Community disengagement

The project to build a new basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals has now been listed on the NSW government’s Major Projects Planning Portal. I had a quick skim through the available documents, and two things stuck out.

Firstly, the Scoping Report has a section on Community Engagement, that has a list of stakeholders that Newcastle Basketball has “undertaken consultation with to inform the project planning.” Conspicuously missing from this list are the two groups that will be most negatively impacted by the project.

  1. The sporting groups who currently use the ovals.
  2. The local residents who will have to suffer the traffic and parking chaos the development will cause.

I am at a loss to decide whether these omissions are due to incompetence, error, conflict avoidance, or deliberate action to keep the community in the dark.

List of community consultation engagements, from page 19 of the Scoping Report.

The second item that caught my eye, was in the “Heritage NSW Advice on SEARs” document, which states that “the site does not contain any known historical archeological relics.” During World War 2, the site of Wallarah Oval contained four gun emplacements, as shown in the 1944 aerial photograph below.

As recently as 2014, aerial photographs show parch marks that hint that some remnant of these gun emplacements may still be under the surface. The extent and significance of these remains is uncertain.

Parch marks in a 2014 aerial photo show hints of the two southern gun emplacements. Google Earth.

The gathering storm clouds of war

I recently listened to an excellent ten part series on The Rest Is History podcast by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, on the lead-up to the outbreak of World War 1. It consisted of two sections – four episodes on The Murder of Franz Ferdinand, followed by six episodes on The Road to The Great War.

One of the things that intrigued me in listening to the podcast, is the one month gap between the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on 28 June 1914, and Britain entering the war at midnight on 4 August 1914. I wondered what it would have been like for someone living in Newcastle in 1914, reading news of the European situation in the pages of the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate each day, how the build-up to war would have been perceived.

Using Trove I read all the assassination/war related articles in the Newcastle Morning Herald, and tabulated a count of the number stories each day. It is interesting to note that after the initial flourish of articles in the wake of the assassination news from Europe subsided to almost nothing, until 27 July 1914 when hostilities between Austria and Serbia commenced. From that date there was a rapid escalation of tensions and the number of daily newspaper reports rose rapidly to 69 articles in the 6 August edition where Britain’s joining the war was reported.

I find it somewhat sobering to see how in the space of just over a week, the news went from nothing to a world wide conflagration. Sobering also to see that one commentator at the time of the outbreak clearly foresaw the dire consequences …

“Anathema on the people responsible for this awful war, whoever they are. To avenge the murder of two people they have plunged the continents into mourning. Innocent hundreds of thousands have got to lay down their lives. Innocent millions have got to lose their little all. Innocent families, too many to estimate, have got to face self denial and sorrow.”

Newcastle Morning herald and miners’ advocate,, 6 August 1914

A note on the title of this blog post: The “gathering storm clouds of war” is a homage to the long running riff that Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook have in their podcast, poking fun at this cliched phrase. It was with some interest then, that I found a near match to this phrase used in a report at the time …

“It has all come so suddenly that the main body of the people fail for the time to realise what it all means. The gathering of the war clouds excited a feeling of nervousness and people were inclined to do things which they a week ago would not have thought of.”

Newcastle Morning herald and miners’ advocate, 6 August 1914.

List of WW1 related articles in the Newcastle Morning Herald

Date Headline
30/06/1914 ASSASSINATED. THE AUSTRIAN HEIR. A DASTARDLY CRIME.
30/06/1914 THE VICTIMS’ MOVEMENTS.
30/06/1914 THE FIRST ATTEMPT. SHORT LIVED JOY.
30/06/1914 STATEMENT BY ASSASSIN. AN OLD INTENTION.
30/06/1914 ARCHDUKE FOREWARNED.
30/06/1914 WIDESPREAD GRIEF
30/06/1914 WHEN THE BOMB WAS THROWN.
30/06/1914 THE FATAL SHOTS.
30/06/1914 IN THE THROES OF DEATH.
30/06/1914 THE AGED EMPEROR.
30/06/1914 BOSNIAN DIET’S GRIEF.
30/06/1914 THE NEWS IN ROME.
30/06/1914 KAISER GRAVELY SILENT.
30/06/1914 NEW HEIR APPARENT.
1/07/1914 THE ASSASSINATIONS, “THE PEACE OF EUROPE.” MARTIAL LAW AT SERAJEVO.
1/07/1914 THE ARCHDUKE’S JOKE.
1/07/1914 WHEN THE SHOTS WERE FIRED.
1/07/1914 VICTIMS’ LAST MOMENTS.
1/07/1914 MORE BOMB THROWING.
1/07/1914 THE ASSASSIN.
1/07/1914 VICTORIA’S REGRETS.
1/07/1914 EYE-WITNESSES’ ACCOUNT. PATHETIC MOMENTS.
2/07/1914 THE ASSASSINATIONS. WIDESPREAD MOURNING. GREAT BRITAIN’S TRIBUTE.
2/07/1914 SCENES AT SERAJEVO. PREPARING FOR THE OBSEQUIES.
2/07/1914 STAND BY THE THRONE.
2/07/1914 THE VICTIMS’ CHILDREN. BREAKING THE NEWS.
2/07/1914 THE ASSASSINS. ACTED IN CONCERT.
2/07/1914 AUSTRALIAN SYMPATHY.
3/07/1914 THE ASSASSINATIONS. WIDESPREAD PLOT.
3/07/1914 WHERE THE PLOT WAS HATCHED.
4/07/1914 THE HAPSBURGS.
4/07/1914 THE ASSASSINATIONS. BODIES SENT TO VIENNA. IMPOSING CEREMONIES.
4/07/1914 THE FUNERAL. THE EMPEROR’S WISHES.
4/07/1914 STATEMENTS BY ASSASSINS. ACCOMPLICES IMPLICATED.
6/07/1914 THE SERVIAN MURDERS. RIOTS IN VIENNA. FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS.
7/07/1914 THE SERVIAN MURDERS. CONSPIRATORS ARRESTED. THE FUNERAL.
8/07/1914 n/a
9/07/1914 THE BALKANS.
10/07/1914 RUSSIA AND BRITAIN. REVISION OF RELATIONS.
11/07/1914 M. POINCARE. INTENDED ASSASSINATION.
13/07/1914 GERMANY’S NAVY. A GREAT ACCESSION.
14/07/1914 n/a
15/07/1914 A TRAGIC DEATH IN EUROPE.
16/07/1914 n/a
17/07/1914 n/a
18/07/1914 n/a
20/07/1914 n/a
21/07/1914 BULGARIA AND ROUMANIA. FRONTIER CONFLICTS.
22/07/1914 NAVAL AGREEEMENT
23/07/1914 n/a
24/07/1914 n/a
25/07/1914 n/a
27/07/1914 WAR BREAKS OUT. AUSTRIA AND SERVIA. THREAT FROM RUSSIA. COUNTERBLAST BY GERMANY.
27/07/1914 AN ULTIMATUM.
27/07/1914 GERMANY’S ATTITUDE. WILL SUPPORT AUSTRIA IF OTHER POWERS INTERVENE.
27/07/1914 EXCITEMENT IN SERVIA. THE REPLY INDEFINITE.
27/07/1914 BRITAIN SEEKS PEACE. THE SITUATION GRAVE.
27/07/1914 SERVIA DECLINES. ULTIMATUM REJECTED. EXCITEMENT IN EUROPE.
27/07/1914 SERVIA PREPARES. KING LEAVES BELGRADE. CROWN PRINCE IN COMMAND.
27/07/1914 AUSTRIA ENTHUSIASTIC. DOWN WITH SERVIA.
27/07/1914 BERLIN EXCITED. GERMAN FLEET SAILS.
27/07/1914 RUSSIA READY. ARMY CORPS MOBILISING.
27/07/1914 EFFECT ON MARKETS. GLOOMIEST TONE.
27/07/1914 AMERICAN WHEAT. WILD TRADING.
27/07/1914 GIGANTIC STRUGGLE. SLAV v. TEUTON.
28/07/1914 EUROPE’S DANGER.
28/07/1914 HOPES OF PEACE. RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA. ENGAGED IN CONFERENCE.
28/07/1914 DECLARATION OF WAR. REPORT NOT CONFIRMED. SITUATION ALARMING.
28/07/1914 AUSTRIA’S INTENTION. A SHARP CAMPAIGN. TO FORESTALL RUSSIA.
28/07/1914 AUSTRIA PREPARING. MARTIAL LAW DECREED. PARLIAMENTS CLOSED.
28/07/1914 SERVIA MOBILISING. QUITTING THE CAPITAL. SACKING OF SHOPS.
28/07/1914 ARREST OF A GENERAL. LIBERATED BY THE EMPEROR.
28/07/1914 GERMANY EXCITED. GREAT DEMONSTRATION.
28/07/1914 RUSSIA’S ATTITUDE. PREPARING FOR WAR. SERVIA NOT TO STAND ALONE.
28/07/1914 SLAVS IN PARIS. DOWN WITH AUSTRIA.
28/07/1914 MONTENEGRIN SYMPATHY. AUSTRIAN TROOPS MOVING.
28/07/1914 BELGIUM WATCHING.
EUROPE HOPEFUL. BRITAIN’S INFLUENCE. MAKING FOR PEACE. FOREIGN POWERS APPROVE
29/07/1914 THE BRITISH PROPOSALS. POWERS TO CO-OPERATE. TO CONFINE THE DISPUTE.
29/07/1914 HOSTILITIES BEGUN. REPORT CONFIRMED. SERVIANS OPEN FIRE.
29/07/1914 GERMAN EXCITEMENT. CHEERS FOR ENGLAND.
30/07/1914 WAR BEGINS. TROOPS ON FRONTIERS. MEDIATION DECLINED. AUSTRIA DETERMINED.
30/07/1914 EFFECT IN EUROPE. FEARS INCREASED. A GENERAL CATASTROPHE.
30/07/1914 RUSSIA PREPARED. BLACKNESS ON THE COAST. SEVASTOPOL CLOSED.
30/07/1914 HUNGARY EXCITED. WILD ENTHUSIASM.
30/07/1914 BELGRADE IN PERIL. AUSTRIAN TROOPS AT HAND.
30/07/1914 GERMAN SILENCE. THE WORST OMEN. RUSSIA READY FOR WAR.
30/07/1914 FRANCE CALM. READY FOR EMERGENCY.
30/07/1914 BRITISH NAVAL ACTIVITY. GUARDING THE ARSENALS.
30/07/1914 AUSTRIA’S OBJECT. NOT OCCUPATION.
30/07/1914 AUSTRIA’S ATTACK. THREE ARMY LINES. WILL ENTER SERVIA.
30/07/1914 FIGHTING ON THE DRINA. SERVIANS PRESSING ONWARD.
30/07/1914 GERMAN PRECAUTIONS. MOVEMENT OF TROOPS.
30/07/1914 STRENGTH OF FRANCE. A GREAT FORCE.
30/07/1914 MIGRATION FROM CANADA. PATRIOTIC AUSTRIANS.
30/07/1914 TRADE EXCITEMENT. IN AMERICA AND CANADA.
30/07/1914 EFFECT IN AUSTRALIA.
31/07/1914 THE DIE IS CAST. IN RUSSIAN EYES ONLY A MIRACLE CAN AVERT EUROPEAN WAR. GERMANY IS HOPEFUL.
31/07/1914 AUSTRIA’S EMPEROR DESIROUS OF PEACE. COMPELLED TO FIGHT.
31/07/1914 GERMAN QUIETUDE. SUSPICION OF RUSSIA. MOBILISATION URGED.
31/07/1914 BRITAIN’S VIEW. SITUATION GRAVE.
31/07/1914 RUSSIA RESOLUTE. WILL DEFEND SERVIA.
31/07/1914 BRITISH FLEET SAILS. SCENE AT PORTLAND.
31/07/1914 FRANCE’S PRESIDENT. RECEPTION IN PARIS.
31/07/1914 THE WAR STARTING. AUSTRIA’S OPERATIONS. BOMBARDMENT OF BELGRADE.
31/07/1914 BELGRADE OCCUPIED. STEAMERS CAPTURED. AUSTRIAN ENTHUSIASM.
31/07/1914 RUSSIA’S MOBILISATION. A GREAT FORCE.
31/07/1914 THE PINCH OF WAR. FOOD PRICES IN VIENNA.
31/07/1914 EFFECT ON COMMERCE. STOCK EXCHANGES IDLE. FAILURES OCCURRING.
31/07/1914 POSITION IN AMERICA.
31/07/1914 PATRIOTS RETURNING. HASTENING HOMEWARDS.
31/07/1914 PEACE CONGRESS SETTLED.
31/07/1914 AUSTRALIAN ATTACHE.
31/07/1914 FALL IN STOCKS.
31/07/1914 WAR RISKS ON VESSELS.
1/08/1914 PEN-NOTES AND PENCILLINGS
1/08/1914 THE ARMIES.
1/08/1914 THE ALLIANCES.
1/08/1914 THE COST THAT WAS.
1/08/1914 THE COST TO BE.
1/08/1914 PEACE OF EUROPE MAY BE MAINTAINED. POWERS STILL CONFERRING. BRITAIN’S GREAT INFLUENCE. NO ACTUAL CHALLENGE. 
1/08/1914 REPORTS DENIED. NO GERMAN DEMAND.
1/08/1914 TENSION IN BRITAIN. PARTY ISSUES DROPPED. A UNITED FRONT.
1/08/1914 PRECAUTIONS IN ENGLAND. PROTECTING THE COAST.
1/08/1914 BRITAIN’S DUTY. NO SPLENDID ISOLATION. STAND BY HER FRIENDS.
1/08/1914 CHANCES OF PEACE. DEPEND ON GERMANY. PESSIMISTIC FEELING.
1/08/1914 FRANCE HOPEFUL. GOOD NEWS RECEIVED.
1/08/1914 POSITION IN GERMANY. RECALLING OF OFFICERS. MOBILISATION NOT ORDERED.
1/08/1914 KAISER OPPOSED TO WAR. JINGOES FORCE HIS HAND.
1/08/1914 PATRIOTIC AUSTRIA. FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE. LOYALTY OF THE EMPIRE.
1/08/1914 RUSSIA MOBILISING. PREPARING FOR WAR. CZAR GOES TO MOSCOW.
1/08/1914 CANADA’S LOYALTY. OFFER OF TROOPS.
1/08/1914 WAR OPERATIONS. STORMING OF BELGRADE. FIRES IN THE CITY.
1/08/1914 AUSTRIAN INVASION. THE THREE COLUMNS.
1/08/1914 STOCK EXCHANGES LIFELESS. WHEAT PIT WHIRLWIND.
1/08/1914 PRECAUTIONS AT THE CAPE. MANOEUVRES STOPPED.
1/08/1914 MARINE WAR RISKS.
1/08/1914 ARMING MERCHANT SHIPS.
1/08/1914 MELBOURNE WHEAT MARKET.
1/08/1914 GERMANY’S ULTIMATUM.
1/08/1914 UNITED PRAYERS. APPEAL BY THE CHURCHES.
1/08/1914 DECLINE ON STOCK EXCHANGES.
1/08/1914 FALL IN ADELAIDE.
1/08/1914 DEFENCES OF SCANDINAVIA
3/08/1914 THE STORM BREAKS.
3/08/1914 WAR AGAINST RUSSIA DECLARED BY GERMANY. WILL FRANCE JOIN? ENGLAND REMAINS CALM. INTENSE EUROPEAN EXCITEMENT.
3/08/1914 WILL FRANCE FIGHT? GERMANY INQUIRES. CONVERSATIONS PROCEEDING.
3/08/1914 GERMANY’S REASONS FOR DECLARING WAR. IT WAS FORCED ON HER.
3/08/1914 ITALY NEUTRAL. NOT BOUND TO FIGHT EXCEPT FOR DEFENCE.
3/08/1914 RUSSIAN PATROL CROSSES THE FRONTIER. SKIRMISH WITH GERMANY.
3/08/1914 GERMANY’S DARK DAY. FORCED TO FIGHT. SPEECH BY THE EMPEROR.
3/08/1914 SHALL BRITAIN JOIN. OPPOSING VIEWS. FEELING AGAINST WAR.
3/08/1914 RUSSIAN FUNDS. A GREAT BALANCE.
3/08/1914 FRANCE AND GERMANY. TROOPS ON THE FRONTIER. GERMAN PATROLS CROSS.
3/08/1914 AUSTRIA’S ATTITUDE. WILL DEAL WITH SERVIA.
3/08/1914 WAR AGAINST GERMANY. SIN AGAINST CIVILISATION.
3/08/1914 ATTITUDE OF JAPAN. WILL STAND BY BRITAIN.
3/08/1914 AFRICA EXCITED. SHIPPING NO GOLD.
3/08/1914 CONTINENTAL FEARS. EXCITED TRAVELLERS.
3/08/1914 RUSSIA WAR MAD. GREAT DEMONSTRATIONS.
3/08/1914 AMERICA READY TO MAKE PEACE.
3/08/1914 APPEAL TO AMERICA TO ASSUME EMBASSIES.
3/08/1914 CLOSING BRITISH PORTS.
3/08/1914 FINANCIAL CRISIS. RESULTS IN ENGLAND. LONDON FAIRLY CALM.
3/08/1914 THE BANK BESIEGED, PAPER CURRENCY DOUBTED.
3/08/1914 EFFECT IN EUROPE. SUICIDE OF FINANCIERS. SEVERAL GERMAN FAILURES.
3/08/1914 THE KAISER. A FRIEND OF PEACE.
3/08/1914 GERMAN ACTIVITY. TEARING UP RAILROADS.
3/08/1914 GERMAN VESSELS. APPREHENSIVE OF CAPTURE.
3/08/1914 NEW ZEALAND’S OFFER. CANADA’S EULOGY.
3/08/1914 CANADA’S OFFER. TROOPS FOR BRITAIN. WILL SEIZE SHIPPING.
3/08/1914 AUSTRIA AND SERVIA. OUTPOST FIGHTING. USE OF AEROPLANES.
3/08/1914 BATTLE AT LANITZA.
3/08/1914 BOMBARDMENT OF BELGRADE.
3/08/1914 FRENCH SOCIALISTS. SUPPORT THEIR COUNTRY.
3/08/1914 ULSTERMEN READY. TO FIGHT FOR BRITAIN.
3/08/1914 BAVARIA EXCITED. RALLY ROUND THE EMPIRE.
3/08/1914 THE DOMINIONS. LOYALTY TO THE EMPIRE.
3/08/1914 BRITAIN’S CALMNESS. ADMIRED IN AMERICA.
3/08/1914 SERVIA CHEERED BY SPANISH STUDENTS.
3/08/1914 TROUBLE IN AMERICA. BUSINESS FIRMS FAIL.
3/08/1914 WARSHIPS RETURN TO SYDNEY. PREPARING FOR WAR. FEVERISH ACTIVITY.
3/08/1914 EXCITEMENT IN SYDNEY.
3/08/1914 PRAYERS FOR PEACE.
3/08/1914 INSURANCE AGAINST WAR RISKS.
3/08/1914 SIR WILLIAM IRVINE’S VIEWS.
3/08/1914 GERMAN SHIPPING IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS.
3/08/1914 GERMAN AUSTRALIAN LINE.
3/08/1914 GERMAN STEAMERS SAIL. THREE LEAVE NEWCASTLE.
3/08/1914 FEDERAL EXECUTIVE. TO MEET IN MELBOURNE.
3/08/1914 GOVERNMENT RECEIVES NEWS.
3/08/1914 JAPANESE FLEET. REPORTED MOVEMENT.
3/08/1914 AUSTRALIAN ARMY. REPORTED INSTRUCTIONS.
3/08/1914 GERMAN FLEET IN PACIFIC.
3/08/1914 SLAVS IN NEW ZEALAND.
3/08/1914 PORT REGULATIONS. EXAMINATION SERVICE IN FORCE.
3/08/1914 IN NEWCASTLE CHURCHES.
3/08/1914 SUBMARINES AND BATTLESHIPS.
3/08/1914 THE WAR. GERMAN ACTIVITY. LUXEMBOURG SEIZED.
4/08/1914 THE OUTLOOK DREARY.
4/08/1914 THE EUROPEAN CRISIS. GERMANS MARCH ON FRANCE. NO WAR DECLARATION. BRITAIN REMAINS SILENT. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO-DA
4/08/1914 FEELING IN LONDON. WILL BRITAIN JOIN OR STAND ALOOF.
4/08/1914 BRITAIN’S FLEET READY. A MIGHTY ARRAY.
4/08/1914 LONDON PATRIOTISM. CHEERS FOR THE KING.
4/08/1914 GERMANY AND RUSSIA. THE POURPARLERS. BROKEN BY RUSSIA.
4/08/1914 BREACH OF NEUTRALITY. GERMANS IN LUXEMBURG. FRANCE AND BELGIUM PROTEST.
4/08/1914 FRANCE AND GERMANY. WAR WITHOUT NOTICE.
4/08/1914 HASTENING TO SAFE PORTS.
4/08/1914 A BRITISH OPINION. FRANCE NOT BOUND. INTERVENTION UNNECESSARY.
4/08/1914 VIEWS OF “THE TIMES.” HOSTILE TO GERMANY.
4/08/1914 RETURNING ENGLISHMEN. FOODLESS FOR HOURS.
4/08/1914 WHEAT IN BRITAIN. ENOUGH FOR FOUR MONTHS.
4/08/1914 CANADIAN AID. ACCEPTED BY BRITAIN.
4/08/1914 SWEDEN AND NORWAY PROCLAIM NEUTRALITY. DENMARK PROTECTS HERSELF.
4/08/1914 AUSTRIA’S DESIRE. APPROVES OF CONFERENCE.
4/08/1914 EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA. IS MOVED TO TEARS.
4/08/1914 FOREIGNERS IN FRANCE. AUSTRIANS TO LEAVE.
4/08/1914 THE FIGHTING. GERMANS INVADE FRANCE. RUMOURED REPULSE.
4/08/1914 RUSSIAN MOVEMENTS. CROSSING THE FRONTIER.
4/08/1914 QUIET IN LONDON. A GERMAN DEMONSTRATION.
4/08/1914 LONDON BANKS. A QUASI-MORATORIUM.
4/08/1914 MATTERS IN CHINA. BRITISH ORDERED TO LEAVE.
4/08/1914 THE NETHERLANDS. GUARDING FOOD SUPPLY.
4/08/1914 WORKERS OF THE WORLD URGED TO REFUSE TO FIGHT.
4/08/1914 BULGARIAN RESERVISTS ORDERED TO BE READY.
4/08/1914 AUSTRALIAN VESSELS STOPPED.
4/08/1914 GERMAN VESSELS IN REFUGE.
4/08/1914 AUSTRALIA READY. OFFER TO BRITAIN. HER FLEET AND MEN.
4/08/1914 SYDNEY PREPARING. MANNING THE FORTS. CITIZEN SOLDIERS CALLED OUT.
4/08/1914 MEETING OF THE CABINET. HELPING THE COMMONWEALTH.
4/08/1914 CLEARANCES FOR NEWCASTLE BOATS.
4/08/1914 SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE. PROBABLE CLOSING.
4/08/1914 GERMAN BOAT DEPARTS.
4/08/1914 TO JOIN THE COLOURS.
4/08/1914 EFFECT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSES. BARRIER MINES MAY CLOSE.
4/08/1914 VESSELS ON THE QUI VIVE.
4/08/1914 NEWCASTLE COAL FOR THE NAVY
4/08/1914 ACTION IN BRISBANE.
4/08/1914 NEW ZEALAND’S OFFER.
4/08/1914 PRECAUTIONS AT NEWCASTLE. CONTROL OF THE PORT.
4/08/1914 WESTFALEN LEAVES HURRIEDLY.
4/08/1914 EFFECT ON COAL TRADE.
4/08/1914 NEWCASTLE DEMONSTRATIONS.
4/08/1914 A COINCIDENCE.
4/08/1914 PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE.
5/08/1914 THE WAR CLOUDS.
5/08/1914 AUSTRALIA’S DUTY.
5/08/1914 GERMANS IN AUSTRALIA. WILL FIGHT FOR BRITAIN.
5/08/1914 PEN-NOTES AND PENCILLINGS.
5/08/1914 FRONTIERS.
5/08/1914 FOOD!
5/08/1914 THE SOURCE.
5/08/1914 1912-13.
5/08/1914 BRITAIN’S PLAIN SPEECH. HER DUTY TO FRANCE. THE BELGIAN TREATY MUST BE PRESERVED. GERMANY’S REPLY AWAITED.
5/08/1914 BRITAIN’S DECISION. WARNING TO GERMANY. WILL PROTECT FRENCH COAST. BELGIAN TREATY UPHELD.
5/08/1914 BRITISH FLEET CLEARED FOR ACTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
5/08/1914 BELGIAN DIFFICULTY. GERMAN ULTIMATUM. WISH TO ENTER LIEGE. BELGIUM’S REFUSAL.
5/08/1914 PARIS ALERT. WATCHFUL FOR AEROPLANES. STREETS FILLED WITH TROOPS.
5/08/1914 VICTUALLING PARIS. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS.
5/08/1914 FRENCH PARTY SHOT. ATTEMPTED RAILWAY WRECK.
5/08/1914 AMERICA’S PRESIDENT. TALKS OF MEDIATION. DEPRECATES SCARE TELEGRAMS.
5/08/1914 THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. REFUSED PASSAGE.
5/08/1914 AUSTRIA AND SERVIA. BATTLE ON THE DRINA.
5/08/1914 BRITISH FOOD SUPPLY. INSURANCE OF CARGOES.
5/08/1914 CANADIAN WAR ALARMS. CABINET IN SESSION. ANTICIPATED ATTACK.
5/08/1914 CANADIAN GOLD SUPPLY TO BE CONSERVED.
5/08/1914 PRECAUTIONS IN CANADA. CLOSING THE ST. LAWRENCE.
5/08/1914 NAVAL STEAMSHIPS FOR THE CARRYING TRADE. AMERICA’S PROPOSAL.
5/08/1914 QUIET IN BRITAIN. CALM PREPARATIONS.
5/08/1914 BRITAIN’S ACTION. A GERMAN OPINION.
5/08/1914 GERMAN GOLD. AN ATLANTIC LINER.
5/08/1914 TRADE RESTRICTIONS. AMERICA HARD HIT.
5/08/1914 A GERMAN LINER. MAY ATTACK GRAIN CARRIERS.
5/08/1914 DOMINIONS’ OFFERS. MANY VOLUNTEERS.
5/08/1914 CANADIAN ENLISTMENT.
5/08/1914 SWEDEN MOBILISING.
5/08/1914 ATTITUDE OF GREECE.
5/08/1914 RESTRICTIONS ON VESSELS. CAPETOWN.
5/08/1914 EXCITEMENT IN SYDNEY. RUN ON SAVINGS BANK. NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
5/08/1914 POSITION AT NEWCASTLE.
5/08/1914 SAVINGS BANK SAFE. STATEMENT BY MR. HUGHES.
5/08/1914 CABLES AND CENSORSHIP. LINES INTERRUPTED.
5/08/1914 IN THE ASSEMBLY. DEMONSTRATION OF LOYALTY. THE HOUSE ADJOURNS.
5/08/1914 NEW SOUTH WALES DEFENCES. OFFICIAL INTIMATION.
5/08/1914 FLAGSHIP AUSTRALIA. GETTING READY FOR ACTION.
5/08/1914 THE FLAGSHIP SAILS. MELBOURNE FOLLOWS HER.
5/08/1914 STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. ENGLAND’S GOOD FAITH.
5/08/1914 THE CENSOR AT WORK.
5/08/1914 NORTHERN MOBILISATION. OFFICER RECALLED.
5/08/1914 THE STOCK EXCHANGE. NO BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
5/08/1914 DETAINED IN NEWCASTLE.
5/08/1914 TIBERIUS AT SYDNEY.
5/08/1914 EXPORT OF WHEAT AND FLOUR. PROHIBITION ADVOCATED.
5/08/1914 FOOTBALLERS CHEER THE KING.
5/08/1914 AUSTRALIAN MOBILISATION.
5/08/1914 FEELING IN MELBOURNE. PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS. REPORTED NAVAL BATTLE.
5/08/1914 GERMAN CRUISERS. OFF THURSDAY ISLAND.
5/08/1914 IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. VOLUNTEERS EAGER.
5/08/1914 MATTERS IN QUEENSLAND.
5/08/1914 PANIC DEPRECATED.
5/08/1914 VICTORIAN STATE MINE. COAL FOR WARSHIPS.
5/08/1914 SIR OLIVER LODGE’S REGRET.
6/08/1914 WAR DECLARED.
6/08/1914 THE DAY OF TRIAL.
6/08/1914 PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS. IN THE COUNCIL. CHEERS FOR KING AND EMPIRE.
6/08/1914 IN THE ASSEMBLY. APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
6/08/1914 MINING MATTERS. THE AFTERNOON SHIFT. GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION.
6/08/1914 BRITAIN DECLARES WAR. GERMANY REMAINS DEFIANT. TROOPS ENTER BELGIUM. RUSSIA FRANTIC WITH DELIGHT. ENTHUSIASM IN FRANCE.
6/08/1914 BRITISH STATEMENT. GERMANY’S THREAT. MADE WAR NECESSARY.
6/08/1914 THE DECLARATION. AUSTRALIA NOTIFIED.
6/08/1914 BELGIUM TO ARMS. RESIST THE INVADER. ANOTHER FOE TO GERMANY.
6/08/1914 THE CZAR’S MANIFESTO. FIGHT FOR THE FAITH. GERMANY’S INSOLENT ATTACK.
6/08/1914 ITALY REMAINS NEUTRAL. DESPITE GERMAN APPEAL.
6/08/1914 ULSTER VOLUNTEERS. YACHTS FOR HOSPITALS.
6/08/1914 POLICY OF BRITAIN. ITS FORCES READY. PREPARED TO SUFFER TO MAINTAIN RESPECT.
6/08/1914 BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY. A WAR RISK SCHEME.
6/08/1914 FRANCE PREPARED. WILL DO ITS DUTY. ITALIAN SYMPATHY.
6/08/1914 IRELAND LOYAL. UNITED IN DEFENCE.
6/08/1914 UNITED STATES. NEUTRALITY DECLARED.
6/08/1914 THE FIGHTING. DETAILS MEAGRE. OWING TO CENSORSHIP. GERMANS IN THE ATLANTIC.
6/08/1914 GERMANY ADVANCE.
6/08/1914 BOMBARDMENT OF LIBAU.
6/08/1914 BONA ATTACKED.
6/08/1914 AUSTRIANS REPULSED.
6/08/1914 AUSTRIA LOOKS TO GALICIA.
6/08/1914 GERMANY AND RUSSIA. FRONTIER SKIRMISHES.
6/08/1914 MONTENEGRO ACTIVE. ATTACK ON CATTARO.
6/08/1914 GERMANY PRAYS. A SOLEMN CEREMONY.
6/08/1914 URUGUAY AND BRAZIL. THE BANKS CLOSE.
6/08/1914 NETHERLANDS PREPARING. WILL FLOOD THE COUNTRY.
6/08/1914 GERMAN GOLD. VESSEL OFF IRELAND.
6/08/1914 NORTH SEA DANGEROUS.
6/08/1914 BRITISH SHIPS DETAINED.
6/08/1914 REFUGEES FROM HOLLAND.
6/08/1914 INSURANCE AGAINST WAR.
6/08/1914 THE POPE’S GUARDS.
6/08/1914 UNEASINESS IN JAPAN.
6/08/1914 AUSTRALIA’S OFFER. THE KING’S THANKS. HIS MAJESTY’S REPLY.
6/08/1914 ADMIRALTY’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
6/08/1914 TROOPS CALLED OUT. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.
6/08/1914 AUSTRALIA’S POSITION. MINIMISING DISTRESS.
6/08/1914 GERMAN STEAMER STOPPED.
6/08/1914 MATTERS IN SYDNEY. RUSH ON SAVINGS BANKS NOT SO PRONOUNCED.
6/08/1914 LONDON BANKS.
6/08/1914 EXCITEMENT IN SYDNEY. ORDERLY CROWDS.
6/08/1914 OVERSEA SHIPS NOT AFFECTED.
6/08/1914 GERMAN VESSELS IN SYDNEY.
6/08/1914 THE STEAMER SEYDLITZ. REPORTED CAPTURE.
6/08/1914 FEDERAL ELECTIONS. MR. HUGHES’ VIEWS.
6/08/1914 RUSH TO NATURALISE.
6/08/1914 NEW SOUTH WALES DEFENCES. PARTIAL MOBILISATION.
6/08/1914 ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.
6/08/1914 THE CABLE SERVICE.
6/08/1914 MEETING IN BRISBANE. PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION.
6/08/1914 QUEENSLAND WILL HELP.
6/08/1914 GUARDING CABLE STATION. RIFLEMEN CALLED OUT.
6/08/1914 IN WEST AUSTRALIA.
6/08/1914 NEW ZEALAND ALERT. COASTAL STEAMERS SURPRISE.
6/08/1914 THE EMPIRE’S WELFARE. MR. FISHER’S DECLARATION.
6/08/1914 THE NEWS AT NEWCASTLE. HOW IT WAS RECEIVED.
6/08/1914 NEWCASTLE SAVINGS BANKS.
6/08/1914 NEWCASTLE STEEL WORKS TO CLOSE DOWN.
6/08/1914 SAILING VESSEL DETAINED. HAS COAL FOR GERMANS.
6/08/1914 NAVAL RESERVES. “M” AND “0” ADULTS CALLED OUT.
6/08/1914 DISTURBANCE PREVENTED.
6/08/1914 AT THE GERMAN VICE-CONSULATE.
6/08/1914 WARNING TO SHIPPING.
6/08/1914 AUSTRALIAN BANKS. THEIR SOUND POSITION.
6/08/1914 PATRIOTIC SPIRIT.
6/08/1914 TRADE WITH GERMANY. EFFECT OF HOSTILITIES.
6/08/1914 OUR SYDNEY LETTER. PLENTY OF NEWS AND YET LITTLE. AWAITING ENGLAND’S FULL DECISION. THE EXCITEMENT IN THIS CITY. A SMALL RUN ON THE SAVINGS BANK. THE CALL FOR CALMNESS. TOO MANY “SENSATIONAL” REPORTS.

Spring 2024

In what seemed a colder than usual August, the budding of my mulberry tree is significantly later this year compared to last year.

  • Checking the weather data for Williamtown shows that average daily maximum temperatures for August 2024 is unchanged from last year, and the minimums are were on average 1.5 degrees warmer than last year. This is a good reminder that impressions/recollections about weather are not the same as data about weather.
  • Data from my solar panel system however, shows that Lambton received 19% less sunshine in August this year compared with last year, so maybe that accounts for the later budding.

Hamilton North Sports

For a number of years I used to cycle past the old Hamilton North gasworks site as I commuted to work. I watched as structures were demolished and the site rehabilitated, and wondered about its future use. Back in January 2016 I wrote the following in an e-mail to Mark MacLean …

My 14 year old son is obsessed with sport, and particularly with cricket at the moment and he reckons “they” (the mythical “they” who ought to do stuff) should build a cricket ground in Newcastle capable of hosting Test, ODI and T20 matches. I set him a little task of speculative urban planning, on thinking where “they” could build such a stadium, and I suggested the old gasworks site. As a little experiment, we grabbed an image of the Sydney Cricket Ground and laid it over the gasworks site in Google Earth at the same scale to see if it would fit. Not only did it fit, it looks like it belongs there!

Hamilton North Cricket Ground?

Fast forward to 2024 when there are plans afoot to take away green space from the community and convert existing playing fields into a new basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Surely the old gasworks site is a better choice? Using the same technique I used back in 2016, how would the planned basketball stadium fit?

Answer: It fits easily and with oodles of room left over for parking, green space, and future expansion.

Hamilton North Basketball Stadium?

Community Protest

Sports at Wallarah Oval, 10 August 2024.

The photo above, from 10 August 2024, is of the supposedly “under used” Wallarah and Blackley Ovals in New Lambton. Newcastle’s Labor councillors want to obliterate this and replace it with 3 hectares of concrete and tarmac for a new basketball stadium, a plan riddled with problems and passionately opposed by local residents.

The photo below, also from 10 August 2024, is of a rally held on the adjacent Blackley Oval. Although invited by the rally organisers neither of the two Labor councillors for Ward 3 attended. It’s time to elect new councillors and a new Mayor who actually listen to, and engage with the community. Local Government election day is Saturday 14 September 2024, and there are plenty of alternative candidates. Go vote.

Rally to save Blackley and Wallarah Ovals, with Ward 3 Labor councillors as notable absentees, 10 August 2024.

Blackley and Wallarah Ovals

A reader of this blog recently asked me about the history of the land where Wallarah and Blackley Ovals are located in New Lambton on Turton Rd. This is of relevance because of the current proposal to build a new basketball stadium on the site, resulting in the loss of two sporting fields. While there appears to be overwhelming consensus that a new basketball stadium is needed for Newcastle, there are many who are opposed to the Turton Rd site. (For my own view, read on to the end of this article.)

Wallarah and Blackley Ovals in New Lambton. SIX Maps

The area where the ovals are located was originally part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve, also known as the Commonage. As the name suggests, it was intended for the pasturing of livestock.  Although many people illegally built houses on the commonage land, virtually no housing was built on low level ground near waterways, because of flooding. From 1889 the NSW government began to sell off Commonage land.

The government legally dedicated (gazetted) various bits of land for particular purposes at various times. The first reference I can find to the Blackley Oval land was in 1899, when on 26 Apr 1899 Homestead Selection Area 585 was gazetted. This consisted of multiple portions of land within the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve, including portions 2376 to 2380.  But curiously just a few months later on 19 Jul 1899, Homestead Selection Area 585 was revoked, and the government retained ownership of the land.

Parish map showing revocation of Homestead selection area of portions 2376 to 2380 on 19 July 1899. Historical Land Records Viewer

Although sale of Commonage land into private hands had been happening since 1889, a 1910 map shows almost no houses alongside the waterway – but mainly parks and pastures. The area of Blackley/Wallarah ovals is marked with the symbol for “Pasture and Furze”.

Barrett’s 1910 map shows very few buildings in the land adjoining the waterway. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.

On 28 June 1935 Portions 2379 and 2380 were legally reserved for public recreation.

Parish map from Historical Land Records Viewer

A 1938 aerial photograph shows a sporting field at the location of Blackley Oval.

1938 aerial photograph showing a sports field at the site of Blackley Oval. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.

A 1944 aerial photograph shows a sporting oval (Blackley) and WW2 gun emplacements (possibly decoy guns) where Wallarah Oval is today.

1944 aerial photograph, NSW Historical Aerial Imagery.

In 1948, Newcastle Council approved the naming of “Blackley Oval” …

An application by Newcastle Police and Citizens’ Boys’ Club to have land at District Park known as Quinlan and Blackley Ovals (previously Nos. 9 and 10 ovals) vested in the club was granted by Greater Newcastle Council last night.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 17 March 1948.

This snippet indicates that Blackley Oval originally had the unimaginative name of “No. 10 Oval”. Was the No. 9 oval (renamed to Quinlan oval) the field to the west of Blackley Oval? If so when and why was it renamed to Wallarah Oval? I suspect it was not, as a 1954 aerial photograph shows that the only field north of the drain is Blackley Oval.

1954 aerial photograph, NSW Historical Aerial Imagery.

A 1966 aerial photograph shows new fields at Ford Oval and Arthur Edden Oval, but still no field at the location of Wallarah Oval.

1966 aerial photograph, NSW Historical Aerial Imagery.

By 1974 there are sports fields at the location of Wallarah Oval, and Lambton High School has been built.

1974 aerial photograph, NSW Historical Aerial Imagery.

The Geographical Names Board assigned the name “Wallarah Ovals” to the sporting reserve in December 1977.

My view on the proposed location

Like most people, I agree that a new basketball stadium is needed. But I strongly disagree with the currently proposed location on Turton Rd, for three main reasons.

  1. Green space is precious. Once green space is lost to development, it is never regained. With global temperatures rising, if we are to have cities that are pleasant to live in we must be super vigilant and protective of green space.
  2. The proposal benefits one sporting code at the expense of other sporting codes who currently use those fields. The proposal is a “rob Peter to pay Paul” scenario.
  3. Parking and traffic in the area is already problematic when there is a big event on at Hunter Stadium. If the basketball stadium was built across the road, and both venues had an event at the same time the traffic situation would be a nightmare.

So if not Turton Rd, then where could a new basketball stadium be built? Looking at the map I wonder about the old gasworks site in Hamilton North. It’s close to the sporting/entertainment precinct at Broadmeadow, is close to public transport, does not take away green space, and has oodles of room for parking. There may be good reasons why this location is not practical (cost, availability, engineering limitations), but it would be worth considering.

Proposed site of new basketball stadium in Turton Rd. (Yellow outline). Possible location in Hamilton North? (Green outline). Google Earth.