Diane, I think you've found the answer. The boiler would need the chimneys seen in the painting. Well done. Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Diane To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 10:46 AM Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Hi Ray, I'm wondering ??? if the building to the left [ http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an8329629 ] may be a depiction of Green's Flour Mill, built in the 1840's and later owned/operated by Pierce and Crofton ? The following article, Explosion at West Maitland, c. 1855, describes the location of the mill as being ... "situated in the road on the left after crossing the long bridge from Maitland, and has been erected about ten years" http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4807375?searchTerm=%22explosion+at+west+maitland%22 Perhaps someone else may know more about this mill. Cheers, Diane Hills District Nth West Sydney ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Catherine, Where in High Street? Tell Tony I said g'day. Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Cathy & Tony Marker To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 11:35 AM Subject: [HV] Hunter Floods Thanks Phillip for your interesting insights into the '55 flood in Maitland. My mother-in-law, (family surname MOORE) grew up in High Street, Maitland and I have heard many tales of the damage done to her family home and how they cleaned it up afterwards. The video scenes really show the strength of what happened. Catherine Marker Canberra Message: 4 Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 17:00:39 +1000 From: "Phillip Carruthers" <[email protected]> Ray, The link takes you to a site that shows video scenes of the Long Bridge after it's collapse. http://http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/maitland-floods/clip3/ Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thanks for that Jan much apprciated Dianna

Here it is Dianna [email protected] Regards Jan ----- Original Message ----- From: "dianna charles" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 5:34 PM Subject: [HV] Singleton RSL > Hi > Does anyone have an email/contact for the Singleton RSL in York St. I > think. I'm trying to track down a photo of one of my Roberts that was > donated to the RSL last year. Kind regards Dianna > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

I always google anything like that and have found success in most cases. tracie -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of dianna charles Sent: Monday, 5 October 2009 5:35 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [HV] Singleton RSL Hi Does anyone have an email/contact for the Singleton RSL in York St. I think. I'm trying to track down a photo of one of my Roberts that was donated to the RSL last year. Kind regards Dianna ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Does anyone have an email/contact for the Singleton RSL in York St. I think. I'm trying to track down a photo of one of my Roberts that was donated to the RSL last year. Kind regards Dianna

Thank you to all the listers who responded to my enquiry. All seem to have a full knowledge of the couple. Unfortunately for me the information rules out this Sarah LYNCH from my search for the second daughter the convict Sarah LYNCHEY brought with her on the Mary III, the other was my GG grandmother. Cheers Peter Melbourne

Thanks Phillip for your interesting insights into the '55 flood in Maitland. My mother-in-law, (family surname MOORE) grew up in High Street, Maitland and I have heard many tales of the damage done to her family home and how they cleaned it up afterwards. The video scenes really show the strength of what happened. Catherine Marker Canberra Message: 4 Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 17:00:39 +1000 From: "Phillip Carruthers" <[email protected]> Ray, The link takes you to a site that shows video scenes of the Long Bridge after it's collapse. http://http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/maitland-floods/clip3/ Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531

Hello Catherine, would you please write to me off-list: [email protected] I'm interested in your Moore family. regards dorothy

Hi Ray, I'm wondering ??? if the building to the left [ http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an8329629 ] may be a depiction of Green's Flour Mill, built in the 1840's and later owned/operated by Pierce and Crofton ? The following article, Explosion at West Maitland, c. 1855, describes the location of the mill as being ... "situated in the road on the left after crossing the long bridge from Maitland, and has been erected about ten years" http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4807375?searchTerm=%22explosion+at+west+maitland%22 Perhaps someone else may know more about this mill. Cheers, Diane Hills District Nth West Sydney

Hi Phillip et al, There used to be a soap-works and brewery near the Long Bridge, but on the opposite side, near Hannan Street. For those people who are not sure where the Long Bridge is, have a look at Google maps http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hannan+street+maitland&sll=-32.727689,151.548972&sspn=0.011354,0.02502&ie=UTF8&t=h&hq=&hnear=Hannan+St,+Maitland+NSW+2320&ll=-32.726426,151.552277&spn=0.011354,0.02502&z=16 The building of the bridge was written about in the Sydney Monitor in April 1832 ... " A new bridge is being built at the foot of Campbell's Hill, near Maitland, on the edge or side of a swampy piece of ground which is passed in going from Maitland to the upper districts. In wet weather, the swamp has damaged harness, bullocks and drays, the value of which would build a bridge of polished stone. The bridge being erected does not cover the swamp, but only the gully which runs through it on one side. Mr. Bingle's servant and horse were drowned in this gully. We hope a bridge will be built over the 400 yards of sludge, and over Black Creek". The bridge was still under construction in July 1833, and nearly finished towards November of that year. See Sydney Gazette article : http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2214727 Generally speaking, the land between the river and the swamp was also known as the Veteran's Flat, as this was where a number of grants were initially marked out c.1830 for ex military soldiers/veterans. Cheers, Diane -------------------------------------------------- From: "Phillip Carruthers" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 8:58 PM To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND > I've just looked at the copy of the painting I have and the factory looks > to be on the town side of the flat. I think there was a soap factory > there at one time. And, Alan it's not in the book you mentioned, I have > that one. It's in "The Rise of High Street, Maitland" by John Turner. > > Frankly I think it's a fanciful representation of what the artist, F C > Terry saw in 1885. Incidentally that's when my grandfather arrived in the > town from Somerset. > > The garden in front of the hospital will be where the boilerhosue was > before it was demolished in the 80's. that's the 1980's. And the > Hospital is much closer to the end of the bridge than depicted. > > David mentioned that Bull Street graded down to the river but that can't > be right. The river is nowhere near Bull Street. The grading would have > been down to what I think became known as Soldiers Flat across which the > Long Bridge was built. Water didn't normally flow under the bridge except > in flood. > > Does anyone know why the bridge was built? I assume to give a flood free > road to the west and north. > > > Phillip Carruthers > Brisbane, Australia > +617 3273 5531

I've just looked at the copy of the painting I have and the factory looks to be on the town side of the flat. I think there was a soap factory there at one time. And, Alan it's not in the book you mentioned, I have that one. It's in "The Rise of High Street, Maitland" by John Turner. Frankly I think it's a fanciful representation of what the artist, F C Terry saw in 1885. Incidentally that's when my grandfather arrived in the town from Somerset. The garden in front of the hospital will be where the boilerhosue was before it was demolished in the 80's. that's the 1980's. And the Hospital is much closer to the end of the bridge than depicted. David mentioned that Bull Street graded down to the river but that can't be right. The river is nowhere near Bull Street. The grading would have been down to what I think became known as Soldiers Flat across which the Long Bridge was built. Water didn't normally flow under the bridge except in flood. Does anyone know why the bridge was built? I assume to give a flood free road to the west and north. Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Allan Murphy To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 5:01 PM Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Phillip and Ray I remember seeing this photo in a booklet Maitland City Council published in the 1980s, I think it was something on the history of Maitland. Maybe if have a look at this booklet it may mention details about the photo. Unfortunately, I can not locate my copy. regards Allan Murphy [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dorothy Moore Sent: Sunday, 4 October 2009 5:36 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND What wonderful information - thank you, fascinating reading. regards dorothy ~~~ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Phillip Carruthers Sent: Sunday, 4 October 2009 4:36 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Ray, The Bull Street area would have taken a battering in 1955. It was in direct line of the water flow from the Oakhampton breach. It has always been thought the Oakhampton breach was deliberate and indeed the path of the water became the course of the mitigation scheme developed in the years following the flood. I was seven at the time and still have vivid memories of what went on. We had endure several floods in the years before 1955 but they only flooded the streets and low lying houses. We missed out and would stay at home watching the water rise against our brick fence. In 1995 it didn't stop and my father made the decision to get us out but returned to protect the castle. He and Adrian decided to leave when a pole floated around the corner of Hannan and Wolfe Street with a black snake curled around it and a tortoise swam between his legs. We had 3' 7" of water in the house and ;lost everything. We lived for a few days at the old Tally Ho factory on the outskirts of Rutherford until I was evacuated to live with my cousin in Cessnock. The rest of my family lived in a caravan in the backyard of Bill Jack (Jack's Motors on High Street) on Aberglasslyn Road Rutherford. We eventually move the house to Aberglasslyn Road. The site you found the photo on has some great Maitland building shown. Quite a few of them were built by my Grandfather, Charles Taylor who had a workshop in Banfield Street that would not have been far from Bull Street. The buildings include, Walka Waterworks, Maitland Courthouse, and Benholme on Regent Street. Thanks for asking the original question. What's you family name from Bull Street? Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 12:54 PM Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Hello again Phillip. Thanks for this. What a great bit of local and family history that item makes. I wonder if they were grateful that it didn't collapse whilst they were walking on it. I was not aware that the bridge had collapsed. When I searched under "Long Bridge" Maitland at the National Library of Australia pictures web-site, there were lots of photos of concrete work being constructed on the bridge, which I was unaware of; so this would now explain it. At the time of the flood, Phillip, we were living in the western suburbs of Sydney, and being a kid, I had no idea at that stage that the family had originated in Maitland, still living almost adjoining the Long Bridge at the time of the flood -- in Bull Street, formerly called Thompson's Lane -- on the eastern side, on my John THOMPSON ancestor's original Veteran's land grant which had stretched right across from Thompson's Lane to Regent Street; so from the photos at the NLA, it would seem that the entire grant would have looked like a river then. Phew! Thanks for sharing this interesting item. Regards again: Ray ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

At first glance I agree with the previous postings... the geography looks wrong. However, the building on the far right will be Maitland Hospital. If we assume the patterns are gardens, then these have since been removed and the slope cut into for another set of buildings and the carpark. more buildings have since been added to the left and the right. At the end of the Long Bridge is the house called "Roads End". It looks similar in the sketch to the current building. To the left of this, the land is falling. First glance sees this as rising but in fact the rising land is the hill behind. This overlook the low part of Telarah to the hill to the west of Farley (then called Parsons Hill). To the left of Roads End, the land falls away as it currently does at the beginning of Regent St. The question remains as to the identity of the large building with the chimney. It may simply have been one of the two story residences in Regent St, although it looks like the chimney arises from the ground, suggesting a factory. According to the 1912 parish map, the east of Regent St up to the railway was still in three titles. The first of these was the portion 139, originally owned by John Thompson and appears to have been called "Mt Pleasant" (yes, I know the current Mt Pleasant is further over). the only part of his 36acre property suitable for building would have been adjoining Regent St. Did he build a large home? The hut in the foreground looks interesting. It has a tiny room and a fireplace/chimney. I wonder if it originally had been for a toll collector. There was toll over Wallis Creek, the Hunter River at Lorn, the Great North Rd near Rutherford. Was there one one the Long Bridge initially? John Goswell At 11:13 AM 4/10/2009, you wrote: >Hello All. >I am hoping that listers who are very familiar with West Maitland might be >able to help me out with more details about the photograph of the Long >Bridge, in the link below -- which is to a photo of the sketch, in the >National Library of Australia -- on its web-site.

Hi Brent and any others with an interest in what's happening with the NLA digitisation project - I've copied below part of an announcement I received I think around June this year. The link in the announcement gives you more details about the newspapers and their timeframes for digitisation. You can subscribe to the mailing list from which I received the announcement on this page (scroll about 3/4s of the way down the page to "Announcements List): http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/about "Dear Australian Newspapers beta users We wish to update you on latest developments with the service: 1. New content being added to beta We are happy to announce that we have re-commenced OCR production. During May 51,000 pages were processed, accepted and uploaded to beta. We anticipate that over the next 2-3 weeks 78,000 pages of the South Australian Advertiser (1901-1919) will be made available in beta. After this we will finish and make available the remainder of the Argus up to 1945 (1857-1915, 1933 -1945). The following titles will then be processed: http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/selected_newspapers/Future_Titles.html" Hope this is useful. Anne

Phillip and Ray I remember seeing this photo in a booklet Maitland City Council published in the 1980s, I think it was something on the history of Maitland. Maybe if have a look at this booklet it may mention details about the photo. Unfortunately, I can not locate my copy. regards Allan Murphy [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dorothy Moore Sent: Sunday, 4 October 2009 5:36 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND What wonderful information - thank you, fascinating reading. regards dorothy ~~~ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Phillip Carruthers Sent: Sunday, 4 October 2009 4:36 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Ray, The Bull Street area would have taken a battering in 1955. It was in direct line of the water flow from the Oakhampton breach. It has always been thought the Oakhampton breach was deliberate and indeed the path of the water became the course of the mitigation scheme developed in the years following the flood. I was seven at the time and still have vivid memories of what went on. We had endure several floods in the years before 1955 but they only flooded the streets and low lying houses. We missed out and would stay at home watching the water rise against our brick fence. In 1995 it didn't stop and my father made the decision to get us out but returned to protect the castle. He and Adrian decided to leave when a pole floated around the corner of Hannan and Wolfe Street with a black snake curled around it and a tortoise swam between his legs. We had 3' 7" of water in the house and ;lost everything. We lived for a few days at the old Tally Ho factory on the outskirts of Rutherford until I was evacuated to live with my cousin in Cessnock. The rest of my family lived in a caravan in the backyard of Bill Jack (Jack's Motors on High Street) on Aberglasslyn Road Rutherford. We eventually move the house to Aberglasslyn Road. The site you found the photo on has some great Maitland building shown. Quite a few of them were built by my Grandfather, Charles Taylor who had a workshop in Banfield Street that would not have been far from Bull Street. The buildings include, Walka Waterworks, Maitland Courthouse, and Benholme on Regent Street. Thanks for asking the original question. What's you family name from Bull Street? Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 12:54 PM Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Hello again Phillip. Thanks for this. What a great bit of local and family history that item makes. I wonder if they were grateful that it didn't collapse whilst they were walking on it. I was not aware that the bridge had collapsed. When I searched under "Long Bridge" Maitland at the National Library of Australia pictures web-site, there were lots of photos of concrete work being constructed on the bridge, which I was unaware of; so this would now explain it. At the time of the flood, Phillip, we were living in the western suburbs of Sydney, and being a kid, I had no idea at that stage that the family had originated in Maitland, still living almost adjoining the Long Bridge at the time of the flood -- in Bull Street, formerly called Thompson's Lane -- on the eastern side, on my John THOMPSON ancestor's original Veteran's land grant which had stretched right across from Thompson's Lane to Regent Street; so from the photos at the NLA, it would seem that the entire grant would have looked like a river then. Phew! Thanks for sharing this interesting item. Regards again: Ray ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Phillip Thanks for that - that's a great old bit of footage - my wife recognised a couple of the locations. That link should be http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/maitland-floods/clip3/ (It got one to many https in it.) David

Hello Ray, My wife's family lived in Bull St from the early 50s and endured several floods. Her aunty and uncle, Gladys & Norm Giles, lived in 44 Bull St with their two children, and Gladys' parents Stan and Grace Waters. In 1955, the water came up to the ceiling, rising very quickly. They had little time to get out and they lost just about everything. Stan was devastated that he lost his violin which was made by his brother Ezekiel John Waters. Their back yard used to slope down to the river, but after the flood it was filled up and levelled out. Gladys always said that she wasn't game to dig into the yard after the flood in case she found some of the people who disappeared in the floodwaters. They were renting the house, which survived relatively unscathed, apart from needing the usual cleanout. They stayed on in Bull St until about the mid 70s. The family have moved on, but the house is still standing virtually unchanged. Gladys is still alive at 87 and living at Rutherford. Norm Giles was a country singer who entertained around the Maitland area in the 50s and 60s. He was quite good, but never made any recordings or went outside the area. Their daughter Colleen still lives in Maitland and has been quite involved in the community for many years. The Waters family is very large and there are heaps of descendants still around the Maitland area. Cheers David & Elaine

Ray, The link takes you to a site that shows video scenes of the Long Bridge after it's collapse. http://http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/maitland-floods/clip3/ Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 1:01 PM Subject: [HV] London, Edinburgh, and Belfast GAZETTEs online Hello All. Following Marg's lead in providing us with new helpful web-sites which she discovers, this one just appeared on one of my Irish lists. http://www.belfast-gazette.co.uk >From the home-page where that link opens up, there are options on the top left for the London Gazette and for the Edinburgh Gazette, as well. They appear to be something like our present Government Gazettes here in Oz; and/or like our original Sydney Gazette -- but only posting official notices, not general news items etc. I've just spent hours on the site, sadly without finding any relevant 'hits', but hoping that listers might find something of value in it -- as it goes waaaay back. Good Luck. Ray ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Ray, The Bull Street area would have taken a battering in 1955. It was in direct line of the water flow from the Oakhampton breach. It has always been thought the Oakhampton breach was deliberate and indeed the path of the water became the course of the mitigation scheme developed in the years following the flood. I was seven at the time and still have vivid memories of what went on. We had endure several floods in the years before 1955 but they only flooded the streets and low lying houses. We missed out and would stay at home watching the water rise against our brick fence. In 1995 it didn't stop and my father made the decision to get us out but returned to protect the castle. He and Adrian decided to leave when a pole floated around the corner of Hannan and Wolfe Street with a black snake curled around it and a tortoise swam between his legs. We had 3' 7" of water in the house and ;lost everything. We lived for a few days at the old Tally Ho factory on the outskirts of Rutherford until I was evacuated to live with my cousin in Cessnock. The rest of my family lived in a caravan in the backyard of Bill Jack (Jack's Motors on High Street) on Aberglasslyn Road Rutherford. We eventually move the house to Aberglasslyn Road. The site you found the photo on has some great Maitland building shown. Quite a few of them were built by my Grandfather, Charles Taylor who had a workshop in Banfield Street that would not have been far from Bull Street. The buildings include, Walka Waterworks, Maitland Courthouse, and Benholme on Regent Street. Thanks for asking the original question. What's you family name from Bull Street? Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 12:54 PM Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Hello again Phillip. Thanks for this. What a great bit of local and family history that item makes. I wonder if they were grateful that it didn't collapse whilst they were walking on it. I was not aware that the bridge had collapsed. When I searched under "Long Bridge" Maitland at the National Library of Australia pictures web-site, there were lots of photos of concrete work being constructed on the bridge, which I was unaware of; so this would now explain it. At the time of the flood, Phillip, we were living in the western suburbs of Sydney, and being a kid, I had no idea at that stage that the family had originated in Maitland, still living almost adjoining the Long Bridge at the time of the flood -- in Bull Street, formerly called Thompson's Lane -- on the eastern side, on my John THOMPSON ancestor's original Veteran's land grant which had stretched right across from Thompson's Lane to Regent Street; so from the photos at the NLA, it would seem that the entire grant would have looked like a river then. Phew! Thanks for sharing this interesting item. Regards again: Ray

What wonderful information - thank you, fascinating reading. regards dorothy ~~~ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Phillip Carruthers Sent: Sunday, 4 October 2009 4:36 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Ray, The Bull Street area would have taken a battering in 1955. It was in direct line of the water flow from the Oakhampton breach. It has always been thought the Oakhampton breach was deliberate and indeed the path of the water became the course of the mitigation scheme developed in the years following the flood. I was seven at the time and still have vivid memories of what went on. We had endure several floods in the years before 1955 but they only flooded the streets and low lying houses. We missed out and would stay at home watching the water rise against our brick fence. In 1995 it didn't stop and my father made the decision to get us out but returned to protect the castle. He and Adrian decided to leave when a pole floated around the corner of Hannan and Wolfe Street with a black snake curled around it and a tortoise swam between his legs. We had 3' 7" of water in the house and ;lost everything. We lived for a few days at the old Tally Ho factory on the outskirts of Rutherford until I was evacuated to live with my cousin in Cessnock. The rest of my family lived in a caravan in the backyard of Bill Jack (Jack's Motors on High Street) on Aberglasslyn Road Rutherford. We eventually move the house to Aberglasslyn Road. The site you found the photo on has some great Maitland building shown. Quite a few of them were built by my Grandfather, Charles Taylor who had a workshop in Banfield Street that would not have been far from Bull Street. The buildings include, Walka Waterworks, Maitland Courthouse, and Benholme on Regent Street. Thanks for asking the original question. What's you family name from Bull Street? Phillip Carruthers Brisbane, Australia +617 3273 5531 ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 12:54 PM Subject: Re: [HV] Sketch of Long Bridge WEST MAITLAND Hello again Phillip. Thanks for this. What a great bit of local and family history that item makes. I wonder if they were grateful that it didn't collapse whilst they were walking on it. I was not aware that the bridge had collapsed. When I searched under "Long Bridge" Maitland at the National Library of Australia pictures web-site, there were lots of photos of concrete work being constructed on the bridge, which I was unaware of; so this would now explain it. At the time of the flood, Phillip, we were living in the western suburbs of Sydney, and being a kid, I had no idea at that stage that the family had originated in Maitland, still living almost adjoining the Long Bridge at the time of the flood -- in Bull Street, formerly called Thompson's Lane -- on the eastern side, on my John THOMPSON ancestor's original Veteran's land grant which had stretched right across from Thompson's Lane to Regent Street; so from the photos at the NLA, it would seem that the entire grant would have looked like a river then. Phew! Thanks for sharing this interesting item. Regards again: Ray ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message