THE FIRST RESIDENTS OF MAYFIELD WEST. Part 1.

John Laurio Platt first arrived in the colony of Kingstown (Newcastle) in 1801, at the request of Governor King to survey all possible areas that could be mined for coal.  Platt at the time was experienced coal miner and also a naval Officer of the Royal Navy of England.

Later John Platt returned in 1822 with his wife and young family to become the first "Free Selector" (a term used by the then Government of the day for a person who chooses the land he wants(Crown land) and then squats on that land with the approval of the Government.)

John Platt was granted a 2000 arce parcel of land that was bounded by a small creek that ran behind what we know today as St Joseph's Home for the Aged Care at Sandgate, to Tighes Hill as we know it today, including all of Waratah as we know it and most of Wallsend.  Platt regsisted his property in 1822 as 'Platt's Estate'.

Platt built his homestead on a hill (site of the former Murray Dwyer Orphanage) and called it' Iron Bark Hill'.
Platt's also built a Windmill on Spit Island and a Sawmill on his property. Platt's attempt at growing 40acres of wheat failed. Other old settlers referred to Platt's attempt as Platt's Folly.  That is why all the land along the river bank from the 'Mill Paddock" (approx Tourle St) to Port Waratah was eventually called 'Folly'( Mayfield's first name) Due to a tragedy in the family, Platt was persuaded to sell off Platt's Folly.

A Mr Charles Simpson was the first to purchase land on 'The Folly' in 1848. He secured three allotments.  On one of the 36 acres on the riverfront he erected a substantial homestead.  This he named 'Waratah House', due to the Waratah flowers that were growing near the rear of his house.

Later a gentleman by the name of Mr Charles Bolton also purchased allotments on the 'Folly'. He named it 'Boltons Brush'.  After sometime Mr Charles Simpson sold his portion of land to Mr Thomas Tourle.  Mr Tourle was a wealthy squatter who had made his fortune on his station 'Bellata', in the New England area of New South Wales.  Waratah House saw many changes over the years with add-ons to facilitate the distilling of wine from the vineyard that he planted. He landscaped the gardens himself and he planted an orchard. Thomas Tourle lived on the property until his death at the age of 93yrs.