My article for the October 2024 edition of “The Local” is now out. This month marking 100 years since the construction of Kotara Railway Station.
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.
- The sporting groups who currently use the ovals.
- 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.
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.
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.
Australia Unposted
Sheesh! After closing down the Lambton Post Office in Elder St in 2023, I discovered today that Australia Post has removed my local mail posting box in Morehead St, leaving just a bare circle of dirt to commemorate an organisation hurtling towards non-existence.
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!
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.
Community Protest
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.
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.)
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.
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”.
On 28 June 1935 Portions 2379 and 2380 were legally reserved for public recreation.
A 1938 aerial photograph shows a sporting field at the location of Blackley Oval.
A 1944 aerial photograph shows a sporting oval (Blackley) and WW2 gun emplacements (possibly decoy guns) where Wallarah Oval is today.
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.
A 1966 aerial photograph shows new fields at Ford Oval and Arthur Edden Oval, but still no field at the location of Wallarah Oval.
By 1974 there are sports fields at the location of Wallarah Oval, and Lambton High School has been built.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.