Dent family connections
A Public Holiday on 26 August 1889 marked the 25th anniversary of the 4th regiment of Waikato Militia landing at Hamilton and a large number of residents were present at Sydney Square, Hamilton East to celebrate the occasion.
Thirty-five veterans (officers and men) of the 4th regiment paraded.
The officers were:- Captains Steele and McPherson - Sergeants Crosby, Delaney, Knox, Mahon and Odlum.
On the day, fifty oak trees were planted around the perimeter of Sydney Square - the planters were:-
| Surname | First names | Rank | Reg. No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander | William, Snr. | Private | 5 | - |
| Allen | Mrs | - | - | - |
| Andrews | William | Private | 4 | - |
| Atkinson | John | Private | 252 | - |
| Carey | John, Dr. | Surgeon | - | - |
| Cassidy | Thomas | Private | 351 | - |
| Coates | Mrs | - | - | daughter of Peter Coleman No.421 |
| Coleman | Bernard | Private | 426 | - |
| Coombes | Samuel | Private | 472 | - |
| Crosbie/Crosby | John | Sergeant | 122 | - |
| Davies/Davis | J | Private | - | John No.188 (or) James No.445 |
| Delaney | Patrick | Sergeant | 486 | - |
| Foster | Josiah/Joshua | Private | 357 | - |
| Foulsham | Samuel | Private | 36 | - |
| Henry | Peter, Snr. | - | - | - |
| Hinton | H | - | - | - |
| Hinton | Joseph | Private | 145 | - |
| Hunter | Hugh, Snr. | Private | 41 | - |
| Hyde | D D | Private | 271 | - |
| Kelly | William | Private | 500 | - |
| Kenny | John | Private | 479 | - |
| Knox | John | Colour Sergeant | 153 | - |
| Lees | Mrs | - | - | wife of Thomas Lees, Private No.367 |
| Maguire/McGuire | Sylvester | Private | 65 | - |
| Mahon | John | Sergeant | 69 | - |
| Martin | James | Private | 274 | - |
| Mayes | George | Private | - | - |
| McIntyre | Duncan, Snr. | - | 288 | - |
| McPherson | James | Captain | - | - |
| Mullions | Harry | Private | 224 | - |
| Mullions | Joseph | Private | 225 | - |
| Munro | Philip/Phillip, Snr. | Private | 70 | - |
| Murliss | William | Private | 75 | unconfirmed as a tree planter |
| Odlum | John | Sergeant | 83 | - |
| O'Neill | Maria, Mrs | - | - | wife of Edward O'Neill, Private No.375 |
| Peacock | William | Private | 495/585 | two William Peacock's in the regiment |
| Pearson | E J | Private | 376 | - |
| Reed/Reid | George | Private | 379 | - |
| Roffey | Geoffrey/George | Private | 302 | - |
| Rowell | William | - | - | poss. Wm Powell or a desc. of E Rowell |
| Smith | A | Private | 144/240 | two A Smith's in the regiment |
| Steele | William | Captain | - | - |
| Stokes | Robert Yallop | Liuetenant | - | - |
| Teas | Samuel | Private | 503 | - |
| Tippen | Charles | Private | 242 | - |
| Uzzel | James | Private | 389 | - |
| Vincent | Angus/Augustus | - | 318 | - |
| Vowless | Teresa/Theresa, Mrs | - | - | wife of Grove Vowless, Private No.390 |
| Warr | Harry/Henry | Private | 321 | - |
| Warren | James | Sergeant Major | 454 | - |
A notice in the 1868 Gazette reserved Sydney Square as a Public Square but in 1878 it was redesignated as a reserve for recreation.
In the 1883 Gazette the reserve was brought under the provisions of the Public Domains Act, 1881 and in the same Gazette an Order-in-Council placed it under the control of the Hamilton Domain Board (the Hamilton Borough Council).
Sydney Square was renamed Steele Park in 1908.