Category: Convict Era

Posts relating to Newcastle as a convict settlement

‘Story of Middleton’ – First Chaplain at Newcastle, NSW in 1821

March 15, 2021

At the March Hunter Living Histories meeting Dr Ian Eckford presented the ‘Story of Middleton’ – 200 year anniversary of the first Chaplain at Newcastle, New South Wales. Wednesday, 10 March 2021 marked 200 years since George Augustus Middleton was appointed as the first resident Chaplain to the convict settlement of Newcastle. Dr Eckford also … More ‘Story of Middleton’ – First Chaplain at Newcastle, NSW in 1821

“Black Swans” – an engraving by Capt. James Wallis, 1818

May 4, 2020

  Introduction As part of the COVID19 lock down during April 2020, a challenge was published through the Hunter Living Histories Twitter feed to identify the possible location of an engraving of two black swans at Reed’s Mistake, (now Swansea) that were published two hundred years ago 1820, but captured sometime around 1818 as part … More “Black Swans” – an engraving by Capt. James Wallis, 1818

Videocast – Constructing a Culture of Government Care in Australia 1801–2012

October 16, 2019

(This post has been transferred from ‘Newcastle Government Domain’ WordPress site- originally posted 11 September 2012) “‘Here is an Asylum open…’ Constructing a Culture of Government Care in Australia 1801–2012” by Ann Hardy PhD candidate in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Presented on the 7th September as part of the 2012 History Seminar … More Videocast – Constructing a Culture of Government Care in Australia 1801–2012

“They sent me North: Female Convicts in the Hunter” – Book Launch

August 6, 2019

On Tuesday 31 July 2019, the publication “They sent me north: Female Convicts in the Hunter” compiled by Mel Woodford with Jan Richards, edited by Elizabeth James from the Newcastle Family History Society (NFHS) was launched at the Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library. The book has many contributions by the descendants of female convicts and members … More “They sent me North: Female Convicts in the Hunter” – Book Launch

Important Moments in Newcastle History

November 5, 2018

A History Survey (Sept-Oct 2018) co-ordinated by Brendan Josevski for UON Cultural Collections found that the following themes associated with Newcastle were mentioned frequently by participants in the survey. General/Convict History Convict Lumberyard Royal Newcastle Hospital Newcastle Earthquake Newcastle Post Office Star Hotel Riot This post provides a general historical overview of these themes. For … More Important Moments in Newcastle History

Happy 200th Birthday Macquarie Pier (a.k.a. Newcastle Breakwater)

August 2, 2018

This Sunday marks the 200th anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone for Macquarie Pier on August 5th 1818. Governor Lachlan Macquarie laid the foundation stone for the Newcastle breakwater, named in his honour by Commandant Captain James Wallis as “Macquarie Pier” during one of his three visits to Newcastle on the 5th August  … More Happy 200th Birthday Macquarie Pier (a.k.a. Newcastle Breakwater)

Healthcare in Newcastle 1817-1860

December 1, 2017

HEALTHCARE IN NEWCASTLE 1817-1860 By Dr Ann Hardy (Presented at The Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute one-day seminar at HMRI on 11 November, 2017.) Newcastle hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Australia, founded in 1817, however limited primary sources have survived relating to healthcare. To commemorate 200 years of the Newcastle Hospital a secondary … More Healthcare in Newcastle 1817-1860

The Newcastle Fortifications (24 May 1881)

March 2, 2017

THE NEWCASTLE FORTIFICATIONS. (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13484259 The Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 24 May 1881 Page 6 of 10 ******************************************************************* THE NEWCASTLE FORTIFICATIONS. (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)   On Saturday last Colonel P. H. Scratchley, R.E., C.M.G., and Colonel C. F. Roberts, visited Newcastle for the purpose of inspecting the hill known as Signal … More The Newcastle Fortifications (24 May 1881)