Located in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, Greta once housed a large Australian Army camp, which later became a post-war migrant camp. Little remains of the camp apart from foundations and scattered stones. If the local museum did not keep the memory alive, it might have been forgotten completely.
Housed in the old Council Chambers, the Greta Museum has displays showing the town’s past as a coal mining centre, army camp and migrant camp.
During the Second World War, over 60,000 Australian soldiers trained at the camp. However, in 1949, it became the second largest migrant camp in Australia, housing displaced people from Europe. During its 11 years of operation, over 100,000 people passed through the camp, with the most at any one time being 9,000.
Passage to Australia was free, but men were required to fulfil a 2-year contract once they arrived in Australia. This was often away from their families in Cairns, Sydney or the Snowy Mountains, however, some worked at BHP in Newcastle and came home on weekends.
Living in an old army camp would have been hard, with no heating for winter and very hot in summer. Amenities were limited but did include a school and hospital.
Apart from the exhibits, the museum has a book for sale written by a former resident at the camp, detailing his experiences.
The only memorials to the camp are a small one in the main street and another at the gate to the camp. Access to the camp is not permitted, because it is on private land.
Other interesting exhibits include old school class photos, a plaque of Great mayors and some mining equipment.
Old Greta Council Chambers – Now a MuseumMilitary history from GretaOld school photos from 1895Old school photos from the depressionMining HistoryPast Mayors of GretaMemorabilia from around GretaGreta Migrant Camp MemorialMap of the Migrant CampBook by Alek Schulha on the Greta Migrant Camp
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
The centre for local outdoor sports like football, netball cricket and hockey, Maitland Park also has some interesting memorials scattered around its grounds. Located in the New South Wales Hunter Valley two hours north of Sydney, plenty of parking makes access easy.
Robins Oval
St. Pauls’ Church
The largest place of interest was the old St. Pauls’ Church, which although no longer a consecrated church still looks good. We liked the tower because of the elevated doorway entrance. Now a pre-school, the local community still gets good use out of this old building.
St. Pauls Church Now a Childcare and Pre-School CentreSt. Pauls Church Now a Childcare and Pre-School CentreSt. Pauls Church Now a Childcare and Pre-School Centre
Richard Alexander Young Memorial
Commemorating the public service of Richard Alexander Young, who died suddenly aged 43 in 1893 this red brick folly shows the high esteem he was held in by the local community. It’s great to see it in such good condition after more than 120 years.
Richard Alexander Young Memorial
James Wolstenholme Memorial
Erected in 1912 to commemorate the charitable works of James Wolstenholme, this memorial originally stood in High Street, where it also served as a drinking fountain. Although the drinking fountain no longer works it still reminds those who look of the man’s good deeds. Unfortunately, it has not survived as well as the Richard Alexander Young Memorial located nearby and is in need of restoration.
James Wolstenholme Memorial
Maitland Fallen Soldiers Memorial
Officially unveiled on 25 April 1923 (ANZAC Day) to commemorated servicemen from Maitland who were killed in World War One, the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial is the largest in the park.
Since its unveiling, memorial walls added to either side commemorate other conflicts Australia has been involved in. This beautiful memorial has a winged female figure with an upraised sword in marble on top of a column.
Along with other memorials in the park, it’s interesting to see how they have evolved over time.
Maitland Fallen Soldiers Memorial
Maitland Fallen Soldiers Memorial
South African (Boer) War Memorial
Originally dedicated to the memory of the volunteers from Maitland and surrounding towns who fought in the Boer War, especially the 13 volunteers killed in action this memorial is next to the Aquatic Centre. Later additions to the memorial recognise the suffering of Afrikaner civilians and African Natives who died in the Concentration Camps in addition to the combatants. During the conflict over 56,000 men, women and children died in the concentration camps.
Recognising the huge impact on the Afrikaner and native populations in addition to the combatants demonstrates how Australians’ understanding of the war changed with time.
South African (Boer) War Memorial
National Service Memorial
Located under a shady tree and fixed to a large boulder, this memorial commemorates those who undertook National Service in the Australian Defence Forces from 1951 to 1972.
Of the 288,000 who undertook training, 212 died on active service in Borneo and Vietnam.
National Service Memorial
Millennium Sun Dial
Placed in Maitland Park to celebrate the millennium, the Millennium Sundial also contains a time capsule to be opened in 2101.
Millennium Sun Dial
Sandakan Prisoner of War Memorial
This memorial commemorates the single worst atrocity suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War. The working conditions at Sandakan and Ranau camps in North Borneo and subsequent the death march resulted in the deaths of 2,434 prisoners of war. Over 1800 were members of the 8th Division AIF. Only six prisoners survived, all of whom escaped and were assisted by locals.
Representing a relief of the local terrain in Borneo, the memorial shows the march the prisoners were forced to make.
Sandakan Prisoner of War Memorial
Sandakan Prisoner of War Memorial
What Did We Think of Maitland Park?
This was an interesting park to walk around, because of the interesting memorials. It was interesting to see how several evolved over time, due to changing public awareness and the involvement in other wars.
It was also interesting to see how a well thought of person like James Wolstenholme is now virtually unknown and had their memorial moved from the main street.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Recent rain in March 2022 has caused floods along the east coast of Australia, actually the whole summer of 2021/22 has been wet. The resulting damage has been extensive to many communities. Of course, this has followed on from drought, bushfires and low dam levels in previous years. The local Glennies Creek Dam which supplies Singleton dropped to under 35% full at one stage and was back up to 75% in February. The flooding rain has pushed this up to 96% which will be a great relief to everyone in the area, despite the damage caused.
History of Glennies Creek Dam
Due to increasing demand, Glennies Creek was constructed to supplement the Upper Hunter’s water supply from Glenbawn Dam. Glennies Creek Dam is a curved rock-fill embankment wall with a concrete slab on the upstream face. The wall is 535 metres long and 67 metres high.
The dam’s small 233 square kilometre catchment includes the Mount Royal National Park. In comparison, Glenbawn Dam has a catchment of 1,300 square kilometres although it has a capacity of 750GL compared to Glennies’ 283GL.
The water stored behind the dam is called Lake St. Claire.
Photos of the dam and lake in March 2022
Located 25 minutes from Singleton in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, Lake St Claire is popular with locals for boating, camping and fishing. Because of its proximity to Singleton it is a great day trip.
The landscape around Singleton is very green for this time of year. Usually, the end of summer sees the landscape looking dull brown and dead . This year however, because of the rain everything is a lush green.
Driving to the dam wall, we parked at the small carpark and went exploring. You are able to walk over the dam wall to the far side of the lake. This is great as you can take pictures from lots of different angles.
Further along the road is a camping ground and boat ramp, which has become very popular as the water level has risen.
Countryside around Lake St ClaireGlennies Creek Dam WallLooking over Glennies Creek Dam WallGlennies Creek Dam WallLake St ClaireLake St Claire
