Maitland Park
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Millennium Sun Dial
Placed in Maitland Park to celebrate the millennium, the Millennium Sundial also contains a time capsule to be opened in 2101.
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.
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.