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Photographs and article courtesy Matt Rocker
Seaham was discovered in 1822 by Captain Paterson as he sailed up the River Williams (as it was known in those days.) By 1823, land grants had been made in the area that now occupies the village of Seaham and the families of Dixon, Torrence, Warren & Scott had settled upon large farms. By the 1830's, land was quickly being sub-divided and more and more families were coming into the Seaham area including the Carmichael, Wilson, Mosman and Fisher families.
Above - Hotel at the Crossroads
| Henry Carmichael, owner of local properties "Felspar" & "Porphyry" established the towns first vineyard on his property "Porphyry." The vineyard became so popular by 1840, it was winning bronze & silver awards in Paris & London, and gold in Melbourne.
In 1838, with so much development beggining in the large area, it was decided to name the area Seaham, after the small village in England. Soon, a post office was constructed along with hotels by the river and shops. Steam ships began docking at the towns many wharves unloading items from the stores in Newcastle to sell in Seaham as well as providing the town with timber & gravel.
 Centenary Celebrations "Porphyry" 1938 In 1852, the towns first public school opened down by the swamp. It was inside the headmasters small iron cottage and was attended by few children. After constant flooding and fear of collapse, the small building was soon demolished, only 4 years after opening and the school was moved up the hill into the towns old shop, which had earlier moved down to the river near "The Seaham Hotel" and "Williams River Inn".
School students enjoyed many trips to the local vineyards where they participated in grape picking. Around 1860, the towns first public ferry was put into action across the Williams River over to East Seaham, where many large Seaham families had settled. Before, the only way to cross was by a private ferry, opened in 1830 and owned by the Mosman family, which sank in strong winds in the 1850's.
The ferry ramp was established opposite the 'Williams River Inn" on what was called North Crescent Street. North Crescent street exsisted between the ferry ramp and Henry Carmichael's stone mansion "Porphyry" . Middle Crescent Street was between the ferry ramp and the site of the first public school and ran between a low area in the middle of the river & swamp lands and finally South Crescent Street, is believed to be only marked on maps for construction purposes, but was never actually built. It would have run along the open river area down to Seaham Park, making Crescent street extend the whole length of the town, it was also reported to have been the towns main street in the early years.
 The old Punt In 1860, the towns first stone church was established, St Andrews Anglican Church, on Warren Street (which runs in the middle of the town.) It was built opposite a wooden Methodist Chapel which is believed to have been abandoned around 1870 and left to collapse. St Andrews was built of local stone from the nearby town Glen Oak.
In 1873 a Presbyterian Church was established on Dixon Street, which runs along the top of Warren, not far from the school. It was a small wooden building. The towns final church was built in 1893 and was named St Itas Roman Catholic Church and was located on Still Street, overlooking the river & North Crescent Street.
In 1881, a new solid brick Teachers residence was established for the current teacher near the school and finally in 1885 a new brick classroom was established with a capacity for 50 students. It is recorded the room never reached full capacity, the highest around 40.
In 1884 Brandon House was established for the Fisher family, making it the 3rd biggest house in the town next to the Carmichael mansions of "Porphyry" & ''Felspar". No photos or records have ever been found to suggest what Felspar Homestead actually looked like, but by memories of living occupants it was said to have been similar to Porphyry. Porphyry Homestead was established in 1839, it was established with sandstone walls 2 feet thick. The front yard was full of colourful bushes and trees.
In 1914, as World War One began, 18 young Seaham boys left for war, 6 of whom didn't return. They included:
| * = denotes killed | E.E Back*
C.J Bambach*
S.L Barton
D.M Blair*
W.F Boag*
P.J Bourke
M.A Brown
A.J Callaghan*
G.D Carmichael*
| J.V Foley
E.C Hain
R.J Hain
W.S Lamb
C.R Lamb
E.H Trappel
C.H Webb
C.O Williams |
| G.D Carmichael, denoted killed above was the last surviving Carmichael member in Seaham. He was not married at his time of death ending the Carmichaels' residence at Porphyry & Felspar. Cousins of the Carmichael's, the Ralston family took over Prophyry and Felspar was sold off.
In 1938, the town celebrated it's centenary. Maitland's brass band marched down the main street (moved to Warren St) and activities were carried out in Seaham Park including tree planting. Other functions were carried out at the Seaham School Of Arts, established in 1902 on the top of Warren Street. The hall was opened on the 21st of May, 1902 with a committee including the local names of Boag, Quinn, Carmichael, Middleton, Haines, Lamb, McDonald, Burgess, Green, Priestly & Threlfo, it gives us an idea of how many families were living in the Seaham area at the time of federation.
It was stated by a local resident of Seaham at the time of the celebrations that the growth of Seaham at the time was so fast, that in the near future the town could grow to a major residential zone. Sadly, on January 14th, 1939 this hope was destroyed, along with 6 houses, 1 church, the entire public school, important town records and historic vineyard remains.
Early, on the morning of January 14th, 1939 it was clear evacuation of the town should begin as fires roared towards the town from Paterson. Woman & children madly raced to the ferry to flee the smoke. Sadly, since roads became blocked by the fire, no outside help could be provided for the town until long after the flames had cleared. Seaham, at the time only had 1 firetruck, which was kept in a hay shed on "Brandon", a near-by farm and was operated by the Fisher family.
 A Burnt Out Building The fire's path began at "Felspar", a large green farm that tilts from the small country road down to the river, and standing peacfully in the middle, overlooking the river was 'Felspar' house. Near the road once stood a small farm cottage, once occupied by the Allan family. As the fire raged over the hill and down towards the cottage, the family grabbed their possesions and raced across the paddocks to the stone homestead where the Graham family, the owners of the homestead, were huddled. Both families were sure the small wooden cottage would be destroyed right away and that the stone house would be the safest location. They watched in amazement as the fire raced towards the house and under! not damaging the house one bit! Before they could escape, Felspar Homestead had already caught alight, and amid the collapsing walls and red hot fire, the family escaped just as the kitchen caved in. The family ran towards the town, where the fire was already burning the toilets of the School of Arts and destroying the Public School.
Meanwhile, on Porphyry, the Ralston family were holidays at the time of the fire and even with enormous help from farmers present at the time of the fire, the house could not be saved. After severe droughts the gardens provided lots of fuel for the fire and the house was lost soon as several burning orange trees crashed onto the roof, setting the whole house ablaze.
In town, Mr Holstein, a local was among few battling the blaze at the School of Arts.. earlier that morning he had burnt a border around his house on Warren Street in hope the fire would not cross burnt ground, his efforts proved useless. After he had sent his wife & children across the ferry he had returned home to find his terrified dog crying on the verandah. He then patted it and headed for the burning hall, but turned to notice his dog following him. Feeling the dog would be more safe at home he sent it back. He watched it run back across the street then began helping put out the blaze at the hall. By the time the blaze was out and he had time to attend his own home, he noticed it was fully ablaze and finally collapsed. Next day, as he looked around in the ashes he found his faithful dogs bones on the site where his back verandah stood. ther buildings destroyed included the Presbyterian Church, 2 houses on Brandon and the public school.
After the '39 fire, families moved away from the Seaham area, feeling it was unsafe. The population dropped to very low numbers. The numbers continued to drop until mid 1970, just afterthe school was about to be declared closed. Families slowly returned to the area. The threat of the 1939 fire was long over. In 1985 a new residential suburb "Brandy Hill" was opened just out of the town, causing the town's population to boom. The School leapt from 5 students in a small wooden tin classroom, built to replace the burnt down room to 9 classrooms and 140 students.
Although St Andrews is the only surviving church today, the new presbyterian church, that was built after the fire being moved and the catholic church demolished, Seaham has now got a new store, a doctors surgery, fire station with 2 trucks, as well as another station in East Seaham, a pre-school & hairdresser.
The hotels are long demolished, The Seaham Hotel & Williams River Inn due to flooding and the new "Alma Hotel" established in 1903 burnt down in 1935, 4 years before the '39 bushfire. | 
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