Category Archives: Lambton (2299)

The meat trade (Lahay butcher)

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Ralph Snowball photographed William Lahay’s family butcher shop in Morehead Street Lambton, 125 years ago this month. Little is known about Lahay, although another photograph shows that in 1902 his business had moved to Elder Street in a small wooden building where butchers Joseph Palmer had previously traded, and Edward Box would trade from 1903.

At this time butchers obtained their meat from nearby slaughterhouses, whose disagreeable stench and health risks were a persistent concern. In April 1876, the Mayor of Wickham, James Hannell, had written to the Colonial Secretary expressing “the absolute necessity for the erection by the Government of a public abattoirs, there being at the present time no less than fourteen licensed slaughterhouses in the district, most situated in the midst of, or near to a rapidly increasing population.”

The Government denied any responsibility, replying that it was up to the local councils to act. And so began decades of to-and-fro on the need for a district abattoir, where it should be located, and who should pay for it. In the 1890s the matter gained momentum with the municipalities holding many conferences. Several sites were suggested including Shortland, and Ironbark Hill at the north of Sandgate.

In 1913 the authorities chose a site in Mayfield West adjacent to the railway, allowing a short branch line to be constructed.  The Newcastle Abattoir finally opened on 3 June 1916, forty years after James Hannell’s letter of 1876! It operated for seven decades, and when the cost of upgrading equipment to meet new export requirements could not be justified, it closed in 1981. It was soon demolished and the suburb of Warabrook grew in its place. Newcastle’s meat was then sourced from other rural and regional facilities. In the time of Lahay’s butcher shop, people could see their meat supplied from local suburbs. Today’s sources are out of sight and far away, sometimes surprisingly so. It may astonish many to learn that 75% of the packaged bacon and ham currently consumed in Australia is imported.

Lahay family butcher, Morehead Street, Lambton, 29 August 1900. Photo by Ralph Snowball. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Newcastle Abattoir at Mayfield West, 1950. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.

The article above was first published in the August 2025 edition of The Local.

Lahay’s Butcher

Elder St Shop

In March 1874 Joseph Palmer, butcher, purchased lot 9 of Section E in Lambton. (Vol-Fol 106-208) and as early as October 1874 he is mentioned as being a butcher on Elder Street. In October 1884 the paper reported that …

Mr. Joseph Palmer has just had the foundations laid for a two-story brick dwelling-house and butcher’s shop, in Elder-street, which, when erected, will be another valuable addition to the street.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 11 October 1884.
The shopfront (88 Elder St today) has “J. Palmer Family Butcher” in a photograph ca. 1887. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.

After the death of Joseph Palmer on 19 January 1901, his house, effects and shop were put up for auction on 27 August 1901, with the advertisement of 16 August 1901 noting “a W.B. Butcher’s Shop, occupied by Mr. Lahay.” An April 1902 photograph shows the shop with Lahay’s name on the verandah side.

An April 1902 photo shows that W Lahay was trading out of the small weatherboard shop on Elder St. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.

On 23 September 1903, Stephen Richardson purchased Palmers’ house and shop, by October 1903 Richardson’s brother-in-law Edward Box was trading as a butcher in that location, and continued there until about 1915.

Edward Box’s Family Butcher shop, Elder Street, Lambton, NSW, May 1908. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.

A 1922 plan shows that the shop is occupied by a butcher named “Bush”.

Bush butcher shop on a 1922 plan of Elder St. State Library of NSW.

establishing the location of Lahay’s 1900 shop

Snowball’s 1900 photograph of Lahay’s butcher shop is in some places captioned with a location of De Vitre Street. This identification is possibly because the Federal Directory of Newcastle and District 1901 has on page 93 an entry for “Lahey, W., De Vitre st” in the list of Lambton butchers. Land title Vol-Fol 878-207 shows that “William Lahay, Butcher” purchased a portion of Lot 13 Sec C on De Vitre St on 29 April 1889. However this lot is on the north side of the street and would have the North Lambton hill behind it, and is clearly not the location of Snowball’s photo.

In the photo we see that the street has a marked slope down to the left, and in the far background there is a hill with a cleared section and trees on the horizon. This is more suggestive of a location on the west side of the upper section of either Grainger or Morehead Streets. Looking at land titles on those streets for possible connections with a butcher reveals a block of land owned by Nathaniel Elliott (butcher) from 1888 to 1903. (Vol-Fol 193-3)

Inspecting that block of land (41 Morehead St) shows the house on the right side of Lahay’s shop in the 1900 photo appears to still be there today, although with the verandah roof no longer extending over the footpath.

41 Morehead St, Lambton.
Composite of Snowball’s 1900 photo and 41 Morehead St in 2025.

As a final confirmation of the location, in the photo to the left of the butcher is a house set back from the street (1) and in the background a two storey building (2) with an odd slope up of the roof line at the left hand side.

Using a 1909 Water Board map, and drawing a line from the suspected butcher shop (B) through the corner of the set-back house (1) the line passes through a thin building on Elder St (2).

That building still stands today (at 102 Elder St) and photographing it from the rear shows it to be the same building, minus the chimney.

The verandah roof of both the house and the shop can be seen in the background of an October 1900 Lambton colliery photo.

District Abattoir

Prior to the establishment of a district abattoir in North Waratah, butchering of animals was conducted in a variety of small slaughter-houses around the towns and suburbs of Newcastle. Some examples of these include the slaughter-house of A L Payne of Lambton, and the meat-works at Waratah.

Slaughterhouse of A.L. Payne of Lambton. Undated and exact location unknown. Photo by Ralph Snowball. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Waratah Meat Works on Hanbury St near Waratah station. Undated. Photo by Ralph Snowball. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Portion of Australian Agricultural Company’s Platt’s Estate map of 1912, showing the Sale Yards and Abattoir site. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Municipal Abattoirs for the Newcastle District Abattoir Board at Waratah, NSW, 1915. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Abattoirs and branch railway marked on a 1920s map. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Water Board map of abattoir, 1932. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Abattoir and saleyards marked on a 1936 map. Interestingly the map also has a “Slaughter Yard” marked in the lower left, in a time when the district abattoir was supposed to have done away with suburban slaughter-yards. National Library of Australia.
Abattoir and saleyards in a 1944 aerial photograph. NSW Historical Aerial Imagery.
A 1984 aerial photograph shows the abattoir has been partially demolished.

The new suburb of Warabrook was officially named on 7 December 1984.

The Greater Newcastle Permanent Building Society is one of three financial backers along with the Kern Corporation and the Newcastle Master Builders’ Association for a prestige display village at the new Warabrook Gardens Estate being developed on one of the last remaining tracts of residential land close to Newcastle.

The Canberra Times, 12 May 1985.
In 2024 the only obvious reminder of the abattoir site is the tree lined Warabrook Ave marking the former entry road to the site. Google Earth. Image copyright 2025 Vexcel Imaging US Inc.

Newspaper articles

Article Date Event DateNotes
29 Apr 1876James Hannell, Mayor of Wickham, writes to the Colonial Secretary regarding the need for public abattoirs: “There are, at the present time, no less than fourteen licensed slaughter-houses in the police district, most of them being situated in the midst of, or near to, a rapidly increasing population, and, in which, on the average, no less than 200 bullocks, 1200 sheep, besides pigs, calves, &c., are slaughtered every week. The whole of the medical gentlemen residing and practising in the district of Newcastle, assert most , positively, I am told, that the noxious effluvia arising from these establishments, as at present conducted, has for many years past, and especially during the late drought, been the principal cause of the spread of disease in its worst form all over the district.”
9 May 1876The editor of the Newcastle Chronicle supports Hannell's call for erection of public abattoirs, and suggests the North Shore (Stockton) as a possible location.
18 May 1876"I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to inform you that the Government have no power, so far as is known, to cause the erection of abattoirs, and that this matter seems to be one in which the inhabitants of Newcastle and the surrounding municipalities should move for themselves."
22 Mar 1890A meeting at Wallsend "to take further steps to urge the councils to have the slaughter-houses removed. The township was almost completely surrounded with slaughter yards, and no matter from what quarter the winds of Heaven were driven, with them came the odour, that in the opinion of those present was decidedly objectionable."
1 Aug 1893Sites at Tarro and Ironbark Hill have previously recommended as possibilities for the abattoir.
12 Sep 1896
11 Sep 1896		Motion at the municipal abattoir conference"That this conference is of the opinion that it is important, in the interests of the public health, to have abattoirs erected in order that a more rigid inspection may be made of all animals slaughtered for food for the people of this district."
19 Mar 1897Inspection of two candidate sites for the abattoir. 1. Old House Paddock on Wallsend Company's Estate. 2. Ironbark Hill on the Hexham road. 3. Waratah side of Sandgate Cemetery. The Ironbark Hill site was favoured: "This land, which is owned by the A.A. Company, was found to be most suitable for the erection of abattoirs, being perfectly drained, with the tidal waters below to wash away the slush; and, in addition to this, it was considered to be most central to Maitland and Newcastle, possessing an easy access from both sides."
30 Sep 1898
29 Sep 1898		"A deputation from the municipalities of the Newcastle and Maitland districts waited on the Premier yesterday to urge that steps be taken to establish central abattoirs for those districts. If anything was done it would be necessary to make killing illegal at any other place."
29 Mar 1899
27 Mar 1899		Alderman Asher moved in the City Council meeting on Wednesday night, "That an application be made to the A.A. Company and the Wallsend Company for a statement of the terms on which they will be prepared to sell 10 or 20 acres of land near the Sandgate railway station, suitable for the establishment of cattle sale yards."
14 Dec 1904
13 Dec 1904		Municipal conference "or the purpose of considering the construction and establishment of an abattoir and cattle saleyards for the city and district."
19 Nov 1908"The proposal to erect stock saleyards and abattoirs for the Newcastle district is one that has engaged the attention of the local municipal authorities for a considerable time. Owing to the growth of population and the expansion of the suburban area, the necessity of abolishing the various slaughtering establishments, which have become surrounded by settlement, and the substitution of a properly regulated abattoir system, has been forced upon the local authorities. This afternoon the Mayor of Newcastle (Ald. Cook), along with representatives from the various municipalities and shires in the district, visited a site on Ironbark Creek, near its junction with the Hunter River, and the opinion was expressed that it was a suitable one for saleyards and abattoirs. Its area comprises from 80 to 100 acres, and is bordered on one side by the Great Northern railway, and on the other by the south arm of the Hunter, so that it could be easily served by both rail and water carriage. A ridge runs along the centre of the land, affording an excellent fall on both sides, and the drainage is good."
23 Sep 1909
22 Sep 1909		Another municipal conference, still discussing possible sites. "The site chosen by the committee some time ago was on Ironbark Hill, but the cost of resumption was quite beyond their anticipation." Discussion on an "an alternative site between Sandgate and Wallsend, on the left side of the railway. The site was an elevated one, with perfect drainage, and there were hundreds of acres of land which could be bought for a reasonable sum. In every respect the site was preferable to that chosen at Ironbark. The latter site was altogether too public, but the one proposed was out of sight, and was easy of access, both by rail and road, in addition to which it was central, and had the advantage of water for drainage purposes."
22 Jan 1910Inspection of potential abattoir site at Shortland. "The land is owned by the Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Company, and the area inspected is known as the Old House Paddock, and contains 316 acres. Practically the whole of it is high ground, sloping away to Ironbark Creek on the west. It is only half a mile from the Great Northern Railway, and there appears to be no difficulty in the way of running a branch line in from a point near Sand gate Railway Station. Practically no cutting or filling would be needed. It is the site which has been favoured by Dr. Dick as being in many ways preferable to that at Ironbark Hill."
3 Feb 1910
2 Feb 1910		A conference of municipal representatives to deal with the abattoir question. The "old house paddock" site between Wallsend and Sandgate was discussed as a suitable site.
15 Feb 1910"The fact that Dr. Ashburton Thompson has approved of the site for the proposed abattoirs in the old House Paddock, at Ironbark Creek, which is within the Tarro Shire area, has called forth a protest from the Tarro Shire Council. "
21 Jun 1911"The A. A. Company has men engaged clearing the large paddock north of the Great Northern Railway, and between the western municipal boundary of Waratah and the road leading from the high-level bridge to Maitland road. The purpose of clearing is to make the land ready for the construction of stock saleyards. The site is a suitable one for the object contemplated, and although within Tarro Shire, it is immediately adjacent to Waratah, which place should certainly benefit by the saleyards."
27 Nov 1912Passing of the Newcastle District Abattoir and Sale-yards Act.
6 Mar 1913
5 Mar 1913		Official opening of Waratah saleyards. "The yards cover an area of 10½ acres, and consist of 70 sheep yards, and 10 cattle yards, providing accommodation for from 4000 to 5000 sheep, and from 400 to 500 cattle, while an area of about 700 acres has been subdivided and fenced as rest paddocks."
10 Apr 1913"As yet there was no site decided upon for the erection of abattoirs. Three sites were being considered."
25 Apr 1913
24 Apr 1913		"After discussion the board selected the site on the west of the A.A. Company's cattle sale yards at Waratah as the most suitable."
10 May 1913
9 May 1913		A municipal conference upholds the selection of Waratah site despite a protest from Wallsend Council. The Old House Paddock site was rejected principally because of concern that drainage into Ironbark creek would make its way up to Wallsend.
24 Oct 1913
23 Oct 1913		"The secretary [of the Abattoir Board] submitted a report as to the clearing of the abattoir site, recommending that twenty acres be cleared and grubbed as soon as possible, and submitted draft specification of the work to be done."
4 Sep 1914
2 Sep 1914		Tenders accepted for construction of abattoir.
1 Feb 1915
30 Jan 1915		Foundation stones of abattoir laid. Completion anticipated in 14 months.
16 Aug 1915"A letter was received from the Railway Commissioners, forwarding plan and estimate of cost for siding from the present stock siding at the Wallsend Junction to the abattoirs."
7 Sep 1915"TENDERS. Newcastle.- Construction of a branch railway, including earthwork, from the sale-yards siding at Waratah to the Newcastle District Abattoirs, a distance of 40 chains."
25 May 1916"Mr. Creer said that the construction work had been practically completed for several weeks past, but the use of the abattoir had been delayed, pending an agreement with the Federated Meat Trade Employees' Union of Australasia, as to the working conditions and wages, and also the gazetting of the bylaws."
3 Jun 1916
2 Jun 1916		A dispute with the Federated Meat Trade Employees' Union of Australasia preventing commencent of operations at the new abattoir was resolved when the union "decided to accept an interim agreement with a view to work being commenced as soon as possible."
31 Dec 1917
3 Jun 1916		"The abattoir was opened for use of 3rd June, 1916, and the present is therefore the first complete year's working."
14 Jul 1916"The Newcastle Abattoir Board has is sued a notification prohibiting after to morrow the slaughtering of any cattle within a radius of 14 miles of the New castle Post Office, except at the board's abattoir. "
11 Aug 1916Inspection of the abattoirs by "about ninety aldermen and councillors of the constituent municipalities… The party were conveyed along the company's siding from the main line to the area of the abattoirs, where they detrained."

Irishtown

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Irishtown (sometimes spelled Irish Town) was the name of locality near Lambton and Waratah, in use in the period 1876-1881. [A 1944 newspaper article states that Dalwood (near Greta) was also originally known as Irishtown.]

The few scant references to Irishtown in newspaper reports seem to equally describe it as being “near Waratah” (15 April 1876, 22 August 1876) and “near Lambton” (3 October 1877, 25 April 1881). This suggests that it was located somewhere between these two townships. A December 1877 article about a lost child stated that she was eventually found …

… in one of the pitfalls situated in the bush between North Lambton and a place called Irish Town, distant about half a mile from Lambton.

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 18 December 1877.

Looking at a 1913 map that has houses marked as black squares, there is an area about half a mile from Lambton in the direction of Waratah that could possibly be the region of Irishtown.

Possible location of Irishtown, between Lambton and Waratah. National Library of Australia.

This page is part of the collection of Newcastle’s Obsolete Place Names.

Skyline drive-in theatre, Lambton

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Forty years ago this month the Skyline drive-in theatre in Lambton screened its final film, and a much loved and fondly remembered entertainment venue fell dark and silent.

The drive-in was in an area west of Croudace St, accessed from Pride Ave. The land was formerly owned by the Scottish and Australian Mining Company who established Lambton colliery in 1863.  In 1903 the company leased four acres to Lambton Council to use as a sanitary depot, a place to bury the euphemistically named ‘night soil’ collected from the outside toilets of residents. With connections to a piped sewerage system commencing in 1917, the need for the night soil paddock gradually declined and the lease expired in 1938.

In 1955, Provincial Gardens Pty Ltd, a company controlled by Hoyts and Union Theatres, purchased the land and applied to open the first drive-in theatre in NSW. Constructed in 1956 at a cost of £200,000, the theatre’s 15 acres catered for 720 cars, with the 156-ton pre-stressed concrete screen the biggest in Australia at the time. The Skyline opened on 17 October 1956 with a screening of Three Coins in the Fountain. It became a popular venue for families with a snack bar, and a children’s playground that later included a ride-on train.

In 1980 the video cassette recorder (VCR) was introduced to Australia, allowing people to view films in the comfort of their own home. Just four years later 26% of homes had a VCR.  In the decade from 1974 to 1984 average cinema attendance in Australia halved, and many theatres struggled financially. The Skyline was no exception, and on 26 June 1985 it closed with a screening of Porky’s Revenge and Night Patrol.

The site remained vacant, derelict and vandalised for several years, and a fire destroyed the main building. In the 1990s the area was redeveloped for housing, and today many of the younger residents there are possibly unaware of the varied former uses of the land beneath their homes.

Lambton’s Skyline drive-in theatre in 1956.
The drive-in theatre location in 2022. Google Earth.

The article above was first published in the June 2025 edition of The Local.

Acknowledgement: Some of the information in the article was sourced from the book “Front Stalls or Back? The history and heritage of the Newcastle Theatres” by K J Cork and L R Tod.

Additional Information

For further information on the nightsoil paddock, see the Lambton sanitation page.

Advertisement for the opening of the Skyline drive-in theatre in Lambton. Newcastle Morning Herald, 13 October 1956.
Skyline birthday card invitation from 1961. Courtesy of Robert Watson.
Skyline theatre marked in a 1965 Gregory’s street directory.
Greg and Silvia Ray’s book “Newcastle Slideshow” has four photos of the Lambton Skyline on pages 71-72.
A 1990 aerial photograph showing that the closed and vacant Skyline drive-in. Photo from Cinema Treasures.
A 1993 aerial photograph showing that the central cafeteria and projection building has been destroyed by fire. NSW Historical Aerial Imagery
By 1998 the drive-in site had been redeveloped for housing. NSW Historical Aerial Imagery
The outline of the Skyline drive-in theatre (white) and the sanitary depot (red) shown in Google Earth. Image © 2025 Vexcel Imaging US Inc.

YouTube videos

Newspaper articles

Newspaper articles referenced below can be found in the “Lambton” clippings folder in the Local Studies section of Newcastle Library.

Article Date Event DateNotes
13 Oct 1955
12 Oct 1955		"An application by Provisional Gardens Pty. Ltd., for a drive-in theatre at Lambton was granted today." Newcastle Morning Herald
7 Mar 1956"Work will start shortly and the theatre is expected to be in operation before the end of the year." - Newcastle Morning Herald
14 Sep 1956"A regulation issued last week [by the Films and Theatres Commission] forbids the erection of a drive-in theatre within a four-mile radius of any other drive-in". This "left no site for another drive-in in Newcastle except the Pacific Ocean, Alderman Herrald said yesterday." - Newcastle Morning Herald
16 Oct 1956Newcastle Sun six page supplement for the opening of the drive-in, with the following headlines:
  • "Dinner and a Show: 1956 Style"
  • "Garden Site From Scrub"
  • "Rain Won't Worry Drive-In Patrons"
  • "Blind Will Benefit From Skyline Invitation Show"
  • "Screening Time-Table"
  • "Facts : Figures"
  • "How To Reach The Skyline"
  • "Eat Out Of Doors - And Choose Your Style"
  • "Magnificent Effort Says Manager"
  • "50 Years Ago, Movies Began - In the Open Air. Screen Was A Sheet Hung On Goal Posts"
  • "Boon For Aged".

Lambton sanitation

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Prior to the introduction of a sanitary service, residents of Lambton had to manage the disposal of sewage themselves. This usually entailed the digging of cesspits in backyards. In April 1882 the Inspector of Nuisances reported complaints of overflowing cesspits and asked council to appoint a place for the deposition of night-soil. However no scheme was introduced and in the ensuing years there were occasional reports of people dumping nightsoil in the streets, in the drains, or burying it in gardens of dairies.

In the 1890s the subject of a sanitation scheme came up repeatedly in Lambton Council, but it was not until 1898 that serious efforts were made to obtain suitable land for the burying of night-soil. In November 1898 the council unsuccessfully sought to lease some land from the Waratah Coal Company, and was also unsuccessful in obtaining land from the Scottish Australian Mining Company.

Progress was hindered when the Lambton Council became bankrupt due to the failure of the electric light scheme and the council ceased to function On 18 July 1899 the ratepayers elected a 13 person “Citizens’ Committee” to look after municipal affairs instead.

In August 1899, Doctor Robert Dick, Medical Officer of Health to the Hunter River combined districts, issued a scathing report on the poor sanitation in Lambton. The details of Dr Dicks’ report are too gross to reproduce here, but his conclusion gives a a good indication of the squalor he witnessed.

The condition in which quite a number of the privies were found was disgusting. It will be gathered that every householder is practically a law unto himself or herself in regard to the manner in which nightsoil is dealt with. This is a most unsatisfactory and unsafe practice and one which should not be allowed to continue.

Because there was no functioning council to deal with these matters, Dr Dick recommended that the Nuisances Prevention Act be extended to the town. In May 1900 a Sanitary Committee was formed and the government allocated £200 for sanitary purposes in Lambton. The committee held a public meeting on 11 June 1900 which passed a resolution that “the pan system should be adopted for the removal of nightsoil within the municipality.”

In November 1900 the Citizens’ Committee approached Thomas Croudace, manager of Lambton colliery, to ask for land for a nightsoil paddock. In January 1901 Croudace “promised to consider the matter”, but no favourable response was received. The committee then asked in January 1902 for “the Government to resume an area suitable for the purpose”, and a few months later the paper reported that …

The long delay in having a sanitary service introduced for Lambton since the Government grant of £200 was expended in the purchase of the apparatus has been due to the want of a suitable depot. Now however, there is a hope of some finality being reached, Dr. Robt. Dick, the medical officer of health, having approved of a site of eight acres near the tram line, on the other side of Lambton, being recommended for resumption.

 
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 22 July 1902.

The “hope of some finality being reached” required a little more patience, for it took more than a year before the land for the nightsoil depot was secured in October 1903.

By means of a grant of £200, the citizens’ committee made a purchase of six hundred pans, with a view to providing the borough with a sanitary service, a public meeting having decided that such a service should be established. These have been stored in the council chambers for over eighteen months, while the difficulty of obtaining a depot was being overcome, owners of land having offered objections on every side. A ten-years’ lease of a site has, how ever, now been signed, at a rental of £5 per annum. The site is in Croudace’s paddock, near the pumping engine and comprises an area of five acres. A new sanitary waggon has been built, at a cost of £50, and a ton of iron on hand, and paid for, for the erection of a shed at the depot. The Government put £200 on the Estimates for the purchase of a site, and efforts are now being made to have this amount paid to the credit of the council.The council clerk, in a letter to the member, puts down the new expenditure as follows:-100 additional pans; £22 10s: fencing the site, £40; clearing, £20, building shed material, £20: laying on the water supply. £37; and the construction of two bridges and the making of a half a mile of roadway, £30; making a total of £179 10s. At the present time there is no sanitary service. The practice of burying in back yards is most objectionable in thickly populated areas, and the sooner the service can be established the better it will be for the health of the community.

 
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 23 October 1903.
Lease in November 1903 from the Scottish Australian Mining Company for the night soil paddock. Vol-Fol 996-111, page 1. Note that as the Lambton Council had not yet restarted operation, the lease is with several members of the Lambton Citizens’ Committee.

After many delays and difficulties, the Lambton sanitary service was finally commenced on 1 July 1904.

Another reason why yesterday should be remembered by the public of Lambton was by the introduction of the long-promised sanitary service, in substitution for the uncivilised practice which has had to be resorted to up to the present. By the aid of a Government grant of £200 the Citizens’ Committee made a purchase of 600 pans. These were stored in the council chamber for over two years, while the difficulty of obtaining a depot and other difficulties were being overcome, owners of land having offered objections on every side. Eventually, a ten years’ lease of a seven-acre site was obtained in Croudace’s paddock, near the pumping engine, to the south of the Wallsend tramway; and, then, the additional difficulty arose of want of funds to complete the introduction of the system. Money was wanted for extra pans, for clearing and forming a road, for the building of a shed, for the laying on of the water to the depot, for the erection of two bridges, and for fencing the site. The Government put an extra £200 on the Estimates, and, when Parliament made this available, a start was made in real earnest to improve the sanitary condition of the place. There are now 850 pans, which were purchased at a cost of 4s 3d each, making an expenditure of £180 12s 6d. A sum of £50 was expended on a sanitary waggon, and it cost £40 to have the water laid on. When the cost of the shed, the clearing, the construction of the roadway and bridges, and the fencing of the depot had been met there was a slight credit balance, and it was decided to pay the ten years’ rental for the land at the rate of £5 per annum. The system was in debt by £50 when inaugurated yesterday, but arrangements have been made by which the scheme will be something more than self-supporting from year to year. A contract has been let for the removal and the burial of the nightsoil at 4d per pan per removal, and the charge made to the residents by the council is 6d per pan per removal. This 2d is estimated to bring in to the council a revenue, above that required for the payment of the contractor, of £3 5s per week, or £169 per year. Out of this the council will have to pay for the services of an inspector, and provide £60 for the maintenance of the pans and the upkeep of the waggon and roadway, while for this first year the sum of £50 will have to be provided to pay off the present indebtedness on the system. The Inspector, Mr. Joseph W. Oldham, has taken up his duties, and will be paid £26 a year, and be allowed 5 per cent. on the money collected. This might average another £26 per year. Of course this work will not occupy the Inspectors’ whole time, and no objection is to be raised to his continuing to hold the position of secretary to the local co-operative store. Mr. Oldham was formerly a Mayor of the Borough of New Lambton. Had Mr. Johnson, the council clerk, been physically able to undertake the duties of inspector and collector, such duties would have been combined with those of council clerk.

 
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 2 July 1904.
The sanitary paddock marked on a 1913 map. National Library of Australia.

Construction of a piped sewerage system commenced in Lambton in early 1916, and was completed by March 1917 and most residences were connected to the sewer within a few years. However there were some area such as Griffiths Flat, where the sewerage system did not reach until much later, and the pan collection service and sanitary depot continued to be used for many years.

The Lambton sanitary depot marked on a 1925 Scottish Australian Mining Company map. Newcastle Library, Local Studies. Map 622.33/25.

The council’s lease of the sanitary paddock expired in September 1938.

The lease for the sanitary depot expired on 2 September 1938. Vol-Fol 996-111, page 10.
Although no longer in use, the Lambton sanitary depot (nightsoil paddock) can be seen in this 1944 aerial photograph. NSW Historical Aerial Imagery

In 1955 the Scottish Australian Mining Company sold 180 acres of land, including the area of the nightsoil paddock, to Provincial Gardens Pty Ltd who then constructed the Skyline drive-in theatre on the site.

The outline of the Skyline drive-in theatre (white) and the sanitary depot (red) shown in Google Earth. Image © 2025 Vexcel Imaging US Inc.

Newspaper articles / Events

Article Date Event DateNotes
11 Nov 1863Purchase by Morehead and Young of 320 acres of land, Mineral Lease 14, for Lambton Colliery. Vol-Fol 2-4. Land transferred to Scottish Australian Mining Company on 24 December 1873. Vol-Fol 91-10
28 Apr 1882"From the Inspector of Nuisances, that complaints had been made about overflowing cess-pits, and asking Council to appoint a place for the deposition of night-soil."
18 Aug 1892"Complaint was made of the practice of burying nightsoil in gardens on dairy premises."
16 Jan 1896"Alderman Hardy called attention to the practice of tipping rubbish on the footpath at the intersection of Kendal and Croudace streets. Some person had also deposited nightsoil there."
16 Nov 1898Crorrespondence received by Lambton Council "from the secretary, of the Waratah Coal Company, stating, in reply to inquiries made by the council, that the company did not care to lease any part of their land for a nightsoil paddock."
24 Aug 1899Doctor Robert Dick's scathing report on the sanitary state of Lambton, and recommending that the Nuisances Prevention Act be extended to the town.
20 Apr 1900"Mr. Arthur Griffith has made a representation to the Hon. the Treasurer that in the interest of public health a sum of about £200 should be immediately placed in the hands of the citizens' committee of Lambton to be expended in carrying on the necessary sanitary works of the borough."
30 May 1900
28 May 1900		"Mr. Treherne Evans, secretary of the Citizens' Committee, read a communication received from Mr. Griffith, M.P., intimating that the sum of £200 was available for sanitary purposes, and asking if the Citizens' Committee would undertake the expenditure of the sum, and if so to submit names as trustees."
2 Jun 1900
1 Jun 1900		At a meeting of the Lambton Sanitary Committee, Mr. Holland moved, "That the Government be asked to provide a nightsoil paddock for the Lambton municipality."
12 Jun 1900
11 Jun 1900		Public meeting passes the resolution "That in the opinion of this meeting the pan system should be adopted for the removal of nightsoil within the municipality."
8 Sep 1900
6 Sep 1900		Report at a Lambton Citizens' Committee meeting that "the sub-committee appointed to inspect the proposed area for a nightsoil depot on the western side of the municipality had done so, and that the ground was, in their opinion, suitable for the purpose and easy of access. "
16 Nov 1900
15 Nov 1900		"The secretary [of the Lambton Citizens' Committee], Mr. T. Evans, read a communication from Mr. Thomas Croudace, general manager S.A. Mining Company, in reply to a request made by the committee for an area of land for a nightsoil paddock, and suggesting that an effort be made to secure a portion of Griffiths' Flat. The letter was received, and the secretary instructed to again write to Mr. Croudace, intimating that the committee had failed to secure a portion of land on Griffiths' Flat before they applied to the company. It was resolved to ask Mr. Croudace to lease the committee 2 acres of land on the southern side of the tramline for a nightsoil paddock, and that if necessary, a deputation would wait upon him."
12 Mar 1902"By means of a grant of £200 obtained by Mr. Griffith, the citizens' committee made a purchase of 600 pans, with a view to providing the borough with a sanitary service, a public meeting having decided that such a service should be established. Then the difficulty was to get a depot for the soil. This difficulty has still to be overcome, owners of land offering objections on every side. An unsuccessful effort was recently made to obtain the use of an old shaft on the New Lambton Company's estate, and the Waratah Council declined. Thus a second deadlock has been reached. Mr. Griffith was to have come up about a week ago to see a site which the Government might be asked to resume, but he merely sent a letter apologising for his absence."
22 Mar 1902
20 Mar 1902		Lambton Citizens' Committee: "Mr. Griffith M.P., had met a few members of the committee in the early part of the week when the need of a nightsoil paddock was fully explained to him. Mr. Griffiths promised to do his best to urge upon the Government to reserve a piece of land for the purpose as soon as possible. The tender of Mr. John Rees, Newcastle, was accepted for a sanitary waggon for the sum of £48 10s."
4 Jun 1902
2 Jun 1902		At the Lambton Citizens' Committee meeting "a letter was received from Mr. H. T. Jones, who had been appointed to inspect the construction of the sanitary waggon for the committee, stating that the work had been performed in a satisfactory manner."
23 Oct 1903Ten year lease of five acres for sanitary depot at Lambton about to be finalised.
5 Nov 1903Lease from the Scottish Australian Mining Company for the night soil paddock. Vol-Fol 996-111, page 1.
5 Nov 1903Commencenent of lease for sanitary paddock. Vol-Fol 996-111, page 1.
2 Jul 1904
1 Jul 1904		Inauguration of the Lambton sanitary service.
21 Feb 1916"Good progress is being made with the sewerage work at Lambton. The strenuous manner in which the men are working in the trenches, often ten to fifteen feet deep, is sufficient evidence that after all, the day labour is not a failure, as asserted by some people."
21 May 1917"Now that the Lambton section of the sewer is complete and taken over by the Water and Sewerage Board, quite a number of applications have been lodged by owners for the connecting of their premises. The business or congested part of the municipality will receive first consideration, together with the schools and public buildings."
6 Nov 1917"The Lambton Council had reported that the sewerage of the municipality had been completed, that premises were being connected with the sewer as fast as possible, that it would only be a short time when the sanitary service could be abolished altogether."
13 Dec 1920"The council's sanitary depot, situated in the western part of the S.A.M. Company's estate, has been inaccessible owing to the flooded state of the creek on either side."
2 Nov 1925"The town clerk of Lambton (Mr. H. J. Noble) reported to the council last week that two premises had been connected with the sewerage system during the fortnight making a total of 401 installations, representing a decrease of 606 sanitary services each week."
13 Nov 1929"Good progress is being made with the provision of sewerage facilities for the Waratah-Lambton Valley, in the Griffiths Flat area. The total expenditure has amounted to £8255, and 55 men are employed on the work."
8 Feb 1933
7 Feb 1933		"A reduction of 22½ per cent., as from January 1, bringing the rent of the sanitary depot down to £3/17/6 a year, was the information received from the Scottish-Australian Mining Co., Ltd."
2 Sep 1938Expiry of lease for sanitary paddock. Vol-Fol 996-111, page 10.

Lancers in Lambton

Reply

In May 1900, the Maitland Half-Squadron of Lancers conducted a three-day training march, including an overnight camp at Lambton. This was no academic exercise, with former members of the squadron at that very time in South Africa fighting in the Boer War.

The following is an edited extract of a report by one of the officers, published in the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate

The Maitland Lancers met on Saturday morning to start on a touring march. The object was to impart tactical training, under such conditions as would be probable on active service. A muster of 36 men under Captain Markwell, with two transport wagons set off about 10 o’clock. After stopping for a midday meal near Minmi they proceeded to Young Wallsend (Edgeworth), where the first night’s camp took place.
On Sunday they travelled round the eastern side of Lake Macquarie to Belmont for lunch, then back towards Charlestown where the peaceful little hamlet was suddenly astonished by the surrounding bush sending forth armed and mounted men from all directions, galloping and converging upon a rallying point. Colonel Ranclaud (Commandant of the Northern Forces) escorted the Lancers into their camp at Lambton, the site being one adjoining the Lambton Colliery, and very kindly placed at Captain Markwell’s disposal by Mr. Thomas Croudace, general manager of the Scottish-Australian Company. Four bell tents were erected when the tired men and horses came in. Horses were quickly placed in their lines, and a hearty meal partaken of, as the night became extremely cold, windy, and wet.
On Monday morning “the reveille” sounded at 6 o’clock, and after the necessary stable duties had been performed, and breakfast disposed of, the troops were put through sword exercises and afterwards lance exercise and squadron drill. About half-past 10 the camp was struck, and a move made towards home via Wallsend, Sandgate, and Hexham, reaching Maitland about 6 o’clock, after a most instructive, enjoyable, and interesting tour, every man glad that he had come.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 31 May 1900.
The Maitland Lancers’ camp in Lambton, 28 May 1900. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle Libraries Online Collection 001 000647.
The Lancers’ camp was on the ridge where Turner St runs today.

The article above was first published in the April 2025 edition of The Local.

Additional Information

Other photos

Ralph Snowball took three other photographs of the Maitland Lancers in Lambton in May 1900. One was taken in the same location as the camp photo above, but with the Lancers lined up with their horses.

The Maitland Lancers in Lambton, 28 May 1900. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle Libraries Online Collection 001 000646

The other two photos are looking towards the west as the Lancers approach their camp site. One of the photographs shows one of the supply wagons mentioned in the report of the march.

The Maitland Lancers in Lambton, 28 May 1900. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle Libraries Online Collection 001 000645
The Maitland Lancers in Lambton, 28 May 1900. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle Libraries Online Collection 001 000648

The location of the LANCERS’ camp

We know from the newspaper report that the camp was on a “site being one adjoining the Lambton Colliery.” The exact location can be determined by comparison with other contemporaneous photos of Lambton and the colliery.

In the photo of the Lancers’ camp below, note the following features:
A. House
B. Two-rail wooden fence in front of white fence
C. White picket fence in front of house
D. A dusty path/road running between the tents
E. A shed with a sloping roof that is between the two-rail fence and the dusty path

In Panel 2 of the 1904 Lambton panorama we see features A, B, C, D. (Assuming the house to the right of house A must have been built after the May 1900 Lancers photo, an assumption bolstered by the whiteness of its fence.)

In this October 1900 photo of Lambton colliery (just a few months after the Lancer photos) we see features A, C, D, and crucially E, the small shed with the sloping roof.

A further piece of evidence is that in the May 1900 Lancers photo, in the background to the right of the soldier’s head we see a large tallish building.

This is the rear of the New Lambton Council chambers on Lambton Rd, which is also visible in panel 2 of the 1904 Lambton panorama.

A final piece of evidence is the house in the background, which until recently still stood on Morehead St at the intersection with Turner St.

A Google StreetView image from 2020 shows the same house on Morehead St that appeared in Snowball’s 1900 photos. The house was demolished in 2024 to make way for a new building.

The Full report

The full unedited text of the report published in the newspaper appears below.

The Three Days’ Trip of the Maitland Lancers.
(By One of the Officers.)

The Maitland Half-Squadron of Lancers met at the Orderly Room on Saturday morning last, to start on a touring march, with shifting camp, in light marching order. The object was to impart tactical training to the Half-Squadron, under such conditions as would be probable on active service. There was a good muster, viz., 36, under Captain Markwell and Lieutenant Welch. Two transport waggons accompanied the troops, and a start was obtained about 10 o’clock. The squadron was formed in marching order, with an advance guard, followed by the main body, then came the transport waggons and the rear guard. The weather was very threatening, but the rain held off well.

Everything went well until a piece of bad road about four miles from Minmi had to be negotiated, when one of the transport waggons bogged up to the axles, and in the effort to get clear the pole snapped off short. A halt of the troops was called, and a fatigue party detached to repair damages. This was just one of the sort of incidents required for practical training, and to show the resources of the men, it is only necessary to say that by the aid of an axe, carried for general purposes, a sapling was cut, and the broken pole spliced with a couple of heel ropes, and in twenty minutes the march was resumed. In order to test the durability of the job, the whole trip was performed with this temporary pole. A halt was called for midday meal near Minmi, and both horses and men were fed under regulation conditions. As the roads were heavy a start was soon made again, and proceeding through Minmi and West Wallsend to Young Wallsend, where the first night’s camp took place. On reaching camp the picket lines were immediately placed in position, the horses were secured, and when the bugle sounded “feed” they showed their appreciation by little affectionate whinnies to their owners. Four bell tents were erected as if by magic, to the front of the horse lines. In the meantime the camp cooks had been busy, and all hands sat down to a hearty meal.

After tea the picket guards took up their duties, and the rest of the men enjoyed themselves round the fire with songs, jokes, recitations, &c., even down to little Trumpeter Roy Welch, who contributed “The Man from Snowy River” in a very creditable manner, seated on the shoulders of a stalwart trooper. At 10 o’clock the bugles rang cut “lights out,” and the camp was in darkness. The picket guards were changed every three hours during the night, and a good deal of work was provided for them by some of the new chum horses objecting to the heel ropes, and kicking and breaking loose.

On Sunday morning at 6 “the reveille” was sounded, and half an hour later hot coffee and biscuits were served. Then followed “stables” and lance exercise. A sheep had been ordered from the local butcher for breakfast, and when this arrived a good breakfast was enjoyed by all. At 9 o’clock tents were struck, the baggage waggons loaded. The squadron was then formed up the same as the preceding day, and a fresh start made.

When the column reached the junction of the Cardiff, Wallsend, and Cockle Creek roads a guard was detached to convoy the transports to Lambton via Cardiff, and the main body proceeded by Cockle Creek and Argenton road round the eastern side of Lake Macquarie, and here a slice of good luck was encountered, by meeting with two members of the Scottish Rifles, Messrs. Wilcox and Stubbs, who knew the country well from there to Belmont, and who very kindly volunteered their services to act as guides through the scrubby country ahead. Captain Markwell promptly accepted the good things the gods had provided, and a move was made. Passing on through Spears’ Estate a beautiful view of lovely Lake Macquarie was obtained, but a little further on the value of the guides was fully appreciated, when a creek, rejoicing in the suggestive name of “Snaky Creek,” emptying into Warner’s Bay, was encountered right across the line of march. This creek is said to be very boggy and dangerous to negotiate, so a detour was made into the waters of the lake, and by keeping well out from the mouth the bottom is found to be silted up, and a safe crossing was effected. This operation produced a beautiful picture; the Lancers in open files, with pennants flying and with glittering swords and lances, reflected from a sunny sky in the azure water below, was a sight never to be forgotten. From here the country became rather rough and scrubby, but being open and unfenced it afforded an opportunity for a little skirmishing, so the groups were thrown out, in diamond formation, and covered with right and left flanking patrols in advance of the main body. The duty of these skirmishers was to go ahead and feel for, and locate an enemy, and convey the information to the main body through connecting files. These operations provided some exceedingly useful and highly interesting work, and the country was traversed in this manner right through to Belmont.

A halt was called here for lunch, the troops having carried a biscuit and cheese and a ration for their horses in nose-bags on their saddles. After a short rest the squadron was reformed, and the march resumed back towards Charlestown, and where the country permitted of it, very useful reconnoitring work was again performed, as detailed above. At Charlestown the “rally” was sounded, and the peaceful little hamlet was suddenly astonished by the surrounding bush sending forth armed and mounted men from all directions, galloping and converging upon the rallying point. The march was then made from Charlestown via Hillsborough towards Lambton, and about a mile from Charlestown the squadron was met by Colonel Ranclaud, Commandant of the Northern Forces, and a number of gentlemen from Newcastle, comprising three of the younger members of the Croudace family, Mr. Greenland, and others. These gentlemen are taking an active interest in the formation of a Lancer Half-Squadron in Newcastle, and were naturally much interested in everything pertaining to the troops. Colonel Ranclaud and the other gentlemen named escorted the Lancers into their camp at Lambton, the site being one adjoining the Lambton Colliery, and very kindly placed at Captain Markwell’s disposal by Mr. Thomas Croudace, general manager of the Scottish-Australian Company. The transport waggons having travelled by the short road had arrived early in the day, and the camp was ready pitched when the tired men and horses came in. Horses were quickly placed in their lines, and a hearty meal partaken of, and as the night was extremely cold, windy, and wet, it very speedily became a “sleeping camp,” but for the vigilant picket guards and officers. On Monday morning “the reveille” again sounded at 6 o’clock, and after the necessary stable duties had been performed, and breakfast disposed of, the troops were put through sword exercise dismounted, and afterwards lance exercise and squadron drill. About half-past 10 the camp was struck, and a move made towards home via Wallsend, Sandgate, and Hexham. The Lancers were escorted from their camp as far as Sandgate by Mr. P. Croudace, Mr. William Arnott, junr., Mr. Greenland, and others. The Half-Squadron reached Maitland about 6 o’clock, after a most instructive, enjoyable, and interesting tour, every man glad that he had come, and feeling well enough to go and do it again in the next three days if required. There was not a single incident to mar the enjoyment or harmony of the march. The only misadventures were the loss of a sword-blade by one of the troopers in the bush when skirmishing, and the breaking of the pole of the transport waggon.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 31 May 1900.

Lost names – “White Gates”

Reply

The localities we live in all have names. As new suburbs are built new names arrive, but we are usually unaware of those that have disappeared from our city. “White Gates” for example, formerly described three different locations in Newcastle, each associated with a railway.

  1. In 1857 the Governor General opened the Hunter River Railway, which ran from Newcastle to East Maitland. Two miles from Newcastle station the line crossed the Maitland road, and with the erection of a barrier there, by 1864 the location was known as the “White Gates”. It did not last long, for with increasing rail traffic due to coal cartage, in 1876 the government constructed an overhead road bridge, and the name disappeared.
  2. In 1863 the Waratah Coal Company opened a branch line from the Great Northern Railway to their coal workings near Braye Park.  In 1871 Lambton and Waratah councils were deciding what should be the principal road between their municipalities. One option was where Kahibah and Bindera Roads currently run, and the spot where this route went over the colliery railway was referred to as the “White Gates” crossing. The colliery closed in 1876, passenger trains ceased in 1887, and with the railway no longer in use the name disappeared.
  3. In 1861 the Wallsend Coal Company opened a rail line to their colliery. In 1875 the newspaper reported an accident on the Wallsend line “near the White Gates, about 300 yards from the Co?operative junction.” In 1887 the Newcastle to Wallsend tramway opened, and by 1903 there was a White Gates tram stop where Douglas St crossed the rail and tram lines. In 1944 the Housing Commission resumed 35 acres of land south of the tram stop and built 150 homes for the “White Gates” estate. This eventually morphed into just “Whitegates”, a title that has all but disappeared, with only a public reserve and adjacent apartment block bearing that name today.
Whitegates Reserve in Wallsend, a remnant marker of one of three locations in Newcastle formerly known as “White Gates”. OpenStreetMap.
Map from a 1939 real estate poster, showing the White Gates tram stop at Douglas St, Wallsend. National Library of Australia.

The article above was first published in the February 2025 edition of The Local.

Additional Information

There were three locations in Newcastle that at various times had the name “White Gates”, each being a place where a road crossed a rail line.

Location Years mentioned in Trove Notes
Newcastle West/Wickham 1864 to 1876 Rail line opened 1857.
Overhead road bridge constructed 1876.
Lambton/Waratah 1871 to 1880 Rail line opened 1863.
Colliery closed 1876.
Passenger train service ceased 1887.
Wallsend 1875 to 1995 Rail line operated 1861 to 1953.
Tram line operated 1887 to 1949.
The three locations in Newcastle that at various times had the name “White Gates”. Wallsend still has an open space named “Whitegates Reserve”.

1. Newcastle West/Wickham

The location of the “White Gates” crossing at Wickham/Newcastle West, where a bridge now takes Maitland Rd over the rail line.
Article Date Event DateNotes
31 Mar 1857
30 Mar 1857		Opening of the Hunter River Railway between Newcastle and East Maitland.
9 Aug 1864"The double line of rail has already been completed between the Wallsend and Waratah junctions … The work of laying the remaining portion is progressing as rapidly as circumstances will permit, and the operation has proceeded as far as to the east side of the white gate, better known as the Maitland road crossing, near Newcastle."
17 Jun 1868"Our readers will recollect, that a few months since, a number of allotments of Crown land lying near the Great Northern Railway line, between Mr. McPhail's house at Honeysuckle Point and the White Gates, on the Maitland road, were sold by auction, at the Court-house, and purchased by various persons living in and near Newcastle. On the plan of this land, as exhibited at the sale, there appeared a railway crossing, which the purchasers expected would be given, especially as access to the ground could hardly be had in any other way than by this crossing."
24 Jun 1868"White Gates" mentioned as one of the points on the boundary of a proposed municipal district to the west of Newcastle, incorporating the colliery townships.
20 Oct 1870"On Friday, a very large iguana, measuring near upon four feet, was killed by Mr C H Hannell in his garden near the White Gates, at the Railway Crossing."
27 Jan 1872For sale: "SIX BEAUTIFUL BUILDING ALLOTMENTS situated in front of the Wesleyan Burial Ground, near the White Gates, Maitland-road."
29 Jun 1872"A new railway platform has been opened at Hamilton, a short distance beyond the "white gates", and about two miles from the Newcastle terminus."
20 Jun 1874"We understand that, in reply to an application from the Wickham Council, some time since, the Government have declined to construct the crossing at the White Gates in a line with the main Maitland road. It is their intention to erect a high level bridge over the railway, as the future shunting of carriages and the weighing of coal will retard the passenger traffic too much; it is also their intention to bring in the new line of rails from the dyke at Bullock Island, and connect them with the main line on the Newcastle side of the White Gates."
4 Jan 1876"The junction of the Bullock Island Railway with the Great Northern Railway is at a place known as the White Gates, a mile and half or two miles from Newcastle ... At the junction of this extension with the main line there has hitherto been a crossing-place through railway gates, but as the traffic on this part of the railway will before long be very great, an overline bridge has been built for the traffic across the railway, and the gates will be closed. The bridge is constructed of brick and iron, there being something like a quarter of a million bricks, and forty tons of iron in it. The iron girders were made by P. N. Russell and Co. About twenty thousand cubic yards of earthwork taken from the sandhills at Newcastle have been used in the construction of the bridge and its approaches, and the work will be completed, it is believed, in about a fortnight."

2. Lambton

The location of the “White Gates” crossing in Lambton, at the intersection of Griffiths Rd and Kahibah Rd
1873 Waratah Coal Company map, showing where the Lambton to Waratah road crossed the colliery railway. National Library of Australia.
Newcastle Parish map, with location of Betty Bunn’s crossing marked in blue, and the White Gates crossing marked in red. University of Newcastle, Living Histories.
Article Date Event DateNotes
26 Sep 1863Waratah Coal Company railway to be opened “next week”.
18 May 1871At the Waratah Council meeting, a motion "for the repairing of the road between the Railway Station and Lambton. Alderman Kerr wanted to know where this road was, and was informed that it crossed the Waratah Company's line at the White Gates, near the small coal heap."
23 Sep 1871Mention of White Gates at a Lambton Council meeting. This reference is significant because it clearly establishes that the white gates were NOT at Betty Bunn's crossing (bottom end of Acacia St today), but lower down the rail line. "In reference to the line of road to be surveyed and proclaimed between Lambton and the Waratah railway station, stating that the conference had met, when two lines were proposed, one crossing the Waratah Coal Company's railway where it meets the boundary of the two municipalities at the place known as Betty Bunn's crossing ; the other at the company's white gates, or lower crossing, the latter being adopted by the conference."
26 Sep 1871Lambton Council meeting refers to a "sketch of a main road through the municipality, commencing at the crossing-place on the Waratah Coal Co.'s railway at the white gates at the east of the old tunnels."
20 Jan 1872
16 Jan 1872		Public meeting regarding upcoming Lambton council election … "Then they had had trouble about which should be the road from Waratah to Lambton, and a conference, at which most of the principal persons differed in opinion ; he himself was confident that the lower road, or that by the White Gates crossing was by far the best for both townships, as it could be made more cheaply, and would be a better road. They had adopted the top road, and it was not likely that Waratah would do their part of it for a long time to come. If they did make a bridge over Betty Bunn's Creek, it would not be used much."
27 Jan 1872
23 Jan 1872		Accident on the rail line near the White Gates … "His father's residence is close to the White Gate, or lower crossing of the Waratah and Lambton road, at the lower end of Griffiths' Flat, and when the train was a little beyond this, and approaching the other, or Bunn's crossing …"
6 Jul 1872In a discussion at Lambton Council about a possible change in municipal boundaries … "Lambton should get the piece of railroad from the New Tunnels to the Junction at the White Gate Crossing."
7 Aug 1873The White Gates is mentioned in the satirical poem "Lambton Bleatings".
30 Jan 1875"The crossing place at the creek near the Waratah Company's white gates crossing has also been made much better by the erection of a bridge."
15 May 1876"I beg to call the attention of our Council to the dangerous state of the bridge across the creek on Griffith's Flat, below the White Gates Crossing."
17 May 1877Suggested site of a new cemetery near the white gates … "After a careful examination of the ground it was resolved to recommend to the Government the advisability of granting that portion running parallel with the Waratah Company's railway, commencing at the white gates, and running twenty chains down the line with a width of six chains."
16 Aug 1878
12 Aug 1878		"On Monday last, a child belonging to Mr. Richard Hughes, gate keeper at the White Gate Crossing on the Waratah Company's railway, had a most miraculous escape from death."
19 Mar 1880Last mention in Trove of White Gates in Lambton - at a Lambton Council meeting "Alderman BEVERIDGE called attention to the state of the road from the white gates crossing."

3. Wallsend

The location of the “White Gates” crossing in Wallsend. The shared pedestrian and cycling path follows the route of the former Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Company railway.
1927 Wallsend map showing “White Gates” marked near the west end of Wilkinson Ave. State Library of NSW.
Map of the tramways of Newcastle in 1938, showing White Gates to the east of the Co-Operative Junction. Sydney Tramways Museum.
A street directory map (date unknown) shows the location of the “White Gate” tram stop.
Hexham Parish map showing 35 acres of land resumed by Housing Commission for the Whitegates housing estate. Historical Land Records Viewer.
Whitegates Reserve in Wallsend is one of the few reminders of the original name of this housing estate. SIX Maps
An apartment block in Wallsend adjacent to Whitegates Reserve also bears the name “Whitegates”.
Article Date Event DateNotes
19 Jan 1861Report on the completion of the Wallsend Coal Company railway.
3 Apr 1875
31 Mar 1875		First mention of White Gates at Wallsend. "On Wednesday afternoon last one of the most painful and lamentable accidents that it has ever been our lot to witness occurred on the Wallsend line, near the White Gates, about 300 yards from the Co-operative junction."
2 Jun 1875"For Sale, A LEASEHOLD OF FIVE ACRES OF LAND, on which is built a Substantial House, with a Large Garden, well trenched, and planted with Fruit Trees and Grape Vines; also, Good Tank of Water, and the whole securely fenced in. The above is situated at Blue Gum Flat, near the White Gates. For particulars apply to JOHN EVANS."
24 Sep 1896Deputation to Railway Commissioners call for a tram stopping place “at the white gates”.
27 Aug 1903Wallsend Council meeting … "Improvements at the road leading towards the White Gate tram stopping place were recommended."
14 May 1908Wallsend Council meeting referred to "the necessity of a waiting shed being erected at the white gates on the tramline."
23 Jul 1908Wallsend Council meeting motion to "urge the necessity of having the white gates fixed as a regular stopping place for the trams."
25 May 1917"The clerk also reported that Mr. Munro, of the Tramway Department, proposed altering the name of the stopping place known as the White Gates. The report was adopted, and it was decided that the name "White Gates" remain as previously."
25 Mar 1925"The duplication of the [tram] line has now reached as far as the White Gates."
23 Dec 1925"Along the portion of the line between the stop known as the White Gates and the stopping place for Wallsend Hospital, a difficulty presented itself to the authorities. There the tram line ran parallel with, and in close proximity to, the Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company's railway, which was higher than the tram line."
12 Dec 1936"From Wallsend-Borehole collieries loading yards, the train had passed the White Gates level crossing and was ascending the long rise which continues above the Heaton-Birmingham Gardens crossing, when a number of trucks with the brake-van stopped and then began to run back down the grade."
22 Jan 1940
20 Jan 1940		"The station officer of Wallsend branch of Newcastle Ambulance (Mr. W. Lowe) found Darrell Davis, 25, of Douglass street, White Gates, Wallsend, in a state of collape in the cutting of the Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Company's branch railway, above the Heaton-Birmingham Gardens' level crossing on Saturday."
12 Nov 1941Passing of the Housing Bill that established the NSW Housing Commission.
5 May 1944Acquisition by Housing Commission of 35 acres of land at Wallsend for the Whitegates estate.
8 Jul 1944"Men have been putting in allotment pegs, and I understand bricks and timber have been ordered," said Ald. McGrath, referring to a start on the Housing Commission's homes at Wallsend, on an area adjacent to Birmingham Gardens. He added that the Government had gazetted the taking over of the land. On the suggestion of Ald. McGrath, it was decided to send another letter to the council asking that a tramway shelter shed be provided at White Gates.
22 Jul 1946
21 Jul 1946		Formation of the White Gates Welfare Association.
28 Nov 1947
19 Dec 1947

The Minister for Housing (Mr. Evatt) would unveil a commemorative stone at the Housing Commission's project at Wallsend on Friday, December 19, at 2 p.m., Whitegates Welfare Association was advised. Replying to a Ministerial inquiry on the origin of the name "Whitegates," the Secretary (Mr. G. Kendon) said he had been told that the area was once an orchard, entry to which was through a set of white gates. The area was generally known at Whitegates, and that name had been accepted by the association.

Note: I am somewhat sceptical of the explanation for the origin of the name offered here. The name had been in use for at least 72 years by this time, and the orchard explanation had not been documented previously. In contrast, all the early references to White Gates are in connection with the railway or tramway, so it is much more likely the gates are related to a crossing of a railway rather than an entrance to an orchard.

19 Dec 1947"A residential area of 147 homes and a shop with a house attached, Whitegates was established by the Housing Commission. It will be officially named to-day by the Minister for Housing (Mr. Evatt), who will unveil a tablet commemorating the completion of the project."
20 Dec 1947
19 Dec 1947		"The Lord Mayor (Ald. Quinlan) read out framed letters announcing the approval of Greater Newcastle Council and the Postmaster-General's Department of the designation "Whitegates," and presented them to the Secretary of Whitegates Welfare Association (Mr. G. Kendon)."
25 Jan 1995The last mention in Trove of Whitegates, named as a polling place by the NSW Electoral Commisioner. The polling place was probably the former St James church hall on the corner of Abbott/Douglas, Wallsend, which has been a pre-school since 1978. This site was used for polling in 2007 and 2010, but named as "Wallsend East".

This page is part of the collection of Newcastle’s Obsolete Place Names.

YY Aerated Water

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On 13 December 1920 the “YY Aerated Water Company” was registered in Newcastle for the purpose of acquiring the business of Healey Brothers, a manufacturer of aerated water and cordials in Wickham. The name of the company was inspired by the daughter of one of the company directors, who on her recent honeymoon in New Zealand learned of the Maori word “wai-wai”, meaning “running water”.

In 1937 the company opened a new modern factory in Wickham, with electrically driven machinery.  With continued success in the following decades, in 1958 Newcastle City Council approved the company’s application to construct a larger factory in Verulam Road Lambton, at a cost of £25,000.

YY operated in a time when glass bottles were valuable. When you bought a soft drink you purchased the contents but not the container, which had a label reminding that “This bottle is not sold and always remains the property of YY Aerated Water Co.” Consumers received a small deposit refund when returning bottles, which were taken back to the factory to be washed and re-used. In 1965 YY installed a new £15,000 “Bellock” automatic bottle washer in their Lambton factory.

In the 1970s the production of soft drinks came to be dominated by a few multi-national corporations, and smaller operations like YY struggled to compete. After trading at a loss for several years, on 30 August 1983 YY ceased production at Lambton with the loss of 12 jobs. The company closed after 63 years of operation.

Just a week later another small soft drink factory in Lambton announced its closure, with the loss of 15 jobs. The Schweppes facility had been operating in Orlando Road since 1954, but the company decided to cease local production to concentrate manufacturing in Sydney instead. YY may have left Lambton over 40 years ago, but their fleet of brightly coloured trucks and catchy slogan “First for Thirst” will still be a fond memory for many a Novocastrian.

The YY factory in Verulam Road, Lambton. Photo from Lost Newcastle Facebook group.
The former YY factory building still stands in Lambton today.

The article above was first published in the November 2024 edition of The Local.

Additional Information

In the 1950s, two different cordial manufacturing companies opened factories in Lambton – the YY Aerated Water Co, and the NSW Aerated Water Company. Because of the similarity of name, company mergers and acquisitions, the proximity of their factories in Lambton, the fact that they both had moved from Wickham, and that they both closed in 1983, the two companies are easily confused. To make sense of them the table below shows a timeline summary with a separate column for each company.

YearYY Aerated Water CoNSW Aerated Water Co / Schweppes
1876Auguste Ferriff moves from Murrurundi to Newcastle to produce aerated waters at premises in Darby St.
NMH 28/08/1876, NMH 17/11/1876
1877George E Redman, purchases equipment from Ferriff, who has ceased manufacturing. Redman commences manufacturing in Newcomen Street.
NMH 02/03/1877
1891First mention of Healey Bros, with cordial factory in Hamilton.
NMH 21/07/1891
1896Formation of NSW Aerated Water and Confectionery company, by the amalgamation of several existing companies: Coleman Bros, G Redman, Rowland Bros.
NMH 23/12/1896
1900Healey Bros cordial factory now in Wickham.
NMH 10/03/1900
1920YY Aerated Water Company formed and acquires Healey Brothers cordial manufacturer.
DCNASL 28/12/1920
1937New factory in Wickham with electrically driven machinery.
NS 13/09/1937
1953Purchase of land in Orlando Road Lambton.
Vol-Fol 6014-246
1954New factory opened in Lambton.
NS 09/11/1954
1958Application to Newcastle Council to build new factory in Lambton.
NMH 20/08/1958
1959Purchase of land in Verulam Road Lambton for new factory.
Vol-Fol 4758-152
1965New automatic bottle washer.
NS 15/11/1965
1967NSW Aerated Water Co acquired by Schweppes Australia.
NMH 10/11/1967
1983Factory closed.
NH 31/08/1983		Factory closed.
NH 08/09/1983

YY Aerated Water Co

Purchase of land in Verulam Road Lambton, 17 January 1959.Vol-Fol 4758-152.

NSW Aerated Water Co/Schweppes

Purchase of land in Orlando Rd Lambton, 28 October 1953. Vol-Fol 6014-246.
The Schweppes office and factory in Orlando Road Lambton, 1983.
The former Schweppes soft drink factory building in 2024. The brick office building in front of the arched factory was demolished sometime between 1987 and 1993.

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