Lancers in Lambton

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”

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

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.

Newspaper articles

No events found.

Marquis of Lorne Hotel

The first hotel in Lambton opened in 1864 just months after the establishment of the colliery and township. Within a decade another six hotels had opened.

In 1873 Alexander Smith purchased a block of land on the corner of Morehead and Dickson Streets and called for tenders for the erection of a large public house. Construction commenced in January 1874 of a building with a Gothic style front, 60 feet by 25 feet and including a large billiard-room anticipated to be “one of the finest in the district.” The new hotel commenced trading on Saturday 20 June 1874, and the following week on 29 June Mr and Mrs Smith held a celebration to formally christen the hotel the Marquis of Lorne, named after the British nobleman John Douglas Sutherland Campbell who held that title, and later became Governor General of Canada.

In Lambton, other new hotels opened and in 1881 the town reached a peak of 16 hotels operating at the same time. The Marquis of Lorne had many publicans in its early years, two of whom tried to move the license to a different location. Richard Ward attempted a move to Elder St in 1880, and John Quinlivan attempted a move to Robert St Jesmond in 1929, with the licensing authority rejecting the application on both occasions.

In 1930 the hotel had a subtle change in name to the apostrophised Marquis O’ Lorne. Also in 1930, John Baptist Beisler became the licensee, and the Beisler family retained a connection with the hotel until 1979, an impressively long stint spanning 50 years. In 1960 the original hotel was demolished and a new brick building erected at a cost of £67,508. Following renovations in 2007 it was renamed to The Mark Hotel, thus ending decades of misspellings and mispronunciations. With 150 years of trading completed, The Mark Hotel is now one of only three hotels remaining in Lambton.

Marquis of Lorne Hotel, Lambton, June 1924. Noel Butlin Archive, Australian National University.
The Mark Hotel, Lambton, June 2024.

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


Additional Information

See also the entry for the Marquis of Lorne Hotel in my Lambton Hotels page.

Advertisement for the newly opened Marquis of Lorne Hotel, corner of Dixon-street, Lambton. Miners’ Advocate and Northumberland Recorder, 27 June 1874.

SIR JOHN GEORGE EDWARD HENRY CAMPBELL, called by courtesy the Marquis of Lorne, is the eldest son of the Duke of Argyll, and was born at Strafford House, London, in 1845. In February, 1868, he became M.P. for Argyleshire. In the close of the same year he was appointed private secretary to his father, then at the head of the India Office. On the 21st of March, 1871, he married the Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Her Majesty. In July, 1878, he was appointed Governor-General of, Canada, as successor to Lord Dufferin, who had held that post since 1872.

Queenscliff Sentinel, 10 May 1884.
Sir John George Edward Henry Campbell

Newspaper articles

Article Date Event DateNotes
18 Oct 1873"The erection of two new buildings had been decided upon previous to the origin of the society, and they are to be commenced immediately. One is the premises of Mr. Lipman, watchmaker, of Newcastle, who is to put up a two-storey building in Grainger street ; and the other is a public-house, at the eastern end of Dixon-street, for Mr. Alexander Smith."
6 Dec 1873"Mr. Alexander Smith is about to call for tenders for the erection of a large public house."
17 Jan 1874"New Hostelries. — As a sign of the progress being made in this direction, we may mention that Mr. Alexander Smith is now erecting a large hotel, at the corner of Young and Morehead streets, opposite the Prince of Wales Inn. The building will have a frontage of 25 feet towards Young-street, with a depth of 60 feet in Morehead street, and an additional depth of 60 feet for stables, outhouses, and other purposes. The billiard-room will be one of the finest in the district, and will measure 25 feet by 25 feet. The front of the hotel will be in the Gothic style, and will bear a favourable comparison with any of the hotels for miles round."
27 Jun 1874
20 Jun 1874
"Mr. A. Smith has opened his new public house on Saturday last, under the high-sounding name of 'The Marquis of Lorne.' This house occupies a good stand, on the corner of Dixon-street, near to the Rechabite's Hall, and for accommodation and fittings is superior to any other house in the town. A large room, 23 feet by 29 feet, has been built for billiard purposes, which is furnished with a full-size billiard table and all the requisites for playing the different branches of the game. Mr. Smith has spared no expense to make his house complete."
25 Jun 1874"Mr. Alexander Smith, one of our enterprising townsmen, has now opened his really commodious premises, under the title of the Marquis of Lorne Hotel."
27 Jun 1874"During the week the following licenses, have been granted by the Newcastle bench of Magistrates :— For billiards : To Alex. Smith, Marquis of Lorn Inn, Lambton."
27 Jun 1874Advertisement: "MARQUIS OF LORNE HOTEL, Corner of Dixon-street, Lambton. ALEXANDER SMITH has much pleasure in announcing to his numerous friends and the public generally that he has OPENED his Splendid New House under the above title, where he hopes to meet all his old friends, and to make the acquaintance of hosts of new ones. First-class Liquors always on hand. Travellers will find the accommodation unequalled in the district. The best BILLIARD TABLE out Of Sydney, with all necessary appliances."
1 Jul 1874
29 Jun 1874
"There was a real old Scotch spree on Monday evening (29 June 1874) at the formal christening of the Marquis of Lorn. Mr. and Mrs. Smith invited a number of their friends to be present at the ceremony, and a very jolly night was spent. The Lambton band were present, and played some of their choice dance music, to which the lads and lasses footed it right merrily. After the band was done, the fiddle struck up, and then the jigs and Scotch reels got fits. Dancing and singing was kept up till the small hours of the morning, when the company dispersed. 'And many a one left the Marquis of Lorn, With the foundation for a sore head the morn.'"
2 Jul 1874
1 Jul 1874
"Mr. A. Smith opened his new billiard-room, yesterday, in connection with his new hotel the Marquis of Lorne."
9 Dec 1875
8 Dec 1875
Death of Alexander Smith’s wife.
2 Jun 1876Licence of Marquis of Lorne transferred from Alexander Smith to J Morris.

Lambton Drill Hall

This month marks 125 years since the Drill Hall in De Vitre Street Lambton was formally opened in 1899.

In 1885 the government authorised the formation of a Volunteer Infantry Corp in the town of Lambton, to be part of the 4th Infantry Regiment of the northern district. The regiment was expanded in response to the threat of war between England and Russia, with the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner’s Advocate noting that “when Russia is ready for war she will easily find an excuse for making it.”

Initially the volunteers had no permanent base and they performed parade drills in Lambton Park and shooting practice at a rifle range in North Lambton. In October 1898 the Government reserved a block of land in De Vitre Street, and contracted Mr Reffshaw of Sydney to erect a large drill hall with adjoining offices. The official opening was celebrated with a military social on Saturday 3 June 1899.

The hall became the training depot for the Lambton volunteers, and its importance increased with the outbreak of World War 1. On 8 December 1915 a recruiting campaign march began in Narrabri, with 43 men setting off to walk 300 miles to Newcastle.  Nicknamed the “Wallabies”, the marchers held meetings in each town along the way to persuade young men to enlist and join the march. On 7 January 1916, the “Wallabies”, now numbering over 200, reached Lambton and were accommodated in the drill hall. Meetings held that evening added fifteen recruits to their number. In World War 2 the drill hall once again played a crucial role, and was used for recruiting, medical examinations, and training of new enlistments. After the war it was leased for various purposes, including a gymnasium for the National Fitness Committee, and headquarters for the Forestry Commission. The army began using the hall again in 1955, and later the site was used as a Telecom depot. The drill hall was demolished in 1990 and replaced with townhouses.

Lambton Drill Hall in De Vitre Street. Photo from “The March of the Wallabies” by David H Dial.
Site of the former Lambton Drill Hall, 2024.

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


Additional Information

The article above speaks of the establishment of a volunteer infantry corp in Lambton in 1885. However there was an earlier volunteer rifle corp that existed for a a short time. Just a few years after Lambton was established as a mining town, some residents organised a public meeting in September 1866 to form a volunteer rifle corp. Mentions of this group in Trove seem to disappear in 1870. In April 1878 the inhabitants of Lambton again organise a public meeting “for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of forming a Volunteer Corps for the defence of the port, in the event of war taking place.” Nothing seems to have come of this meeting, for there are no further mentions of a volunteer corp at Lambton until the establishment of the infantry corp in March 1884.

Parish map showing location of Lambton Drill Hall on portions 844 and 845, reserved “for Military Purposes. Notified 22 Oct 1898.” Historical Land Records Viewer
Tender for erection of Lambton Drill Hall. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 24 December 1898.

Mr. Reffshaw of Sydney, the contractor for the drill hall to be erected in De Vitre-street, has commenced operations, and the men are now at work laying the concrete foundations. The building will be a large and costly one, and will be for the exclusive use of the Military Department. The material used in the structure is to be wood and iron. The main hall will measure 60ft x 30ft. Adjoining the same there are to be three offices, measuring 11ft x 11ft each. The site is an elevated one, only a few yards from the courthouse, and is very central and suitable for the purpose. The block of land is a portion of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve, having an area of 200ft by 100ft, the whole to be enclosed with a picket fence. The contract price was £530, the work to be completed in eight weeks.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 13 February 1899.
Infantry Volunteers, Lambton Drill Hall, 28 September 1907. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle University, Living Histories.

There are not many photos of the old Lambton Drill Hall. However given the size of the building it often appears in the background of general photos of Lambton.

Lambton Drill Hall, 1900. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle University, Living Histories.
Lambton Drill Hall, 1904. Photo by George Henry Dawkins. Newcastle University, Living Histories.
Lambton Drill Hall, 1908. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle University, Living Histories.
Lambton Drill Hall, 1909. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle University, Living Histories.
Lambton Drill Hall, 1912. Photo by Ralph Snowball. Newcastle University, Living Histories.

A number of additions and alterations were made to the Lambton drill hall over the years. The Fort Scratchley archives has a plan showing “the “Proposed Additions & Improvements”. It is hard to tell with the quality of the scan, but the date adjacent to the signature appears to be “20.12.25”. If so then this plan relates to the “erection of additional offices” for which five tenders were received in July 1926. The successful tenderer, announced on 11 August 1926, was H B Sudlow of New Lambton, with a price of £284.

Plan drawing for “Proposed Additions & Improvements” to Lambton Drill Hall. Fort Scratchley archives.
Voluntary helpers, mainly school teachers, at Lambton Drill Hall, checking and sorting enrolment forms and compiling records of men who were called up to enrol for military service in Classes 2 and 3. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 30 January 1942.

Aerial photographs show that the drill hall was still standing in 1987, but by 1993 townhouses had been built on the site.

19871993

Newspaper articles

Article Date Event DateNotes
Lambton Volunteer Rifle Corps - 1866 to 1870
8 Sep 1866"On Thursday evening next, a meeting will be held at Mr. Dent's, Northumberland Hotel, for the purpose of forming a Volunteer Rifle Corps to act in conjunction with Waratah."
15 Sep 1866Public meeting resolves "that the inhabitants of Lambton join those of Waratah in forming a volunteer rifle corps, to be named the Waratah and Lambton volunteer rifle corps."
22 Sep 1866"The volunteers held their committee meetingin the large room of the Northumberland Hotel … a sub-committee to draw up a memorial tendering their services to the Government as a Volunteer Rifle Corps. The corps now numbers at Waratah, fifty-four, and Lambton 31 ; total, 85 strong."
7 Nov 1866"There is some prospect, we understand, of a company of sappers and miners, in connection with the volunteer movement, being formed at Waratah and Lambton. The new corps would take the place of the rifle corps recently established, and would certainly be more in character and better adapted, we should fancy, to the major portion of the population. The suggestion, we are informed, originated with Mr. M. W. Lewis, Esq., who has kindly offered to instruct the corps, should one be formed, in the science of fortifications."
1 Nov 1870Review of Hunter District rifle corps, with Lambton included in list.
16 Apr 1878"A public meeting of the inhabitants of Lambton and neighbourhood was held in the Druids' Hall, Lambton, on Monday evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of forming a Volunteer Corps for the defence of the port, in the event of war taking place."

In the period 1871 to 1884, there appears to be no other mentions of a volunteer corp at Lambton until the establishment of the Infantry corp in March 1884.
Lambton Volunteer Infantry Corp, H company of 4th Regiment - 1884 to 1914
7 Mar 1884"His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to approve of the Infantry in the Northern District, at present consisting of four companies, with head quarters at Newcastle, West Maitland, Singleton, and East Maitland respectively, forming an Administrative Regiment, to be styled the "4th Regiment of New South Wales Volunteer Infantry."
7 Feb 1885"His Excellency, with the advice of the Executive Council, has given authority for the formation of a Volunteer Infantry corps in the town of Lambton, with a captain, first and second lieutenants, colour-sergeant, three sergeants, four corporals, two buglers, and fifty-three privates."
7 May 1885"THE fact of a meeting having been held in the Protestant Hall on Tuesday evening to inaugurate a new Volunteer Infantry Corps, reflects great credit upon those citizens who were present. The probabilities of an immediate war between Russia and England do not appear so imminent as they were a short time back, but it cannot for one moment be supposed that the matters in dispute are finally disposed of."
" … when Russia is ready for war she will easily find an excuse for making it."
"There were 1000 or 1100 volunteers enrolled in and around Newcastle, Lambton, Wallsend, Maitland, etc., which he believed were to defend Newcastle in case of any outbreak."
19 Aug 1885William Francis Xavier Byrne gazetted first lieutenant of the Lambton corps of volunteer infantry.
26 Nov 1887"The Lambton corps of the Volunteer Infantry will parade on the Reserve at 4.30 o'clock this afternoon, for practice in the march-past competition at December 1st."
19 Jul 1888First mention of "H company" of the volunteer force at Lambton.
25 May 1892"The H Company 4th Regiment Infantry enlivened matters considerably in the town by parading the principal streets. The men were commanded by Captain J. B. Nash and Lieutenant S. Williams, and presented a fine appearance. They afterwards were put through several manoeuvres on the parade ground in the park, and at noon fired three volleys in succession in honour of her Majesty. The men in the afternoon again mustered at the shooting range, North Lambton, when the rifle corps match, already in progress, was continued."
16 Feb 1895Request to council "From Dr. J. B. Nash, captain 4th Regiment Infantry, asking for the electric lights to be put on in the rotunda from the 1st instant until further notice, for the purpose of holding recruit drill on the park."
22 Oct 1898"RESERVES FROM SALE FOR MILITARY PURPOSES … County of Northumberland, parish of Newcastle, containing an area of 1 rood 27 perches. The Crown Lands within the boundaries of measured portions 844 and 845 of 1 rood 4¾ perches, and 22¼ perches respectively."
24 Dec 1898Invitation to tender for erection of Lambton drill hall.
13 Feb 1899"Mr. Reffshaw of Sydney, the contractor for the drill hall to be erected in De Vitre-street, has commenced operations, and the men are now at work laying the concrete foundations."
2 Jun 1899"THE Adjourned MILITARY SOCIAL in connection with the Opening of the Lambton Drill Hall will be held THIS FRIDAY NIGHT."
3 Jun 1899
2 Jun 1899
"A military social under the auspices of the Lambton Company, 4th Infantry Regiment, was held to-night in celebration of the opening of the new drill hall at Lambton Major Nash presided."
28 Sep 1903
26 Sep 1903
"A successful social promoted by the members of the Lambton Company, 4th Regiment, was held in the drill hall on Saturday evening."
March of the "Wallabies" - December 1915 to January 1916
24 Dec 1915"The Sergeant Major outlined the programme, and said that the Wallabies now numbered 130, and he hoped they would enter Cessnock on New Years Day about 160 or 170 strong, and number 400 when they reached Newcastle. Offers were accepted of the drill halls at Lambton and Newcastle for the accommodation of the men."
8 Jan 1916
7 Jan 1916
"The arrival of the Wallabies at Lambton was the occasion of great rejoicings among the residents, and will long be remembered as an event that will prove to be historical."
"On their entry into Elder-street they were greeted with cheers by a large crowd of residents. The march proceeded to the drill hall, where the men indulged in a wash.
Fifteen recruits were obtained during the evening, and among the volunteers was Mr. T. Pease, a former delegate of the Colliery Employees' Federation.”
8 Jan 1916"The 'Wallabies' nearly 200 strong, this afternoon completed the Newcastle section of their long and successful recruiting march from Narrabri to Sydney. They left Lambton after breakfast this morning and marched through New Lambton and Broadmeadow to Hamilton … After lunch they completed the two miles to town."
10 Jan 1916
8 Jan 1916
The "Wallabies" march from Lambton to Newcastle.
8 Mar 1916
7 Mar 1916
March of the "Wallabies" from Wallsend to Lambton.
Between WW1 and WW2 - 1919 to 1939
21 Jun 1926"Lambton Drill Hall.—Erection of additional offices. Five tenders received and referred to Works Director."
11 Aug 1926Successful tenderer for additions to Lambton drill hall, H. B. Sudlow, New Lambton, £284/15/-.
19 Aug 1926
17 Aug 1926
Lambton council meeting, letter from "Defence Department (per D. Watkins, M.H.R), with regard to the erection of a miniature rifle range in the drill hall ground, Lambton. It was pointed out that similar ranges were erected through out the Commonwealth, and that few complaints had been received. The department would, however, be glad to receive any suggestion which would adjust the matter, provided that any such proposal would not interfere with military training requirements. Alderman Smith moved that the department be asked to remove the range to the western side of the drill hall."
5 Oct 1927
9 Oct 1927
Lambton Drill Hall used for polling place in NSW State election.
26 Jan 1933
28 Jan 1933
"The official opening of the Sergeants' Mess, of the 35/33rd Battalion at Lambton Drill Hall will be observed by the mess members' on Saturday night."
27 Jan 1937Tenders for repairs and re-roofing of Lambton Drill Hall. Lowest tender received, S. Gabriel, £309/17/6.
World War 2 - 1939 to 1945
2 Jul 1940"In view of the number of dispatch riders who have left the regiment to enlist with either the A.I.F. or R.A.A.F., a number of vacancies exist for motor-cyclists with their machines. Interested motor-cyclists should also apply at the Lambton Drill Hall next Saturday."
3 Sep 1940"Vacancies still exist for trained cooks, preferably with military experience, also batmen and drivers. Applicants must be between 18 and 20, or between 25 and 45, and should apply at the Drill Hall, Lambton, on Tuesday nights at 7.30 o'clock."
1 Aug 1941"There will be a full-day parade of the Newcastle troops of the 16th Machine-gun Regiment at Lambton Drill Hall to-morrow."
7 Jan 1942Medical examinations of Class 2 call-ups to take place at Lambton Drill Hall.
Post World War 2
10 Jan 1946"The first gymnasium organised by a National Fitness Committee in the Newcastle district is to be opened in the Lambton Drill Hall. Secretary of Lambton National Fitness Committee (Mr. R. Hitchcock) said it had been decided this week that the gymnasium would be open two nights a week for boys and youths, and two nights for young women and girls."
10 Apr 1946"Hamilton Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade had offered to conduct first-aid classes at Lambton Drill Hall. Members of the division will be asked to attend a meeting on April 29 to outline arrangements for the classes. The gymnasium classes will be under Mr. and Mrs. W. Hinton. The gymnasium is open for boys on Monday and Thursday nights and for girls on Tuesday and Friday nights."
25 Sep 1947"Newcastle has no more 'drill halls.' In future they will be known as training depots for members of Australia's Citizen Army. The new name is part of a drive to brighten the training of the citizen soldier. Added facilities to make training depots attractive for young men included the provision of messes and recreational amenities, the Newcastle Area Brigade Major (Major A. C. McInnes) said yesterday."
28 Apr 1949"Offers are invited for the leasing of the Drill Hall property situated in De Vitre-street, Lambton, New South Wales, for a period of three years."
5 Jan 1950Request made "to the G.O.C. Eastern Command (Lieut.-General Berryman) to have the Lambton Drill Hall made available to the council for use as a distribution centre for the [Lambton branch] library. The Lord Mayor said the drill hall could be used to house books and provide room for the staff to catalogue and repair them."
10 Feb 1951The Forestry Commission seeking a site for its headquarters in Lambton.
6 Mar 1953"Lambton Drill Hall, which has been used for some time by the Forestry Commission, was returned to the Army this week. It will be used as headquarters of a City of Newcastle Regiment company."
30 Jun 1955
27 Jun 1955
"Thieves stole three sub-machineguns and five .303 rifles from an army drill hall at Lambton (Newcastle) on Monday night."

Lambton passenger train service

When Lambton Colliery began in 1863 a railway was built to haul coal to the harbour. Roads into Newcastle were in a very poor state and a trip to town was a major undertaking. An appealing alternative was to travel by train.  For a few years the colliery allowed passengers in the guards’ van of their coal trains at a cost of 6 shillings per trip. Tiring of this arrangement, they doubled the price in 1866, then ceased the service in 1867.

In 1874 residents agitated for the return of a passenger train. Thomas Croudace, the manager of the Lambton colliery, gave permission for a trial run and on Saturday evening of 28 February 1874 more than 500 residents travelled from Lambton into Newcastle. Despite this success Croudace withdrew permission for subsequent services, leading to great confusion two Saturdays later when several hundred residents turned up to catch a train that never arrived.

With no co-operation from Lambton colliery, residents approached the Waratah colliery for permission to carry passengers on their rail line. The directors having granted the request, the first train ran on Monday 25 May 1874 for the public holiday celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday. A regular service then commenced on 30 May 1874, operating on Saturdays only with pick-up and set-down at “Betty Bunn’s crossing”, where the Lambton-Waratah road crossed the railway.

In August 1874 a fatal accident on the line put a halt to the passenger service. A sordid rumour began circulating that several storekeepers on the inquest jury had been unfairly critical of the rail authority’s safety procedures, with a view to having the train cancelled. Local traders opposed a service they saw taking shoppers and their money into the city and away from their own businesses. The passenger service eventually resumed in January 1875, but reduced to alternate Saturdays only. It operated for another 12 years, ceasing in 1887 when the tramline from Newcastle to Lambton opened.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 19 Aug 1887, advising discontinuance of passenger train services to Waratah Tunnels near Lambton.
The location of “Betty Bunn’s Crossing”, at the intersection of Griffiths Rd and Acacia Ave, where the passenger train to Newcastle operated on the Waratah Tunnels rail line.

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


Additional Information

Some of the content of this article was re-used from my November 2020 article “A Picnic Homecoming”, on the Lambton Public School outing to Toronto by train.

The colliery railway lines used for passenger services at Lambton: Lambton colliery (red), Waratah colliery (green). Parrott’s 1893 map, National Library of Australia.

Newspaper articles

Article Date Event DateNotes
18 Mar 1874
12 Mar 1874
"A very large public meeting was held at Stokers' Hall Lambton, on Thursday evening last, to consider the best steps to secure a Saturday night train, and also a daily train to and from Newcastle and Lambton. The manager of the Lambton pit had allowed the train to run once on Saturday night, and then withdrew it ; the object of the meeting was to devise a method of ensuring a train regularly. The Mavor of Lambton presided. It was ascertained that the Government were quite willing, and resolutions were passed, empowering the formation of a committee to wait upon the manager of the Waratah Coal Company, requesting him to allow passenger carriages to be placed on their line on the occasions above named."
18 Mar 1874"Great disappointment was felt at the non-arrival of the passenger train last Saturday evening. There were about 200 or 300 passengers waiting, who had to return to their homes annoyed. The blame is attributed to Mr. Croudace, for, I believe if he would consent to the train's running, the Government would; and, the advantage the inhabitants would derive would be very great."
31 Mar 1874"The subcommittee appointed to conduct the application to the Waratah Coal Company, for a passenger train to be laid on, have received a reply from the directors, expressing their willingness to grant the request … The sub-committee accordingly waited upon Mr. Higgs, the traffic manager, to gain the required Government permission, and that gentleman has informed them that there were some arrangements pending respecting a train to be laid on by the Lambton Company, which had not yet been decided upon."
23 May 1874"I have been instructed to inform you that the directors of the Waratah Coal Company have no objection to the Government running, for the convenience of the inhabitants of the district, on Saturday nights and holidays passenger trains on the Waratah Coal Company's private line of railway, from the junction with Great Northern Railway to the Company's new tunnel, at the same rate as it is done on the Wallsend Coal Company's line, provided arrangements are made so as not to interfere with the Waratah Company's coal traffic, and that the Government construct at its own cost all sidings, platforms, landing places, &c., which may be required for passenger traffic."

The following Monday, being a public holiday for Queen Victoria's birthday, "arrangements were made for the train to leave Bunn's crossing on Monday, 25th May at half-past 10 o'clock a.m."
27 May 1874
25 May 1874
First passenger train on the Waratah Company railway.
"The Railway Auditors laid on a train from Bunn's Crossing, on the Waratah Company's line, on Queen's Birthday, which was moderately patronised."

In the same week that passenger trains start running to Lambton on the Waratah Company line, promises are being made to run passenger trains on the Lambton colliery line … "The following arrangement was made, between Mr. Croudace, on behalf of the Lambton Company, and the Minister, viz., that [Government] trains should be run ... that the Company give their line free and keep it clear of their own traffic ... The Government to take all other responsibility … this arrangement to come in force immediately after the holidays."
In spite of this arrangement being made, nothing came of it.
30 May 1874"Although the Minister for Works promised that a passenger train should be run to this town on the first Saturday after the holidays, no communication whatever has been received by the Traffic Manager on the subject. The arrangement made between the Minister for Works and Mr. Croudace was that four trains should be run, commencing on the first Saturday after Queen's Birthday."
2 Jun 1874
30 May 1874
"On Saturday, the first evening train for passengers ran from the Waratah Co.'s Tunnels to Newcastle, for the accommodation of a large population in that neighbourhood. The number of passengers by whom it was availed of, amply testified the necessity for the convenience. We take it for granted that the train will be continued, as otherwise the people of Grovestown and Lambton would have to give up all idea of getting into Newcastle during the winter evenings, either by way of the Broad Meadow or Waratah, the former being a sheet of water, and the latter a perfect slough of mud."
4 Aug 1874
1 Aug 1874
Fatal accident on the Waratah Company railway, when the Saturday evening passenger train strikes Andrew Tunney, who while drunk was riding his horse along the railway.
11 Aug 1874After the death of Andrew Tunney on the railway line, the passenger service to Lambton is halted. A conspiracy theory arises that storekeepers on the inquest jury had a vested interest in stopping the passenger service in order to keep business in the town.
30 Jan 1875Resumption of passenger train service to Lambton (Waratah Tunnels). The service to run on alternate Saturdays only.
19 Aug 1887
13 Aug 1887
Last passenger train on the Waratah Tunnels railway. An advertisement on the following Friday announces the discontinuance of the service.

A Panoramic Peep Over Lambton and New Lambton

This year marks 120 years since George Henry Dawkins captured a remarkable snapshot of our locality in 1904. Dawkins was born in Lambton around 1874. His interest in photography is first noted in 1900 when he demonstrated lantern slide making to the recently formed but short-lived Newcastle Amateur Camera Club. A few years later he was instrumental in the formation of a new camera club and served as a committee member for many years.

In 1904 Dawkins purchased a block of land on the heights above Lambton. From that property on the west side of First St (later renamed to Noble St) he photographed a four-frame panorama looking southwards. He then mounted the prints on foldout panels with an ornate burgundy coloured front cover with the title “A Peep at Old and New Lambton, NSW, from Lambton Heights.”

The panorama is striking in the detail it contains. We can observe prominent landmarks that remain to this day including the park rotunda, council building (now the library), Mechanics’ Institute building, and the stone church in Dickson St.

The photo also highlights how much has changed. Many of the houses in 1904 are basic wooden structures. While the Lambton mine pithead is hidden behind a hill, the colliery rail line and bridges can be seen running over Hobart Rd. In panels 3 and 4, we see large swathes of open land south of Howe St and wooded land on the hill, yet to be developed as it was mining company land.

While Dawkins’ paying job was as a printer, he also volunteered with many local organisations such as the Mechanics’ Institute, Bowling club, and the Wallsend hospital board. In 1907 he contributed photos to a Newcastle Tourist Guide, and during World War 1 he offered to take photos free of charge, of any men in Lambton enlisting as soldiers. George Dawkins died in Lambton in 1922 aged just 48, leaving us the legacy of a wonderfully fascinating panoramic peep into our past.

Panoramic view over Lambton and New Lambton, 1904. Photo by George Henry Dawkins. Newcastle University, Living Histories.

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


Additional Information

Purchase of land in 1st Street (Noble St) by George Henry Dawkins, printer, in December 1904. The panorama over Lambton was photographed from this property. Vol-Fol 890-235.
1939 Gregory’s map showing location of First Street (now Noble St) in Lambton.
Photographic items for sale from George Dawkins. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 15 June 1918.

The 1907 Tourist Guide

Dawkins contributed some photographs to a 1907 “Tourist’s Guide to Newcastle”. The National Library of Australia has a copy of this publication on microfiche (Bib ID 3542657), which I viewed during a visit to the Library in April 2024. Unfortunately the quality of the scanning/reproduction is poor and the photographs appear as little more than high contrast splodges of black and white. For what it’s worth, here are the photographs that Dawkins contributed. One minor note of interest is that the photograph of Nelly’s Glen on page 81 enabled me to identifier the creator of the image in the Newcastle University Living Histories site, which previously unattributed.

A Bend in the Creek. Wallsend, near Newcastle. (Page 75)
Nelly’s Glen, Lambton, near Newcastle. (Page 81)
Tram Terminus, Wallsend, near Newcastle. (Page 167)
Along the Newcastle Beach. 1. Men’s Dressing Sheds. 2. Untitled. 3. Shelter Shed. 4. Shelter Shed. (Page 177)
Along the Newcastle Beach. 1. ?. 2. Tram Terminus. 3. Ladies Dressing Shed & Bathing Place. (Page 181)
 Page
PREFACE5
NEWCASTLE9
The Beaches29
The Reserves42
The Climate48
Health of Newcastle and District49
Newcastle from Without49
Industries53
Coal Mining53
The Dyke58
Other Industries59
Churches59
Literary, Scientific and Educational Institutions63
Technical College67
Schools67
Municipal70
Commercial74
Military74
Theatres etc78
Musical and Kindred Societies79
Debating Societies79
Sports and Amusements82
The Turf90
Agricultural, H & I Association92
Charitable Institutions96
Public Buildings100
Newspaper105
Pleasant Bush Drives and Picnic Places105
Accommodation for Visitors112
Discovery of Newcastle112
LAKE MACQUARIE117
Toronto117
Belmont120
Swansea120
Spiers’ [sic] Point120
Warner’s Bay120
Cockle Creek121
PORT STEPHENS121
Nelson’s Bay121
Salt Ash121
Anna Bay121
Tea Gardens121
Sawyer’s Point121
Bulladelah [sic]125
THE MAITLANDS128
West Maitland128
East Maitland133
Maitland Coalfields133
MORPETH133
RAYMOND TERRACE140
PATERSON140
DUNGOG144
STEAMER, COACH AND FERRY INFORMATION151
TRAMWAY AND RAILWAY INFORMATION165
RAILWAY TIMETABLES168-178
OFFICERS OF NEWCASTLE & N.D. TOURIST ASSOCIATION182
General Index to the 1907 Tourist Guide
 Page
Newcastle from Railway Station7
Holiday Time on Newcastle Beach11
Tennis Court and Bowling Green15
The Two “Redheads”19
Nobby’s from Fort Scratchley23
Surf Bathing27
Newcastle Beach31
Newcastle Beach from Tram Terminus33
Shelter Sheds37
James’ Retreat41
The Rotunda45
Entrance Gates, Upper Reserve47
Lower Reserve51
A Typical Newcastle Colliery53
Shephard’s [sic] Hill53
The Lagoon57
Loading Coal at the Dyke61
Ships Discharging Ballast65
Technical College67
Shipping at the Dyke69
King’s Wharf71
A Forest of Masts73
A Bend in the Creek, Wallsend Creek75
Newcastle Harbour77
Nelly’s Glen, Lambton81
The Tunnel, Merewether Beach83
E. & A. Coy.’s Smelting Works85
Newcastle from Upper Reserve89
Soldiers’ Baths and Nobby’s91
View of Newcastle showing Entrance to Harbour93
Post Office95
Newcastle Hospital96
Newcastle from the Beach99
Post Office100
The Bogey Hole103
Upper Reaches, Cockle Creek107
Spier’s [sic] Point111
Toronto115
Newcastle Harbour116
Belmont119
Port Stephens from Inner Light123
Salt Ash127
Port Stephens, looking towards Middle Island129
High Street, West Maitland131
Pitnacree Bridge, East Maitland135
Morpeth139
Paterson143
Movable Cranes, Inner Basin, Newcastle147
Glimpses around Dungog149
Toronto155
Warner’s Bay159
Newcastle School of Arts163
Tram Terminus, Wallsend167
Lake Macquarie171
Along the Newcastle Beach177
Along the Newcastle Beach181
Index to Views (photographs) in the 1907 Tourist Guide

Newspaper articles

Article Date Event DateNotes
15 Aug 1900"A meeting of amateur photographers was held at Kettley's rooms, Hunter-street West, last night, when it was decided to form the Newcastle Amateur Camera Club."
12 Oct 1900"At the last monthly meeting of the Newcastle Amateur Camera Club, lantern slide making by reduction was fully illustrated by Mr. Geo. Dawkins."
10 Dec 1900
5 Dec 1900
"Newcastle Amateur Camera Club held their monthly meeting and had for their subject Flashlight Photography. The members met at Lambton at 7.45 p.m., and proceeded to Lambton Colliery, where they were met by Mr. Noble, the underground manager, and his staff, who zealously looked after the comfort of the visitors, and explained every thing of interest."
15 Apr 1902
14 Apr 1902
At the celebration in Lambton of the return of Lieutenant Albert McEwan from the Boer war … "Mr. Geo. Dawkins took a flashlight photograph of the gathering."
31 Aug 1905
29 Aug 1905
Formation of camera club in Newcastle - George Dawkins elected to the committee.
16 Oct 1907"... the guide to Newcastle and its neighbourhood has been issued by the Newcastle and District Tourist Association. The work, which comprises 180 pages, 8½, inches by 5½ inches, is copiously illustrated ... The photo-engravings are principally from negatives taken by Mr. Charleston, of Hunter-street, Mr. G. H. Dawkins, of Lambton, ..."
15 Feb 1908Letter to the editor from George Dawkins, disputing claims about the time required to print Wallsend Hospital reports.
28 Oct 1908The half-yearly competition and exhibition of pictures in connection with the Newcastle and District Photographic Society - George Dawkins awarded second place in "Best enlargement" section.
2 Mar 1912George Dawkins to supply photographs for the "presentation" being prepared to honour J. W. Oldham.
11 Mar 1912
9 Mar 1912
"A concert, in aid of the Lambton Public School fund was held in the Coronation Hall … The coloured lights for stage purposes was under the direction of Mr. G. H. Dawkins …"
19 Aug 1916"A meeting for the purpose of forming a branch of the Y.M.C.A. Snapshot From Home League was held at Mr. A. J. Plumridge's rooms on Thursday evening. Mr. G. Dawkins presided. The object of the league is to provide snapshot photographs of the homes and families of soldiers who have gone away into service, and give copies of these to the relatives for forwarding to soldiers at the front. It was decided to form a branch. Mr. G. Dawkins was appointed president."
30 Jan 1917"A meeting was held in Lambton council chambers to devise ways and means to erect a suitable memorial to those who had given their services in fighting for their country ... Mr. George Dawkins, a member of the Camera Club, had agreed to take photos, free of charge of any soldier enlisting …"
26 Sep 1922
23 Sep 1922
"Mr. George Dawkins died at his residence, First-street, on Saturday, after a lengthy illness. He was in his 49th year, and was born in Lambton, where he resided the whole of his life. He was a printer by occupation."
25 Sep 1922
25 Sep 1922
Funeral of George Dawkins
4 Nov 1955First Street in Lambton is renamed to Noble Street.