NSWPlanned settlement
Mayfield
A butcher’s hilltop subdivision became a villa suburb, then the steelworks’ neighbour.
1881John Scholey buys and subdivides the land
WHAT STARTED IT
Mayfield sits on rising ground at North Waratah, along the Maitland Road above the Hunter River, with views over Newcastle and the Hunter valley. Newcastle butcher John Scholey bought the area in April 1881 and had it cleared and subdivided, naming it after his daughter May.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Advertised as the most charming locality for villa residences in the district, its lots sold readily to successful Newcastle business people, who built fine houses. In 1913 BHP began building its iron and steelworks at neighbouring Port Waratah, and the works opened in June 1915.
TURNING POINTS
1881John Scholey buys the North Waratah land on 2 April and subdivides it as Mayfield.
1885‘The original Mayfield’ allotments on the Maitland Road are auctioned in October.
1913Construction of the BHP steelworks at Port Waratah begins on 3 January.
1915The steelworks are officially opened by the Governor-General on 2 June.
1999The Newcastle steelworks close.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A Maitland Road suburb of about 9,800 people. The steelworks closed in 1999 and its plant was demolished by 2001.