When compiling her latest historical book for Newcastle, researcher Julie Keating was amused to learn the issues plaguing the city now were also the topics of conversation in the nineteenth century.
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It was just one of a number of things she discovered during her research, including finding out who Newcastle’s self-proclaimed “clean butcher” was in that era, finding images of “beautiful” buildings that have been demolished without a trace and unearthing information such as when Hunter Street held a parade it went all day and into the night.
The North Lambton grandmother has just published the latest in a series of books on nineteenth century Newcastle
Newcastle's Hunter Street: the first hundred years traces the development of Hunter Street from a rough bush track to a bustling retail hub by the end of the nineteenth century.
Ms Keating worked for 40 years as a librarian in universities, TAFEs and schools.
Since retiring four years ago, she has started compiling and self-publishing historical books on her home-town.
“I love the newspaper articles because they are not politically correct, some of the things they say are outlandish and I just find them fascinating, so that’s what I do,” she said.
Ms Keating grew up in Lambton. Her first book was Lambton: A nineteenth century mining town, written for her parents.
Then followed historical books on nineteenth century Waratah and Mayfield and Merewether and The Junction for her grandparents.
“Then I just decided to do one on Hunter Street,” she said.
Ms Keating feels as though she is “only scratching the surface” and has her sights set on a book on Newcastle Harbour next.
While researching her latest book she found many articles against the extension of the railway line, which originally stopped at Civic Station.
“There were some businessmen in Newcastle who thought, ‘Why does it stop there, there would be a lot of financial benefits if it went into the retail centre’, and so it was extended into Scott Street,” Ms Keating said.
“But people were horrified that they were going to stick this ugly railway line and impede their access to the harbour and they were just furious about it.
“They protested but obviously the financial interest won the day. And of course now we are in a situation where they are ripping up the railway line, and I just find it fascinating that the railway line is still an issue.”
The book on the first century of Hunter Street forms the basis of an exhibition, which Ms Keating has written. It opens at the Newcastle Regional Local Studies Library on May 4 and will run for two months.