Maitland an incomplete history as seen through the eyes of a small boy Pt3
The Maitland Farmers Market know to the locals as the Union
I though I may not have been able to write this blog until next week as I had to check that my memory was correct. I am happy to report that my memories were correct although what I am about to write is a scant history of what must have been a fascinating place.
In recent time there has been an explosion of farmer markets start up. This has been viewed as an exciting new development. However the concept is not new & in Maitland a form of farmer markets existed for almost 100years.
The markets locally referred to as “The Union “began as a place for farmer to market their produce directly to the public to avoid taxes that had to be paid to middle men. The Farmers Union market began in the late 1800’s & was located in Steam Street Maitland. This Street runs from Elgin St to Church St & is near Maitland Railway station
I believe the Farmers Union got into financial difficulty & was purchased by the Swan, Murray & Haines Auctioneers later on a Mr Kennedy also sold from the site up until its closure in the late 1970’s.
As a small boy I remember going to the “Union” which was housed in a collection of dilapidated old weatherboard building where a vast array of locally grown seasonal produce would be out on display. On long concrete verandas In summer there would be long green melons, Queensland blue pumpkins, tomatoes, locally grown stone fruit or Black Muscat grapes in a paper lined wooden crates. In winter wooden crates of Oranges & the famous Paterson River Mandarins would be sold. This produce would be auctioned of to Greengrocers, housewives & the general public.
All the produce was sourced from the Hunter Valley much of it coming from the fertile river flats around Maitland. It was a common site to see sacks of potato looking like little soldier all standing to attention in the fertile fields. All these 50kg sacks filled by hand then loaded onto a truck all back breaking work. It was an amazing sight to see a man lift a huge bulging bag of potatoes onto his shoulder.
These vegetable farms are long gone the rows of corn & potatoes now replaced by turf for city lawns or by Lucerne to feed horses.
Also at the Union was the bag shed where Mr Wilton sold used potato sacks. Before it was banned Mr Wilton would purchase empty potato sack & then on sell them to potato farmers & produce merchants. In the days before bulk grain dairy farmer s purchased feed in bags. I remember Mr Wilton in his Red Commer truck calling at regular intervals to purchase our empty feed bags.
The “Union” also sold poultry with cage open cage filled with chickens, geese & turkeys. As a boy I remember going to the “union” with my grandfather to purchase a turkey for Christmas dinner .I was so small I always think of that turkey being the size of an Emu. Chicken in the 1960’swas a luxury that was only eaten on special occasions. You could grow & kill your own or purchase one from the markets, the ultimate in fresh food.
So what is old is new again
The Maitland Farmers Market know to the locals as the Union
I though I may not have been able to write this blog until next week as I had to check that my memory was correct. I am happy to report that my memories were correct although what I am about to write is a scant history of what must have been a fascinating place.
In recent time there has been an explosion of farmer markets start up. This has been viewed as an exciting new development. However the concept is not new & in Maitland a form of farmer markets existed for almost 100years.
The markets locally referred to as “The Union “began as a place for farmer to market their produce directly to the public to avoid taxes that had to be paid to middle men. The Farmers Union market began in the late 1800’s & was located in Steam Street Maitland. This Street runs from Elgin St to Church St & is near Maitland Railway station
I believe the Farmers Union got into financial difficulty & was purchased by the Swan, Murray & Haines Auctioneers later on a Mr Kennedy also sold from the site up until its closure in the late 1970’s.
As a small boy I remember going to the “Union” which was housed in a collection of dilapidated old weatherboard building where a vast array of locally grown seasonal produce would be out on display. On long concrete verandas In summer there would be long green melons, Queensland blue pumpkins, tomatoes, locally grown stone fruit or Black Muscat grapes in a paper lined wooden crates. In winter wooden crates of Oranges & the famous Paterson River Mandarins would be sold. This produce would be auctioned of to Greengrocers, housewives & the general public.
All the produce was sourced from the Hunter Valley much of it coming from the fertile river flats around Maitland. It was a common site to see sacks of potato looking like little soldier all standing to attention in the fertile fields. All these 50kg sacks filled by hand then loaded onto a truck all back breaking work. It was an amazing sight to see a man lift a huge bulging bag of potatoes onto his shoulder.
These vegetable farms are long gone the rows of corn & potatoes now replaced by turf for city lawns or by Lucerne to feed horses.
Also at the Union was the bag shed where Mr Wilton sold used potato sacks. Before it was banned Mr Wilton would purchase empty potato sack & then on sell them to potato farmers & produce merchants. In the days before bulk grain dairy farmer s purchased feed in bags. I remember Mr Wilton in his Red Commer truck calling at regular intervals to purchase our empty feed bags.
The “Union” also sold poultry with cage open cage filled with chickens, geese & turkeys. As a boy I remember going to the “union” with my grandfather to purchase a turkey for Christmas dinner .I was so small I always think of that turkey being the size of an Emu. Chicken in the 1960’swas a luxury that was only eaten on special occasions. You could grow & kill your own or purchase one from the markets, the ultimate in fresh food.
So what is old is new again
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