Hello David. Thank you for sharing this. Like with the other contributions, it adds to my understanding greatly. Especially your comment about the post-flood filling up and levelling out of the farmland area between Bull Street and Regent Street. None of the surnames which you mention is familiar to me; but that is merely a sign of my ignorance of the area and its people. If their land sloped down to the swamp area, then it would seem to me that they must have been on part of the original grant to John THOMPSON. I have walked up and down Bull Street on my infrequent visits to Maitland, trying to get the lie of the land, and noticed all of those weatherboard cottages which are bordering the swamp; and wondering what the history of each one is. On one occasion I was particularly fortunate to have had my father's cousin: Edward/Ted HAWKINS who had lived in Maitland all of his life, take me for a walk along there. Sometime after the flood, he had had his father's house moved from Bull Street, up to a block of land which he bought in Rutherford, and lived the rest of his life in it there, along with his lovely wife Melda. Thanks again for your helpful input to the conversation. Regards: Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Coggins" <[email protected]> ... 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. ...