Overview

This Spring, Morpeth Museum will be exhibiting Maitland’s sporting excellence as it showcases archived photographs of local and international teams and their stories.

Interestingly, one item is a photograph of the New Zealand All Blacks international touring team visiting Morpeth in August 1903, 110 years ago. The touring party is photographed on the front verandah of property Kia-Ora, owned by the Mayor of Morpeth, John Hogan. The New Zealand team played the Northern Districts rugby team at The Albion Cricket Ground in West Maitland, known now as the Maitland Showground. Visit the Museum to find out who won the match.

A short video adds to the Museum’s presentation, celebrating various local sports, complete with the crowd performing a rousing rendition of “Ole, Ole, Ole”. A special feature is the now-defunct Morpeth Bowling Club which opened almost 50 years ago in 1974. Large photo albums cover the clubs’ events over the years. A large tablecloth is signed by all the members, the signatures are embroidered onto the cloth. Other sporting memorabilia is on display at the museum.

To lend or donate items or relics for the exhibition, photographs will be digitized and then printed for display, please contact the museum during opening hours.