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There were less than fifty houses in Newcastle in
1828, mostly cottages and
houses built by convicts and trades people. Other buildings included government
buildings such as the Commissariat, gaol and hospital and there were several
inns.
By 1828 it has been estimated that there were about 400 people living
permanently in the town, however the population was fluid because of vessels
making
frequent trips up the coast, bringing with them
supplies and passengers.
The cutters Lord Liverpool and Governor Arthur and the
schooner Darling all made such trips from
Sydney. The Governor Arthur left Sydney every Wednesday for
Newcastle and returned on Saturday.
To cater for these travellers, several
licensed houses were in operation in the town providing various levels of
comfort for those wishing to stop over in Newcastle before heading further up
the Valley. (In April 1827, four houses had received a license for selling
liquor and by the time of the Census in November 1828, there were seven
publicans listed.) Although one visitor lamented the lack of comfort at the
Inns, some establishments at least seem to have been well kept, if not
substantial.
With increased traffic to and from Sydney
calls were made for the introduction of steam vessels, but this wouldn't
eventuate for another three years. Meanwhile the little schooners and cutters
continued to make the sixty mile trip to Sydney or up the coast to Port
Stephens. The passage was treacherous in bad weather and in June 1828 the
sloop Dove was lost off Port Stephens after experiencing strong winds at
Newcastle. Seven people lost their lives in this disaster. The famous Lord
Liverpool also ran into difficulties in these June squalls, and if not for
the skill of
Captain Livingstone, the cutter would have been lost. Long time pilot
William Eckford attempted
to come to the aid of the Lord Liverpool in his leaky old pilot's boat,
('a cockle shell' that should have been replaced eight months previously) but
almost drowned in the process.
By August
Arnold Fisk had been appointed landing waiter and pilot. In 1829 his large
family were left destitute when he died suddenly. An appeal was made and despite
the difficult financial times, hundreds of people from all over the colony
contributed donations including livestock, to assist the family.
The Fisk children probably attended the school run in the vestry
of Christ Church in 1828. A new school room was soon to be built, however in
this year all the students were apparently accommodated in the vestry. Alexander
McCauley is entered as school teacher in the 1828 Census (taken in November)
however John Gabbage was appointed school teacher in July of that year.
When whooping cough hit the region early in January 1829, a number of these
children may have been affected.
Whooping cough was also prevalent in Sydney by March. Governor Darling's son
was one of the victims.
Dr. George Brooks was resident in Newcastle and employed in the
capacity of assistant surgeon since 1822.
Henry Canny was employed as Overseer
of the Hospital. Dr. Brooks was probably kept busy tending to
the many convicts at the Hospital. In
1827, the hospital was considered to be in a state of great dilapidation, so
perhaps the
shingles, oak and iron bark, lime and cedar, bricks and hardwood that
Duncan
Forbes
Mackay was to purchase in 1828 were to be used to repair the hospital. There
was no coroner resident in the township. Settler
William Dun was retained for
that purpose for the district and although he was granted a town allotment, he
resided a considerable distance away at his estate at Paterson. When he was absent from the district or busy elsewhere, message
was sent to Sydney for a coroner to travel up the coast to perform inquests.
The spire of Christ Church had been hit by lightning in 1821. Two
men were killed in the strike and the church was much damaged. It seems little
repair work was carried out and by 1825 the church had fallen into such a state
of disrepair that divine service for the prisoners was held in the barracks
instead of the church. The grounds had become a thoroughfare because of the lack
of a fence and pigs were rooting amongst the graves. However in 1827 a fence was
erected around the grounds and the church was repaired and by 1828
Rev. Wilkinson
could once again hold services there.
The New South Wales Veteran Corp was stationed in Newcastle. The
garrison commander Captain Robinson had arrived in the colony in September 1826
on board the
Orpheus In April 1828 Lieutenant Sweeney's youngest
son Edmund was said to have died from the effects of living in an unhealthy
cottage in a swamp near Newcastle.(*probably Cottage Creek vicinity) Lieutenant Sweeney's wife had also become ill. The residence of
Lieut. Sweeney and his family became controversial during a court case involving
Sweeney’s commander Captain Robinson and Postmaster and Superintendent of Public
Works Duncan Forbes Mackay. The two had met on the voyage to Australian, both on
board the Orpheus in 1826 and were on friendly terms until bitterness
developed over living quarters. Duncan Forbes Mackay was accused of occupying
the best situation in the settlement to the detriment of others. This dispute
led eventually to Robinson's court martial and dismissal from the service
after being charged with libel by Governor Darling whom he had accused of
neglect of duties.
Whatever the living quarters of Lieutenant Sweeney, they could
have been no worse than the Convict barracks that had
been used until the end of 1827. They were in appalling condition allowing the
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