Walls that Talk

MAITLAND'S FLOOD HISTORY (FEBRUARY)

Maitland’s flood history has left a permanent mark onthe development of the city, with major flooding occurring in 1820, 1893, 1913, 1930, 1949 and devastatingly in 1955. 1820, 1893, 1913, 1930, 1949 and most notably in 1955. There have also been periods of significant flooding in recent times, most recently in July 2022, which saw some rural areas of Maitland isolated for days, and in some cases, weeks.

It is important to acknowledge the significant impact of flooding events across Central Maitland on the Maitland community and the identity of the City.

We wish to pay homage to the impact that these natural disaster events have had on human life.

Images courtesy of the Maitland Mercury and Maitland City Library archive. We thank those who have contributed to the collection.

THE COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION (NOVEMBER)

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) has been serving rural communities since 1922. Inspired by several international organisations, it was founded to improve living conditions for Australian women and children. For over ninety years, CWA branches have been a vital part of life in Maitland. The area has four branches, including Maitland, Maitland City Evening, East Maitland, and Morpeth.

Discover more about the Walls that Talk images feature moment from Maitland’s local Country Women’s Association branches, by viewing the full information sheet here.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1926 – 2022 (SEPTEMBER)

For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II was the dedicated Head of the Commonwealth and reigned as Australia’s Head of State.

Visiting Australia 16 times, the Queen consulted with 16 Prime Ministers and 16 Governor-General’s who served in her name. She was also the patron of more than 20 Australian charities and associations. Known for her quick wit and sense of humour, as well as her passion for horse riding and equestrian sports, Her Majesty was a beloved and respected figure across the globe.

View the full information sheet here.

MAITLAND'S HERITAGE (JUNE - AUGUST 2022)

Maitland City Council is custodian to several significant artistic and historic cultural collections. These images provide a small glimpse into some of Maitland's rich heritage as shared through the lens of our cultural collections, providing insight into our City, our region and our place in the world through historic objects, archives and through the eyes of artists. 

Thanks to an extensive digitisation project, supported by the NSW Government Regional Cultural Fund, these collections are being preserved and made available online for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. You can explore the full collection and find out more details about the images on display here. 

MORPETH (NOVEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022)

November 2021 marks 200 years since the founding of the township of Morpeth by Lieutenant Edward Charles Close. Unfortunately due to COVID, planned commemorations had to be postponed and will now take place in November 2022. Morpeth, originally known by its Aboriginal name ‘Illalaung’ and traditional land of the Wonnarua people was once one of the most important river ports in NSW and an instrumental part of the development of the entire Hunter Valley.

In recognition of the milestone, this collection of photographs showcases some of the most beautiful and iconic locations within Morpeth, captured by local photographers.  You can find out about these locations and more about Morpeth through the MyMaitland website and the Morpeth Heritage Walk. Pick up a tour guide from the Maitland Visitor Information Centre or a Morpeth Heritage Walk brochure from the Maitland City Library. 

We are very grateful to be able to share the beautiful images contributed by some local photographers in support of this exhibition - you can find out more about these wonderful contributors below the gallery.

Local Photographers 

Victoria Darcy - The gorgeous image of Queens Wharf has been shared by Victoria Darcy @VDarcy, a 26-year-old East Maitland local and amateur/hobby photographer, who has always had a keen eye and love for documenting life from behind the lens since a young age; capturing the little things often overlooked by the normal eye, and turning them into big things. 

Ryan Jeffery - The beautiful Avenue of Trees at Morpeth Common photograph has been shared by Ryan Jeffery @RinDesignPhoto. Ryan is a local photographer from Raworth. Ryan likes to showcase the power of computational photography in smart phones and enjoys experimenting in the editing process. 

Trish Evans - The amazing shot of Morpeth Bridge has been provided by Trish Evans @trish_evans_photography. Trish is a local Maitland photographer that specialises in business branding, content creation and wall art. She loves telling a story through beautiful images. www.trishevansphotography.com.au 

Reverend Jacqueline Weston - The lovely Rev. Jacqueline Weston shared the stunning St James Anglican Church photo and many more gorgeous images of Morpeth. As the Parish Priest of St. James’ Morpeth from 2018-2021, Jacqueline says 'I have been blessed to see our historic church in every season. My photos capture the spirit of morning walks by the river and the Morpeth countryside. These moments, simply captured on my phone, are when I pause to give thanks for the beauty that Morpeth has to offer'.