Mayfield, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Mayfield is a north-western suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales
, which takes its name from Ada May (b.1874) a daughter of the landowner there, John Scholey
, J.P. Its boundaries are the Hunter River
to the north, the Great Northern Railway on the south (Waratah Station), the main railway lines to Newcastle harbour on the east, and open ground in the west.
(incorporated 1871), of which John Scholey
was three times Mayor. In 1938 an Act of the New South Wales Parliament created a "City of Greater Newcastle", incorporating 11 municipalities into one local government area, including Waratah. Until it was subdivided by Scholey and the land put up for sale, it was largely semi-forested scrub and fields. However, St Andrew's Church at North Waratah was opened as early as 1861, and fell within the Church of England
Diocese of Newcastle, New South Wales. In 1924 a new church was dedicated at St.Andrews, Mayfield, to replace the aging colonial church.
Mayfield was originally a pleasant garden suburb on the outskirts of Newcastle, and by 1901 contained a Roman Catholic monastery, and several fine Victorian
mansions belonging to prominent businessmen and lawyers. Of note, there was N.B.Creer (three times Mayor of Waratah), Charles Upfold
(Soap Manufacturer) built a large mansion on a piece of land in Crebert Street, North Waratah
(now called Mayfield), given to him by his friend John Scholey. It was later sold to the famous Biscuit manufacturer
, William Arnott J.P. who named the mansion "Arnott Holme". Arnott then sold it in 1898 to Isaac Winn, owner of the big Newcastle department store. Winn renamed the mansion "Winn Court" and John Scholey's "Mayfield House", for which the sandstone was brought from England. The BHP
constructed, in the early 1920s, a very fine mansion in Crebert Street (named after Peter Crebert [1825-1895], an immigrant from Wiesbaden
in Germany
), with extensive gardens, for their General Manager. Now privately owned and named The Bella Vista, it is used as a weddings and functions centre.
and three 65-ton open hearth steel furnaces, a bloom mill and heavy rail mill, with by-product coke
ovens to supply coke for the blast furnaces. The advantages of the site played a major part in this decision: for transport both rail and shipping already existed, and they had close proximity to the Newcastle and South Maitland coalfields
, (the coal consumption in 1947 was 30,000 tons each week). The task of reclaiming swampland at Port Waratah for the main site began in January 1913, and the New South Wales Government undertook to dredge
and maintain a river channel between the works and the sea, 500 feet (152.4 m) wide and 25 feet (7.6 m) deep at low water to the steelwork's basin and wharves. Altogether the company acquired 1225 acres (5 km²). The blast furnace commenced operations in March 1915.
Other industries followed, such as galvanized iron manufacturers John Lysaght & Co., (1921), Rylands Bros (wire, nails, rivets, bolts, springs etc), tubemakers Stewarts & Lloyds (1934), and the Newcastle Chemical Co., (1940), and sited themselves adjacent to the steel works. The result was pollution which began to affect Mayfield which lost its fashionable status. The housing erected during and after World War I
was overwhelmingly for those with employment in the heavy industries. The Steel Works finally closed down in the late 1990s and this had a knock on effect with adjacent industries, several of whom were now struggling with developing world markets.
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, which takes its name from Ada May (b.1874) a daughter of the landowner there, John Scholey
John Scholey
John Scholey was an extensive landed proprietor, prominent businessman, colliery owner, and Mayor...
, J.P. Its boundaries are the Hunter River
Hunter River
The Hunter River is a major river in New South Wales, Australia. The Hunter River rises in the Liverpool Range and flows generally south and then east, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Newcastle, the second largest city in New South Wales and a major port....
to the north, the Great Northern Railway on the south (Waratah Station), the main railway lines to Newcastle harbour on the east, and open ground in the west.
History
Much of Mayfield was originally named North Waratah, and formed part of the large Municipality of Waratah, New South WalesWaratah, New South Wales
Waratah is a north-western residential suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district and bounded on the north by the Main North line. Waratah station was opened in 1858 and is served by CityRail's Hunter line.- History :Waratah was once a major...
(incorporated 1871), of which John Scholey
John Scholey
John Scholey was an extensive landed proprietor, prominent businessman, colliery owner, and Mayor...
was three times Mayor. In 1938 an Act of the New South Wales Parliament created a "City of Greater Newcastle", incorporating 11 municipalities into one local government area, including Waratah. Until it was subdivided by Scholey and the land put up for sale, it was largely semi-forested scrub and fields. However, St Andrew's Church at North Waratah was opened as early as 1861, and fell within the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Diocese of Newcastle, New South Wales. In 1924 a new church was dedicated at St.Andrews, Mayfield, to replace the aging colonial church.
Mayfield was originally a pleasant garden suburb on the outskirts of Newcastle, and by 1901 contained a Roman Catholic monastery, and several fine Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
mansions belonging to prominent businessmen and lawyers. Of note, there was N.B.Creer (three times Mayor of Waratah), Charles Upfold
Charles Upfold
Charles Upfold , Justice of the Peace , was an English soap manufacturer of great prominence in Australia.-Family & background:...
(Soap Manufacturer) built a large mansion on a piece of land in Crebert Street, North Waratah
Waratah
Waratah is a genus of five species of large shrubs or small trees in the Proteaceae, native to the southeastern parts of Australia...
(now called Mayfield), given to him by his friend John Scholey. It was later sold to the famous Biscuit manufacturer
Arnott's Biscuits Holdings
Arnott's Biscuits Holdings , is a subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company of the United States.In Australia Arnott's is the largest producer of biscuits and the second-largest supplier of snack food.-History:...
, William Arnott J.P. who named the mansion "Arnott Holme". Arnott then sold it in 1898 to Isaac Winn, owner of the big Newcastle department store. Winn renamed the mansion "Winn Court" and John Scholey's "Mayfield House", for which the sandstone was brought from England. The BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
constructed, in the early 1920s, a very fine mansion in Crebert Street (named after Peter Crebert [1825-1895], an immigrant from Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), with extensive gardens, for their General Manager. Now privately owned and named The Bella Vista, it is used as a weddings and functions centre.
Arrival of industry
In 1896, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited had acquired land on the river shore at Mayfield East for smelters, and in 1910 it was decided that they would construct here a major steel works and foundries, with a 350 ton blast furnaceBlast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
and three 65-ton open hearth steel furnaces, a bloom mill and heavy rail mill, with by-product coke
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
ovens to supply coke for the blast furnaces. The advantages of the site played a major part in this decision: for transport both rail and shipping already existed, and they had close proximity to the Newcastle and South Maitland coalfields
South Maitland coalfields
The South Maitland coalfields was the most extensive coalfield in New South Wales until the great coal mining slump of the 1960s. It was discovered by Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson's party when they were engaged in an exploratory visit to the Hunter River Valley during July 1801.Mention has been made...
, (the coal consumption in 1947 was 30,000 tons each week). The task of reclaiming swampland at Port Waratah for the main site began in January 1913, and the New South Wales Government undertook to dredge
Dredge
Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...
and maintain a river channel between the works and the sea, 500 feet (152.4 m) wide and 25 feet (7.6 m) deep at low water to the steelwork's basin and wharves. Altogether the company acquired 1225 acres (5 km²). The blast furnace commenced operations in March 1915.
Other industries followed, such as galvanized iron manufacturers John Lysaght & Co., (1921), Rylands Bros (wire, nails, rivets, bolts, springs etc), tubemakers Stewarts & Lloyds (1934), and the Newcastle Chemical Co., (1940), and sited themselves adjacent to the steel works. The result was pollution which began to affect Mayfield which lost its fashionable status. The housing erected during and after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was overwhelmingly for those with employment in the heavy industries. The Steel Works finally closed down in the late 1990s and this had a knock on effect with adjacent industries, several of whom were now struggling with developing world markets.
