes on way to Telligery Creek, Rode to weatherboard home of Mr Dawson which lies south of a rugged valley that Mr Wilton (clergyman) has called the Valley of the Palms (Glenrock) – Earthquake recorded at 5.45am

Monday 31st October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (65) – Earthquake report, describes Morris’ Bath (i.e., Morrisett’s Bath aka Bogey Hole)

76. Morrisets Bath, Newcastle, 13th May 1841

Item 76 Morrisets Bath, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Tuesday 1st November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – Mr Calvert brings Leichhardt a Caprimulgus albogularis (white throated goat sucker). Mr Bligh, nephew of former governor  brings him another Gryllotalpa

Friday 4th November 1842

Leichhardt determines strike of volcanic dykes near Newcastle

Saturday 5th November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – describes Morris’s Bath (i.e., Morrisett’s Bath aka Bogey Hole), and describes the coastal feature overlooking the gaol i.e. today’s ocean baths, as a kind of Charybdis, a fissure in rocks that produces a funnel blowhole sort of thing.

Sunday 6th November 1842

Leichhart went out towards Great [Red] Head  and ‘the lagoon’ to see if there was change in coal measures

Monday 7th November 1842

Returns to Newcastle. continues letter (65) – with a report from day before? Shepherd’s Hill, Redhead, beyond Valley of the Palms, two natives enjoy oozings from honey comb. Two black identified as John M’Gill (king of Lake Macquarie tribe and Gorman, King of another clan, both enjoy damper and honey and have a sleep.

Tuesday 8th November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – describes vines, Hunter Valley vines, Raymond Terrace, Mr Robert Scott, William Brooks, Threlkeld

Wednesday 9th November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – discusses Schools

Thursday 10th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (66) to C. Schmalfuss  Music Master Berlin

Friday 11th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (67) to Lt Robert Lynd – mentions Ash Island, Mr Dawson, Mr Scott, Burwood, Mrs Mitchell (wife of Dr James Mitchell and mother of David Scott Mitchell) wants him to be a tutor to her children

Saturday 12th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (68) to Dr W.J. Little London – naming of Newcastle, AACo., Maitland, Morpeth

Monday 14th November 1842

Sets out on walking excursion to Brisbane Water with Flood (Post Master). Today they reach Brook’s holding near Boolaroo.

Tuesday 15th November 1842

At Threlkeld’s Estate, Ebenezer, on Lake Macquarie.

The image below is an engraving of the site of the Toronto Hotel as it looked around 1887. The Hotel is believed to have been built on the site of the former Ebenezer Mission of the Reverend Threlkeld. This image was published in Plans, views and particulars of the Toronto Estate, Lake Macquarie, for sale by the Excelsior Land Investment & Building Company & Bank Ltd. The date is ca. 1887. The full set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622086704813/with/3879272453/

From Excelsior Parade looking West to Hotel (Image showing the location of the Toronto Hotel in 1887, formerly the site of Threlkeld’s Ebenezer Mission)

Wednesday 16th November 1842

At Holden’s estate, Newport, Lake Macquarie. They spend the night in Carter’s hut.

Thursday 17th November 1842

At Sidebottom’s hut, just north of Wyong.

Friday 18th November 1842

Through F.A. Hely’s estate to Gosford on Brisbane Water

Sunday 20th November 1842

Through Forster’s station near entrance to Tuggerah Lakes to a point on the coast opposite Bird Island.

Monday 21st November 1842

At the entrance to Lake Macquarie (the constable’s hut)

Tuesday 22nd November 1842

Return to Newcastle from Brisbane Water. Leichhardt receives news of his sister Mathilde’s death and learns that Strezelecki is about to leave Newcastle.

Thursday 24th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (69) to Lt Robert Lynd describes trip to Brisbane Water

- accompanied by Mr Flood to Brisbane Water, 1st day Lake Macquarie, 2nd day coal mines at Mr Threlkeld’s, 3rd day Newport, 4th day travelled to Tukkerah Beach Creek, 5th day arrived West Gosford near Brisbane Water.

- Returned from Bribane Water 1st day to south of Tukkerah Beach to station of Mr Foster, walked up the beach till opp. Birds Island, 2nd day walk to and arrive at 3pm to Lake Macquarie, 3rd day returned to Newcastle.

- Lake Macquarie described “Its numerous bays and abrupt, wooded hills present great diversity, and it would far exceed the lake of Zurich in beauty, could a livelier green replace the subdued green of the Australian bush.”

Monday 28th November 1842

Trip to Ash Island? (see letter 4th December 1842 – (72) note of artesian bore (first mention of an artesian bore in this country – according to Marcel Aurousseau)

Tuesday 29th November 1842

Sets out on walking tour to Port Stephens (first night at the sea side – letter 71)

Wednesday 30th November 1842

At Crummer’s hut, Telligerry

54. Kerua River, Tilligherry, 8th May 1852

Item 54. Kerua [i.e. Karuah] River, Tilligherry, 8 May 1852
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Thursday 1st December 1842

Bushfires in swamps. Went alone and on foot to the southern headland of Port Stephens (see letter 72).

See below an engraving by Skinner Prout from around 1841 of Port Stephens as it looked close to the arrival of Leichhardt in 1842.

“Port Stephens” by S. Prout and A. Willmore. facing page 129 from Australia by Edwin Carton Booth, F R. C. I. Illustrated with Drawings by Skinner Prout, N. Chevalier, &c. &c. In Two Volumes Vol. II London Virtue and Company Limited (1873-1876).

Friday 2nd December 1842

Leichhardt returns from walking expedition to Port Stephens after 4 days in the bush. Walks along Stockton Bight finds cask on the shore full of fresh water.

Saturday 3rd December 1842

Newcastle writes letter (71) to John Murphy Sydney – Description of walk to Port Stephens, cask on Stockton, casuarinas, Prout in Sydney and next week goes to Glendon and Patrick Plains

Sunday 4th December 1842

Newcastle writes letter (72) to W. Kirchner – description of journey to Brisbane Water (15th November to 22nd November) visit to Lake Macquarie, mission of Rev Threlkeld, Newport, Tuggerah Beach Creek (now Ourimbah Creek) Mr Healey, different route back to Newcastle through Mr Foster’s properties then along sea shore – last week went to Ash Island (circa Monday 28th November?) – Last Thursday Port Stephens – Sets out for Glendon on Thursday

Monday 5th December 1842

Leichhardt on a wallaby hunt.

Friday 9th December 1842

He leaves Newcastle on foot for Calvert’s holding. Buys a horse from Calvert.

 

LEICHHARDT’S JOURNEYS IN THE HUNTER REGION (GLENDON) ON HORSEBACK

Friday 9th December 1842 – 20th December 1842

(Letter 77) Leichhardt reports that left Newcastle and visits Mount Sugarloaf (9th), then Mr Scott’s Cattle Station at Minmi, From Minmi to Harper’s Hill, Visit to Mr Wyndham, Mr Kelman vineyard, takes 14 days to reach Glendon (from the 20th December 1842 to arrival on the 2 January 1843).

 

Friday 9th December 1842

Leichhardt rides from Calvert’s holding to Scott’s station at Minmi

Saturday 10th December 1842

Leichhardt ascends Mount Sugarlof with Callaghan

Monday 12th December 1842

Returns to Minmi

Tuesday 13th December 1842

To Maitland with Rorke

Wednesday 14th December 1842

At Harper’s Hill.

46. Harpurs Hill, 7th May 1841

Item 46. Harpurs [i.e. Harpers] Hill, 7th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Plate “Harpers Hill, Hunter River” S Prout H. Bibby facing page 128 from Australia by Edwin Carton Booth, F R. C. I. Illustrated with Drawings by Skinner Prout, N. Chevalier, &c. &c. In Two Volumes Vol. II London Virtue and Company Limited (1873-1876).

Friday 16th December 1842

Leaves Harper’s Hill. Thunderstorms. Through Wyndham’s to Dawson’s at Belford

Saturday 17th December 1842

Excursion with Porter to Black Creek and Blind Creek. Then with Porter to visit Kelman’s vineyard sometime after the 17th December.

Tuesday 20th December 1842

Arrives at Glendon

The Hunter at Glendon 3rd May 1841

Item 6 The Hunter at Glendon 3rd May 1841
from [Album of] Pencil sketches, watercolours, etc.
by C. Martens, O.W. Brierly, S.T. Gill, John Rae, C. Rodius and others, ca. 1823-1863
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=404878

f.70 Glendon. Unsigned. Dated 5th May 1841

f.70 Glendon. Unsigned. Dated ‘May 5th, 41’. Titled at lower right.
From: Album of cloud studies, mountain, bush and harbour scenes, ca. 1841-1850 drawn by Conrad Martens
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=825948

Wednesday 21st December 1842

Excursion to Jump up Creek

Thursday 22nd December 1842

Excursion downstream to Bell’s

Saturday 24th December 1842

Excursion up Glendon Brook to the coal

83. Tangorrin and Glendon Brook from near the Station, 4 May 1841

Item 83. Tangorrin and Glendon Brook from near the Station, 4 May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Wednesday 28th December 1842

Exploration of Helenus Scott estate

Saturday 31st December 1842

On the way to Mount Tangorin

Monday 2nd January 1843

At Merranie

Tuesday 3rd January 1843

Tolka Tolka and Stanhope

Friday 6th January 1843

Visit to Mount Tyroman

Saturday 7th January 1843

Visit to Bukembelong (Blackguard Hill)

Sunday 8th January 1843

Visit to Jack Shea (mountain)

Monday 9th January 1843

Visit to Wargungunnie

Tuesday 10th January 1843

Leaves Poot yung gun

Sunday 15th January 1843

Returns to Glendon

Monday 16th January 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (73) to C. Schmalfuss – At the estate of Mr Helenus Scott Glendon (brother of A.W. Scott), description of hunter’s river

Monday 16th January 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (74) to Lt Robert Lynd – description of Harper’s Hill, Wyndham Vineyard, arrived at Glendon a fortnight ago (i.e. 2nd January 1843?), before this at Kilman vineyard, description of Glendon, Aboriginal names of mountains recorded with dates of visits to mountains/valleys

Monday 23rd January 1843

Went to Meranni 10 miles from Glendon – German or English miles?  (see letter 76) – Leichhardt is attacked by wild bullock? (see letter 77)

60. Mirranni from above the Station, 30th April 1841
From Conrad Martens sketches [of New South Wales 1835-1842]
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=446239

Tuesday 24th January 1843

Commenced journey to Mount Royal (see letter 76)

Wednesday 25th January 1843

Visit to house of Capt. Mayne on northern slope of Dyrinne, Piri, Mount Royal. Climbs Dyrring from St Clair (Captain Mayne’s station)

Thursday 26th January 1843

Makes camp in a hollow tree on flank of Piri

Sunday 29th January 1843

At Merannie

Monday 30th January 1843

Returns to Mayne’s station

Thursday 2nd February 1843

Return to Piri

Tuesday 14th February 1843

Returns to Glendon

Wednesday 15th February 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (75) to Walker Scott Newcastle

Sunday 19th February 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (76) to  Lt Robert Lynd Sydney

Tuesday 21st February 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (77) to W. Kirchner – description of trip to Glendon i.e. Sugarloaf , Minmi, etc

Wednesday 2nd March 1843

Glendon. Writes letter 78 to Lt Robert Lynd – precis of how he was occupied last 12 days Scott

Friday 4th March 1843

Leaves Glendon. First notices the great comet of 1843.

Friday 24th March 1843

Dalkeith. Writes letter (79) to Helenus Scott – stays at Bengalla near Muswellbrook

Stockton is Newcastle’s First Settlement?

Fresh Water Bay (Stockton) from Ensign Francis Barrallier’s Chart of “Coal Harbour and Rivers..” 1801

While researching references to the early settlement at Coal River (Newcastle) in a previous post, we were directed (thanks to Jen Willets) to a very interesting footnote in the Historical Records of Australia Vol III p. 772 – 773 which provided an interesting aside. There appears to be evidence that Newcastle had an initial settlement at Fresh Water Bay  (now the coastline of present day Stockton), see detail from Barrallier’s 1801 chart above. The extract from the Note 66 (p. 773) says:

A brief attempt at settlement at Coal Harbour (now the port of Newcastle) was made by Hugh Meehan, of the Anna Josepha, on a voyage to procure coal and timber. He constructed a saw-pit at Freshwater Bay, within the north head of the harbour, and after obtaining a cargo, he returned to Port Jackson on the 29th May 1801, after a stay of nearly a month.

“Coal River, N.S. Wales 1807″ by I.W. Lewin.
Courtesy of the State Library of NSW

The painting above is by Lewin, and dated 1807. Compare it to the Barrallier Chart above (housed in the National Archives of the United Kingdom see: Ensign Francis Louis Barrallier. ‘Coal Harbour and Rivers, On the Coast of New South Wales, surveyed by Ensign Barrallier, In His Majesty’s Armed Surveying Vessel, “Lady Nelson”, Lieut. James Grant, Commander, in June and July, 1801. By Order of Governor King’. CO 700/ New South Wales 16/

Lewin had accompanied Barrallier and others on the June-July 1801 Survey Mission, so in all likelihood, it is a painting conceived on the spot.

So, it appears that Newcastle may have had three settlements. Stockton being the home of the first European settlement founded sometime around late April 1801 to 29th May 1801.

Gionni Di Gravio

 

UoN Creative and Performing Arts Students Engage Local History

Joining of Dyan and Sue at The Lock Up Newcastle

As stalwart supporters of student research into the history of our region we are delighted to see that this year there is a bumper output from a very engaged and creative cohort in the first year of University of Newcastle’s Creative and Performing Arts ( i.e., the new name for what was formerly ‘Drama’).

Thanks to the cooperation of Julie Baird at the Newcastle Museum, Newcastle Art Gallery and Lockup Museum you’ll see from the following that this has generated a partnership for this year which we hope is ongoing.

Following is a list of the group performances out of CAPA1020 Intro to Drama 2 that will occur  over the next 7 days:

Monday October 29, Joining of Dyan and Sue Clare Irvine’s Monday tutorial will perform a site responsive installation at the Lockup Cultural Centre, 90 Hunter Street, Newcastle, at 6pm. Developed from the history of internees (invitation above)

Tuesday October 30, a group from Brian Joyce’s Tuesday tutorial will meet their audience at the pedestrian tunnel near the upper end of Callaghan Campus at 6pm for a per-formative investigation of the matter of Security on Campus – if you need directions, just email Brian or Gillian.

Wednesday October 31, a group from Gillian Arrighi’s Wednesday tutorial will meet their audience at the Obelisk in Civic Park, Newcastle City, at 6pm for a walking tour performance that will lead you through the streets of Newcastle whilst entertaining you and enlightening you to the personal side of the 1989 Earthquake. Everyone is invited to a certain pub, after the performance, to meet with the walkers and the performers and to talk about the events of the evening.

Friday November 2, a group from Gillian Arrighi’s Wednesday tutorial will perform at the Newcastle Museum at 2.15pm. The performance begins on Newcastle’s Tram, moves to the BHP room, and from there to the Coal gallery, to re-consider the Stockton Mining Disaster of 1896.

Sunday November 4, a group from Brian Joyce’s Tuesday tutorial will perform at the Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 1 Laman Street, Cooks Hill, at 2.30pm. The performance “Ephemeris” has been developed in response to the current exhibition.

In addition to these live performances, two groups from the course have devised and created inter-media performances for the platforms YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram that will be previewed on Campus on Wednesday afternoon in the Drama Seminar Room, Drama Building. Both groups have responded to the current research initiatives of the Research Centre for Gender, Aging and Health.

Thanks to Dr Gillian Arrighi, Brian Joyce and team!

Newcastle Town Hall and Civic Theatre Honoured

Newcastle Town Hall Tower

On the 27th September 2012 the announcement was made that both the Newcastle Town Hall and Civic Theatre complex would be listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register.

Both buildings were designed by architect Henry Eli White (1875-1952), and were the greatest achievement of visionary Mayor of Newcastle from 1924-25 Alderman Morris Light (1859-1929). He never lived to see either building opened. For more info: http://uoncc.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/what-to-look-for-in-a-mayor/

The Newcastle Town Hall was inspired by design elements of two of the greatest wonders of the ancient world, The Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Mausaleum of Halicarnassis.

Newcastle Town Hall

The announcement was made by The Hon Robyn Parker, NSW Minister for Heritage in the presence of Professor Lawrence Nield, Chair of the NSW Heritage Council and Professor in our University of Newcastle’s School of Architecture, Councillor Jeff McCloy – Lord Mayor of Newcastle and Mr Tim Owen, NSW Member for Newcastle.

The Hon. Robyn Parker NSW Minister for Heritage and Lord Mayor of Newcastle Jeff McCloy

Details of the NSW Heritage Listings are here:

Newcastle Town Hall: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID…

Civic Theatre complex: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID…

The event was recorded on an iphone by Mr Gionni Di Gravio, University Archivist and Chair of the Coal River Working Party at the University of Newcastle (Australia).

 

The Novocastrian Time Machine

The Novocastrian Time Machine by Julie Martin

The Novocastrian Time Machine is an augmented reality narrative infrastructure design concept by Julie Martin for Watt Street in Newcastle (Australia).

Julie Martin is Creative Director for Virtual Reality Entertainment Systems Pty Ltd who prepared the concept for City of Newcastle Council’s City Evolutions Project that aims to install art installations in Watt Street to brighten up the city’s landscape.

Julie visited the University of Newcastle Archives on 19th October 2012 to show us her proposal that she created using inspirations from our historical research and image collections. She spoke with University Archivist and Chair of the Coal River Working Party, Gionni Di Gravio, who recorded the presentation.

Regular readers of this blog will know our fascination with constructing time machines from 2008 see: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-coal-river-time-machine/

The Presentation in PDF format can be viewed here: Novocastrian Time Machine by Julie Martin (10 MB PDF File)

Origins of King Edward Park

On the 29th August 2012 I was invited to address the Splendour in the Park Public meeting at the Newcastle Town Hall. The meeting featured a number of distinguished speakers from the University of Newcastle chaired by University Foundation Dr Bernard Curran and including world renown architects, Professor Richard Leplastrier and Professor Peter Stutchbury, Cultural Heritage Researcher and Historian, Ann Hardy, and Dr John Lewer from the University School of Business and Law and the Friends of King Edward Park Inc. Together, we presented an overview of this vitally important public open space, the heritage, history, and essential need for public participation.

The title of my presentation was “The Origins of the King Edward Park Recreational Reserve”.

During the recent announcement of sackings at the local Newcastle Herald, we digitised a Supplement published in 1966 on the history of newspapers in Newcastle. In that publication was an interesting engraving (reproduced above) that described King Edward Park as  being a place “where many a feud was settled”. There was no further text explaining that particular engraving, or its original source, so I was left with a mystery that needed further investigation.
It reminded me of an article I had scanned many years ago for the Virtual Sourcebook for Aboriginal Studies dating from 1897 and documenting a native duel between Aboriginal tribes in Newcastle at the present site of the Obelisk back in November 1801, in the early inception period of European settlement in Newcastle. The 1801 Survey Mission under the leadership of Lieutenant Grant and Lieutenant Colonel Paterson having visited in June-July 1801 with a Corporal Wixsted arriving to take command in late July. It is during this survey mission that the land later to be known as King Edward Park were identified and officially named.  Paterson wrote to Governor King on 25/6/1801, stating:

“…the hills from this to the southward are covered with excellent grass, without any wood or shrubs, except in the vallys [sic] and there but little.  As they have much the appearance of those hills you see sheep feeding on in England and I am certain would answer well for that purpose, I have named them the “Sheep Pasture Hills’.”

The “Sheep Pasture Hills” appear on Ensign Francis Barrallier’s June-July 1801 Survey Chart of the Coal Harbour and Rivers.

A NATIVE DUEL IN 1801 IN NEWCASTLE

From: Huntington, H. W. H. (Henry William Hemsworth)
“History of Newcastle and the Northern District Number XXXVII” from Newcastle Morning Herald. 14th December 1897.
Transcribed by Gionni Di Gravio

Duels in England and Australia were very numerous during the reign of George the Third, and a striking thing is that as society became more polished duels became more frequent. Among the principals of the fatal duels of George the Third’s reign were Charles James Fox, Sheridan, Pitt, Canning, Castlereagh, the Duke of York, the Duke of Richmond, and Lord Camelford. There were more numerous duels in Australia than in England, but of a less deadly character. Here is the account of a duel which attracted the attention of the first settlers at Newcastle in November 1801. We are told that on points of honour the Australia – and particularly the Newcastle – natives were exceedingly sensitive. On these occasions the hostile messages are sent and delivered by seconds, generally elderly females, who make their verbal communications with all the accustomed vituperation of daring challenge to the offended party. The challenge is accepted, and the weapons named – the cudgel, shield, or spear. The day appointed was such a day when the sun was one quarter high; the place, the top of Prospect, now Obelisk Hill. Messengers with the sacred message sticks were dispatched to gather in the distant tribes, and for a night or two the various hill tops would display signal fired, announcing the approach of the tribes to witness the affair of honour. On the occasion of the duel witnessed by the early Novocastrians the affair was one of a hostile character. The offending native, a stalwart man, first stooped and offered his head for his antagonist to strike with his nullah nulla or cudgel. As he was not killed by the first blow he rose from his bending posture, shook the streaming blood from his bushy hair, and then his opponent fairly and honourably bent forward his head, presenting it in return to receive his adversary’s blow. Thus the duel was reciprocally continued, until the assembled tribes and the combatants themselves shouted out some native words, signifying that everyone was satisfied. Upon inquiry among the chieftains, the officers of the settlement were informed that had one of the combatants struck his opponent on the temple (thus showing a murderous intent), or in any other way than on the fairly offered cranium of his antagonist, a shower of well directed spears would have ended the earthly career of the cowardly assailant who would dare to be guilty of such a breach of their laws of honour. It was also ascertained that it was the custom among many of the northern tribes that when the first blow killed the combatant and he was a young man in good condition the assembled chiefs would roast and eat the body of him who so nobly fell in the cause of honour. As a matter of fact, the cannibalistic custom fell into disuetude, as it tended to no good purpose, but to check the spirit of duelling, which the natives loved to practice. Alarming or picturesque as these savage customs appear, the numerous actors who used to make the Newcastle forests echo with their music, dances, and pastimes have mingled with the dust, and there remain but a few solitary beings, who stalk abroad very much unlike their heroic ancestors, but soon to become “as a tale that is told.”

The slide above shows a segment from a panorama of Newcastle from 1821 painted by artist Edward Charles Close. It shows a representation of an Aboriginal corroboree taking place at the site of the brick  windmill (now Obelisk), again providing a contemporary visual evidence of Aboriginal connection with the site for rituals and ceremonies.

To adequately position us locally with the historical events, this view (click the painting for a larger image) of early Newcastle displays the George Street, later Watt street vista, painted around 1816 by the convict Joseph Lycett. The wharf at the right hand side of the painting correlates today at the site of the roundabout opposite the Newcastle Train Station, upon which now resides on reclaimed land. The line up the hill to the Government House, which now lies under Watt Street roadway in the vicinity of Fletcher Park. Beyond that is the site of King Edward Park, South Newcastle Cliff (Yirannali) and Shepherd’s Hill (Khanterin).

The image above is an overlay of a section of John Armstrong’s 1830 map of Newcastle with Google Earth, providing and overhead view of the same scene depicted in the painting some years later. Again click the image for a greater detail. Various features identified in the 1830 map are pin pointed in the modern overlay.

The next part of our tale revolves around the eye witness account of Newcastle’s John Bingle (1796-1822). He was a sailor, merchant and landholder, who first visited Newcastle back in December 1821, met the then Commandant of the Penal Settlement, Major James Thomas Morisset (1780-1852), and taken on tour around the site of the town, and surrounding areas behind the Government House now King Edward Park and Bogey Hole. He later formed a company Bingle & Co. that established the first regular  trading service between Sydney and Newcastle in 1822 in the sloop Sally. In 1824 he married and moved to a property in Scone called Puen Buen (which according to the researches of the late Canon Carlos Stretch is an Aboriginal word meaning “small stones.”)  In 1837 he temporally returned to England before returning to Australia in 1842 and commencing a business in Newcastle in 1851. He was the Chair of the first Newcastle Chamber of Commerce established in May 1856, and the first message sent by telegraph on the line from Sydney to Newcastle, on 11 January 1860 was sent from his office. An interesting and dynamic man, who when he died in 1882 was lamented as Newcastle’s oldest inhabitant. He published his memoirs in 1873, The Past and Present Records of Newcastle, New South Wales, and it is from this work that the true origins of the Newcastle Recreational Reserve now known as King Edward Park and Bogey Hole are detailed. He is a primary source, a first hand account to information that, in the case of Morisset’s creation of the  would never have been formally set in the public records.

DOWNLOAD John Bingle’s Past and Present Records of Newcastle, New South Wales (1873) [16.5MB PDF] or here  The Past and Present Records of Newcastle, New South Wales Digitised by Newcastle Region Public Library

Bingle visited Newcastle in December 1821, and was taken on a tour by Major Morisset. He says:

The Commandant’s Residence named the Government House, was situated in the line of Watt-Street, about one hundred yards from the corner of the Barrack wall in Church Street. This building was a convenient and pretty cottage, but was unfortunately destroyed by fire some time after Major Morriset left to join his Regiment. At the back of it, over a hill, the Major had made a pretty (p.12) walk called the Horseshoe, the only outlet even to the present day, in the shape of a pleasant stroll, and as the rocks washed by the sea he had a bath excavated for his own use, which remains in its primitive state – called Morriset’s Bath. – Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, pp. 11-12

This is the evidence that Morisset was the creator of the Horseshoe walk and “Morriset’s  Bath” later known as the Bogey Bole. The image above is a sketch by artist Conrad Martens drawn on 13th May 1841, and it is the earliest sketch we have of the Morrisets Bath. Trying to find any trace of its construction in official records has not been fruitful, as it would have not been justified, and seen an an inappropriate use of funds. Morisset did not mention its construction to Commissioner Bigge, that he had used convict labour to cut out a bath for himself, or create a pleasure walk, for his own private use. However, he obviously felt comfortable showing the settlement off to a person such as Bingle, who was a visiting sea captain and businessman, and at the time on route to Moreton Bay. He wasn’t hanging around. Bingle describes the settlement under Morisset’s rule:

In the month of December, 1821, I first visited Newcastle in command of H. M. C. Sloop Sally, on a voyage to examine and finish the coast survey between Sydney and Torres Straits, especially Moreton Bay; and my report of its capabilities being considered favourable, Mr. Oxley, the Surveyor Guneral, was sent to select and establish the settlement. Although upward of 50 years have elapsed since, there is not effaced from my memory the impression then made. I had never visited a Convict settlement, or seen arbitrary power carried to such an extent. Perhaps it was necessary for the safety of the settlement that such severe discipline and punishments should be adopted, but to a stranger’s eye it seemed very un-English. Walking out with the Commandant to see the beauties of the harbour, the splendid ocean view, and above all the magnificent and unrivalled prospect from the church close, and to give me an idea of the awe in which he was held, I found no convict passed us walking; all drew up, head uncovered, long before we reached them, and every coal cart drew up and stopped. – Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, p. 7

We now fast forward to May of 1856, Bingle has established the first Chamber of Commerce in Newcastle, and has been elected its Chair.

As its first order of business the Chamber lobbied the Government to grant the Horseshoe, coastline and Obelisk area that Bingle had visited all those years ago to the citizens of Newcastle. They also asked for two blocks of land in Watt Street to establish am Exchange and Reading Room.

The Government were induced by the Chamber to grant the citizens in perpetuity (35) thirty five acres of land as a recreation ground in the most delightful and picturesque part of Newcastle from the top of Watt Street round the Horse Shoe, to the Obelisk. - Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, p. 21

But, unfortunately disaster struck three years later:

The great advantage which the city then derived in the possession of the Chamber of Commerce, was I regret to say, of short duration for the building in which the meetings were held, and in which the official documents and papers were kept, was totally destroyed by fire in 1858, and all records lost (except those in old newspapers) and no Chamber of Commerce established since to take its place. – Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, p. 21

But fortunately details of the proposals were recorded on an official Government Chart dated July 1860, copies made and distributed to citizens in the Town:

The Exchange and Reading Room, with offices and shipping books similar to Lloyd’s of London, was established at the same time as the Chamber of Commerce, May 1856, and destroyed in 1859 as I have just stated. …Soon after the formation of the Exchange, and when in working order, they applied to the Government to allot then a piece of land for the erection of a suitable building, which was given at the same time the post-office site was selected, and the adjoining allotment to it was given as the site of an exchange, and was marked so on an official Government chart, issues from the Surveyor General’s office, Sydney and dated July 1860. – Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, p. 23

I checked the date across our Flickr site, the actual plan was one digitised in July 2011 amongst 2.5 kms of plans digitised in the University ‘s Collections and uploaded here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/6070840885/

M4721 Map of the City of Newcastle, County of Northumberland, NSW, July, 1860.

The fire had destroyed the official records held in the Newcastle Business Chamber buildings in Watt Street, but luckily the newspapers of the day, including the Newcastle Telegraph (Newcastle’s first newspaper established by George Maxted in 1855) and the Newcastle Chronicle had placed important correspondence on the public record:

It was most unfortunate when the building was destroyed by tire that all the papers and documents were burnt, those especially beating on this subject among the number ; but most fortunately the doings of the Chamber were reported in the Telegraph, the local paper of that day; and also three of the letters published in the Chronicle by one of the Aldermen will speak for themselves.

Letter addressed to the Newcastle Chronicle, published 15th March, 1865.
THE RECREATION RESERVE.

SIR,—In compliance with your request, I herewith enclose you the three documents which I wish should be read by the Town Clerk, at the meeting of the Municipal Council last Monday night. I stated that on their being read I should move that they be received and referred to the Reserve Committee. Objections were made on their being read, and the Mayor having ruled that they should not be, I consequently failed in making them the property of the Council which I was very anxious to do, believing them to be important documents, and that on public grounds they should be in the hands of the Municipality. The first letter proves the origin and objects of the grant, and the reply to the second proves who were intended as Trustees, viz., the Municipal Council. You are at liberty to make what use of them you think proper, and then return them to me. I have kept them for six years. Twice have I offered them to the Newcastle Municipal Council, the third time I hope they will receive them – the plot thickens.—Yours, &c.,
THOMAS ADAM
Newcastle, March 14th 1865.

______________________________________________

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Sydney, 10th September, 1856.

GENTLEMEN,- His Excellency, the Governor General, has laid before the Executive Council your memorial, praying that the remaining unaltered portion of the “Newcastle City Extension Reserve” may be granted, and placed in trust for the inhabitants of Newcastle, to be appropriated for “the purpose of recreation, and forming a reservoir. 2. His Excellency in Council has under the report on the subject received from the Surveyor-General, approved of the land in question, containing about thirty-five acres, being permanently dedicated to the public purposes named m the memorial, of which that officer has been apprised. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant.

W. ELYARD.

To J. Wright, Esq., and other gentlemen signing the Memorial, Newcastle.

(p.25)

COPY.

Newcastle. 29th September, 1856.

SIR, – On behalf of the Memorialists, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 10th instant, announcing compliance by his Excellency the Governor General in Council, with the prayer of a memorial addressed to him from here, for a grant of the unalienate portion of the Newcastle City Extension Reserve, for the public purposes therein mentioned. I am requested by the memorialists to express the grateful sense they entertain of the enlightened liberality of his Excellency the Governor General and Council, which has induced this important public boon, which it is the earnest wish of the inhabitants of Newcastle, that they may be enabled to soon adapt to the important objects, for which it has been so liberally granted; and in requesting your conveyance of these feelings of the memorialists to his Excellency. I am desired to state their impression of the courteous manner in which, you have been pleased to express to them his Excellency’s determination. As his Excellency’s intention probably contemplates the nomination from here of a number of gentlemen interested in the advancement of this city, and consequently in the promotion of the objects of the trust, to be appointed trustees in the deed, I am requested to name the undermentioned, who would act in that capacity. The object in naming this number is to secure a more extended interest and efficient action in carrying out the purposes of the grant. — I have tho honor to be Sir, your most obedient servant,

(Signed) SAMUEL WRIGHT

Memo of names submitted, Messrs. .John Bingle, B. Hudson, George Tully, Benjamin Hislop, Simon Kemp, P. C. Boswell, Thomas Adam, and S. L. Wright.
To the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Sydney,
____________________________

Colonial Secretary’s Office
Sydney, 21st October, 1856.

SIR,– With reference to your letter of the 20th ultimo, in which you submit the names of certain gentlemen proposed as trustees to receive a grant of the land, recently appropriated as an extension reserve for the recreation and amusement of the inhabitants of the city of Newcastle. I am directed to inform you, that, in contemplation of the establishment of municipalities it is considered proper to defer, for the present, the issue of a deed in this case. I am directed to add that the papers on this subject have now been transmitted to the Secretary for Lands and Public Works, to whose department the business belongs, and that any further communication which may be necessary, will be made to you from tho office of that Minister. — I have the honor to be Sir, your must obedient servant.

W. ELYARD

SAMUEL WRIGHT, Esq., Newcastle,

This correspondence does not directly apply to the Exchange Grant, but to that of the Recreation ground. They were both made at the same time, and both dealt with in like manner— further, these letters prove that the city was indebted to the Committee’s exertions for the Recreation land, and it is fortunate that official letters have been preserved in private hands.

With regards to the creation of the Horse Shoe walk, there is an argument that what became our pathways and roads, were originally the tracks of the Aboriginal people, who had walked the land for thousands of years. Such themes will be further investigated by my fellow presenters Professors Richard Leplastrier and Peter Stutchbury. The engraving above entitled “Near Newcastle on the Hunter, New South Wales” is from an original work by John Skinner Prout (1805-1876) and engraved by S. Bradshaw. It was reproduced facing page 126 in Volume 2 of Australia by Edwin Carton Booth, F R. C. I. Illustrated with Drawings by Skinner Prout, N. Chevalier, &c. &c. London: Virtue and Company Limited, (1873-1876). It shows Aboriginal people at Shepherds Hill around 1841 at what is a path or track in the scrub. Morisset may have created this path from what may have already been an Aboriginal track.

There also exists a possible Aboriginal name for South “Shepherds Hill” as Khanterin. We are not sure that it is an Aboriginal word, but have found it used in two sources to date.

Bingle and the Memorialists had attempted to secure the Recreation Ground, but the decision had to been deferred to the newly established Newcastle Municipal Council. What we have established through Bingle’s testimony, is that we can thank the first Newcastle Business Chamber for the initial vision in securing the Recreation Reserve for the Newcastle community.  We know that the Crown eventually did dedicate 40 acres for recreation purposes gazetted on the 16th July 1863. Further work needs to be undertaken to see what happened from there.

Bingle constantly refers to the bickerings and arguments that accompany anything undertaken in Newcastle. His book records some important words of advice for our Community.

The reminiscences of old times, are most refreshing, for there was an amount of genial and kindly feeling existing at that time, which does not, I regret to say, influence our citizens now to work the one with the other.
It is truly grievous the want of unanimity, ill-feeling, and bickerings displayed at our public meetings. Even when we are personally concerned. But call a meeting for any local display, or especially for a patriotic purpose. Then I am proud of my fellow townsmen, who can, when the matter is properly brought before them, throw off all bickerings and strife and join heart, hand, and purse, for the advancement of either object.

At times like these the good qualities of our townspeople are brought out without a dissenting voice.
- Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, pp. 45-46

To his fellow business leaders:

After the fire the subscribers were disheartened, and no attempt has since been made to replace it. However, it is never too late to mend, so it is to be hoped that our influential commercial men may throw all jealousies aside and bestir themselves in carrying out the views and intentions of their former benefactors. – Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, p. 26

John Bingle to future Newcastle:

I venture to prophesy that Newcastle will take the lead of all the colonies; and if the consumption and increased demand for coal to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope continues as at present, Newcastle must become one of the greatest cities in the Southern Hemisphere, in wealth and prosperity. All machinery is set in motion by coal, and it must be had at any price; for without it, all commercial and postal contracts would be broken; and all industries be at a standstill, especially steamers.- Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, p. 39

It requires us as citizens to bury all paltry jealousies and unite for the advancement of our city, and as its progress is developed, our interests, which are identical, will also go onward, and the years in store for us will cause greater moral and commercial successes to be achieved than have been chronicled in either the Past or Present Records of Newcastle. – Bingle, Past and Present Records of Newcastle NSW, p. 47

These words are as timely today, as they were in 1873. Bingle saw that our fractured and bickering community was at its best at times of patriotism. It is interesting that the King Edward Park reserve later becomes a focal point for marches and commemorations after the war years prior to the formation of Civic Park. The Wattle Day League in celebration of Arbor Day would have commemorative tree plantings, and processions would wend their way from the Post Office up Watt Street to King Edward Park. Bingle may have foreseen King Edward Park as a place where petty feuds and squabbles among his fellow citizens could be resolved, just as they had been for thousands of years prior among the Aboriginal people. The place is obviously a special place, a lucky place, that he and his fellow colleagues fought to protect and retain for community ownership. It needs to be kept aside as our original business Chamber pioneers wished it to be, a Recreation Ground for the people of Newcastle.

Gionni Di Gravio
University Archivist and Chair – Coal River Working Party
University of Newcastle (Australia)

Glimpses of Newcastle in the 1920s

Glimpses of Newcastle (Front Cover)

This small item containing foldout photographs of Newcastle scenes was created sometime during the 1920s.

We know this because the Newcastle Town Hall image is presented as a concept illustration, so it must be prior to 1929, when the building was finally constructed and opened to the public.

The booklet includes various views around Newcastle including the Beach, the Dyke, the Cliff Walk, King Edward Park, Ambulance Station, Post Office, Ocean Baths, Nobbys, Town Hall (in concept) and Merewether.

The full set can also be viewed in various sizes on the University of Newcastle (Australia) Cultural Collections  Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157630864244266/

It was kindly donated to the University by Mrs Stephanie Turton in July 2012 and is held at Archives Shelf Location A9020 (x).