Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Maitland

Maitland

Maitland, the largest of the Hunter Valley centres, lies on the New England Highway, against the Hunter River 30km north-west of Newcastle. Established in 1822 by free convicts after the Hunter area was opened for settlement, the town was first known as Wallis Creek and it grew steadily around traffic on the Hunter River. In 1829, a government town was designed and built to the east of the existing settlement - it was later named Maitland and by 1833 several administrative buildings had been erected. When Wallis Creek was renamed to West Maitland in 1834, confusion arose and the original Maitland was renamed to East Maitland. Despite West Maitland being prone to flooding and being poorly designed, it outgrew its eastern counterpart such that eventual commercial centre resided in the west with the east retaining the administrative centre. Growth occurred in both towns when the coal mines opened in the 1870's such that by 1944, East and West Maitland were merged into the city of Maitland. Despite more growth post WW2, the city's importance along the Hunter River declined and it has evolved into a satellite centre to Newcastle with many of its residents working in the coal mines to the north or in Newcastle itself. Of interest in town include a substantial amount of historic buildings, the High Street Mall and nearby foreshore parkland along the Hunter River.

Population: 41,600
State: New South Wales
Name Origin: Named after James Maitland, Earl of Lauderdale
Pronunciation: Mate-lnd
Postcode: 2320
Local Government: Maitland City Council
Location: 168km north of Sydney
Main Roads: New England Highway
Main Watercourses: Hunter River
Radio Stations (Music): KO-FM (102.9), New FM (105.3), NX-FM (106.9), Triple J (102.1)

Photos from Maitland (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

The New England Highway, heading west, approaching East Maitland (2002).

Newcastle Street (New England Hwy), looking north-west from King St, East Maitland (2005).

High Street, heading north-west from Smith St, Maitland (2005).

High Street, looking north-west from Devonshire St, Maitland (2005).

High Street, looking south-east from Ken Tubmann Dr, Maitland (2005).

High Street, looking north-west from Ken Tubmann Dr, Maitland (2005).

High Street again, looking north-west as it approaches Bourke St, Maitland (2005).

	The New England Highway, heading west, approaching East Maitland (2002).
	Newcastle Street (New England Hwy), looking north-west from King St, East Maitland (2005).
	High Street, heading north-west from Smith St, Maitland (2005).
	High Street, looking north-west from Devonshire St, Maitland (2005).
	High Street, looking south-east from Ken Tubmann Dr, Maitland (2005).
	High Street, looking north-west from Ken Tubmann Dr, Maitland (2005).
	High Street again, looking north-west as it approaches Bourke St, Maitland (2005).