Alfred Francis Hall

A.F. Hall, whose name appears on many of the subdivision plans in our collection, was a licensed surveyor for many years in Newcastle. This was his obituary in the Newcastle Herald and Miner's Advocate on Monday, 8 November 1937.

MR A. F. HALL 
Pioneer Surveyor Dead 
SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL

The death took place on Saturday at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, of Mr. A. F. Hall. He was 78, and had been in practice as a licensed surveyor in Newcastle for more than half a century. 

Mr. Hall was a native of Adelaide. When five years of age he was taken to Dunedin (N.Z.) and remained in the Dominion until 1883. After serving his articles as civil engineer and surveyor and obtaining his diplomas, he came to Sydney, where he practised for 18 months before coming to Newcastle. He began to practise here in January, 1880, and continued until one month ago, when he was overtaken by illness. 

Apart from his profession Mr. Hall had many interests. He was an alderman of the City Council for several terms, and was a member of the Newcastle Jockey Club. He was also associated with several schemes for the opening up and developing of the resources of Port Stephens. More recently, he took keen in terest in the plan to drain and reclaim the Hexham swamps. 

In 1901, with Mr. John Scholey, Mr. Hall went to Sydney and took up 12,000 acres. of mining permits on the South Maitland Coalfield. The total cost was £40, and he had little difficulty in inducing some of the oldest Newcastle and Maitland citizens to join Mr. Scholey and, himself in the venture. They floated a company which was named "The Aberdare Collieries of New South Wales", with a capital of £50,000. They built the railway to Cessnock, and sold the coal interests to Hebburn, Abermain, Neath, and Aberdare collieries. 

Mr. Hall many years later recalled that when he surveyed the route of the rail way to Cessnock, the only building in Vincent-street-now the main street of the town was a slab hut. On completion of the railway, Mr. A. W. Bridge subdivided the eastern side of Vincent street into 60 or 70 blocks. These were sold from £12/10/ each. Some of the allotments have been since sold at up to £2300 each. Cessnock today has a population of 25,000, and many fine buildings. 

Mr. Hall is survived by a son and daughter, Mrs Hall, and a son (Geoffrey) predeceased him. 

LARGELY ATTENDED. FUNERAL. 

The funeral left St. Mary's. Star of the Sea yesterday afternoon for the Catholic Cemetery, Sandgate. Rev. Father M. J. Fitzgerald recited the prayers at the church and Rev. Father J. T. McNamara conducted the service at the graveside. 

Those present included the Mayor of Newcastle (Ald . H. Fenton), the Chairman (Mr. J. G. Cameron); Secretary (Mr. J. Hibberd). and Messrs. R. A. McAuliffe, J. Hoban. W. E. Flannery, A. Peate, and E. P. Hill, members of the Newcastle Jockey Club Committee, and Mr. V E. H. Davis (Sydney), former member of the committee, the Secretary of Newcastle Tattersall's Club (Mr. B O'Donnell, Mr. B. A. Helmore, the President of the Board of Newcastle Hospital, (Mr. A. A. Rankin), Mr Howard Ash (Frederic Ash Ltd.), Mr. F. J. Cane: (Scott's Ltd.). Mr. J. Smith. representing the Valuer-General (Mr. S. A. Girand) Mr. T. D. O'Sullivan (T. D. O'Sullivan and Son), Mr. A. F. Toll (A. F Toll Pty. Ltd), the Secretary, Scottish Australian Pipers' Band (Mr. D. L. Macdonald) Messrs. H. D. Trenchard (Historical Society), W. D. Wallace (Engineering Institution). Messrs. R V. Murphy, W. R. Pulver, A. P. Pulver, the Secretary Australian Agricultural Company (Mr. W. J. Rees), Mr. A. A. Burke, Mr J. Hogan, the President of the Australasian Society (Mr. R. Weir. Messrs. R. F. Gollan, ("Sydney Morning Herald"), W. R. Mc Donald and H. Camphell ("Newcastle Morning Herald"), W. Mallam and J. O'Ryan (Hill Tennis Club) F. A. Cadell and E. Kerr.

Source: MR. A. F. HALL (1937, November 8). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 9.
 

Six years before his death, Mr Hall was interviewed by the Newcastle Herald.  See OVER 40 YEARS (1931, March 28). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 14.