mˈeɪfiːld wʌz ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli ɐ plˈɛzənt ɡˈɑːɹdən sˈʌbɜːb ɔnðɪ ˈaʊtskɜːts ʌv nˈuːkæsəl, ænd baɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd wˈʌn kəntˈeɪnd ɐ ɹˈoʊmən kˈæθlɪk mˈɑːnɐstɚɹi, ænd sˈɛvɹəl fˈaɪn vɪktˈoːɹiən mˈænʃənz bᵻlˈɔŋɪŋ tə pɹˈɑːmɪnənt bˈɪznəsmˌɛn ænd lˈɔɪɚz, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ ˈɛn.bˈiː. kɹˈɪɹ θɹˈiː tˈaɪmz mˈeɪɚɹ ʌv wˈɔːɹæɾə.
Mayfield was originally a pleasant garden suburb on the outskirts of Newcastle, and by 1901 contained a Roman Catholic monastery, and several fine Victorian mansions belonging to prominent businessmen and lawyers, including N.B. Creer (three times Mayor of Waratah).