Hope for the Future

'There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.'

~ Margaret J. Wheatley

Hope for the future is everything.  In a small community like Weston, progress depends not only on support from different levels of government (the 'powers that be'), and investors, but also on aspirational locals:  the civic-minded business people and residents.  Local volunteer organisations are crucial and no doubt these hard-working groups would  welcome others joining them in their endeavours. These are community groups such as:

 Towns With Heart and Weston Heritage & Tidy Towns Committee.   

In the Advertiser article Mar 8, 2022 in relation to the mural project honoring Weston's history, journalist Krystal Sellars stated that the project was a collaboration between Towns With Heart and the Weston Heritage and Tidy Towns Committee.  The committee received funding through Cessnock City Council's Dollar for Dollar Grant Scheme to have the artworks produced and installed.

Ms Sellars wrote, 'The artworks - by local airbrush artist Daniel Joyce - depict historic Weston scenes, from Hebburn Colliery in 1903 to an aerial view of Maybury Peace Park with an inset image of the park's namesake, the late Jeff Maybury.' 

'Mr Maybury's wife Pat, who leads the Tidy Towns committee, said it was nice to see her husband honoured in this way.'

Perfect for families to visit, see further details about Maybury Peace Park.

Above: Maybury Peace Park, Cessnock Road, Weston

Group of eight photos by

~ Les Bender Photography

The name of this popular community space, Maybury Peace Park, honours the outstanding dedication of the former Cessnock councillor Jeff Maybury, who died in July 2015 after a battle with cancer. 

Affectionately known as the Mayor of Weston, Mr Maybury, 71, was Cessnock’s longest-serving councillor, with 35 years of loyal service.

Peace Park was one of his proudest achievements in his time on the council.

Maybury Peace Park now has a fitness track and 4kms. of pathways.

Perfect for families to visit, see further details about Maybury Peace Park.

Hope for the enhancement of Weston's  business hub can be gleaned from Cessnock City Council's WESTON COMMERCIAL CENTRE MASTERPLAN.  

Implementation of the Masterplan works are spread over the short, medium and long term.  Weston's business people and local residents are able to download the .pdf file of the  Weston Commercial Centre Masterplan from Cessnock City Council's website and see for themselves how the plan may improve their lives and business opportunities in the future.  Preserving the history and heritage of Weston is key, while bicycle use and outdoor dining will be encouraged.

Information from the Weston Commercial Centre Masterplan document includes:

3.1 Weston Commercial Centre Vision 

'The rich history of Weston will be highlighted through a strengthened connection between the built form and the public domain. Emphasis on significant buildings and elements of historical significance will reinforce the distinct character of the Weston Commercial Centre and differentiate it from nearby centres...

The key actions to improve commercial viability and vibrancy of Weston are: 

• Redirect heavy traffic around the commercial centre to improve access and amenity in the Town Centre 

• ‘Green’ the streets and improve amenity to make the streets a place where people want to dwell 

• Encourage residents to walk, cycle and shop locally 

On P.16 of the Masterplan it suggests:

•  Initial improvements could be as simple as low-cost artworks or lighting installations held in conjunction with mini festivals to help the community reimagine and reconnect with these spaces. In the long term the laneways can be refurbished with new paving, furniture, trees and lighting.  (Weston now has several mural installations - see above.)

• Adjacent property owners should also be encouraged through DCP provisions to undertake building modifications to address activate and use the lanes.  (See concept images in figure 9 below.)

On the Station Street (South) Upgrade drawing p.26,  the small brown square next to the existing rail line represents the historic water tower shown in the photograph above. ' A. A. Co.' is the abbreviation for the Australian Agricultural Company, the company that was instrumental in the very birth of Weston.  

This water tower is identified as one of the important architectural features of Weston.  It is positioned  at the southern end of Station Street.  On the p.26 drawing above of Station Street (South) Upgrades, it is listed at No.1: 'Refurbishment of the railway water tank including planting and feature lighting.'   

Undeniably, Weston is a historic town.  Thus far, its ‘private town’ beginnings and Hebburn coal mining heritage have not been given due recognition. 

One person commented on the I Grew Up In Weston and Survived Facebook page,  'It is no accident that Yoplait chose a shot of a pub wall and a humble shop when they filmed in Weston a few years ago - the town has a very persuasive heritage quality that has not been fully exploited.' 

Hopefully, that will change in the future as the elements of the Weston Commercial Centre Masterplan are implemented.

In the Yoplait video (a scene from it is shown below), both Weston and Mulbring were featured.  During production, Weston became un peu français  (a little French) . The town was temporarily transformed into part of the hypothetical town of 'Yogga Yogga'.  The Criterion Hotel (below) became The Frog & Snail Hotel, and ‘the little green shop’ in Station Street became Le Mixed Business.  Damon Cronshaw in writing about the Yoplait advertisement in the Newcastle Morning Herald on 31 May 2013, stated:  Weston was chosen for its "iconic architecture and village feel’’.   

Outdoor dining is encouraged in the Masterplan:

The  following is from P.17:

3.6 Public Domain Improvements 

Weston has a rich history with several unique features, including built heritage landmarks which define the Township. The Masterplan identifies opportunities to improve the public domain to enhance these existing elements and interpret the Town’s heritage. The aim is to enhance the sense of identity and character of the Commercial Centre, differentiating it from other nearby towns.

The implementation of a coherent materials and furniture palette to complement the existing character of Weston would significantly improve the amenity of the Town and increase repeat visitation. Street tree planting is proposed to ‘green’ the Commercial Centre, define the street hierarchy and provide amenity for pedestrians.

The Masterplan places an emphasis on initiatives to encourage visitors to the Commercial Centre, including outdoor dining and improved open space.  

As the old proverb goes, 'If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.'  Over the years, countless Weston residents have expressed their wish that somehow, this historic landmark on their doorstep, a significant chapter in their town's heritage, could once again be a place that the Weston community could enjoy.  Certainly, as noted in the Masterplan, walking and cycling paths will play a bigger role in Weston's future and the close proximity to Hebburn Dam would see it a desired destination.

Historically, this century-old reservoir was once the main recreation hub of the Weston and Hebburn townships for picnics and sporting events.  Many Weston locals would like to see this historic reservoir preserved and properly maintained and hope that the owners will consider enabling safe public access for walking, cycling and general recreational events in future plans.

See Sport & Recreation  and A Weston Surf Carnival

On P.10, 3.2 Key Masterplan Objectives it states:  

'Enhance and complement the character and heritage of the Town to differentiate Weston Commercial Centre from those nearby. '

In terms of 'differentiating' Weston,  the focus would certainly be on preserving Weston's 'private town'  beginnings and Hebburn coal mining history.  The Hebburn Dam was an integral part of that.  There are also a number of historic commercial buildings and numerous miners/workers cottages close by that would enhance the commercial centre with heritage paintwork and signage.

Weston does not yet have a Hebburn Coalminers Memorial to commemorate the sacrifice of all of those local men who lost their lives in the Hebburn Mines.  However, in their memory, a cross appears next to their names in the timeline pages on this website:

  Weston to 1910   1911-1920   1921-1960   1961-2000  and 2001-2020  

A perusal of Real Estate advertisments for Weston revealed many delightful miners' / workers' cottages such as those above that date back to the early decades of Weston.  Some of these cottages have been beautifully restored while others are waiting for the loving touch of a heritage-conscious owner. These cottages tell their own story of Weston's unique history. 

MCCLOY GROUP

In January 2020, under the heading:  Kurri Reborn, the McCloy group announced a major development in the local area.  See full report Here.

'In what both men describe as the biggest projects of their careers, Jeff McCloy and fellow developer John Stevens have teamed up to transform Hydro’s Kurri Kurri smelter site into industrial estates, a business park and a new suburb called Loxford Waters. While the residential side could include more than 2000 homes, substantial parts of the 2000-hectare site will be kept as environmental and buffer zones. Demolition has almost finished on the smelter, which closed in 2014, and Hydro is finalising remediation plans...'

'...Mr McCloy said the residential development would have the same sort of emphasis on public art, recreational areas and design quality as McCloy Group’s recent residential developments at Teralba, Medowie, Raymond Terrace and Rutherford.

Mr Stevens said the Hydro site was one of the most strategic in the Lower Hunter.

“It’s not just a large block of land, it’s got the freeway running right beside it and it fits right into government and local council strategic growth plans,” Mr Stevens said.

More information on Weston's unique history and heritage is available from Coalfields Local History Association Inc.  

at the Edgeworth David Memorial Museum in Cessnock Road Abermain.