Convicts * the River

I I I I m&TI1rJ1&~J]) rnr~~TI1r&@~ I ~lDJ~W~W JRl~WTI~~ I I I I I 'I I I July 1994 i I WendyThorp Historical Archaeologist and Heritage Consultant 12 Campbell Street Eastwood NSW 2122 I Tel: 858 4336 Fax: 858 4336 I in association with BRIAN McDONALD -I- ASSOCIATES I Architects +Urban Planners ~ Heritage Consultants Suite 1/3 Montague Street Balmain NSW 2041 ,I Tel: 8106700 Fax: 8102747 I I I MAITLAND HERITAGE SURVEY REVIEW: THEMATIC HISTORY I SECTION 1.0 I INTRODUCTION I 1.1 THE ROLE OF THE THEMATIC STUDY A thematic history does not purport to be a detailed 'I analysis of the myriad facets of local development and anecdotal material that comprises the wealth of local history. It does not attempt to document the construction of every significant building, the acquisition of every I land grant, the commencement of every major industrial enterprise or identify every settler prominent in the I history of the study area. The primary purpose of the work is to define, as concisely as possible, the principal events or catalysts that were I influential in the unique development of a particular area. It is not so much a "what" history as a "how" or "why" history although, in its explication, it does provide a considerable wealth of detail with respect to I the "whats" of history. With respect to the latter, detailed analysis and I discussion of sites, events and personalities of the Maitland district have been included in several local histories and secondary studies. These works have examined a wealth of primary material as well as contributing I considerable local understanding and observations that have been invaluable in the formation of this thematic overview. For quite specific discussions of any of these I aspects the reader is advised to consult these texts by referring to the bibliography at the end of this report. I Principally the thematic study's use is in providing a concise overview that may be used to underpin or support the selection or nomination of buildings, relics or areas as "heritage items". It provides the framework in which to I determine whether such an item is rare or informative about the history of an area, whether it acts as a landmark or commemoration of important processes or I events. Thematic histories provide an objective framework in which to evaluate items that may not have, for example, much aesthetic appeal and may be overlooked for this reason in a survey. It provides an objective means of I assessment rather than a subjective reaction. I I I WENDY THORP I 1 I I MAITLAND HERITAGE SURVEY REVIEW: THEMATIC HISTORY I I 1.2 THE STRUCTURE OF A THEMATIC STUDY Thematic histories are presented in chapters that reflect what has been found to be those principal catalysts in the history of the area. Eight such themes have been I identified in the case of this study. These are: I * The River and Land - The Influence of Topography * Exploration, Exploitation and Convicts I * Estate Development - Pioneers, Gentlemen and Tenants * Urban Growth I * A Regional Centre I * Communications * Industry and Natural Resources * A Unique Heritage Preservation, Conservation and I Heritage No one theme or themes is more important than any other; I their presentation or placement in the report does not represent a ranking or statement of relative importance. Each theme of local development has been as important as the others although in quite different and, in many cases, I interlinked ways. I I I I I I I I WENDY THORP I 2 I I MAITLAND HERITAGE SURVEY REVIEW: THEMATIC HISTORY I I 1.3 THE STATE HERITAGE INVENTORY PROJECT THEMES As a means of evaluating the entire state's heritage a project has been underway for some years to provide a standard format for recording and evaluating items. In I addition, the thematic studies of each heritage review must conform to or identify standard themes that have been developed for the state. To this end the themes identified I for the Maitland Heritage Survey Review may be equated with the state themes in the following manner: LOCAL: The River and Land - The Influence of Topography I STATE: Environment LOCAL: Exploration, Exploitation and Convicts I STATE: Exploration; Convict; pastoralism; Agriculture; Land Tenure; Environment; Transport. I LOCAL: Estate Development Pioneers, Gentlemen and Tenants STATE: Convict; Pastoralism; Agriculture; Land Tenure; I Environment. LOCAL: Urban Growth I STATE: Townships. LOCAL: A Regional Centre STATE: Townships; Migration; Communication; Utilities; Industry; Commerce; Government and Administration; I Law and Order; Housing; Leisure; Social Institutions; Cultural Sites; Sport; Health; I Welfare; Religion; Education; Death; Events. LOCAL: Communications I STATE: Transport; Communications. LOCAL: Industry and Natural Resources STATE: Pastoralism; Agriculture; Mining; Environment; I Industry. LOCAL: A Unique Heritage - Preservation, Conservation and Heritage I STATE: Environment; Other. I I I I WENDY THORP I 3 I I MAITLAND HERITAGE SURVEY REVIEW: THEMATIC HISTORY I SECTION 2.0 I THE RIVER AND THE LAND - INFLUENCE OF TOPOGRAPHY I 2.1 GEOLOGY The underlying rock and soil formations that surround I Maitland have provided resources such as coal, building stone and soils that have created foundations for settlement, commercial and industrial ventures. It is I important to appreciate the role that these basic building blocks have played in the development of the region; without them the history of Maitland would have peen I vastly different. Maitland lies in a great trough valley between the Bathurst-Monaro Tableland in the south and the New England I Tableland to the north. Volcanic activity, upthrust and decline of geological formations, drowned valleys and gradual siltation over millions of geological years have produced the characteristic country of the Maitland I region. To the south Maitland is bound by hard sandstones and in I the north by basalts, trachytes and other volcanic rocks. Some of the stones have been exploited for building materials. Small quantities of marble have even been found and used in the district. Vast coal seams run under and I surface near the district. The discovery and exploitation of this asset in the l880s changed the face of the I district and its economy and social structure. The soils produced by the underlying geology vary greatly and have produced qualities that were particularly I suitable for certain crops; for example, rhyolite tuffs encouraged citrus growth. Fine grazing and agricultural lands are produced elsewhere and timber stands were supported by the rich soils; the alluvial deposits were I particularly suitable for lucerne growth. The landform produced by these geological arrangements and I the environment supported by it have also been of enormous significance to the historical development of the I district. I I I WENDY THORP I 4 I I MAITLAND HERITAGE SURVEY REVIEW: THEMATIC HISTORY I I 2.2 TOPOGRAPHY AND LANDSCAPE The position of the region within natural river, hill and valley corridors has been of fundamental importance to the development of the area. These were the means by which I communication was to be made with the near and not so near centres of settlement. It was Maitland's strategic location in this aspect that was to underpin its I subsequent growth and success. Flats and slopes have also contributed to particular I patterns of settlement. The relation of these features to the river and, in particular, the impact of the river on those areas was to be both a blessing and a curse for future settlers. The earliest surveys of the district took I particular notice of these features. The lowest land was noted to be swamps and lagoons, especially around the Wallis Creek and Pattersons Plains area. The Hinton area I was noted to be on low ground subject to flood (1). Along the river ox bow and silted up lakes formed natural clearings of some thirty or forty acres. Several swamps I were drained by the new settlers to create more arable land. Mitchell, for example, drained a lagoon on his land near Maitland to create 340 acres of fertile soil; the I Bolwarra swamp was drained for a similar purpose (2). Naturally occurring resources that have characterized certain areas, such as timber, have greatly aided the I development of and supported settlement. Thick scrub dominated the landscape. Around Maitland was the thickest brush in the country (3). At Bolwarra it was described as I "a jungle or brush next to impenetrable" (4). I E. C. Close was to write that, "walking into it (the tree cover) is like walking into twilight, the trees so huge they meet across the river and the canopy above is I so thick that the sunlight never reaches the ground below" (5). I At the edge of the flood plain were gently rising hills; originally the foothills were grassy with ironbark forests behind (6). The grasslands were to be exploited for I pastoral purposes. Vivid descriptions of the 1830s show that, at least at this time, European settlement had made relatively little I impact on the pre-existing environment. The journey along the river from Maitland to Morpeth was described from the I boat in 1833 as, "on each side, low flat shores covered with a I deep green bush of mangroves, skirted in front WENDY THORP I 5 I I I MAITLAND HERITAGE SURVEY REVIEW: THEMATIC HISTORY I with a belt of reeds, growing into the water and waving like a field of barley... for several miles up to the first and second branch the scenery is much the same, that is I dark mangroves or impenetrable thickets with a line of reeds in front ... rt (7).

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