Pits & Pubs: Virtual Tour of the South Maitland Coalfields

The great days of the South Maitland Coalfield, once the growth heart of New South Wales are no more. However, its hotels in towns like Heddon Greta, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain, Neath, Kearsley, Abernethy, Kitchener, Aberdare, Cessnock, Bellbird, Paxton, and Ellalong, built during the coal industry's peak, still stand.

These hotels, along with memorials and cemeteries, offer a glimpse into the region's past, its people, and the origins of local names, serving as a testament to early 1900s architecture, often by local Hunter Valley architects.

Join us for this virtual tour with Ed Tonks.

About Ed: Ed Tonks is a retired secondary school Social Sciences teacher and a dedicated local historian, who has actively taught, researched, and promoted the Hunter’s European Heritage for nearly 50 years.

Since 1986, he has delivered over 1400 talks and tours, popular for exploring the region's industrial, mining, and urban history, including walks through Newcastle suburbs and hotel sites. He is the author of twenty-three books and eight calendars, covering rail, coal mining, and hotel history across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and the Cessnock Local Government Area.

Ed has also served as an historical consultant, committee member, and in commemorative groups, leading to plaque rededications. His extensive contributions have been widely recognized, including a Centenary Medal (2003), the John Turner Memorial Lecture (2005), a Bona Perpetual award (2010), and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2019 for "services to education and to community History."

We thank the Kurri Kurri Bowling Club for generously hosting this event while the library is being repaired.