Maitland has a long and proud history that must be recorded and kept for future generations.
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In the early 1800s Maitland was one of the biggest cities in the colony and its people played a major role in forming this great nation of ours.
Our city is steeped in history and that’s why Maitland Historical Society is keen to secure a site to create a permanent tribute for our pioneers.
Society secretary Tom Skelding rightly points out that most major towns in the Hunter Valley have a museum to showcase their history throughout the ages so with Maitland’s bi-centennial coming up he believes the time is right to establish one in our city.
But while the society’s member have the enthusiasm to create such a project, they lack the finances to make it happen.
The society has already earmarked the former Maitland Mercury building in High Street, near the town hall, as its preferred site, but requires government support to make it happen.
Maybe it’s time to have a chat with Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon or Paterson MP Bob Baldwin about footing the bill to buy the building for the city.
After all, if memory serves correctly, former Prime Minister John Howard stumped up $2 million to build the Maitland Federation Centre basketball complex in the lead-up to an election and big money has been offered up for a multitude of projects in the past.
The late Maitland historian Harry Boyle always regarded the Maitland Mercury as the “paper of record” for the people of Maitland.
That alone would make it an ideal place to preserve our city’s history.
If you would like to support the society in its quest, get along to a public meeting at Maitland Town Hall on Wednesday at 7.30pm.