EAST MAITLAND

WATER BRIGADE

An Historical Study

Peter Bond

July 2016

EAST MAITLAND WATER BRIGADE

The First Boats

Following the success of the West Maitland Borough Council in obtaining funds from the

government for the purchase of flood boats, the East Maitland Borough Council applied to the NSW

government for two flood boats in June 1876. In December, £50 was made available and the council was

authorised to purchase the boats.1 In February 1877, John Sheppard offered to construct two flood boats

similar to those of West Maitland for £30 each and to supply sculls at £1 per pair. The tender was accepted

and the council successfully applied to the government for a further grant of £20 to complete the purchase.

In September 1878, the mayor reported that the boats were complete and would be left in Mr Sheppard’s

care until a shed was obtained for their storage. A newspaper report of the day described them as “similar to

the two smaller West Maitland flood-boats, but, if anything, stronger, having an additional plank in them.

They are 23 feet long, with a 5 feet beam, and 20 inches deep. They ... are clinker-built and copper-rivetted

throughout. The planking is cedar, ... the timbers … are of spotted gum.”2

The boats were vested in a committee of the council which had the power to appoint crews and

coxswains and to formulate rules and regulations for the use of the boats. Members of the municipality were

invited to nominate as crew members but this system of manning the boats did not guarantee that a crew

would be forthcoming when needed in times of flood.3

Initially, the boats were housed in a boat shed on the bank of Wallis Creek but on several occasions

in 1882 and 1883 it was reported that the doors had been opened and boys had been running around on the

boats. Locks were put on the doors but the break-ins continued. In 1885, the council accepted the offer of

James Cook who took on the role of caretaker, in return for keeping his own boat in the shed. A derrick was

installed but by 1889 it was deemed to be of no use, it being “scarcely possible to lower a heavy boat along a

steep embankment.” The shed was considered to be unworkable in its present position and in March 1889,

the council resolved to move the boatshed into the grounds of the nearby gasworks where the shed could

be properly supervised.4

Wallis Creek

1878 - 1889

Banks St Reserve

1898 -

Gas Works

1889 - 1899

Pitnacree Bridge

1899 - 1951

East Maitland Water Brigade - Flood boat storage sites

Flood Duty

The boats saw their first flood action in August 1879 when it was reported “that some young

gentlemen kindly manned the East Maitland flood boats on Saturday and proceeded in the direction of

Pitnacree and other places with provisions.”5 The region was then free of significant flooding for ten years

until May 1889 when “the flood boats of East Maitland were got in readiness for action” and went out “in

charge of capable men.” They were “out till three o’clock in the morning, though fortunately their services

were not required.”6

In the great flood of March 1893, the services of the flood boats were definitely required, with the

water reaching 37’3” (11.16m), its highest level since 1820. “Never before has such devastation been caused

by floodwater at East Maitland.” The flood boats were fully occupied saving people from their flooded

homes and supplying provisions to flood bound families. Unfortunately, the danger of their activity was

made manifest when “one of the East Maitland boats was wrecked by being dashed against a fence.”7 A

letter to the editor of the Maitland Mercury following the flood commended “the boat’s crew which did

signal service on the occasion of the late flood … The men were engaged in rendering active service for six

days, and a large quantity of furniture was recovered after the flood had subsided, and many families were

rescued.”8

The Pitnacree Boat

Following the 1893 flood, several Hunter Valley towns applied to the government for flood boats,

however, the East Maitland Borough Council let a request for additional boats stand over until a later time,

giving their first priority for government assistance to the embankments [levees]. The need for permanent

crews with ready access to the river for training had been highlighted by the great flood. Several “suitable

people” indicated readiness to undertake such duties and Mr Porter of Pitnacree offered to take charge of a

boat to be available for crew training.9 A boatshed was built on Mr Porter’s property just upriver of the

Pitnacree Bridge and the Pitnacree Flood Boat Committee was formed to oversee the use and maintenance

of the boat. The flood of August 1899, damaged the shed due to a wash away, with silting up making access

very difficult. The shed was relocated onto the adjoining land of George Eckford using £5 granted by the

government for that purpose with Mr Eckford adding another £1.10

In March 1895, the council sought to improve the carrying capacity of the East Maitland flood boats

as it was thought “the boats were too shallow”. The council accepted a tender of £7/1/- to raise the

gunwales of both boats by an extra plank and to supply each with 3 pairs of iron rowlocks.11

Race Success

In January 1896, the West Maitland Anniversary Day Regatta was revived after a break of 11 years

[the 1896 regatta was rowed on 27th January rather than the usual 26th]. Included on the program was an

Open Water Brigade Race for crews “pulling 4 pair sculls in floodboats with coxswain.” Several residents of

East Maitland desirous of taking part in the flood boat race were given the loan of an East Maitland flood

boat in which to train and compete. On the day of competition, the East Maitland crew were provided with

one of the West Maitland flood boats to race in as their own boat was not equal to the others competing.

East Maitland won their heat but the final was delayed until the following afternoon due to the lateness of

the hour. Although the West Maitland crew was more skillful and took the lead both times a buoy was

rounded, East Maitland proved to be the stronger crew, winning by four lengths.12

New Boats

In July 1897, the government delivered two new flood boats to East Maitland. The boats had been

built under the direction of the Marine Board and were described as “splendid cedar ones, 22 feet 3 inches

in length, with a beam of 5 feet 8 inches. The boats are copper riveted, and weigh 6cwt each. With them are

6 pairs of sculls. Each boat will comfortably seat about fourteen persons, and in times of flood should be

found of great service, as they are nice handy crafts.” With four boats now under their control, the council

recognised the need for a new boatshed to house them and a water brigade to man them.13

Formation of the Water Brigade

In late 1896, a move had been made to form a water brigade, but as the council and the prospective

members of the brigade could not agree on a set of rules, the attempt had failed. In January 1898, a public

meeting to form a water brigade had a more favourable outcome with a provisional committee appointed to

negotiate with the council over a set of rules. The resulting rules were adopted at the foundation meeting of

the East Maitland Volunteer Water Brigade on 10-2-1898 where the following officers were elected:

president, the Mayor for the time being J H F Waller; vice-president, John Hope; captain, W H Towns; vice-

captain, William Aird; secretary, John Russell; treasurer, John Ferry; coxswains, Joseph Mudd, John Mudd,

Albert Jury and John Ferry.14

A New Boatshed

The new boatshed was built in the centre of East Maitland on the Banks St Reserve. The shed was

located on the east side of the fire station facing Newcastle St with an ambulance shed erected at the same

time between them. [The Les Darcy statue now stands on this site]. The dimensions of the boat shed were

33 ft by 20 ft and the ambulance shed 26ft 6in by 17 ft, with the total cost of construction being £118/15/-.15

Many people objected to the location of the shed, as it took up part of the public reserve and was a long way

from the river. A letter to the editor of the Maitland Mercury stated that “pulling the boats on trollies to the

river and back about four miles comes more under the province of working bullocks.” The letter writer

continued: “The flood boats have been in the charge of the Council for the last twenty years and they have

never yet succeeded in getting crews to man them until this last few months. They now have a brigade a

forty of fifty strong, and amongst them many efficient boatmen. But I feel sure that the brigade will not last

twelve months if the Council persist in erecting the shed so far from the river”.16

The East Maitland flood boats were built for three pairs of sculls with three rowers and a coxswain.

West Maitland had boats of two different sizes for both three rowers and four rowers.

The boatshed was officially opened on 13-10-1898 with aldermen of the three local councils, East

Maitland, West Maitland and Morpeth in attendance. An anonymous response to a statement in the speech

of the West Maitland Mayor reflected the underlying feeling between the residents of East Maitland and

West Maitland. The Mayor said that “it had always been his aim that the most cordial feeling should exist

between the three boroughs. He did not see why the presence of a small creek should militate against the

existence of friendship between them.” The response: “But it does”.15

The First Newcastle Regatta

The East Maitland Water Brigade entered three crews in the inaugural Water Brigade Race at the

Newcastle New Year’s Day regatta of 1899. The East Maitland No 2 crew finished third behind West Maitland

No 1 and Grafton No 2. The East Maitland crew members were incensed with the treatment they had

received at the hands of the West Maitland crew and the organizing committee. The race was to have been

rowed in butcher boats with weights added to make them equal and they were to be drawn for by lot.

However, West Maitland had made their own personal arrangements with the owner of the best boat who

would let no-one else row his boat and it was not included in the draw for boats by the other crews. The East

Maitland protest to the organizing committee fell on deaf ears. The relationship between the water brigades

of East Maitland and West Maitland was at an extreme low.17

Disharmony

Racing was the source, not only of ill feeling between the water brigades of East and West Maitland,

but also of ill feeling within the East Maitland Water Brigade itself. The members of the brigade who were

interested in racing had several disagreements with the non-racing faction made up mainly of the aldermen

of the council who had controlled the boats before the formation of the water brigade. At the 1899 annual

general meeting, the brigade captain W H Towns stated “experience showed that members of water

brigades indulging in boat rowing contests were nearly always the cause of bad feeling cropping up. First

class rowing men were not required so much as good brigade men.”18

Continued disagreements led to the expulsion of three members, with subsequent control of the

brigade being concentrated in the hands of the non-racing faction as a result of the election of officers at the

1900 annual general meeting.

In August 1899 with the river rising to 32’0” (9.56m), all four “of the council’s flood boats were

launched and ready for active work. No. 4, in charge of Captain Towns … rendered good service at Raworth,

Pitnacree and Phoenix Park.”19

In late 1899, it was decided to pull down the old boat shed from the gas works and re-erect it on the

river bank close to the Pitnacree Bridge.20 A slip was built from the shed to the river with a winch to pull the

boats in and out. Although the new infrastructure enabled the men to train with ease, this favourable

situation did not last for long. By mid-1901 the slip had been damaged by “cobra” [toredo worm] and was

unusable. As the boats could not be moved in and out of the shed, two boats were left on the river bank but

there were usually only enough men at training sessions to boat one crew. The East Maitland crew at the

1902 Newcastle Regatta was unplaced “owing to want of practice.” “Renewed interest in the brigade” was

needed.21

Unfortunately, there seems to have been little interest shown in the brigade for the next three years

with no mention of any activities in the local press and no entries in published regattas between the New

Year’s Day regattas of 1902 and 1906. In the East Maitland Borough Council meeting of 14-4-1903 it was

stated “the water brigade is dead” “the boats were last out about December 1901.”22

West Maitland Defectors

The East Maitland Water Brigade returned to the public eye in October 1905, with 6 members of the

West Maitland Water Brigade transferring to East Maitland. These new members intended to represent East

Maitland at the 1906 Newcastle Regatta and offered the brigade the use of a butcher boat to train in. The

butcher boat was jointly owned by William Morris who had transferred to East Maitland and his two

brothers who had remained with West Maitland. When the East Maitland brigade members tried take the

butcher boat, a scuffle broke out between the Morris brothers that led to a court case for unlawful assault.

The solicitor who represented the defendant William Morris was J H F Waller, Mayor of East Maitland and

President of the East Maitland Water Brigade. The case was dismissed.23

The East Maitland crew that raced in the 1906 New Year’s Day regatta was made up of the four

Lethbridge brothers who had transferred from West Maitland. In the final, West Maitland won easily with

Grafton second and East Maitland third, however they were elevated to second place when the West

Maitland crew was disqualified for carrying insufficient weight in their boat. In early February 1906, three

East Maitland crews entered the “Flood Boat Race for crews pulling three pairs of sculls” at the ‘Morpeth

Aquatic Sports’ regatta in aid of the Morpeth School of Arts. Sixteen boats competed with crews from East

Maitland, West Maitland, Morpeth, Hinton, Narrowgut and Newcastle – the largest gathering of racing flood

boats of the period. Due to the large number of entries in all events, the program was run over two days.

The winners of the five heats were due to row in semi-finals on the second day, but as only two crews put in

an appearance, a straight final was run with Narrowgut defeating East Maitland. [The Narrowgut team was

called Largs in the report with a member of the crew writing to the editor to correct the error].

James Hardrass Fitzgerald Waller in mayoral robes24

Local Government Act 1906

In September 1907, The Department of Public Works wrote to councils informing them that under

section 118 of the Local Government Act 1906, each council was to take responsibility for all flood boats

within their government area. In the case of the East Maitland Municipal Council – “All boats referred to

were in charge of the council, except the one under the control of Mr J Porter” [the Pitnacree boat]. The

council resolved to take charge of the boat.25

Reconstitution

Following the 1906 Morpeth Regatta, the captain of the East Maitland Water Brigade was present at

a meeting to raise a Morpeth Water Brigade but after this report, the East Maitland Water Brigade

disappeared from the local news again and became inactive. In December 1908, the council decided to “re-

organise” the brigade and appointed a temporary secretary to facilitate the process.26 The East Maitland

Volunteer Water Brigade was reconstituted in January 1909. The new committee bought a second hand boat

for £5 and had it repaired for £5, valuing the refurbished boat at £20. The need was felt for a racing boat but

the brigade found it difficult to raise funds due to the coal strike.27

The newly formed brigade was called to flood duty in December 1909 and January 1910. At 31’0”

[9.26m] this latter flood was the biggest in 6 years and the inexperience of many of the brigade’s 60

members meant that only two crews could be put together with sufficient boat skills to handle the rough

water and fast currents below East Maitland.27 A Bottle picked up on Stockton Beach in February 1910

contained a note written by Sydney King of Narrowgut dated 16th January which stated “Water just on our

verandah, still rising only been visited by East Maitland Water Brigade boat and Mr Patrick Bradey’s

[boat].”28

East Maitland Water Brigade Aquatic Sports on Howes Lagoon : 16-9-1911

Double Sculls won by P and J Watson29

The brigade kept two boats for practice in the Pitnacree shed but had trouble getting the boats into

and out of the water. The need was felt for a new boat shed on the river and a government grant of £40 was

secured in April 1910 for that purpose. A new site was obtained with a 21 year lease and plans were made

for the construction of a 30ft x 21ft x 10ft shed. An additional government grant of £20 was received in

January 1911 and the construction of the shed was carried out.30 To transfer the boats from the shed to the

water, a derrick was erected, an improvement on the slip ways that had failed in the past.31

In a newspaper article of August 1910, it was stated that the East Maitland fleet ”comprises five

boats - four belonging to the Council and one privately owned whilst money is being collected towards the

purchase of another racing boat”. This statement implies that the brigade already had a racing boat,

presumably the privately owned Morris butcher boat.32

Aquatic Sports

Racing was now seen as beneficial with training for racing helping the men develop the rowing skills

required in times of flood. An afternoon of “aquatic sport” was conducted on the river opposite Mr Mudd’s

property in late August 1910 “with the object of bringing the members together”. Events were conducted for

single sculls over half a mile and for double sculls and triple sculls over one mile. Club vice-captain Robert

Burgess carried all before him with victories in all three events.33 In December 1910, two East Maitland

crews and two West Maitland crews met in the “Water Brigade Race” at the Morpeth Regatta with East

Maitland No 2 retiring early and No 1 finishing second. The club afternoon of “aquatic sport” was repeated

in September 1911 on Howes Lagoon with a “large attendance”. Three Watson brothers were prominent,

winning the single and double, with one of the three in the winning triple. A greasy pole competition was

also conducted that “created great amusement.”34

Triple Sculls won by Hodgins, Watson and Towns35

The ‘J H F Waller’

The East Maitland brigade had competed at the New Year’s Day butcher boat races in Newcastle

from 1899 to 1902 but, apart from the crew of West Maitland defectors in 1906, had not competed since.

East Maitland resumed their participation at the Newcastle regatta in 1911 with two crews competing, to

run second to West Maitland. The need for a lightweight racing boat was strongly felt and fund raising

efforts finally enabled the brigade to purchase a new butcher boat at a cost of £34 from Towns Bros of

Dempsey Island. The new boat arrived in January 1912 and was christened ‘J H F Waller’ “in recognition of

that gentleman’s long and valuable services to the brigade.” The christening was held on 22-3-1913 on the

Banks St Reserve in conjunction with a sports gathering to raise funds for the East Maitland Brass Band. The

East Maitland Water Brigade participated in the tug-of-war competition, winning the final of that event

against a Railway and Telegraph team.36

Although the spirit of racing was growing among the brigade members, it was decided not to send a

crew to the Anniversary Day regatta run in West Maitland in 1911 “owing to the unsportsmanlike attitude

adopted by the West Maitland brigade in deciding to hold their function on the same day as the East

Maitland Athletic Club’s annual gathering.”38 The relationship between the two brigades had not improved.

Unfortunately, the acquisition of a new and lighter racing boat did not help the East Maitland crew

overcome their West Maitland opponents, with a succession of second places to West Maitland at the

Newcastle regatta up until the event went into recess for the duration of the war following the 1914 regatta.

When speaking in acceptance of his election as captain at the 1913 annual general meeting, Alderman Pryor

“said that he had not reached the height of his ambition in connection with the water brigade, and that was

to see the East Maitland crew beat West Maitland.”39

Christening of the ‘J H F Waller’37

At the 1912 annual general meeting, it was reported that the boats were in a bad state of repair,

most were leaking badly and would “not be of much use in flood time.”38 An application was lodged with the

council for two new floodboats and tenders were called for the sale of 2 of the old boats in February 1912.

Splendid Efforts

The flood of May 1913 at 37’ (11.09m) was the biggest since the great flood of 1893 and the second

biggest since 1820. The efforts of the East Maitland brigade were acclaimed in the Newcastle Morning

Herald: “No record of the flood at East Maitland would be complete without reference to the splendid work

done by the men of the East Maitland Water Brigade whenever the call of duty sent them through the raging

flood by night as well as by day. Only those who have seen a Hunter flood surging and racing along its course

of destruction can have any idea of the dangerous nature of the work of the floodboat men.” “The two

boats [No1 floodboat and ‘J H F Waller’] were used right through the flood, first for rescue work, and then

for going out to the marooned people with provisions.”40

In 1913, a government grant of £20 “enabled the brigade to have a new flood boat built by Mr

Towns ... at a cost of £31/2/-.” The boat, described as being 25ft long, “built on solid lines” and “very well

suited for rough water”, was christened ‘W B Pryor’ on 14-3-1914. It became “the sixth boat available for use

in times of flood – three belonging to the brigade and three to the municipal council.”41

Although the Newcastle Regatta was not conducted in 1915, the brigade did compete in the water

brigade race at West Maitland in March of that year in which they were fouled and missed out on a place.

The crew entered a protest which was upheld but they refused to re-row the race for second prize as a re-

row was not “in accordance with the umpire’s instructions before the race started”; the relationship

between the two brigades had not improved.42

Diminished Activity

Following the 1913 flood, the East Maitland Water Brigade was not called upon until May 1915

when “the Louth Park area was flooded, and the members in that district did splendid work with the boat

sent out.” Members from the town also rowed out to assist, giving the ‘W B Pryor’ its “maiden trip”.42

Following this minor activity, the brigade had little to do for the next few years with no call to flood duties

and no participation at regattas. The members did little boat work, with the captain calling for regular

practices at the 1917 annual general meeting. At the 1918 annual meeting “the chairman stated that owing

to the year having been a quiet one there was very little to report.” At this meeting it was suggested that the

council be asked “for a portable stern motor”: a presage to the future of flood rescue.43

Cessation

The annual general meeting due in January 1919 was not held and in July of that year a meeting was

called “to revive interest in the East Maitland Water Brigade”.44 Although a subsequent meeting was planned

for the election of officers and to arrange for regular practices, at a meeting in March 1920 “the acting

secretary, Mr A Rowcliff, drew attention to the fact that for the last couple of years the brigade has been

more or less inactive”.45 In May 1922, a special general meeting of the brigade was called to consider “The

advisability of disbanding the brigade and handing over the boats and equipment to the East Maitland

Municipal Council”.46 Only 5 people attended and “It was decided to refer the question of taking over the

boats to the Municipal Council.”47 Subsequently, the acting secretary wrote to the council recommending

“that the boats be taken out of the control of the brigade as it is not in a position to man the boats should

the necessity arise”. In March 1923, the acting secretary gave council permission to use the boat shed by the

river and the flood boat ‘W B Pryor’ for service in time of flood.48 The East Maitland Water Brigade had

ceased to exist and had handed all of their assets to the council.

Although the brigade was no longer a formal entity, the old members still answered the call when

needed in times of flood. Following the flood of June 1930, the equal of the great flood of 1893, a letter to

the editor of the Maitland Mercury wished “to thank the crew of the East Maitland Water Brigade for the

valuable service rendered during the recent disastrous flood.” The crew of the ‘W B Pryor’ was

congratulated on “the efficient manner in which they handled their boat, despite the fact that they had very

strong currents to contend with and most difficult circumstances to surmount.”49

Termination

On 25th May 1939, a public meeting was called at the East Maitland Council Chambers to deal with

two recently discovered bank accounts of which the council had been unaware. One of these was for the

East Maitland Volunteer Water Brigade with a credit balance of £24/10/1.

The town clerk, Mr L G Markey, knew of only three people who had been connected with the

brigade in the past. He invited them to the meeting and received a letter in response from the former

captain H H Hellyer who wrote that the brigade owned two butcher boats plus sundry equipment and the

council owned a shed on the river bank, two keel boats and a punt. The former secretary, and current acting

secretary, of the brigade, Mr A E Rowcliff, was present at the meeting and advised that he had been

“secretary from about 1914 to 1916, when inability to secure a meeting had resulted in his handing over all

books to the town clerk.”

Mr Markey “said that the only record of boats in the council’s possession when he arrived 15 years

ago was one punt valued at £5/11/3.”

The meeting authorised the council to consolidate the accounts into a flood relief account. It further

authorised the council to take over all assets of the East Maitland Volunteer Water Brigade, to have them

valued, taken into account on the council’s books and to use them for the purpose for which they were

originally intended.50

The council sought a valuation of the boats from E and N Towns of Mayfield who recommended the

sale of two flood boats and the ‘JHF Waller’, leaving the council with two flood boats and a punt. Council

ordered a new boat from Towns to replace the boats sold, giving them as many boats as they felt they could

find men to crew them.51 In September 1939, the new boat was delivered at a cost of £33, the ‘W B Pryor’

and the flat bottomed punt were sent to Mayfield for repairs and the three boats to be sold were put up for

tender.52 The racing butcher boat ‘J H F Waller’ sold for £6/10/-, a 22ft x 5ft 3in flood boat sold for £3 and

the third boat, 22ft x 6ft, sold for £4/10/-.53

The demise of the East Maitland Water Brigade was complete!

East Maitland Water Brigade

References

MMHRGA = Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser

MDM = Maitland Daily Mercury, MWM = Maitland Weekly Mercury

NMHMA = Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate

1 16-12-1876 MMHRGA 28 2-2-1910 MDM

2 26-9-1878 MMHRGA 29 Maitland City Library

3 18-9-1880 MMHRGA 30 21-1-1911 MDM

4 23-3-1889 MMHRGA 31 9-1-1912 MDM

5 12-8-1879 MMHRGA 32 13-8-1910 MDM

6 1-6-1889 MMHRGA 33 1-9-1910 MDM

7 16-3-1893 MMHRGA 34 18-9-1911 MDM

8 23-3-1893 MMHRGA 35 Maitland City Library

9 10-6-1893 MMHRGA 36 24-3-1913 MDM

10 16-9-1899 MDM 37 Maitland City Library

11 11-4-1895 MDM 38 9-1-1912 MDM

12 29-1-1896 MDM 39 17-1-1913 MDM

13 30-7-1897 MDM 40 24-5-1913 NMHMA

14 11-2-1898 MDM 41 16-3-1914 MDM

15 14-10-1898 MDM 42 18-1-1916 MDM

16 5-4-1898 MDM 43 5-2-1918 MDM

17 14-1-1899 MDM 44 18-7-1919 MDM

18 22-2-1899 MDM 45 8-3-1920 MDM

19 27-2-1900 MDM 46 6-5-1922 MDM

20 8-8-1899 MDM 47 12-5-1922 MDM

21 1-3-1902 MDM 48 31-3-1923 MDM

22 15-4-1903 MDM 49 1-7-1930 MDM

23 18-12-1905 MDM 50 26-5-1939 MDM

24 Maitland City Library 51 21-6-1939 MDM

25 2-10-1907 MDM 52 30-8-1939 MDM

26 24-12-1908 MDM 53 27-9-1939 MDM

27 20-1-1910 MDM