Edward Denny Day

A figure of law, order and justice, Irish-born Edward Denny Day (1801-1876) remains a significant symbol of Maitland’s formative colonial history.

E.D. Day’s noticeable presence in the Maitland and the Hunter region came at his appointment as Police Magistrate of Maitland in January of 1837 and of Muswellbrook in October of that same year. E.D. Day became the Stipendiary Magistrate in the late 1850s until his retirement in 1869.

E.D. Day’s legacy is seen throughout many of Maitland’s cultural collections including Maitland Gaol, Old Maitland Hospital and Maitland Libraries. Maitland Gaol is the custodian of a Silver Entrée Dish, gifted to E.D. Day for his leading role in capturing notorious bushrangers in December of 1840.

During his time in Maitland E.D. Day participated in many civic duties and community occasions including the laying of the foundation stone at Maitland Benevolent Asylum and Maitland Gaol.

Maitland Libraries holds an array of insightful documents, letters, newsletters and manuscripts detailing many parts of E.D. Day's professional and personal life. In addition to the permanent collection, a small but significant collection of E.D. Day documents, handwritten notes and articles are currently on loan to Maitland Libraries. Permission must be sought for access to these documents for study or research purposes. Please contact Maitland Libraries for further information. (Library@Maitland.nsw.gov.au).