Weston Soldiers Settlement

The Weston Soldiers Settlement, established in 1919 just a few kilometres from Weston, in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, represents a poignant yet often overlooked effort to rehabilitate returned World War I servicemen.  This initiative was part of Australia’s broader Soldier Settlement Scheme, aimed at providing ex-servicemen with small rural allotments to foster self-sufficiency through farming. While the scheme was born from noble intentions—to honour those who served—the reality for many settlers was one of hardship, failure, and eventual abandonment. Renamed Loxford in the 1960s with the arrival of industrial development, the settlement’s story faded, overshadowed by the Aluminium smelter and now the modern 'The Loxford' residential project. As we remember the sacrifices of these soldiers in the Great War, this page seeks to preserve the memory of their time spent at  Weston Soldiers Settlement.  

Lest We Forget.  🇦🇺

Historical Background

Following the end of World War I, the Australian government sought to repatriate and support over 260,000 returned servicemen nationwide. The Returned Soldiers Settlement Act 1916 (NSW) enabled the allocation of Crown and Closer Settlement lands, with the Commonwealth providing financial backing and states handling land provision and training. Eligibility required at least six months of war service, and applicants—including a few nurses from the Australian Army Nursing Service—were selected via ballot.  (Museum of History NSW: Soldier Settlement Guide)

In the Hunter Valley, the Weston Soldiers Settlement was carved from Callaghan’s Estate, adjacent to North Kurri Railway Station. Announced in 1919, it involved subdividing land into approximately 6-acre lots, primarily for poultry farming, with plans for up to 50 cottages.  Each settler received a 'ready-made farm': a cottage, well-equipped poultry run, a supply of fowls, fodder for two years, and financial aid including £2 weekly allowances (plus child support) for the establishment period. The Commonwealth funded land resumption and loans, with initial costs estimated at £1,200 per farm, later adjusted to £626 per settler due to rising material prices.   Town water was supplied by the Hunter District Water Supply and Sewerage Board, aiming to create sustainable livelihoods. (CCC: RPS, Hydro Aluminium, Kurri Kurri, Historic Assessment & Statement of Heritage Impact, 2015)

The Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) / Tue 14 Oct 1919 reported:

SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

Poultry Farming at Weston

CESSNOCK, Tuesday

A local tender has bees accepted for the clearing of the first section of 100 acres of land at Weston for soldiers settlement. It is to be made available to soldiers in from four to six acre lots, principally for poultry farms. Most of the ground is of a poor sandy nature, and in some quarters the department is criticised for attempting to utilise it for soldiers. The experience of those on similar land to the same locality is that it requires a lot of hard work to make the soil productive.

The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW: 1876 - 1954) / Tue 23 Dec 1919 :

SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT.

Mr. Ashford, the New South Wales Minister for Lands, is able to announce that 645 blocks of land will shortly be ready for occupation by returned soldiers. The land totals 176,000 acres, and will provide settlement groups in many parts of the State. In the Hunter River district the Dunoon Estate will provide 53 blocks, averaging 73 acres, for viticulture, and the Weston Estate will provide 60 blocks, averaging seven acres, for the establishment of poultry farms.

The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW: 1876 - 1954) / Sat 17 July 1920  reported:

WESTON SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT.

Twenty-five soldier settlers have entered into possession of their little holdings at the settlement on Callaghan’s grant, between Weston and Heddon-Greta.

It is proposed to provide for another batch of twenty-five settlers, all of whom are required to make a living at poultry farming. Each settler is provided with a well-built cottage, poultry yards, and pens on a six-acre block, and the men already in possession appear to be satisfied with their lot. It has been claimed that the land is of such inferior quality that ‘it would not feed a bandicoot,’ but crops of barley and vegetables are already thriving. It must also be remembered that some of the best vegetables and flowers are grown within a mile of the settlement. The work of clearing was started on September 6, 1919, and shortly afterwards the contracts for the erection of the cottages, etc., were entered upon.

Although twenty-five men are in possession, none of the houses have yet been painted, but the work will be expedited. Each settler is provided with 40 fowls, incubators and other accessories, and is also allowed feed for the fowls with credit for two years, and he and his family are allowed sustenance allowance.

A temporary supply of water is provided from the district watermain, pending the laying of the permanent pipes. The roads will be formed as soon as the present work is completed. There are 90 tradesmen and labourers engaged on the construction work, under the direction of the manager, Mr. A. Tolley, with Mr. S. Hillier as foreman.

By 1921, 42 settlers had taken up residence, but the scheme’s flaws quickly emerged. The soil was poor and unsuitable for cultivation, and settlers were bound by strict conditions, including marketing produce through a settlement manager and repaying loans.  By 1924, the situation was dire.

The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW: 1913 - 1954) / Fri 12 Sept 1924 wrote: 

WESTON SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

Mr. H. J, Connell, M.L.A., asked the Minister for Lands in the Legislative Assembly:   “Is it a fact that the majority of the houses at the settlement at Weston are vacant, with the result that thieves break through and steal?  In view of the fact that these places generally are falling into a dilapidated state, and in view also of the fact that a large number of men in the district are willing to take up these holdings and to run them successfully, will the Minister make arrangements to throw open to these men the farms which are not occupied?” 

Mr. Warne replied: “I am quite willing to consider the hon. member's proposal. I have already done the same in the case of the Bankstown Soldier Settlement. There were forty-nine soldiers' homes on the Bankstown settlement [see photograph above], but the soldiers did not seem to be successful, and I have placed a number of civilians on the holdings abandoned by the soldiers and everything is progressing satisfactorily. I will do what the hon. member has suggested at Weston, and will allow civilians to occupy the houses, which are certainly going to pieces through want of somebody to look after them.”

According to the following notice, the Minister for Lands kept his word, with an Auction of 14 portions and Settlement Purchase Application for 20 Poultry Farms to be held on 18 Oct 1924.

The newspaper follow-up of the sale indicated that it was not successful. The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW: 1894 - 1939) / Sat 18 Oct 1924:

WESTON SETTLEMENT

PAUCITY OF BUYERS.

WESTON, Saturday.

Mr. W. N. Dann accomplished quite an achievement this morning at the Weston Soldiers’ Settlement, when he sold a block of land, No. 415,  unimproved except for fencing, and with a watercourse through it, for £54. This was the upset price. The area was 6 acres.

The purchaser was Joseph Bylsma, of Maitland-street, Kurri Kurri , and he was the only prospective buyer present: No doubt the industrial position at Kurri Kurri was responsible for the small attendance.

The Settlers and Their Stories

The men (and potentially women) who settled in Weston were everyday heroes returning from the trenches of Europe and the Middle East. Drawing from the Soldier Settlement Loan Files Index (1906–1960), we compiled a spreadsheet of names from the Weston Soldier Settlement.  The start dates range from 1919 to 1929; the end dates from 1925 to 1934.  It would seem that only two men named in the Index below appear on the Weston Roll of Honour. The other soldiers have come to Weston from elsewhere, through the Soldiers Settlement Scheme.  (Scrolling across and down is necessary to view entire list.)

Newspaper reports from the era paint a vivid picture.  One only needs to search Weston Soldier Settlement at Trove to uncover a multitude of newspaper reports of the time. Unfortunately, photographs of the Weston Soldiers Settlement have proven to be more elusive.   A 1921 article from Trove highlighted breaches where settlers sold produce independently, violating rules, and by 1924, evictions were reported, such as a soldier and his family being removed for loan arrears. This underscores the financial strain faced by the soldier settlers.  

The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW: 1894 - 1939) / Sat 12 Jan 1924:

SOLDIER’S LOSS.

GOODS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

WESTON,  Saturday.

The furniture and belongings of Kenneth Atkinson, which on Tuesday were deposited on the roadway outside his block on the Weston Soldiers’ Settlement by a Sheriff's officer, under an ejectment order, have been burned.

They caught alight through a spark from a nearby bush fire alighting on the bedding. Everything was destroyed except two tables and a cot but the latter was partly damaged. These were rescued by Messrs. G. Fenwick and G. Challon [Challand?].  All the clothing was burned including some costumes sent from Honolulu for Mrs. Atkinson.

The settlement’s storeman, Alex. Milne, had his belongings packed ready for removal in case of the fire catching his dwelling.

The Singleton Argus (NSW: 1880 - 1954) / Tue 15Jan 1924 also reported this incident:

SOLDIER SETTLER'S PLIGHT

EVICTED FROM FARM.

The eviction of a returned soldier from his home block in the Weston Soldiers' Settlement has caused discontent among the settlers and other returned soldiers.

The notice of ejectment was issued under the direction of the State Attorney General.

The soldier settler was not at home when the sheriff's officer arrived on Tuesday, and his wife and child with the furniture were put out on the road way, where the wife had to remain in charge of the furniture for several hours in the heat of the sun until the husband was able to get a vehicle to remove it.

The man's request for a few extra day's grace was refused.

Life on the Settlement: Challenges and Daily Struggles

Intended as idyllic poultry farms, the allotments promised self-sufficiency but delivered hardship. Settlers cleared land, built sheds, and raised chickens, but poor soil, inadequate training, and post-war trauma hindered success.  A 1923 Committee of Enquiry recommended reforms like self-marketing and flexible repayments, but it was too late for many.  By 1926, only 5 of the original 41 settlers remained, with farms vacant or sold cheaply.  The Hunter Valley’s overall failure rate reached 59% by 1933, attributed to unproductive allotments, debt, and lack of ongoing support.   (CCC: RPS, Hydro Aluminium, Kurri Kurri, Historic Assessment & Statement of Heritage Impact, 2015) 

The battles for the weary soldiers at Weston Soldiers' Settlement were relentless, including fighting fires. 

The Maitland Weekly Mercury (NSW: 1894 - 1931) / Sat 6 Mar 1926:

WESTON SETTLEMENT.

BIG LOSS BY FIRES, 

WESTON, Friday.

It is now estimated that the recent fires which raged through Weston Soldiers' Settlement  did £600 worth of damage.

The manager, Mr. W. F. O'Hearn, telephoned to Weston and Captain Jarvis and his men, with every soldier on the settlement, fought the flames for hours. They were fortunate to save some of the houses threatened.

Two brooder-houses valued at £150, three laying runs, valued at £50 each, and several colony houses were destroyed.

Considerable damage was done there by the cyclone of a few months ago, though it was more confined than in the case of the fires.

White ant infestation was also an ongoing struggle.  The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW: 1894 - 1939) / Thu 30 Dec 1926:

Weston Soldiers' Settlement.

Notwithstanding the white-anted condition of practically everyone of the Weston Soldiers' Settlement houses, four have been sold, with the land, at the recently reduced prices, four more are under negotiation. Should those be sold, there will remain only 18 farms of the original number. The District Surveyor has been Instructed to proceed with the treating of the cottages for white-ants without delay, advises Mr. G. Booth, M.L.A. The prices of the farms will be reviewed when the surveyor makes his reports from time to time, but little hope is held out for any further reduction.

The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954) / Fri 15 July 1927

WESTON SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Mr. George Booth, M.L.A., has again made strong representations to the Lands Department, complaining of the delay in carrying out the repair work in connection with the damaged bridge on the Weston Soldiers' Settlement.

Mr. Booth stated that the bridge, in its present state, is absolutely untrafficable, and little children being conveyed to school had to proceed along a track which was not a surveyed road, but only an old bush track, and was highly dangerous.

The Minister for Lands has promised to call for an urgent report in connection with the matter, to see if the work cannot be expedited.

In 1928, Mr. George Booth, M.P.  protested  against the Lands Department's threat to the settlers who were in arrears with their payments. The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW: 1876 - 1954) / Wed 4 Apr 1928:

WESTON.

SOLDIERS SETTLEMENT.

Mr. G. Booth, M.P., has protested against the action of the Lands Department in threatening to evict tenants on the Weston Soldiers' Settlement for non-payment of their instalments.

Mr. Booth stated that the majority of these men were working in and around the mines, whilst others were unemployed owing to the closing of mines. Many of the men had been existing on food relief orders for months owing to their inability to secure suitable work. The Fishery Creek bridge in the heart of the settlement, had been damaged for 18 months, and requires rebuilding immediately. 

After meeting the men on the spot he had told the department that they were prepared to accept the work of repairing the bridge, their wages to be credited to their arrears in payments. There is no school, no post and no telephone in the settlement. Last Sunday he saw two vacant cottages on the settlement with white ant nests 18 inches high inside the cottages. Homes on the settlement originally costing from £1400 to £1500 were not worth today £300, although the department was asking in some instances as high as £650.

Mr. Booth, is urging on behalf of the settlers, the withdrawal of the eviction orders and an inquiry into the whole matter. He has not yet received a reply to his representations.

Most of Mr. Booth's nominees mentioned here eventually had roads named after them. 

The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954) / Fri 6 July 1928;

WESTON SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

On behalf of the Weston Soldiers' Settlement Progress Association, Mr. G. Booth, M.L.A., has nominated

•  Messrs. Albert James Dawes,

•  George Renwick Bowditch, 

• Arthur Thomas Northey, 

• Thomas Congleton Hart and 

• James McLeod, 

all residents of the Settlement, for appointment as trustees for the building allotments block 682 which has been dedicated to the Settlement.

Decline, Renaming, and Industrial Transformation

The Newcastle Morning Head and Miners Advocate NSW 1876- 1954) / Fi22 Sept 1950  advertised:

Soldiers' Land 

For  Sale At Weston

SYDNEY, Thursday. - The Minister for Lands (Mr. Renshaw) said to-day that 30 small blocks of land at Weston suitable for home sites or poultry farming, were to be sold by tender.

The blocks, formerly part of Weston Soldiers' Settlement, are from five to seven acres in area. Mr. Renshaw said tenders should reach the Under-Secretary for Lands, Sydney, before noon on October 17, 1950.  

Particulars could be obtained from the District Surveyor, Mail land, or Under-Secretary.

1952:   The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW: 1913 - 1954) / Fri 18 Jan 1952

PROGRESS ASSN.

FORMED AT LOXFORD

New Footbridge Wanted

At a recent meeting of Loxford residents, convened by Mr. S. Varney, a progress association was formed.

Mr. G. Wood was elected President, and Mr. N. Wood, Secretary.

The meeting discussed the question of the provision of a footbridge at the bottom of Fourth Street, Weston, above the high water mark so that people living on the opposite side would not be isolated in wet weather.

It was decided to ask that the main bridge, washed away in recent floods, be put in trafficable condition and that the street running past the property of Mr. Bowditch be repaired.

Kearsley Shire Council will also be asked to erect signs at Heddon and Lang Streets, Kurri, and at Hardie's Corner on the Sawyer's Gully Road, showing the way to Loxford.

It was stated that the names such as B Siding and Soldiers' Settlements were misleadling, as the registered name of the township is Loxford.

1966: Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW: 1901 - 2001) / Fri 7 Jan 1966 [Issue No.1] / Page 127 / PROPOSAL UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE CLOSER SETTLEMENT (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1914, FOR REVOCATION OF DEDICATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL AT LOXFORD

(6965)

Sydney, 7th January, 1966.

PROPOSAL UNDER SECTION 13 OF THE CLOSER SETTLEMENT (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1914, FOR REVOCATION OF DEDICATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL AT LOXFORD

WHEREAS by notification in the Government Gazette of 13th May, 1955, it was notified, in pursuance of the provisions of section 13 of the Closer Settlement (Amendment) Act, 1914, that the land described in the Schedule hereunder was dedicated for a site for a Public School and whereas I am of the opinion that the purpose for which dedication was made has failed wholly and the land should be disposed of by Tender Purchase. Now, therefore, notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Closer Settlement (Amendment) Act, 1914, that it is proposed to revoke the dedication of the land described in the Schedule hereunder, and to dispose of the land in the manner aforesaid. (C.S. 65-214)

T. L. LEWIS, Minister for Lands.

Schedule

LAND DISTRICT-MAITLAND; CITY-GREATER CESSNOCK

County Northumberland, parish Heddon, 3 acres 2 roods 34 perches (the whole) within portion 536-Plan N. 6,111-2,111.

Clearly, by the 1950s, the Weston Soldiers Settlement had largely dissolved, its allotments visible on Landscape Department maps but its purpose forgotten.  In the 1960s, the area was renamed Loxford to accommodate the Hydro Aluminium smelter, which operated from 1969 to 2012, employing up to 1,100 locals and overshadowing the agricultural past.  After the smelter’s closure, a commemorative mural, 'Remember the Smelter,' was commissioned in 2018, but no equivalent tribute exists for the soldiers of Weston Soldiers Settlement.  Today, the site is being redeveloped as 'The Loxford' residential community, with up to 2,000 homes planned. While this brings new life, it risks erasing the last traces of the settlement. 

Remaining Heritage: The Last Two Houses

Physical remnants are scarce, but two original houses were still standing at the time of the  2015 heritage assessment, modified yet standing as silent witnesses.  These homes were at:

•  1 Macleod Road: A modest cottage, in reasonable repair, representing the simple dwellings provided to settlers. 

•  2 Dawes Avenue: Another surviving structure, occupied and well-maintained, embodying the era’s architecture. 

These were documented in the 2015 Hydro Aluminium Historic Heritage Assessment.  Heritage assessments deem the site’s cultural significance as 'little', due to alterations and poor interpretability, but recommend oral histories and research to preserve its story. 

(CCC: RPS, Hydro Aluminium, Kurri Kurri, Historic Assessment & Statement of Heritage Impact, 2015). 

Above:  The last remaining original houses of the Weston Soldiers’ Settlement - 2015

~ (CCC: RPS, Hydro Aluminium, Kurri Kurri, Historic Assessment & Statement of Heritage Impact, 2015):

Conclusion

The Weston Soldiers Settlement stands as a testament to the unfulfilled promises made to Australia’s WWI heroes—men who fought abroad only to battle anew on home soil. Though renamed and redeveloped, their struggles at Weston Soldiers Settlement (Loxford) deserve remembrance amid the Hunter Valley’s evolving landscape. As the new residents of Loxford thrive, let us honour these soldier pioneers and help keep their memory alive.   

They once were soldiers:  Lest We Forget. 🇦🇺