On this page members of the Maitland and District Historical Society are sharing their research into a variety of aspects of the history of our locality. New stories will be added as they become available.
Use search to find stories about the person, place, topic or keyword you are interested in.
The Glenbawn Dam rumour and the 1955 flood
There is a persistent belief among some Maitland people that the severity of the 1955 flood was due to the deliberate blowing up of Glenbawn Dam on the Hunter River above the town of Aberdeen. It is not true.
The electric telegraph comes to Maitland
The electric telegraph revolutionised communications world-wide. It first operated in Maitland in early 1860.
Those magnificent men and their cycling machines
Bicycle racing, organised by the Maitland Bicycle Club, was once popular as it was in other parts of Australia. It attracted substantial crowds to cheer on the race participants.
The shortening of the lower Hunter River
The Hunter River was much shortened after Europeans arrived, an indirect result of vegetation removal and the draining of wetlands. River behaviour changed, especially during floods, loops were cut off, the river became wider and shallower and huge amounts of good soil was lost.
Helping hands from outside Maitland: the 1955 flood
David Russell and Malcolm Bailey were two of the many people from outside Maitland who travelled to the town to help during and after the 1955 flood.