>From the Maitland Mercury Saturday August 11, 1855 >MONEY RECEIVED by the undersigned to Repair the crossing place at the Falls, West Maitland:- Could sks enlighten me about the above mention that was in the Maitland Mercury? John Whyboun is mentioned as having made a contribution to this. Many thanks in advance Glynis Wheeler. Glynis R Wheeler ICQ: 125864276 sunchase@iprimus.com.au

Hi Glynis, A couple of extracts re The Falls : "Above the settlement at Wallis Plains and the limit of shallow-draught navigation, the first of many gravel bars in the river formed a shallow crossing for communication between Wallis Plains and Patersons Plains. This crossing was called The Falls and the place retained the name for generations after it was no longer needed as a ford." [Dawn in the Valley : W. Allan Wood] "The tidal limit at the time of European settlement was just west of the Belmore Bridge at a location called the Falls. The Falls was a sandbar where wagons could cross the (Hunter) river and it coincided with the top of the tidal limit. It was here that teamsters and settlers of Bolwarra and the Paterson Valley had to cross to travel to their estates. The crossing was unuseable if a "fresh" was flowing in the river. The Falls remained an important crossing until the construction of the first Belmore Bridge in 1869, which linked Lorn directly with West Maitland." [Maitland on the Hunter : Walsh and Archer] There was a 'minor' flood on the Hunter in 1855, so more than likely The Falls crossing place was washed out and needed some repairs. Diane ----- Original Message ----- Subject: [H,H,HV] the Falls, West Maitland > From the Maitland Mercury Saturday August 11, 1855 > MONEY RECEIVED by the undersigned to Repair the crossing > place at the Falls, West Maitland:- > Could sks enlighten me about the above mention that was in the > Maitland Mercury? > John Whyboun is mentioned as having made a contribution to this. > Many thanks in advance > Glynis Wheeler.