Have you ever wondered how your Hunter
Valley ancestors
entertained themselves? What sport did they play? Which
days were set aside as holidays? What amusements did they look
forward to and how did they pass their time?
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article
VELOCIPEDES - One of these
new inventions for travelling was exhibited and tried on
Saturday in Scott street (Newcastle). It is the first of the
kind that has appeared in our streets, and was made, as an
experiment, by Mr. James Hookway, of this town. It is made of
iron wheels and all, and has a light appearance in its present
rough state. Mr. Hookway intends to improve upon this his
first attempt, and also to make one of wood. Several persons
tried their skill upon it on Saturday afternoon; and most of
them came to grief, causing great amusement to the lookers on-
but not to the equestrians........
Maitland Mercury
23 September 1869
Sea Bathing at
Newcastle in 1830's - Alexander Phelp begs leave
respectfully to inform those Ladies and Gentlemen resident in
Sydney and its vicinity, who may be desirous of benefiting by Sea
Bathing, that he has fitted up apartments in his house situate in
Pacific Street, Newcastle for their accommodation. The contiguity
of the house to the sea beach renders it a most desirable
residence for the purpose......Sydney Gazette
25th September 1830
Feed
the fish (click). Watch them follow your mouse.
Sea Bathing at Newcastle -
A laughable circumstance
occurred a short time since at Newcastle which was likely to
have been attended with serious consequences. In the harbour
of Newcastle is a sand bank which at the time of high water is
covered with about three feet of water. It is looked upon by
the bathers of that place as an expert feat to swim off to the
bank, and after a rest there to return.
On a late occasion a person took it into his head to swim to the
bank, which he reached and on coming there he stood upright and
for the purpose of display or some unaccountable motive hollowed
aloud several times similar to a person drowning. The attention of
the spectators was called to him, but his noise being
attributed to folly, very little notice was further taken of it.
One amongst them however was not so easily satisfied. This was a
noble Newfoundland dog.............................. Sydney Gazette February 1839
The First Bridge Across the Hunter! -
On Monday evening next, opposite the Fitzroy HotelWest Maitland, Mr. Quinn, the Australian tight rope dancer,
announces that he will perform a variety of 'insurmountable' feats
on the tight rope, and will also perform the 'wonderful
achievement' of walking across the River Hunter, on a rope
stretched across from tree to tree...........
Maitland Mercury 15 September 1849
Mr Quinn's Tightrope Performance.............Maitland Mercury
22 September 1849
MR. Quinn's Tightrope performances
- Yesterday Mr. Quinn, the Australian tight rope performer,
attempted to cross the river Hunter, at Morpeth, on a rope
stretched from the Queen's wharf to a tree on the opposite bank,
and made fast about the centre to the cross trees of a craft
moored in the middle of the river...........Maitland Mercury 24 October 1849
Mr. Quinn at Singleton - .............Maitland Mercury
31st October 1849
Mr. Quinn at Maitland with 56lbs weights. .........Maitland Mercury
20 April 1850
Mr. Ashton's Circus at Singleton with La Petite Rosier
tightrope walker -........... Maitland Mercury
9 October 1852
Mr. Ashton's Circus at Maitland - Mr. Armstrong the clown
...........Maitland Mercury
27 October 1859
Mr. Ashton's Circus at Dungog............. Maitland Mercury
15 November 1859
The Foley Troupe at Maitland - ............Juvenile Troupe - Johnny and
Kate Foley - Maitland Mercury
29 December 1868
Liverpool Plains. Dr. Gill's fox hounds
threw off at 'Warrah', where a party of tip-toppers had assembled
determined on sport; horses and dogs in prime order, the nature of
the country and state of the weather being favourable beyond
comparison. The hounds first threw off at 7am. The dingo, being
liberated from his bag, in good trim, and allowed five minutes'
law, was well followed by all hands, stimulated by the glorious
harmony of the pack, and after a run of about six miles in fifteen
minutes, was killed amidst the death - whoop of the field. Having
camped, to breathe the dogs and partaken of refreshments and
'nobblers' round, the hounds started on a fresh scent, and after a
short run, gave full cry at a hollow log, in which six well grown
pups and their dam were discovered by the vigilant eye of Mr.
Wyatt, who suggested to his companions that they should be
instantly spiflicated, in which suggestion , all parties
concurring, they were, by the aid of a tinder box subjected to
that effectual punishment to which the Hindoo widows are so
ungallantly doomed. Another halt - more grog - and fresh
determination, having revived the party, the hounds were again
brought to the scratch, and after a few checks started on a warm
scent. After a glorious burst of a few miles, several rasping logs
having been cleared by the eager sportsmen, a full grown native
dog was come up with ad died. 'Home sweet home now echoing from
the huntsman's horn, our horses' heads were turned in obedience
thereto, after a day of unclouded satisfaction
We had an excellent day’s
sport on the parson’s farm, killed five large
kangaroo’s and started about fifty others in the space of five
hours, with about ten or a dozen dogs. We were in at the death of one of
them.
“The Wretched animal
heav’d forth such groans,
That their discharge did
stretch his leathern coat,
Almost to bursting; and
the big round tears
Coursed one another down his innocent nose,
In piteous chase”
I could not help
regretting such a wholesale and useless slaughter. The kangaroo
generally weighs from twenty to a hundred pounds; and as it is
impossible to carry such burdens home, the practice is merely to cut off
the tails. Perhaps you never tasted kangaroo soup. I confess not one
settler in a hundred either knows how to dress it or is furnished with
the little ingredients so essentially requisite in soups. The Spaniards
say “he that has not seen Seville, has seen nothing’” so may be said of
this “Spirit of Australia’ if you have not tasted kangaroo, you have
tasted nothing. When his tail is converted into soup, especially as I
had it, under the hands and superintendence of Mrs. ---Not turtle nor
Mulligatawney,Nor all the savoury dishes
of the world,Can beat it.
- The Australian 7 February 1827
KANGAROO HUNT At Raymond Terrace - .........Maitland Mercury
26 January 1867
DESCRIPTION OF A KANGAROO HUNT
- .........Maitland Mercury
18 December 1875
WESLEYAN TEA FESTIVAL
-Bandon Grove Dungog - Wednesday last was a day of great
festivity at Bandon Grove. The chapel was decorated in every
quarter with a variety of flowers, cultivated and wild; flag and
streamer were flying......Maitland Mercury
20 October 1859
PATERSON RACES
- These races
commenced on Wednesday, being the first we believe that have been
held in the Paterson district. The town of Paterson has seldom
presented so gay and animated an appearance to a stranger as it
did not that morning, the inns doing a stirring business from the
number of visitors, from Maitland and other parts, flocking to the
races.
The day was fortunately a beautiful one, a pleasant breeze
tempering the warmth of the sun. ........... Maitland
Mercury
6 October 1849.
HEXHAM REGATTA
- On Monday,
21st came off the first Hexham Regatta which passed off
exceedingly well, from the excellent arrangements of the stewards
and the orderly conduct and respectable appearance of those in
attendance..........Maitland Mercury 26 July 1845
NEWCASTLE REGATTA - The Newcastle annual regatta was
held on the harbour today and proved one of the most
successful ever witnessed in Port Hunter. The weather was
perfect.......Sydney Morning Herald 2 January
1908............
THEATRE IN
SYDNEY 1852 - In regard to the public amusements of
Sydney, I have already alluded to the colonial taste for horse
racing, cricketing, and regattas. And it is scarcely necessary to
remind the reader, that a taste of that kind uniformly implies a
taste for gambling and dissipation. for that portion of the
community that delights in such amusements, there is also a
Theatre royal in Sydney. but having never been present at any
theatrical exhibitions in the colony, I can only presume, from my
general knowledge of certain classes of its population, that if
there is little reason to consider the theatre as a school of
virtue in England, there is no reason whatever for regarding it in
that light in NSW. Historical and Statistical Account of NSW 1852.
John Dunmore Lang
NEWCASTLE CHRISTMAS RACES
- At sunrise, on Boxing day morning, the inhabitants of this
port were on the qui vive, being the day for opening their maiden
Race Course, in the vicinity of the town. Precisely at ten a.m.,
the judge, James Reid, Esq., our old resident and much respected
townsman, to whose indefatigability the majority of the anxious
spectators owed the forthcoming sports, took up his position at
the grand stand. Shortly after which a bugler was ordered to blow
the call for preparations of the candidates............
Maitland
Mercury
6 January 1847
CHRISTMAS DAY PICNIC AT RAYMOND TERRACE - I beg to send you an
account of a festive party given at this place by Mr. Button, an
aboriginal gentleman of the neighbourhood, to a select circle of friends
on Christmas Day. About two o'clock the company began to assemble on the
green, it being understood to be a picnic or sylvan repast, armed with
spears, waddies and boomerangs.........Maitland Mercury
6 January 1844
FOOT RACING (Pedestrianism) - Maitland - The Flying
Pieman - Our indefatigable visitor the Ladies Walking Flying
pieman and Champion Pedestrian of the World as he often styles
himself has performed his feat of walking 500 half miles..........Maitland
Mercury
1 March 1848
FOOT RACING at Newcastle......... Maitland Mercury
14 July 1870
FOOTBALL The Last Game in England of
the Australian Aboriginal Eleven............ Maitland Mercury
29 December 1868
CRICKET MATCH - The return
match between the Maitland eleven and eleven of Morpeth, Raymond
Terrace, and the William River came off on the Maitland ground on
Monday last. List of players: Taylor, Chittenden, Willoughby,
Holstock, Dee, Honeysett, Collins, Turner, Crumpton, Hyde,
Belcher, Braben, Beasley, Hardy, Hessell, Bell, Holdstock, Nash,
Hunter, Fitchett, Ballard, Austin............. Maitland Mercury
11 March 1846
A BALL HELD ON THE CALCUTTA THREE NIGHTS
BEFORE THE BATTLE OF CASTLE HILL
- On Wednesday 29th February the Officers of His Majesty’s Ship
Calcutta gave an elegant Entertainment to the Officers of the
Colony, Civil and Military, at which many Ladies were present. In
the evening a Ball commenced which continued till an early hour.
And the day following the festivities were renewed with equal
spirit and taste, and continued till the pale fac’d moon gave
earnest of approaching day (Sydney) .........Sydney Gazette
4 March 1804
ODD FELLOWS' BALL On
Thursday evening, the anniversary ball of the Odd Fellows of
Maitland came off at the Bucks Head West Maitland. Dancing
commenced shortly after nine o’clock and was kept up with great
spirit until daylight warned the revelers home. When the iron
tongue of midnight had told twelve’............
Maitland Mercury
25 October 1845.
BACHELOR'S BALL
- Newcastle - This affair was upon the whole numerously attended.
Dancing commenced at nine o'clock, and was kept up with great
spirit until twelve, when the company sat down to a sumptuous
supper provided by the host of the Commercial Hotel. Messrs. Tighe
and McGreavy also supplied some of the delicacies. The wines,
which added a lustre to the eyes, were choice and excellent; and
as the night was delightfully cool, and the new court house
commodious, dancing was recommenced at two, with waltzes,
quadrilles, etc and continued with unabated ardour until the
shrill notes of the cock's clarion warned the fair ladies of the
approach of day. The bachelors, and some of the married gentlemen
of the party, finished the entertainment with a few songs when
each departed to enjoy the luxury of his pillow. Hunter River
Gazette 19 February 1842.
BACHELOR'S BALL - The large room at Yeoman's Northumberland
Hotel was a scene of great festivity, a number of the bachelors of
Maitland having invited their friends to a select ball and
supper.......Maitland Mercury
7 October 1843
SYDNEY - Haymarket in the 1850'S
- Descending the slope where the road leads into the town, you
enter Parramatta Street, formed of straggling shops and dwelling
houses. On your right hand is an extensive building used as a
distillery and a steam flour mill, adjoining which stands the
largest brewery in the colony. Proceeding onward in this direction
for about half a mile, you come to the Haymarket, passing on your
way Christ church and the Benevolent Asylum. All along the road
through this suburb looks like the approach to an English market
town. The small green grocers, with bundles of hay and straw at
their doors. The dealers in odds and ends for country customers.
The blacksmith's forge, with the horses waiting to be shod. And
the snug roadside inns, where carriers and small settlers with
dairy and farm produce put up, whom you may see sitting on side
benches outside the doors, smoking their pipes and quaffing their
tankards of ale. While the more noisy customers may be heard
dancing inside to the sound of a fiddle. The most uproarious and
extravagant frequenters of these tap rooms it will be readily
supposed, are now the successful returned gold diggers. Australia
Visited and Re-visited. A Narrative of Recent Travels and Old
Experiences in Victoria and NSW by Samual Mossman and Thomas
Bannister
MUSICAL
ENTERTAINMENT A MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT will be given on
Saint Patrick's Day next, at the 'Governor Gipps Inn', Wollombi
Township, when several newly composed Comic Songs will be sung by
a vocalist of no common celebrity. Many surprising feats of
agility in the tumbling line will be performed also by an amateur,
who will likewise execute in a style that will astonish the
natives a much admired Ballet Dance...........Maitland
Mercury 10 March 1849
ANNIVERSARY DAY(Australia Day) - Several of the old
English sports were announced to take place on the green by the
Albion Inn. They commenced about half past one with climbing the
Greasy Pole, which was not accomplished for more than three hours,
when Billy, a black fellow, brought down the white hat. This was
followed by the game of the Dandy Horse, in which ten or twelve
lads furnished food for laughter for some time..........
Maitland Mercury 1 February 1845
NEW YEARS DAY SPORTS-
New Year’s Day was duly honored in Maitland and Morpeth by time-honored
sports. In East Maitland Mr. Mayo had erected a well greased pole,
some forty feet high, crowned by a bunch of green boughs and four
half crowns., the destined prize of any one skilful enough to
reach them, and had also provided some fine cocks for the
occasion, which were successfully fastened on the top of a stump,
and brought down after various displays of gunnery. As the day was
uncommonly hot, and no blacks were in town, the four half crowns
excited no aspirants for some time.........Maitland Mercury
4 January 1845
NEW YEARS DAY IN NEWCASTLE
- Scarcely had the hour turned midnight than the ringing of the Churches
and Ships Bells proclaimed the advent of a new year. The
amateur band also perambulated the principal streets of the
city.....Maitland Mercury
2 January 1868
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY
-
On Wednesday evening, soon after it got dark, some of the
inhabitants of West Maitland began to show their loyalty by firing
off guns. As the evening advanced the contagion spread, and a
tar-barrel being procured in West Maitland, it was lit and rolled
about the streets, and then over to East Maitland, where another
barrel was quickly lighted, while the first lasted long enough to
return to West Maitland. Meanwhile the firing off of guns was
going...........Maitland Mercury
27 May 1848.
The tenantry of Mr. Close, of Morpeth, kept up one of the good old
customs of our fatherland on Saturday last, on the occasion of the
marriage of his eldest son to Miss Platt. During the day there was
considerable firing of guns and ringing of bells, and in the
evening a huge bonfire was set a light, and a procession with
tar-barrels made round the town............! Maitland Mercury
28th July 1847
A WEDDING AT GRESFORD - Miss
May Park, second daughter of the late Dr. Park of Lewinsbrook and
Mr. George Currie. The bride whose dress was of white ottoman
silk bordered with white fur, with tulle veil, bridal wreath and
bouquet of white cosmia and sprays of hair fern was attended by
four bridesmaids........ - Maitland Mercury
13 April 1893
Foundation stone of the Newcastle Mechanics' Institute, Library
and Museum laid by Rev. Wilton. .........Sydney Herald
20 August 1841
Dr. Stewart delivered his third lecture on phrenology at the
MECHANICS INSTITUTE....... - Maitland Mercury
5 July 1845
ANNIVERSAY OF THE BATTLE OF
ALBUERA
- Monday last being the anniversary of the battle of
Albuera, in which the brace 39th regt took so distinguished a
part, and it having been publicly understood that a new
stand of colours would be presented to them, nearly all the elite
of the beauty rank and fashion of Sydney assembled to view the
spectacle........... - Sydney Gazette
19 May 1831
PLOUGHING MATCH
- - On Tuesday last, was held the
first ploughing match that has ever taken place in the district
of the Hunter. It was a day to which doubtless many will hereafter
look back with pleased and grateful feelings.......Maitland
Mercury 16 March 1844
At the luncheon given by the committee of the
Newcastle Jockey Club to celebrate on Saturday last the opening of
their new grandstand,
Mr. C.H. Hannell, the president of the club, took occasion
to trace the history of racing in the district for forty years,
during which he had actively participated, in the sport.
He said he remembered from his boyhood the racing
that then took place at Newcastle in the latter part of the
forties, and which was carried out on bush tracks at Broadmeadow
and along the old
Lake Macquarie Road, now
called Darby-street. A horse called Chance was then
champion, and was ridden to victory by the late
Mr. Jas. Priest and
Mr. Jas. Ranclaud, who were the principal jockeys in those
days. The clay track from Tighe's Hill to near the high level
crossing was subsequently a favorite convincing ground, and
numbers of matches were decided there. What was now known as the
old racecourse in close proximity to Mr. Merewether's residence
did service as a course for many years. On it he (Mr. Hannell) had
seen eighteen horses start for a Maiden Plate, amongst them being
the beautiful mare Lunalle, trained by the late
Mr. Isaac Gorrick, of West Maitland, and ridden by Mat.
Scott, better known as "The Gaffer" Conrad and Rajah
(the latter piloted by Sam Holmes), and Little Dick, ridden
by R. Snell. All races were then decided in heats, at
weight-for-age, and as many as three heats had to be run before
the prize was received. He contrasted the class of horses then
running with the more aristocratically-bred nags of to-day, and
asked how many of the latter would be found facing the music after
they had run one of the heats of from one and a half to two miles
long? There was no grandstand, and his late father used-to stand
on a staging as judge; while
Mr. Peter Fleming (father of Mr. Robert Fleming) occupied
the distance chair. Any horse failing to finish inside the chair
was disqualified. On this course, Van Tromp, a Melbourne
horse, also ran; as also did The Spy, owned by the late Mr.
Robert Harvey. The late
Mr. W. H. Whyte was an ideal clerk of the course and hon.
secretary,, and always took a very active interest in the welfare
of the club. Vanguard, Little Dick, Pasha, and Sappho
are also well-known performers in those days, the two latter being
the property of, the late Mr. Ward.
It being deemed advisable to obtain a new course,
arrangements were made with the A.A. Company for a lease of the
present ground, which was then a dense scrub. This was in
February, 1864, or thirty-six years ago. The land was enclosed
with a four-railed fence, and the track cleared and laid out; but
the horses frequently sank in places to their fetlocks. From time
to time improvements were effected, and a stand of primitive order
and small saddling paddock added. The big hollow where the cottage
now stood was filled in and made perfectly level, and from the old
entrance gates at the western end of the ground the sand heaps
were cut down and street sweepings and manure placed on the
course. The club, of which he was then hon.secretary, was short of
funds, and he advanced £200 without interest, the work of clearing
being carried out by Messrs. W. Francis and Dugald Cameron.
Improvements continued to be made at a cost of some thousands of
pounds. The Jockey Club laid out over £1600 last year in the
erection of a new grandstand, stewards and jockeys stands,
saddling paddock, and other improvements.
Their new grandstand, although not a handsome
structure, was a safe, substantial, commodious, and convenient
one. They had been unfortunate in having it unroofed, just as it
was finished, but he ventured to say, thanks to Mr. F. B. Menkens,
that it would need a veritable tornado to now remove the new
covering. Their course he considered second to none in the colony,
and their whole get-up he ventured to say was a credit to the club
and the various committees who had worked so well from time to
time. He was sorry to have to apologise for the absence of their
late esteemed and energetic secretary, Mr. Robert Fleming, whose
business had called him to Kensington races. He also referred
briefly to the good days of-racing in Maitland, where he had seen
over 1000 horsemen riding about and twenty one booths, each
boasting of a musical instrument at the services of dancers
Maitland Mercury 5 May 1900