Drawings from Wallsend’s 150th year
“Born
there. Probably die there.”
Tom Davis
You are holding a limited edition of 500 copies signed and numbered by the author
This book is dedicated to the members of Wallsend Area, Then and Now Facebook Group. Thanks for all the comments.
And a big thanks to Haben and Wallsend Shopping Village for asking me to create the mural that started all this
The Book of Wallsend by Trevor Dickinson Copyright 2024 Trevor Dickinson www.trevordickinson.com
ISBN 978-0-6489172-3-6
A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library Australia.
First published in 2024 by Trevor Dickinson mistertrevordickinson@gmail.com
All rights reserved. Except for short extracts for the purpose of review, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author.
Drawings from Wallsend’s 150th year
All drawings were made between January and May 2024.
This project started as a mural commission for Wallsend Shopping Village, the theme being Local Landmarks of Wallsend (past and current). I took the job because I knew little about Wallsend, even though I only live ten minutes away.
It sounded like the perfect place to explore, so I went on a few trips looking for interesting locations and very quickly found a lot to photograph. It was clear that the suburb had a distinctive character that was well worth exploring.
2024 is the 150th anniversary of Wallsend Council, so it seemed appropriate to capture the suburb as it is now. Even so, it’s impossible to ignore the history of Wallsend; it’s present throughout the whole book. Some of the older buildings are now re-packaged with modern signs and neon lights, but the 19th century facades are still very much visible.
I always hope that my images resonate with local people, and I found an audience in the Facebook group Wallsend Area, Then and Now. Almost every drawing that I posted to the group received a large range of comments that would breathe extra life into the pictures. These snapshots of the past proved to be a big help in the project: memories of grandparents; a dance in the sixties; the names of previous shopkeepers; or just a random connection to the subject — they all appealed to me. I picked some of my favourites to include in this book alongside the drawings they relate to.
I asked permission to use all comments printed. The few requests that didn’t get replies are credited as “Facebook Comment”. To read the full range of responses, join the Wallsend Area, Then and Now group, and scroll back to early 2024 to find (or add to) the rest.
Wallsend Business Centre, Cowper Street “Met the love of my life there at the Saturday night dances in 1968.”
Robyn J Wisemantel
Ye Old Pub
Metcalfe Street
“My parents owned this house in the late 70s . . . even had a car drive through into the front lounge room.”
Racecourse Hotel, Minmi Road
“My Dad got barred from the Racecourse Pub in the late 60s for doing an Indian snake dance on the bar one ANZAC day.”
Wallsend Telephone Exchange, Cowper Street
“Done work experience there in 87, it was boring as bat shit.”
Facebook Comment
Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Irving Street
“My mother-in-law had her funeral service there, as did her mother. Very different to Catholic. Open casket, and long. Standing the whole service.”
Facebook Comment
Wallsend Fire Station, Devon Street
“I was there doing my fire fighters badge when I eased out a sneaky quiet fart. And the two examiners being firemen from the station were accusing each other.”
Tony Leach
Former Grapes Inn, Kemp Street
“My great-great-grandfather John O’Brien had his last drinks here in 1878 . . . he fell into a well on his way home and drowned . . . ”
Julie Stanwell
Wallsend Masonic Centre, Metcalfe Street
“Went to bingo with my great grandma over 60 years ago.”
Janette Riches
The Coal Hopper next to Dan Reece Street
“My dad used to spray rows of these with diesel and burn the timber off so the steel could be recycled, up
Wallsend Mechanical, from Federal Park
“Truly an architectural masterpiece.” Hunter Sydenham
Big Bus Shelter, Bunn Street
“I
“I was picked up from
to
71 Cowper Street
“Dad used to wheel his uncle there in his wheelchair. From Jesmond to the Saturday movie matinee in the late 1920s. They allowed Dad in free.”
Spargo Lane Street Sign
“I used to hate delivering mail up there on a push bike, one letter one house, lol.” Maxwell Lee
Top Thai Restaurant, Kemp Street
“The Thai place was my great-grandparents home. My grandmother was born in the front upstairs room in 1922.” fatwrenfarm
St Patrick’s Church, Macquarie Street
“Baptised, first communion, confirmation, married, family funerals, and my daughter’s wedding in St Pats!” Kathy Rae
Summerhill
Waste Management Centre, Minmi Road
“. . . Legalised robbery by Newcastle Council . . . bloody $46.00 to dump 300 kilos of recyclable metal and such . . . Stuff them.”
“. . . Wife was with me and was not impressed either . . . ” Peter Wallace
Diggers Carpark, Charles Street
No great comments for this one. I drew it because I liked the faces in the building.
Trevor Dickinson
4Cyte Pathology seen from Council Street “is it appropriate to post this here?”
Facebook Comment
32 Council Street seen from Ironbark Creek
“Reference to Star Wars, it’s a play of words of Wallsend. Walls-End. Wars-end. Quite clever, this is supported through further evidence of the various spacecrafts on each side. Also the font of the writing “Wars End” is copying the Star Wars font.” Btephen Bing
Wallsend Park, Thomas Street
Use of this facility is at all times the risk of the individual
Ironbark Creek, Thomas Street HELP THE KIDS KEEP THE CREEK CLEAN!
Chair outside Yumm Thai, Nelson Street
“I sat on it last week.”
Paula Harwood
Heng Loon Restaurant, Cowper Street
“Heng Loong used to be at the Halls Haven Hotel (now Jesmond Hotel) way back in the late 1970s and 1980s.
I think they moved to Nelson Street in the 1990s, or maybe early 2000s. And eventually moved to the old Wallsend Library.” Jarrod Banks
Nelson Street Street Sign
“It’s in Wallsend.” emwarrenart
Colliery Inn, Cowper Street
“Can’t complain about a place that’s open at 7am, 6 days a week.”
Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety, Newcastle Road
“I read of an American being horrified when reading about a bishop in country Australia described as going ‘outback in his shorts’. In American parlance, out back is to the toilet, and shorts are underpants.”
David F Morrison
“It was our family Friday night takeaway, because that’s all there was.”
Joanne Borg
“I hosted an online date from out west for three nights there, because I lived with my parents.
“When he was 22 years old he helped a cat deliver kittens.”
Clarens House, Campbell Street
“That was my princess house growing up. I always wanted to live there.”
Annette Stephens
“Dave’s
Al-Madina Butcher and Grocery, Thomas Street
“Parked in Murnin St. the other day. A familiar face toting a camera walks across the road gets in a car and drives off. Hey Presto a couple of days later this gem appears. Quick work Trevor.” Stuart Willis
Al-Madina Butcher and Grocery, Thomas Street
“Photographed Saturday, drawn Sunday, finished Monday, posted Tuesday.” Trevor Dickinson
The Lemon Grove Hotel, Nelson Street
“I heard there was a bar fight there once.” Jez Kibb “Jez Kibb, it started in the 1800s and is still going.” Greg Linsley
“It looked better when it was painted yellow — now, like every effing ‘renovation’, it’s grey. Decent pub grub, good beer prices. Needs to be lemon yellow again!!” spyro_the_aussie
The Hammer Cage, Federal Park
“Discus anyone?” Trevor Dickinson
“Not sure if multi purpose, but I’ve seen hammer throw from there.” Facebook Comment
Newcastle Multicultural Seventh-day Adventist Church, Newcastle Road
“In 1974 I attended a quit smoking program there, haven’t smoked since.” Greg Harris
Newcastle Contemporary Dance Company, Council Street
“I have been in this particular building for 20 years. It was empty prior to this for a number of years. It had been a karate centre for many years.”
Cherylann Bailey Stannett
“My house, built and designed by my late husband. Needs some repainting, but still has the best views and beautiful breezes. Very comfortable.” Robyn Sanderson
“So I’m 52 an I still remember my grandfather would go an sit here every morning to read the paper. His name was Don Smith. If anyone knew him, he had a false leg.”
About
Trevor Dickinson was born in Swindon, England, and studied at Camberwell School of Art, London. After graduating, he designed textiles and graphics for the fashion industry, before moving to Newcastle, Australia, in 2002.
After a few years of feeling seriously homesick, Trevor knew he had to engage more with his new home, so he began drawing Australia’s streets and architecture. His passion for drawing urban details led to an unplanned and very rewarding career change.
Books
The Book of Taree
The Book of Newcastle
The Book of Canberra
Beautiful Bus Shelters of Canberra
Greetings from Maitland available from www.trevordickinson.com
mistertrevordickinson@gmail.com
Instagram: Trevor Dickinson
Facebook: Mister Trevor Dickinson
This book is a portrait of Wallsend on it’s 150th birthday It was declared a municipality in 1874
Here’s is what it looks like in 2024
