Quiz - The Life and Crimes of Maitland's History

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Maitland was established as a conglomeration of 3 settlements in the approximate year of 1820, yet the site was not originally named Maitland. What was the original name?* This field is required.

Wallis Plains

Schanck's Forest Plains

Morgan's Plains

The Camp

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When the Hunter Valley was first explored by Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson in 1801 he named the future site of Maitland, Schanck's Forest Plains.

All the above names applied at some time or another, but Schanck's Forest Plains was the first, which ironically vanished into the dustbin of history. The town was proclaimed as Maitland in 1833.

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Maitland more so than any other town in Australia has suffered from a particular type of natural disaster. What is the most prolific type of natural disaster that has occurred in Maitland's history?* This field is required.

Droughts

Earthquakes

Floods

Meteor Strikes

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Floods.

Maitland is built on the flood plains of the Hunter River and over 200 floods have occurred on the Hunter River since settlement. 13 of those exceeded the river's peak limit and have directly effected the city of Maitland.

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Molly Morgan is the most well known of the dozen early convicts to be granted land in the Wallis Plains area. On which fleet did she make her first journey to Australia on?* This field is required.

First Fleet

Second Fleet

Third Fleet

Fourth Fleet

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Molly was transported to New South Wales as a convict with the Second Fleet.

The Second Fleet was also known as the Death Fleet.

It was managed by a company that had been involved in the North American slave Trade and they were paid for each convict embarked, not landed.

This meant each convict death resulted in more profits, as the unused rations were able to be sold.

The mortality rate was to be the highest in transportation history to Australia. Of over 1,000 convicts, half arrived sick and 270 died on the passage.

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Maitland for 20 years was the second largest city in the country. What was the event that led to it being overtaken?* This field is required.

The Victorian Goldrush

The Arrival of the Railway

The Silting of the Rivers

The Development of Larger Steamers

All of the Above

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All of the Above.

All of these reasons led to the growth of other cities and towns outstripping that of Maitland's.

This has left Maitland with a legacy in the retention of a long list of historical, heritage listed buildings for future generations to enjoy.

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Maitland Gaol was open to prisoners since 1848, and has overseen a number of executions. How many executions have taken place in the gaol?* This field is required.

3

9.5

16

29

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16 executions had been enacted by the time of the Maitland Gaol closure(in 1998), after it had become the longest continuously-run gaol in Australia.

There were several preceding executions prior to the existence of the gaol, of which the most famous took place on the Maitland High St in 1838.

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Caroline Chisolm opened the Maitland Benevolent Asylum in East Maitland in 1842, but what was her original occupation when she first arrived in Australia?* This field is required.

Convict

Free Settler

Philanthropist

Seamstress

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Philanthropist.

Caroline Chisholm was born in 1808 near Northampton, England. At 22 she married Captain Archibald Chisholm on the condition that her philanthropic work should continue.

Caroline arrived in Australia in 1838 dedicating herself to assisting immigrants, the unemployed and the homeless.

In March 1842, Caroline rented two cottages known as the East Maitland Immigrant's Home, which was used as a hostel for homeless immigrants who travelled to the Hunter region in search of work.

In November 1842 the building was converted into the first hospital in the district, known as the Maitland Benevolent Asylum, now known as Caroline Chisolm Cottage.

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In the great Maitland Bank Robbery of 1869, 1300 pounds went missing one cold, bleak October morning without anyone noticing. How much is that worth in todays currency approximately?* This field is required.

$13,000

$100,000

$200,000

$425,000

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$200,000.

It wasn't until the afternoon that a teller discovered that the cash was missing from his drawer. In those days every banking officer was held personally responsible for the safety and completeness of the money. How would you feel if you went to work one morning and came home suddenly $200,000 in debt?

15

In the year of 1860, a world renowned phrenologist came to Maitland with the sole intent to rob the graves of two recently executed prisoners for scientific study purposes. What is phrenology the study of?* This field is required.

The Skull

The Finger Bones

The Leg Bones

The Chicken Bones

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The Skull.

More precisly it is a process that involves observing and/or feeling the skull to determine an individual's psychological attributes. It was believed the conformation of the skull was indicative of mental faculties and traits of character. From a law enforcement perspective it was hoped phrenology could be used to detect criminality in a human being.

The phrenologist, Mr Hamilton, did not get the skulls he wanted, but he was able to obtain a cast of their heads. He would later go on to be present at the castings made of Ned Kelly, Australia's most infamous bushranger.

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Molly Morgan is credited with building the first inn in Maitland. What was the name of the Inn?* This field is required.

The Devil's Inn

The Angel Inn

The Royal Inn

The Convict's Inn

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The Angel Inn.

Here is a view of High Street, West Maitland, showing the location of Walker and Dickson's Stores, close to the site of The Angel Inn.

19

A lecture scheduled in Maitland in March,1860 triggered a riot down the High Street. What was the name of the lecture that caused so much trouble?* This field is required.

Heathenism of Popery Proved and Illustrated

Idolatry Proved and Illustrated

Liberty Proved and Illustrated

Liberty of Free Speech

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Heathenism of Popery Proved and Illustrated

The Reverend of the Free Church of Scotland in Maitland advertised this subject as a public lecture that he was going to deliver.

The title of the lecture was greatly offensive to the local Catholics and the local Catholic Reverend distributed a leaflet in an attempt to calm the members of his Church; however the damage had already been done as the term "Popery" was considered very offensive.

On the day of the lecture, the Reverend's carriage was attacked and he was beaten into unconsiciousness so that the lecture could not be delivered. The Catholics went on to riot all down the Maitland High St in protest, with Anglicans shuttering their doors and windows to limit the damage.

The Reverend attempted to reschedule his lecture but all venues refused to host him, leading instead to a Liberty of Speech rally instead.

vs

21

A bushranger gang ran rampant through Maitland and the surrounding areas between 1839 and 1841. What was the name of the gang?* This field is required.

The Kelly Gang

The Jewboy Gang

The Clarke Gang

The Ben Hall Gang

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The Jewboy Gang

In the summer of 1839 Edward Davis formed a bushranger gang in northern New South Wales. For two years his gang maintained a reign of terror from Maitland to the New England highway, in the Hunter valley and down to Gosford.

During 1840 the gang committed numberless depredations in the Maitland and surrounding districts.

Their attire, behaviour and their gallantry to the ladies indicated that they were not hardened criminals but juvenile delinquents who considered themselves knights of the road. Davis bore curious tattoos and members of the gang wore gaudy clothes and tied pink ribbons to their horses' bridles.

The gang, except the seventh member, who escaped, was captured and taken to Sydney gaol. On 24 February 1841 the bushrangers were committed for trial at the Supreme Court, and found guilty and were sentenced to death.

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You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Not a great score I'm afraid. It's time to study up on your Maitland facts and figures. Come back and try again sometime soon. We'll keep this between us ;-)

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You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Not bad, we can see potential when we see it! Although, it wouldn't hurt to do a little more study on the Maitlander way of life. Come back and try again sometime soon. ;-)

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You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Excellent score! You are a true Maitlander after all. You should be proud of your score, and deserve a swim the next time a flood hits the city. Come back and try again sometime soon. ;-)

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You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Perfect! How did you manage that? Pure 100% Maitlander blood runs through your veins. Perhaps you are Maitland Royalty? Thanks for sampling this quiz, and stay tuned for more quizzes to come. :-)

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Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.— Fyodor Dostoevsky (Crime and Punishment)

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