Paterson
The village of Paterson is the earliest recorded settlement in the Dungog Shire, in fact it was the third to be surveyed in the Hunter Valley after Newcastle and Maitland, but was not proclaimed until 1833. Paterson is 19 km north of Maitland, 61 km north of Newcastle and 183 km north of Sydney. It is situated on the Paterson River below its confluence with the Allyn River at Vacy.
The first land grant in the area was made to Captain William Dun in 1821 on land a few kilometres to the north of “Old Banks”, the earliest settlement provided to four convicts for supplying the government with 500 cedar logs. After proclamation, Paterson soon became an important tidal river port and service centre to the surrounding dairy, timber and citrus community.
The wharf was established in 1877 after local agitation. The town became an important trading post with boats from Newcastle and Morpeth, and a market centre for farmers bringing produce from north of the town.
The Paterson Steamship Company was formed to facilitate this. Paterson developed rapidly, due to its importance as a port. Produce such as citrus fruits, tobacco, grains, grapes and wine was transported from the fertile Paterson Valley to Newcastle.
As the years went on, ship building became prominent with two yards being established. However, river trade declined in the 1850’s as the road to Maitland was improved. The town continued to develop in spite of this, outgrowing its original survey site. Timber mills were established in the Paterson area in the 1870’s.
In the 1890’s, the building of the North Coast Railway further reduced the importance of the river trade and even though the railway eventually linked Paterson with Dungog, it brought few benefits to the town. Throughout the 1900’s agriculture was the major economic activity in the Paterson area. Paterson is today a small rural village with many points of historical interest. Tucker Park is a popular riverside family picnicing and play area.
