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1976
Nineteenth-Century Dapto
W. G. McDonald
Illawarra Historical Society
Follow this and additional works at: http://ro.uow.edu.au/ihspubs
Recommended Citation
McDonald, W. G., (1976), Nineteenth-Century Dapto, Illawarra Historical Society, Wollongong, 84p.
http://ro.uow.edu.au/ihspubs/4
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Nineteenth-Century Dapto
Description
W.G. McDonald, (1976), Nineteenth-Century Dapto, Illawarra Historical Society, Wollongong, 84p. These
notes on the history of Dapto and its neighbourhood were put together over a period of several years from
many d ifferent sources, embody the substance of talks given to the lllawarra Historical Society on 5th April
and 3rd May 1973 and 4th September 1975.
Publisher
Illawarra Historical Society, Wollongong, 84p
This book is available at Research Online: http://ro.uow.edu.au/ihspubs/4
n ineteenth
ILLAWARRA
HISTO RICAL
SOCIETY
T H E ILLAW A RRA H ISTO R IC A L SO CIETY
T he S o c ie ty ’s o b je c ts a r e th e a d v a n c e m e n t a n d stu d y of th e h isto ry of
A u stra lia in g e n e ra l a n d of th e Illa w a rra d is tric t in p a r tic u la r , by th e
holding of r e g u la r an d s p e c ia l m e e tin g s ; th e co llectio n of d o c u m e n ta ry
m a te ria l a n d a r te f a c ts ;
e x c u rsio n s to p la c e s of h isto ric in te re s t;
p u b lic a tio n of a m o n th ly B u lle tin a n d lo c a l h is to ric a l b o o k le ts; a n d
m a in te n a n c e of a n Illa w a rra folk m u se u m .
R e g u la r m o n th ly m e e tin g s a r e h eld a t th e sm a ll M eetin g R oom ,
Tow n H all, C row n S tre e t, W ollongong a t 7.45 p .m . on th e firs t T h u rsd a y
of e a c h m o n th ex c e p t J a n u a r y .
T he S o c ie ty ’s M useum a t 11 M a rk e t S tre e t, W ollongong, is open fro m
2 to 5 p .m . on W ed n esd ay s, S a tu rd a y s , S u n d a y s a n d p u b lic h o lid ay s
(e x c e p t C h ris tm a s D ay an d Good F rid a y ) a n d d a ily d u rin g school
h olidays.
V isits by schools a n d so c ie tie s a t o th e r tim e s m a y be a rr a n g e d .
V isito rs a r e w elco m e a t all S ociety fu n ctio n s.
E n q u irie s
r e g a r d in g m e m b e rs h ip a r e in v ite d to
W ollongong E a s t, N.S.W . 2500 •
B ox
241 P .O .,
The first home of Henry and Sarah O sborne
From a sketch by Robert Hoddle (1832)
( By permission of the M itchell L ib ra ry )
N:i:N:E>T.EEN.TiHaGEN»TiU;RY|
Notes on the History of
Dapto and its Neighbourhood
W o S o M fP © M ^ L ©
ILLAWARRA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WOLLONGONG
1976
AUTHOR’S NOTE
These notes, put to g e th e r o v e r a p e rio d o f se ve ra l y e a rs fro m m a n y
d iffe re n t sources, em b od y the substance of ta lk s g ive n to the llla w a rr a
H is to ric a l S ociety on 5th A p ril and 3rd M a y 1973 and 4th Septem ber 1975. I
am conscious th a t th e y a re d is jo in te d and th a t th e re a re la rg e gaps in the
s to ry. It is o n ly too p ro ba ble th a t th e re a re e rro rs of fa c t, m y sources
being of v a ry in g r e lia b ility . Some su b je cts and persons, on w h om I had
no, o r not enough, in fo rm a tio n have not been d e a lt w ith , or have not been
covered as f u lly as th e y deserve: oth ers, w h e re in fo rm a tio n has been
a v a ila b le , perhaps in too m uch d e ta il. Since, ho w e ver, I have not been
c o m p ilin g an o ffic ia lly -c o m m is s io n e d h is to ry o r an M .A . thesis, I have
fe lt fre e to in clu d e not o n ly w h a te v e r seemed s ig n ific a n t in its e lf or
illu s tr a tiv e of the tim e s , b u t also b its and pieces w h ich seemed m e re ly
odd o r e n te rta in in g .
M y t it le is to som e e x te n t a m is n o m e r; b u t it seemed b e tte r to c a r ry the
s to ry a few y e a rs in to the tw e n tie th c e n tu ry to the clo sing of the S m elting
W orks, w h ic h m a rk e d the end of a c h a p te r and a tu rn in g -p o in t in the
h is to ry of D apto, ra th e r than to b re a k o ff in the m id d le of an episode.
I had hoped th a t be fore these notes cam e to be published it w o uld be
possible to w o rk the m in to a m ore coh ere nt and balanced account.
H ow ever, th e re have a lw a ys been, and p ro b a b ly a lw a ys w o uld be, gaps
w h ich needed fillin g and loose ends w h ich needed to be tie d u p ; and the
Council of the S ociety has now decided to p u blish the notes as the y stand.
It is m y e x p e c ta tio n and hope th a t th e ir p u b lic a tio n w ill e lic it a d d itio n a l
m a te ria l and lead to the c o rre c tio n of e rro rs .
To avo id c lu tte rin g the te x t, and to assist in keeping down p u b lica tio n
costs, refere nce s have g e n e ra lly been o m itte d . A few notes have,
ho w e ver, been added to re fe r the re a d e r to sources of fu rth e r
in fo rm a tio n , o r to a m p lify d o u b tfu l o r dispu te d points.
In p u ttin g these notes in to c irc u la tio n , I should ackn ow led ge the value
of the w o rk of pre vio us w rite rs on the s u b je c t, p a rtic u la rly the w ritin g s ,
both pu blishe d and un pu blishe d, of the la te M r. A. A. A rm s tro n g and the
la te M r. D. L. D enniss, M r. J. F. R. B row ne 's " A H is to ry of W illia m
'M e rc h a n t' B ro w n e of A b b o ts b u ry and A p p in ", M r. A. G ilc h ris t's "J o h n
D u n m o re Lang o f M u lle t C re e k "; M iss G. Nesta G r if fith 's "S o m e
Southern Homes of New South W a le s" and Rev. Bro. J. P. O 'M a lle y 's
"T h e Old D apto S m e ltin g W o rk s "; the help re ce ive d fro m the la te M iss L.
Denniss, M rs . M . M. E vans, M rs. A. E. Irw in , M iss M . M cD o n a ld , M rs. R.
Pearson, the la te M r. A. P. F le m in g , the la te M r. H. J. M c D o n n e ll, the
Rev. D. G. Duchesne, M essrs. W. A. B a yle v, E. Beale, J. L. M c P h a il, E.
S m ith, S. T hom as and J.S.G. W orla nd , and o th e r llla w a r ra H is to ric a l
Society m e m b e rs and Dapto reside nts who have p ro vid e d m a te ria l and
in fo rm a tio n ; and above a ll the assistance given by the la te M r. D. L.
Denniss, w ho fre e ly shared w ith m e his e n cyclo p a e d ic know ledge,
e xte nding fa r beyond his pu blishe d a rtic le s , of the h is to ry of the d is tr ic t.
No in co m e r of a yo u n g e r g e n e ra tio n can hope to m a tch the fu ll and
co m p reh ensive h is to ry of the d is tr ic t w h ich M r. Denniss could have
w ritte n .
T hanks a re due to M r. J. F. R. B row ne and the M itc h e ll L ib r a ry fo r
p e rm issio n to quote fro m le tte rs of W illia m Brow ne to M a rg a re t Lindsay
and fro m J. C. C am pb ell to W illia m B row ne, and fro m " A H is to ry of
W illia m 'M e rc h a n t' Brow ne of A b b o fsb u ry and A p p in " ; to the M itc h e ll
L ib ra ry fo r p e rm issio n to quote fro m the le tte rs of John L e v e re tt; and to
Cassell A u s tra lia L im ite d fo r p e rm issio n to quote fro m P ro fe sso r J. M .
F re e la n d 's " A r c h ite c t E x tr a o rd in a r y " .
T han ks a re also due to the M itc h e ll L ib r a r y and the C ity of W ollongong
P u b lic L ib r a r y fo r p e rm issio n to re p ro d u ce c o p y rig h t illu s tra tio n s .
Once ag ain I am deeply indebted to M r. A. W. R. M acd on ald fo r the
m aps and the cover desiqn.
The S ociety, and m y s e lf, a re also g ra te fu l fo r fin a n c ia l assista nce in the
p u b lic a tio n of th is booklet fro m the R oyal A u s tra lia n H is to ric a l Society
c u ltu ra l g ra n t, the Isabel Lee M e m o ria l Bequest and the E liza b e th Hay
M e m o ria l Bequest.
F or the use m ade of the m a te ria l and in fo rm a tio n ob tain ed , I am solely
resp on sible; and the opinions expressed a re not n e ce ssa rily those of m y
in fo rm a n ts o r of the Illa w a rra H is to ric a l Society.
W. G. McDonald,
July, 1976.
BR O W N ’S M ILL, BRO W NSVILLE, c. 1890
(Illa w arra H is to ric a l S ociety c o lle c tio n )
N a tio n a l L ib r a ry of A u s tra lia c a rd n u m b e r and ISBN 0 909164 02 9
cPapto and ^District
SHO W ING LA N D G RAN TS
M ENTIONED IN TEXT
LAND G RA NTS
M E N T IO N E D IN T E X T
PA R IS H O F K EM BLA
.A re a
(a c re s)
28
31
35
36
38
40
41
43
47
54
55
189
223
N am e of
P ro p e rty
100
100
100
100
2000
100
100
100
23
500
D unlop V ale
H u ssa r F a r m
S tre a m Hill
H o rsley
500
25
83
R eed P a r k
G ra n te e
J a m e s M itchell
E liz a b e th C ray
Jo h n R obins
Jo h n M cK elly
A n d rew L ang
W illiam K e e v e rs
Jo se p h H a rris
Jam es F ra se r
E p isc o p a lia n School
(A u g u sta B ro o k s a n d
(E liz a b e th W eston
E d w a rd R o b e rt S tack
Jo se p h M a rc e a u
G eo rg e M c P h a il
PA R IS H O F CALD ERW O OD
Pc
Ni
A rea
(acres)
N am e of
P ro p e rty
G ra n te e
6
1280
C alderw ood
C h a rle s T h ro sb y S m ith
7
2560
M a rsh a ll M ount
H e n ry O sb o rn e
9
11
700]
600 J
1500
J o h n s to n ’s M eadow s
M a c q u a rie G ift
D av id Jo h n sto n
G eo rg e Jo h n sto n
14
15
51
600
3000
800
A vondale
A thanlin
( la te r Y a lla h )
A lfred E ly a rd
W illiam B row ne
16
1300
E x m o u th
R ic h a rd B rooks
10
17
18
20
600
300'
100 '
19
500
21
60
H en ry B rooks
M ullet C reek F a rm
G eo rg e B row n (I)
D aisy B an k
G eo rg e B row n (II)
J a m e s N eale
Contents
1. “ A C a ttle S ta tio n by th e Y a lla h -L a k e ” : S om e E a r ly G ra n ts
a n d G r a n te e s ..............................................................................................
9
2. “ A N u m e ro u s C la ss of S m a ll S e ttle r s ” : C le a rin g -L e a se s a n d
M ixed F a r m in g ........................................................................................ 27
3. “ T he B rid g e A c ro st th e C ric k ” : A D ig re ssio n on R o a d s an d
B rid g e s ........................................................................................................ 34
4. "O n e U n p re te n tio u s P u b ” :
s h ip
T he B eg in n in g s of th e Tow n­
44
5 . “ C ow ” : T he C h an g e to D a iry in g ...................................................... 51
'6 . " T h e M ost S tra g g lin g V illage in ll l a w a r r a ” : T he T ow nship
fro m 1860 to 1887....................................................................................... 59
7. " T h e C ity S u rp a s sin g N e w c a s tle ” : T he N ew T o w nship a n d
th e S m eltin g -W o rk s B o o m .................................................................... 67
A ppend ix I: T he N a m e of D a p to ........................................................ 74
A ppend ix II: B u ild in g s In clu d ed in N a tio n a l T ru s t of
A u s tra lia (N .S .W .) R e g is te r of H isto ric B u ild in g s...................... 76
C H A P T E R O NE
" A C attIe-station by the Y a lla -L a ke "
Some Early Grants and Grantees
T h e re a p p e a r s to be no a u th e n tic a te d re c o rd of th e firs t v isit of w h ite
m en to D ap to . T he sh ip w re c k e d c re w of th e “ S ydney C o v e” , tre k k in g
up th e c o a s t from G ip p sla n d in 1797, p ro b a b ly , a n d G e o rg e W illiam
E v a n s on his jo u rn e y fro m J e r v is B ay to A ppin in 1812 a lm o st
c e rta in ly , p a s s e d up th e n a rro w p e n in s u la s b e tw e e n L a k e llla w a r r a
a n d th e o c e a n . It h a s been s u g g e s te d th a t M ount B ro w n , a t th e so u th
end of D a p to , ta k e s its n a m e fro m F lin d e r s ’ b o ta n ist R o b e rt B row n,
w ho is sa id to h a v e v is ite d th e d is tric t d u rin g th e firs t few y e a r s of th e
n in e te e n th c e n tu ry . B ut th e re is no re c o rd in B ro w n ’s jo u rn a l, o r an y
o th e r re lia b le e v id e n c e , of su ch a v isit. M cC affrey s ta te s it a s a fa c t
w ith o u t q u o tin g his a u th o r ity ; b u t a t th e d a te h e g iv e s B row n w as
tw elv e th o u s a n d m ile s a w a y . M r. D av id D en n iss, w ith o u t c o m m ittin g
h im se lf to a p a r tic u la r d a te , w as s u re th a t th e v isit took p la c e - b a sin g
h im se lf on th e tra d itio n s of a lo cal fa m ily n a m e d B row n, sa id to be
d e sc e n d e d fro m R o b e rt B ro w n ’s son W illiam . U n fo rtu n a te ly R o b e rt
w as a lifelong b a c h e lo r. T h a t w ould n o t h a v e b een an in s u p e ra b le
o b jectio n in a colony w h e re Jo h n M a c a r th u r w as looked a t a s k a n c e by
his fello w -o fficers of th e R u m C orps b e c a u se h e w as o p en ly an d
n o to rio u sly liv in g w ith his own w ife; b u t all w ho knew R o b e rt B row n
a tte s t th a t h e w a s a so m e w h a t s tra it-la c e d , ev e n p u rita n ic a l, young
m a n , b la m e le s sly w edd ed to b o ta n y .
“ And e v e ry o n e w ould sa y
As h e w alk e d h is flo w ery w ay ,
‘If h e ’s c o n te n t w ith a v e g e ta b le love w hich w ould c e rta in ly not su it
m e,
W hy, w h a t a m o st p a rtic u la rly p u re young m a n th is p u re young m a n
m ust b e !’ ”
In a n y e v e n t, fro m re c e n t r e s e a r c h e s * t now se e m s p o ssib le to s t a , e J | § i
d e fin itely th a t R o b e rt B row n did not v isit llla w a r r a , though so m eo n e
c o n n ected w ith him (po ssib ly his c o n v ict s e r v a n t Jo se p h W ild, w ho
la te r b e c a m e ll la w a r r a ’s firs t c o n sta b le ) m a y h a v e done so.
In a n y c a s e , the s ite of D ap to w a s u n d o u b ted ly know n by 1816,
w h e th e r d isc o v e re d by B row n o r Wild o r by so m e u n re m e m b e re d
c e d a r- g e tte r, for S u rv e y o r M eeh an re f e rs to M ullet C reek in his
field-book to w a rd s th e en d of th a t y e a r. B ut th e n a m e of th e d is tric t
w as not y et D ap to , an d th e o rig in a n d m e a n in g of th e n a m e a r e a m o n g
th e m o st o b sc u re p o in ts in llla w a r r a h is to ry . (S ee A ppendix I)
“ E x m o u th ” : R ic h a rd B rooks. W hen th e firs t g ra n te e s of la n d in
llla w a r r a m e t M eeh an a n d S u rv e y o r-G e n e ra l O xley a t T h ro s b y ’s
10
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
s to c k m a n ’s h u t, th e firs t g r a n t of all w as of 1300 a c re s , m a r k e d ou t by
M eeh an on 5th D e c e m b e r 1816 a n d a fte rw a rd s know n a s “ E x m o u th ” ,
w ith a fro n ta g e to L ak e Illa w a rra fro m B ro o k s C reek to n e a r
T a lla w a r ra , e x te n d in g w est to M ullet C reek .
R ic h a rd B ro o ks, th e firs t g ra n te e , w as a se a c a p ta in , a fo rm e r E a s t
In d ia C o m p a n y o ffic er, w ho a f te r m a k in g a n u m b e r of tr a d in g v o y a g e s to
S ydney p u rc h a s e d “ D e n h a m C o u rt” , n e a r In g le b u rn , fro m R ic h a rd
A tkins, th e alco h o lic Ju d g e -A d v o c a te w ho w a s th e o rig in a l re m itta n c e m a n . T h e re B ro o k s b u ilt a s ta te ly m a n s io n , w h ich is still sta n d in g , a n d
liv ed w ith h is w ife a n d fa m ily in c o n sid e ra b le sty le , th e g u e sts on s ta te
o cca sio n s ro llin g up in c a r r ia g e s w ith liv e rie d p o stillio n s. L ik e m o s t of th e
e a rly la r g e g ra n te e s , h e did not liv e on h is I lla w a r r a p ro p e rty - an
u n fo rtu n a te th in g fo r th is d is tric t, w h ich h a s few of th e fin e old h o m e s
w hich a r e a fe a tu re of so m e o th e r e a rly -s e ttle d a r e a s . “ E x m o u th ” w as
m a n a g e d b y tw o m e n n a m e d N e a le a n d C re a m . In la te r y e a r s C re a m
d is c o v e re d th e B u tte r T ra c k fro m M a rsh a ll M ount to K a n g a ro o V alley.
N e a le re c e iv e d a sm a ll g r a n t of six ty a c r e s in th e e a s te r n p a r t of th e
p re s e n t tow n.
R ic h a rd B rooks w as fa ta lly g o re d by a bull a t “ D en h a m C o u rt” in
1833. He a n d his w ife w e re b u rie d in a v a u lt on th e e s ta te , a n d w hen th e
C h u rch of St. M ary th e V irg in , w hich c o n ta in s m e m o ria l w indow s to
B rooks a n d his w ife, w as e re c te d in th e la te 1830’s it w as b u ilt so a s to
en clo se th e v a u lt.
B rooks h a d tw o so n s, both a ss o c ia te d w ith th e D ap to d is tric t. H en ry
h a d a g r a n t of 600 a c re s , m a r k e d o u t in 1825 by S u rv e y o r J a m e s
M cB rien , on L ak e Illa w a rra n o rth of B ro o k s C reek - ro u g h ly th e
K an ah o o k a P o in t a re a . R ic h a rd , w ho h a d been one of th e firs t
s q u a tte r s in M on aro , w h e re h e took up J in d a b y n e S tatio n , m a r rie d
A u g u sta W eston of “ W est H o rsle y ” , w h e re h e d ied in 1855.
“ W est H o rsle y ” a n d “ H o rsle y ” . “ W est H o rs le y ” h a d b een so n a m e d
a fte r h is n a tiv e p la c e in S u rre y , by L ie u te n a n t W illiam F re d e ric k
W eston, to w hom a g ra n t of 500 a c r e s h a d b een p ro m ise d . H e d id not
live long to en jo y his p ro p e rty , d y in g th e re on 25th A p ril, 1826 a g e d only
33. T he g r a n t fin ally issu e d in 1842 to h is d a u g h te r s E liz a b e th W eston,
w ho n e x t y e a r m a r rie d A n d rew T h o m p so n , a n d A u g u sta B ro o k s. By a
d eed of p a rtitio n of 1848 th e B ro o k ses took th e e a s te r n h a lf (co n fu sin g ly
n a m e d “ W est H o rsle y ” ) a n d th e T h o m p so n s th e w e ste rn h a lf (n a m e d
sim p ly “ H o rsle y ” ). T he fro n t e le v a tio n of th e h o u se b u ilt by th e
T h o m p so n s v e ry clo sely re s e m b le s “ H o rsley P a r k ” , S m ith fie ld (also
the p ro p e rty of W illiam F re d e r ic k W eston) a n d is th o u g h t to h a v e been
m o d elled on it. T he b ric k s w e re m a d e a n d b u rn t on th e p ro p e rty an d
all th e w oodw ork, in clu d in g th e ro o f b a tte n s , is c e d a r - an e x a m p le of
th e la v ish n e ss w ith w hich th is tim b e r w a s u se d in th e e a rly d a y s.
In 1876 “ H o rsle y ” c a m e into th e p o sse ssio n of Jo h n L in d sa y w ho five
y e a rs la te r b o u g h t “ W est H o rsle y ” a lso ; b u t a f te r his d e a th th e
p ro p e rtie s w e re a g a in d iv id ed , “ H o rsle y ” going to h is son G eo rg e an d
“ W est H o rsle y ” to his son Jo h n .
“ A C a ttle -s ta tio n by th e Y a lla -L a k e ”
11
T he B row ns an d B ro w n es.
T h e c h ro n ic le r of e a rly D a p to is
c o m p a s s e d ab o u t by so g r e a t a c lo u d of B ro w n s a s to d e s p a ir of e v e r
c le a rin g th e a ir . R o b e rt B ro w n th e b o ta n is t h a s a lr e a d y b een
m e n tio n e d . W illiam B row n s e ttle d in W est D a p to . T he fa m ily a f t e r ­
w a rd s -m o v e d to S h erb ro o k e , b u t, w h en th e y w e re flooded o u t b y th e
b u ild in g of C a ta r a c t D a m r e tu r n e d to th e D a p to d is tric t a n d
e s ta b lis h e d th e m se lv e s a t “ W o llin g u rry ” Y a lla h .
" A th a n lin ” : W illiam B ro w n e. A n o th e r W illiam B ro w n e (g e n e ra lly
know n a s M e rc h a n t B ro w n e ) - th is tim e s p e lt w ith a n “ e ” , - h a d re c e iv e d
tw o g r a n ts of 3000 a c r e s a n d 800 a c r e s , a ls o in th e Y a lla h d is tric t, w h ich
h e c a lle d “ A th a n lin ” .
i
M e rc h a n t B ro w n e ’s life -s to ry , a s r e la te d b y o n e of h is d e s c e n d a n ts ,
w as s tra n g e in d eed . He w a s th e son of a n Irish o ffic e r in th e E a s t In d ia
C o m p a n y ’s s e rv ic e a n d “ a P e r s ia n w o m a n of h ig h d e g re e , th e w idow of
a P e r s ia n m e r c h a n t p r in c e ” . H is f a th e r took h im b a c k to E u ro p e , a n d
d ied soon a f te r . W illia m ’s re la tiv e s , ig n o ra n t of h is m o th e r ’s r a n k a n d
w e a lth , a p p re n tic e d him to a g ro c e r. H a v in g c o m p le te d h is a p p r e n tic e ­
ship, he w a s e a rn in g a m o d e s t liv in g se llin g te a a n d k itc h e n u te n s ils
fro m d o o r to d o o r w hen, by a c o in c id e n ce too im p ro b a b le fo r fictio n , he
w as re c o g n ise d by a G e n e ra l S h aw e, th e so le E u ro p e a n w itn e s s to his
p a r e n t s ’ w ed d in g . H a v in g s a tis f ie d h im s e lf of W illia m ’s id e n tity ,
G e n e ra l S h aw e p a id th e young m a n ’s p a s s a g e b a c k to h is m o th e r in
In d ia , w h e re , b a c k e d by h e r “ u n to ld ” w e a lth a n d th e G e n e r a l’s
in flu en ce, he p ro s p e re d a s a m e r c h a n t, m a r r ie d , a n d ra is e d a fa m ily in
his “ h a n d so m e a n d c o m m o d io u s” re s id e n c e n e a r C a lc u tta . B ut a s tim e
w en t on h e found th e c lim a te of B e n g al a g re e d ill w ith h im : “ I w a s
often d a n g e ro u s ly ill, seld o m to le ra b ly w ell, a n d n e v e r stro n g o r
h e a r t y ” . On a tra d in g v o y a g e to N ew South W ales in 1809-10 h e w a s
im p re s s e d by “ th e u n c o m m o n s a lu b rity of th is c o u n try ...T h e fe v e rs
an d a g u e s so fre q u e n tly ( s ic ) in In d ia a r e w holly u n k n o w n h e re . E v e n th e
im m o d e r a te u se of a r d e n t s p irits (he a r r iv e d d u rin g th e R u m C orps
re g im e ) s e e m s u n a b le to p ro d u c e sic k n e ss o r d e b ility h e r e ”
So h e tib u g h t 2000 a c re s a t “ A b b o tsb u ry ” n e a r C a b r a m a tta , a n d m a d e
p la n s to w ind up h is a ff a irs in In d ia a n d re m o v e h is h o u seh o ld ,
in clu d in g h is a g e d P e rs ia n m o th e r, to N ew S outh W ales. T h is p ro v e d a
long jo b , a n d it w a s not u n til A p ril 1816 th a t B ro w n e fin a lly a r r iv e d to
se ttle h e re .
H e c a m e w ith re c o m m e n d a tio n s fro m th e S e c re ta ry of S ta te , a n d
n e a rly £20,000 w ith w hich “ to e m b a r k in M e rc a n tile a n d F a rm in g
C on cern s in th e C olony” . On 27th A p ril 1816 J . F . C a m p b e ll, th e
C olonial S e c re ta ry , w ro te p ro m isin g B ro w n e a g r a n t of 3000 a c r e s
(a c c o rd in g to M e e h a n ’s e v id e n c e b e fo re C o m m issio n e r B ig g e, th e
la r g e s t g r a n t e v e r g iv en by M a c q u a rie to a n y one p e rs o n ) to g e th e r
w ith “ a n e lig ib le Town A llo tm e n t” a n d th e s e r v ic e s of “ E ig h t G ovt,
m en to be v ic tu a lle d fro m th e K in g ’s S to re s fo r th e te r m of E ig h te e n
M o n th s”
B row ne w a s not e n tire ly h a p p y w ith h is g r a n t: “ It is a n ew ly
d is c o v e re d tr a c t n e a r th e S e a , c a lle d F iv e Is la n d s, a little so u th fro m
12
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to.
B o tan y B ay , sa id to be fa r s u p e rio r in fe rtility , a n d le s s in c u m b e re d
w ith tim b e r , th a n a n y of th e old d is tric ts , e x c e p t th o se on th e b a n k s of
th e H a w k e sb u ry , a n d n o t (lik e ) th e m , s u b je c t to su d d e n in u n d a tio n s . I
w ould p r e f e r in fe rio r la n d n e a r m y old e s ta te , b u t all th e la n d s w ith in
m a n y m ile s of it h a v e a lr e a d y b e e n g ra n te d o r a p p ro p r ia te d fo r G ovt,
u ses” .
H o w ev er, h e s e t to w o rk to d ev elo p it, m a in ly th ro u g h th e a g e n c y of
th r e e n e p h e w s, H e n ry , T h o m a s a n d C o rn eliu s O ’B rie n . By 1820 h e w as
w ritin g th a t, b e c a u s e b o th “ A b b o tsb u ry ” a n d “ A th a n lin ” w ere
o v e rs to c k e d , he m u s t th e n c e fo rw a rd sen d “ a c e rta in n u m b e r a n n u a lly ”
to “ th e u n o c cu p ie d C o u n try b ey o n d th e B lue M o u n tain s, a b o u t 200
m ile s fro m S y d n e y ” . B ro w n e ’s e ld e s t son a n d T h o m a s O ’B rie n w ent
w ith th e m .
C o rn e liu s O ’B rie n re m a in e d a t “ A th a n lin ” fo r a tim e . W hen
M a c q u a rie v is ite d Illa w a rra in J a n u a r y 1822, h e w a s one of th o se w ho
a c te d a s g u id e to th e G o v e rn o r, w ho sp e n t th e n ig h t of 15th J a n u a r y a t
“ M r. B ro w n ’s e s ta b lis h m e n t s itu a te d on th e w e ste rn b a n k of th e la k e ” ,
c o m m e n tin g th a t “ th e la n d s w e tra v e lle d o v e r fro m M r. A lla n ’s a t
R ed P o in t to M r. B ro w n ’s w e re ch iefly open fo re st la n d of good
q u a lity , a n d w ell w ooded a n d w a te re d ' . N ex t d a y M a c q u a rie 's p a rty
“ s e t out fro m M r. B ro w n ’s... to e x p lo re th e c o u n try to th e so u th w a rd
a n d w e s tw a rd ; h a v in g firs t se n t off o u r s e r v a n ts a n d b a g g a g e to w a rd s
th e m o u n ta in o v e r w hich th e new ro a d fro m I lla w a r r a to A ppin h a s
re c e n tly been m a d e by M r. O ’B rie n . We p ro c e e d e d th ro u g h a v e ry rich
c o u n try in a so u th e rly d ire c tio n for tw o m ile s till w e a r r iv e d on th e left
b a n k of th e M a c q u a rie -R iv e r, a v e ry p re tty s tr e a m of fre s h w a te r
a b o u t 20 y a rd s in b re a d th , w hich fa lls into th e la k e , a n d is full of fish,
w ith c e d a r a n d o th e r good tim b e r g ro w in g on its b a n k ” .
“ M r. B ro w n ” h im se lf, it a p p e a rs , w a s not p re s e n t. H e h a d fa lle n out
w ith M a c q u a rie o v e r “ 39 A siatic s e r v a n ts ” w hom B ro w n e h a d b ro u g h t
to th e colony. T hey h a d c o m p la in e d of “ c ru e l u sa g e a n d illf a r e ” a t
B ro w n e ’s h a n d s ; th e B ench of M a g is tra te s h a d u p h e ld th e ir c o m ­
p la in ts ; th e G o v e rn o r h a d h a d th em r e p a tr ia te d , a n d h a d u n s u c c e s s ­
fully su ed B ro w n e fo r th e ir p a ss a g e -m o n e y . B ro w n e h a d a llie d h im se lf
w ith th e G o v e rn o r’s o p p o n en ts.
So f a r th e r e s e e m s to be no e v id e n c e th a t a n y of th e In d ia n s w o rk ed
a t “ A th a n lin ” ; though it is on re c o rd th a t C o rn eliu s O ’B rie n , m an y
y e a r s la te r , s u p p o rte d a m o v e to b rin g In d ia n la b o u re rs to N ew South
W ales - p o ssib ly a s a re s u lt of p e rs o n a l e x p e rie n c e .
B efo re long C o rn eliu s s e c u re d a g r a n t a t B ulli, a n d la te r m ig ra te d to
Y a s s ; b u t th e d e v e lo p m e n t of “ A th a n lin ” (also often re f e r r e d to as
“ Y a lla h ” ) w e n t on.
In th e e a rly 1830’s A le x a n d e r H a rris v isite d a c a ttle -s ta tio n on th e
b o rd e r of th e “ Y a lla -L a k e ” (p ro b a b ly e ith e r “ E x m o u th ” or
“ A th a n lin ” , b u t w hich is not c le a r ) , w h e re h e e n jo y e d “ a good d in n e r
of h o t-b e e f-ste a k s, b re a d a n d t e a ” . H e d e s c rib e d in “ S e ttle rs a n d
C o n v ic ts” th e sy s te m on w hich th e se ru n s w e re w o rk ed a n d its re s u lts .
“ In New South W ales la r g e s e ttle r s p o sse ss so m e th o u sa n d s of
‘A C 'attle-statio n by the Y a lla -L a k e ’
13
ho rn ed c a ttle ....E a c h is b ra n d e d , g e n e ra lly b efo re six m o n th s o ld ; an d
is th en su ffe re d to ra m b le a t la r g e o v e r th e ru n a ss ig n e d to th e h e rd it
belongs to ; a n d th e s e ru n s a r e e n c lo s e d
It is a n u n a v o id a b le in cid en t
of th e sy s te m th a t so m e g e t lo st....H e n c e it is im p o ssib le to m a k e
sto c k m e n a c c o u n ta b le fo r e v e ry b e a s t; e sp e c ia lly in so m e of th e
m o u n ta in o u s o r m o u n ta in -b o rd e re d r u n s ; o n e of w hich la s t w a s th a t w e
h a d a r r iv e d a t. It w ill re a d ily b e u n d e rsto o d w h a t stro n g te m p ta tio n w as
th u s p u t in th e w ay of m e n w hose h o n e sty h a d b een su b v e rte d b y a
th ie f’s life fro m in fa n c y u p w a rd s, to sell a n odd b e a s t o r tw o w hen th ey
c o n sid e re d th e y could do so w ith o u t d e te c tio n ;....T h u s so m e tim e s a
bullock w as tu rn e d o v e r to th e tra v e llin g c a ttle - jo b b e r : so m e tim e s
th r e e o r fo u r young c a lv e s w e re d riv e n a w a y b efo re b ra n d in g into a
snug b ig h t or th e m o u n ta in a n d n e v e r b ro u g h t to lig h t till th ey w e re
b ra n d e d w ith a fa lse b ra n d ....S o m e tim e s th e b ra n d s w e re o b lite ra te d
by b ra n d in g w ith fre sh b ra n d s ; a n d so m e tim e s th e b e a s t h a s been
th ro w n a n d th e b ra n d e d se c tio n of th e h id e a c tu a lly fla y ed o ff....T h is
g a m e , it w a s a fte rw a rd s know n, w a s g o in g on p re tty s m a rtly a t th e
s ta tio n s on th e Y alla L ak e , w h e re w e h a d a r r iv e d .”
T he C attle -S te a lin g P re v e n tio n A sso ciatio n , fo rm e d in S e p te m b e r
1827 by s e v e r a l la r g e llla w a r r a la n d h o ld e rs (in clu d in g B ro o k s a n d
W illiam B ro w n e) h a d , it a p p e a rs , la b o u re d in v ain .
A lthough H a rris s a y s th a t th e co n v ic t sto c k m a n w a s “ k e p t by his
m a s te r w ith o u t w a g e s a n d o ften m o s t m is e ra b ly fed a n d c la d ” , his
te m p o ra r y h o st a t th e sta tio n by th e Y a lla L a k e w a s ev id e n tly b e tte r
off:
“ I did n o t ev en s u s p e c t h im to b e a p ris o n e r of th e cro w n . H e w as
w ell d re s s e d , h a d p len ty of m o n ey , h a d a good h o rse a t th e d o o r, a n d
se e m e d q u ite h is own m a s te r . As w e c a m e in sig h t of th e h u t th e dogs
g a v e th e a la r m , a n d th e s to c k m a n b elo n g in g to th e sta tio n c a m e out
a n d k e p t th e dogs off w h ile w e g o t in to th e h u t. It a p p e a re d in th e
c o u rse of a few m in u te s th a t w e h a d d is tu rb e d th e m a t a g a m e a t c a rd s
for a sh illin g a g a m e a h e a d . T h ey w e re a ll, a s I le a rn e d a fte rw a rd s ,
still p riso n e rs . On m y m a te tellin g th e m , w ith re f e re n c e to m e , th a t it
w as “ all r i g h t” , th e c a rd s w e re b ro u g h t to lig h t a g a in , a n d th e g a m e
w en t o n ” .
B row ne h im se lf does n o t a p p e a r to h a v e sp e n t m u c h tim e a t
“ A th a n lin ” , though a p p a re n tly it w as th e r e th a t h e d ied , on 6th O cto b er
1833, th e P a u ls g ro v e D ia ris t n o tin g , “ T u e sd a y 8 ....M r. B row n
(M e rc h a n t) b u rie d a t W oolongon, d ie d S u n d ay n ig h t.”
H is d e sc e n d a n t an d b io g ra p h e r, M r. J .F .R . B ro w n e, d e sc rib e s th e
view th a t “ B row ne p lay ed no la rg e p a r t in o p ening up th e F iv e Isla n d s
D is tric ts ” a s “ a m y th ” .He s a y s : “ W ithout B row ne a n d h is n ep h ew s
th a t p a r t of the Colony w ould h a v e been m a d e into s m a lle r g ra n ts ,
in s te a d of one la r g e e s ta te , w h e re th e se m e n m a d e it in to a p a y a b le
a n d p ro s p e ro u s co u n try , to c le a r it a n d m a k e it a w ell e sta b lish e d
c o n c e rn fo r o th e rs w ho w e re to follow th e m ” .
One fa m ily a t le a s t of th o se w ho follow ed left a p e rm a n e n t m a r k on
th e d is tric t. O ut of th e “ A th a n lin ” g r a n ts a n o th e r p ro p e rty w as c a rv e d
14
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
w hich b e c a m e th e h o m e of one of th e
e s ta b lis h e d of lo cal fa rm in g fa m ilie s.
b est-k n o w n
and
lo n g est-
“ P e n ro s e ” : E . R. E v a n s . E v a n R o b e rt E v a n s , w ho a r r iv e d in th e
m id 1830’s, w as n o t, a s an y o n e m ig h t th in k , a W elsh m a n , b u t a
C o rn is h m a n ; d e m o n s tra tin g th e r a c ia l, a n d a n c ie n t lin g u istic , affin ity
of C ornw all an d W ales. By 1841 h e h a d s t a r te d fa rm in g a t “ P e n ro s e ” ,
w h e re h is d e s c e n d a n ts liv ed u n til 1973. He tr a d e d in c a ttle in co n ju ctio n
w ith H en ry O sb o rn e. H is son e x te n d e d h is o p e ra tio n s to th e ta b le la n d s ,
an d in 1872 b o u g h t 2030 a c r e s a t S utto n F o re s t fo r 15 sh illin g s p e r a c re .
M cC affrey s e v e re ly c a s tig a te s th e e a rly E v a n s e s fo r th e ir fa ilu re to k eep
a n a c c u r a te re c o r d of th e lo v e-liv es of th e ir b u lls; b u t d e sp ite th is
re p re h e n s ib le fa ilu re to fulfil th e c h ie f e n d of m a n in M c C a ffre y ’s
c a te c h is m , th e y w e re g e n e ra lly w ell e s te e m e d , a n d p la y e d a n o ta b le
p a r t in th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e A .I.S. b re e d w hich h a s been so
im p o rta n t in lo cal h isto ry .
E .R . E v a n s h a d p u rc h a s e d th e p ro p e rty in 1847. A few y e a rs la te r he
d ec id e d to bu ild h im se lf a new h o u se. H e a rin g th a t a sto n e m a so n
n a m e d W illiam J a m e s fro m h is h o m e tow n, P e n z a n c e , w as e m ig ra tin g
to A u s tra lia , E v a n s w e n t to S y d n ey , m e t J a m e s , a n d a r r a n g e d fo r h im ,
a s h is firs t jo b in A u s tra lia , to build “ P e n ro s e ” . T h e fo u n d a tio n s a r e of
sto n e, th e w a lls of b ric k s b eliev ed to h a v e b een m a d e a n d b u rn t on th e
p ro p e rty , th e ro o f of s la te a n d th e in te rn a l w oodw ork of c e d a r. T he
k itc h e n , o rig in a lly , lik e m a n y fa rm k itc h e n s of th e p e rio d , a d e ta c h e d
b u ild in g a t th e r e a r , w a s b u ilt on to th e h o u se e a rly th is c e n tu ry , a n d
in sid e a few w a lls h a v e b een re m o v e d ; b u t o th e rw ise “ P e n r o s e ” w a s
little c h a n g e d fro m its o rig in a l fo rm a s long a s th e E v a n s e s liv ed th e re .
“ T he ho u se a s it s ta n d s to -d a y ,” sa id a w rite r in 1968, “ is a trib u te to
th e skill of th e b u ild e r a n d th e c a r e a n d a tte n tio n th a t th e fa m ily h a v e
g iv en i t . ”
“ A v o n d ale” : 600 a c re s khow n a s “ A v o n d a le” w e n t to A lfred E ly a rd ,
C hief C lerk of th e S u p re m e C o u rt in th e 1840’s, a n d a m e m b e r of a
fa m ily w ho h a d la rg e h o ld in g s on th e S h o alh a v en , w h e re he d ied in
1879; b u t h is c o n n ectio n w ith D ap to w as n e ith e r clo se n o r long. He
re c e iv e s one b rie f a n d d ish o n o u ra b le m e n tio n in th e P a u ls g ro v e D ia r y :
“ M r. E lly a r d D .M . (w h a te v e r th a t sig n ifie s) c a ll'd in th e e v e n in g d ru n k ,
h a v in g lo s t h is w a y a n d s le p t” .
" M u lle t C ree k F a r m ” : G eo rg e B row n. (G e o rg e I) a n d “ D a is y b a n k ” :
G e o rg e B row n (G e o rg e II). G e o rg e B row n in 1833 re c e iv e d a g r a n t of 300
a c r e s c o v e rin g th e B ro w n sv ille a r e a . F o r co n v e n ie n c e h e w ill b e re f e r r e d
to a s G e o rg e I, th o u g h no d e fa m a tio n of th e h o n e st m a n by im p u tin g an y
re s e m b la n c e to th e w ee, w ee G e rm a n la ird ie in c h a r a c te r , h a b its,
m a n n e r s o r m o r a ls is in te n d e d . T he G e o rg e B ro w n w ho re c e iv e d a g ra n t
of 500 a c r e s (a f te rw a rd s n a m e d “ D a is y b a n k ” ) fu r th e r so u th w a s not th e
s a m e m a n , a n d w ill be r e f e r r e d to (w ith th e s a m e d is c la im e r) a s G eo rg e
II. A cco rd in g to “ T he G a rd e n of N ew South W a le s” h e w a s a c o u sin of
G eo rg e I, th o u g h M c C affre y in h is “ H isto ry of I l la w a r r a ” c a lls th is .
cousin W illiam . *
‘A C a ttle -s ta tio n by th e Y a lla -L a k e ’
15
G eo rg e I ’s tw o sons, Jo h n a n d G eo rg e W illiam (G eo rg e I I I), a n d
“ little G e o rg e ” B row n (G eo rg e IV ) w ill a p p e a r la te r , m a k in g a t le a s t
se v e n , p ro b a b ly e ig h t, a n d p o ssib ly n in e B ro w n s o r B ro w n es to be
d istin g u ish e d a n d s o rte d in to p la c e .
D r. A lick O sb o rn e:
G eo rg e I I ’s g r a n t h a d b een p ro m is e d by
G o v ern o r B ris b a n e in 1823, b u t ten y e a rs e la p s e d b efo re it a c tu a lly
issu ed , on 1st M ay 1833. Six m o n th s e a r lie r G e o rg e h a d so ld to R ic h a rd
B rooks (d e fe a tin g a con d itio n a g a in s t a lie n a tio n fo r fiv e y e a r s ) . F ro m
R ic h a rd B rooks the g r a n t p a s s e d firs t to h is w idow , th e n to h is son
H en ry , thpn to H en ry O sb o rn e ; a n d in 1839 th e la t te r sold to h is b ro th e r
Alick fo. £250.
T he O sborne b ro th e rs , Jo h n , A lick a n d H e n ry , w e re th r e e of th e ten
c h ild re n of A rch ib ald O sb o rn e of D irn a s e e r in C ounty T y ro n e . Jo h n a n d
Alick b e c a m e n a v a l s u rg e o n s, c a m e to A u s tra lia in c h a rg e of c o n v ic ts,
a n d lik ed w h a t th e y saw . Jo h n o b ta in e d a g r a n t ( “ G len G lo sh ” ) in
w h a t is now th e w e ste rn p a r t of W ollongong, a n d b u ilt h is h o m e on
G a rd e n H ill, now b e tte r know n a s H o sp ital Hill.
A lick O sb o rn e, u n lik e his p re d e c e s s o rs in title , re s id e d on his
a c q u isitio n “ fo r a p erio d of tw e n ty y e a rs u n in te rru p te d ly ” . B y h is w ill
(d a te d 26th J a n u a r y 1855) “ m y e s ta te of D aisy B an k D a p to ” w as
b e q u e a th e d to his d a u g h te r A nne, w ife of R o b e rt M a rsh a ll, “ sa id
p ro p e rty not to be u n d e r th e c o n tro l of h e r h u sb a n d a s I d e s ire h e r to
be fre e fro m a n y u n re a s o n a b le c a p ric e to w h ich h e m ig h t be s u b je c t” .
He d ied th e n e x t y e a r, a n d A nne a n d R o b e rt M a rsh a ll took o v e r. A nne
died in 1888. Soon a fte rw a rd s p a r t of th e p ro p e rty w a s su b d iv id e d , b u t
“ D aisy B a n k ” ho u se itse lf re m a in e d in th e h a n d s of th e fa m ily for
m a n y y e a r s a fte rw a rd s .
H en ry a n d S a ra h O sb o rn e - th e sto ry of th e ir m a r ria g e . T h e tw o
d o c to rs h ad se n t to th e ir fa th e r fo r th e ir y o u n g e st b ro th e r to jo in th e m
in th e p ro m ise d la n d . H e n ry , b efo re sa ilin g , a s k e d th e R ev . B e n ja m in
M a rsh a ll, th e re c to r of th e p a ris h , fo r th e h a n d of h is d a u g h te r S a ra h ,
b u t w a s-re fu se d .
So H en ry s a ile d fro m L iv erp o o l in th e P y ra m u s - a n a m e of ill o m en
for a d isc o n so la te lo v er - c a rr y in g w ith h im a d r a f t for £l,000 to s t a r t
him in th e new lan d .
A g r e a t g a le s p ra n g u p , a n d s to rm d a m a g e fo rce d th e P y ra m u s into
B e lfa st. H en ry , “ c o n v in c e d th a t th e e le m e n ts w e re fig h tin g fo r h im ” ,
once a g a in p re s s e d his su it. W hen c h o ru se d N a tu re b a d e h im , like
S trep h o n , ta k e his love, w as he to re p ly , “ N ay , b u t a c e rta in R e c to r
fo rb id s i t ” ? No a ffid a v it fro m a th u n d e r s to r m , no w o rd s on o a th fro m a
h e a v y sh o w er, could h a v e b een m o re p e rs u a s iv e . W ith e v id e n c e b e fo re
him th a t c h o ru se d N a tu re h a d in te re s te d h e rs e lf in th e m a tte r , th e
R e c to r y ield ed . All th e la d ie s of th e p a ris h s e t to w o rk on S a r a h ’s
tro u s s e a u . W ithin a w eek sh e w as fitte d o u t, a n d th e w ed d in g took
p la c e on 11th S e p te m b e r 1828.
T hen th e b rid e a n d b rid e g ro o m left fo r B e lfa st, to a w a it th e sa ilin g of
the P y ra m u s . W hile th e r e H e n ry le ft h is o v e rc o a t, w ith th e d ra f t for
£1,000 in the p o c k e t, h a n g in g on a peg a t th e ir h o tel. H e ru s h e d b a c k to
16
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
find c o a t a n d d ra f t in ta c t; b u t th e frig h t h e h a d re c e iv e d co n v in c e d h im
th a t h e co u ld not ris k c a rr y in g all his w e a lth in th a t fo rm . H e c o n v e rte d
th e d r a f t in to lin en a n d b o lts of clo th .
" M a rs h a ll M o u n t” . T he O sb o rn es re a c h e d S y d n ey on 9th M ay 1829.
H en ry sold his lin en a n d clo th to a d v a n ta g e , a n d m a d e a p p lic a tio n for
th e fre e g r a n t w hich a n im m ig ra n t b rin g in g c a p ita l in to th e c o u n try
could still e x p e c t. H e re c e iv e d 2560 a c r e s in th e D ap to d is tric t, “ an
irre g u la rly - s h a p e d p ie ce of la n d fittin g lik e a jig sa w p u z z le ” b e tw een
o th e r p ro p e rtie s p re v io u sly ta k e n up. C alling it “ M a rs h a ll M o u n t” a fte r
S a r a h ’s m a id e n n a m e , th e O sb o rn es s e ttle d th e re , liv in g a t firs t in
“ P u m p k in C o tta g e ” , u n d e r fa irly p rim itiv e c o n d itio n s b u t a p p a re n tly
h a p p ily - A lick O sb o rn e w ro te in A pril 1833, “ H en ry a n d fa m ily a r e all
in e x c e lle n t h e a lth a n d s p irits , S ally fin d s th e c lim a te a g re e s w ith h e r ” .
“ T h u s h a p p ily s e ttle d on one of th e ric h e s t a n d m o s t fa v o u re d sp o ts in
th e co lo n y ” , sa id a w rite r in th e E m p ire , “ M r. O sb o rn e w ould h a v e b een
a m a n of th e m o st p e rv e r s e u n d e rs ta n d in g if h e h a d n o t se t lu stily
to w o rk to im p ro v e h is good fo rtu n e . B ein g n a tu r a lly of a re s o lu te
c h a r a c te r , he b ro u g h t his e n e rg ie s a t o n ce to b e a r upon th e c a p a b ility
of h is n e w ly -a c q u ire d p r o p e r ty .”
B e fo re long h is h o ld in g s h a d
in c re a s e d to 5000 a c re s ; b u t fa rm in g on th is sc a le “ not h olding ou t a
p ro s p e c t of full e m p lo y m e n t to a m a n of h is a c tiv ity , h e d e te rm in e d on
e x te n d in g h is o p e ra tio n s by se e k in g la n d s b ey o n d th e b o u n d a rie s of
lo c a tio n ” . H e b e c a m e a s q u a tte r on a g ra n d sc a le in th e R iv e rin a ,
w h e re h is h o ld in g s in clu d e d th e h u g e “ B ro o k o n g ” s ta tio n .
In D e c e m b e r 1839 h e s e t o u t fro m D ap to , w ith one fre e s e ttle r , th re e
co n v ic ts a n d th re e a b o rig in e s, to d riv e a m o b of c a ttle , sh e e p a n d
h o rs e s to A d elaid e. T he p a r ty w e re fo u r m o n th s on th e w ay , b u t
b ro u g h t 855 c a ttle , 800 sh e e p a n d 62 h o rs e s sa fe ly th ro u g h . C ap tain
( a f te rw a rd s S ir) G eo rg e G re y , th e G o v e rn o r of South A u stra lia ,
re f e r r e d to O sb o rn e a s “ a r e m a r k a b le m a n ” , sa y in g th e O v e rla n d e rs
“ h a v e o v e rc o m e d ifficu ltie s of no o rd in a ry k in d , w h ich h a v e m a d e th e
m o re tim id a n d w e a k -h e a rte d q u a il, a n d relin q u ish th e e n te r p ris e s in
w hich th e y w e re e n g a g e d ; w h ilst th e re s o lu te a n d u n d a u n te d h a v e
p e rs e v e re d , a n d th e re w a rd th e y h a v e o b ta in e d is w e a lth , self-co n fid en ce
in d iffic u ltie s a n d d a n g e rs , a n d a fu n d of a c c u r a te in fo rm a tio n in m a n y
in te re s tin g p o in ts ” .
In I lla w a r r a H e n ry O sb o rn e w en t on a d d in g to h is e s ta te s “ Im b u e d w ith
a g e n iu s fo r a n n e x in g e a r lie r g r a n ts in th e D ap to d is tr ic t” , in th e
fo rtie s h e se c u re d C h a rle s T h ro sb y S m ith ’s “ C a ld e rw o o d ” , E ly a r d ’s
“ A v o n d a le ” , W illiam B ro w n e ’s “ A th a n lin ” , B ro o k s’ “ E x m o u th ” , an d
n u m e ro u s s m a lle r g r a n ts “ a t p ric e s ^ p ry in g f r o m £ l to £ 2 0 o r e v e n £30
an a c r e ” . H is C e n tra l I lla w a r r a e s ta te e x te n d e d fro m M ullet C reek To
M a c q u a rie R iv u le t, a n d fro m L ak e Illa w a rra to th e m o u n ta in s ; an d he
h a d f u r th e r la r g e h o ld in g s on th e m o u n ta in slo p es so uth of Ja m b e ro o ,
a t J e r r a r a , a n d in K an g a ro o V alley.
“ M a rs h a ll M o u n t” re m a in e d h is b a s e of o p e ra tio n s. T h e re S a ra h
b ro u g h t up th e ir m a n y c h ild re n , m a n a g e d h e r la r g e hou seh o ld , a n d ra n
SARAH AND H E N R Y O SB O R N E
■•
i
“ DAISY B A N K ”
T he h o m e of D r. Alick O sb o rn e, a n d a fte rw a rd s of R o b e rt a n d A nne
M a rsh a ll
F ro m a s k e tc h in W ilk e s ’s “ N a rra tiv e of th e U .S. E x p lo rin g E x p e d itio n ”
(B y p e rm iss io n of th e M itch ell L ib ra ry )
18
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
h e r ow n S u n d ay School (sh e is sa id to h a v e re w a rd e d th e b e s t child
w ith b re a d a n d h o n e y ).
In fro n t of “ P u m p k in C o tta g e ” th e O sb o rn e s b u ilt firs t a sin g le sto re y
w ooden h o u se , th e n a tw o -sto re y b ric k a n d sto n e m a n s io n , fitte d
th ro u g h o u t w ith c e d a r - one of th e fin e st h o u se s in I lla w a r r a , s u rro u n d e d
by a w id e v a rie ty of E n g lish tr e e s . N e a rb y w e re six a c r e s of o rc h a r d , an d
f u r th e r u p th e h ill a v in e y a rd .
H en ry O sb o rn e w a s a J u s tic e of th e P e a c e , a n d took a p ro m in e n t p a r t
in all p u b lic a ff a irs in I lla w a r r a . He a n d h is b ro th e rs in 1843 h eld in
W ollongong a p riv a te show of h ig h -g ra d e c a ttle th e y h a d im p o rte d an d
of fa r m p ro d u c e , “ th u s g iv in g a n in c e n tiv e to e s ta b lis h th e firs t
I lla w a r r a A g ric u ltu ra l A sso c ia tio n ” . H e w a s e le c te d p re s id e n t, but
o th e r d u tie s p re v e n te d h is a c c e p ta n c e . In 1851 h e w a s e le c te d to th e
L e g isla tiv e C ouncil a s m e m b e r fo r E a s t C a m d e n , a n d re p r e s e n te d the
s a m e c o n stitu e n c y in th e firs t L e g isla tiv e A ssem b ly (1856). “ In p o litics
he w a s a s in c e re a n d c o n siste n t s u p p o rte r of th e s q u a tte r p a r t y ” ,
m a n ife s tin g , a c c o rd in g to th e E m p ire , “ a v isib le h o rr o r a t th e d is tu rb in g
e ffo rts of th o se w ho h a v e no t y e t ‘a m p le ro o m ’ in th is ‘h a p p y la n d ” . E v e n
h is o b itu a ris t s a id th a t “ h e d is p la y e d few q u a lific a tio n s a s a
p a r lia m e n ta r y p o litic ia n ” , b u t c la im e d fo r h im “ one g r e a t m e r it...h e
w ould not allo w fa c tio n to s m o th e r th e d ic ta te s of re a s o n a n d h is se n se of
ju s tic e ....In a n d o u t of th e p o litic a l a r e n a h e w a s k in d a n d c o u rte o u s to
a ll” .
H e d ied on 26th M arch 1859, a g e d 56, le a v in g “ p ro p e rty e s tim a te d a t
n e a rly h a lf a m illio n of m o n e y , w ith c o llie rie s, th e p ro s p e c tiv e v a lu e of
w hich it is a lm o st im p o ssib le to c o m p u te ” . H is e s ta te s w e re d iv id ed
a m o n g h is fa m ily , his e ld e s t son H e n ry Hill O sb o rn e tak in g
“ A v o n d a le ” . S a ra h soon a fte rw a rd s re tu rn e d to E n g la n d , w h e re sh e
d ie d in 1873. * “ M a rs h a ll M o u n t” b e c a m e “ T h e h e r ita g e of o n e of th e
y o u n g e r so n s w h o se in te re s ts w e re e ls e w h e r e ” .
In 1879 th e p ro p e r ty w a s still b ein g “ w ro u g h t a s a c a ttle ru n w ith a
s m a ll flock of sh e e p , w hich la tte r , upon th e w hole a r e not found to
s u c c e e d w ell in Illa w a rra . T he te n a n try a n d th e sm a ll fa rm in g
p ro p r ie to r s so g e n e ra lly m e t w ith in o th e r p a r ts a r e co n se q u e n tly
w a n tin g h e re . T h is c ir c u m s ta n c e se e m s to be a s u b je c t of r e g r e t w ith
th e n e ig h b o u rs, in a s m u c h a s th e sta tio n sy s te m in th e s q u a t te r ’s sen se
of th e te rm is re c k o n e d a p io n e e r e n te r p ris e , a n d its c o n tin u a tio n in th e
p re s e n t d a y is c o n sid e re d an a n a c h ro n is m in I l la w a r r a ” . B ut, p e rh a p s
b e c a u se of th a t a n a c h ro n is m , “ th e p a ssio n fo r u n d is c rim in a te c le a rin g ,
w hich w a s n o te d a s a c h a r a c te r is tic of o th e r p a r ts , h a s been w isely
av o id e d in th e M a rsh a ll M ount e s ta te . A m o re ju d ic io u s p ro c e s s h a s
ev id e n tly been c a r r ie d o u t, according* to a p re c o n c e iv e d p la n in w hich
b e a u ty a n d u tility h a v e b een a im e d a t a s a c o m b in e d r e s u lt” . H o w ev er,
ev en then th e M a rsh a ll M ount h o m e s te a d h a d “ b e c o m e a re lic of
b y gone d a y s ....f a s t fallin g in to d e c a y , a n d ....in h a b ite d only by s e rv a n ts
b elo n g in g to th e e s ta b lis h m e n t.”
T he “ a n a c h ro n is m ” p e rs is te d u n til 1890, w hen th e e s ta te w as
‘A C a ttle -s ta tio n by th e Y a lla -L a k e ’
19
su b d iv id ed into tw enty-tw o fa r m s . F o r one of th e s e “ th e u p k e e p of a
la r g e h o u se b e c a m e too g r e a t a b u rd e n ” . *
“ L a k e la n d s ” : H e n ry ’s sec o n d son, P a tr ic k H ill O sb o rn e, in h e rite d
th e L a k e la n d s E s ta te , m o re o r le ss c o rre sp o n d in g to “ E x m o u th ” . He
w as “ a sh re w d m a n of b u sin e ss, e sp e c ia lly in th e sto c k a n d sta tio n
d o m a in ” . He w a s a m e m b e r fo r llla w a r r a in 1864-66 - lik e h is f a th e r a
sound T o ry , su p p o rtin g S ta te a id to re lig io n a n d d e n o m in a tio n a l
schools. N one th e le s s, a few y e a r s la t e r he g a v e th e site fo r th e firs t
P u b lic School in D ap to . In h is la te r y e a r s h e liv ed e ls e w h e re , m a in ly a t
“ C u rra n d o o le y ” n e a r L a k e G eo rg e , w h e re h e d ied in 1902; b u t h e h a d
re ta in e d “ L a k e la n d s ” u n til a b o u t 1890, w hen h e sold it to th e L ak e
llla w a r r a H a rb o u r a n d L a n d C o rp o ra tio n fo r £50,000. H is la s t p u b lic a c t
in th e d is tric t w a s th e g ift of th e v a lu a b le sh o w g ro u n d s ite to th e D ap to
A. & H. S o ciety , on co n d itio n th a t a show w a s h e ld a n n u a lly .
Y et a n o th e r son, G eo rg e O sb o rn e , in h e rite d p ro p e rty a t Y a lla h . He
too h a d h is m a in in te re s ts e ls e w h e re ( a t “ F o x lo w ” n e a r B u n g e n d o re )
but u n til h is d e a th h e re ta in e d th e Y a lla h p ro p e r ty - th e la s t O sb o rn e
holding in th e D ap to d is tric t.
“ M a c q u a rie G ift” : J u s t on th e D ap to sid e of M a rsh a ll M ount,
G eo rg e J o h n s to n ’s 1500 a c r e s r a n n o rth -w e st fro m M a c q u a rie R iv u le t
to s tra d d le th e fu tu re lin e of M a rsh a ll M ount R o ad fro m M a rsh a ll
M ount School a lm o s t to th e Y a lla h R o ad ju n c tio n .
G eo rg e J o h n s to n w a s n o n e o th e r th a n th e fo r m e r M a jo r J o h n s to n ,
th e b e m u s e d fro n t-m a n of th e R u m R eb ellio n . He h a d b e e n sh ip p e d
b a c k to E n g la n d fo r c o u rt-m a rtia l, p ro m o te d to L ieu ten an t-C o lo n el by
se n io rity w hile a w a itin g tr ia l, th en c o n v ic ted of m u tin y . F o r th a t he
m ig h t h a v e h a d h is n ec k s tre tc h e d ; b u t on th e d a y s e n te n c e w a s to be
p a ss e d a p ro v id e n tia l illn e ss s tru c k dow n a s e n io r m e m b e r of th e c o u rt,
th e fie rc e old m a r tin e t S ir D a v id B a ird , w ho la t e r to ld M a c q u a rie th a t
J o h n s to n ’s g u ilt w a s “ w ith o u t th e le a s t p a llia tio n th a t w a s in m y m in d
w o rth y of c o n s id e ra tio n ” .
T he r e s t of th e c o u rt ju d g e d h im le ss h a rs h ly , p e rh a p s d is c e rn in g a
s tro n g e r a n d m o re cu n n in g h a n d p u llin g th e s trin g s . T h ey took his
b u tto n s off a n d c u t his s trip e s a w a y , b u t in s te a d of h a n g in g Colonel
Jo h n sto n in th e m o rn in g th e y c o n te n te d th e m se lv e s w ith c a s h ie rin g
h im . T h e P rin c e R eg en t w a s m o v ed to e x p re s s h is ro y a l d is p le a s u re a t
th e ir le n ie n c y , b u t th e c a s e co u ld n o t b e re o p e n e d . All th a t c o u ld be
done w a s to co n sig n Jo h n sto n b a c k to N ew South W ales, w ith
in s tru c tio n s to M a c q u a rie to tr e a t h im a s h e w ould “ a n y o th e r o rd in a ry
S e ttle r ” .
T h is M a c q u a rie did. Jo h n sto n h a d b e en fo r m a n y y e a r s th e
“ p r o te c to r ” of a c e rta in E s th e r A b ra h a m s , a lia s J u lia n , w hom h e h a d
m e t on s h ip b o a rd on h e r w ay to B o tan y B ay fo r se v e n y e a rs for
a tte m p tin g to s te a l la c e v a lu e d a t fifty sh illin g s. To h a v e m a d e an
ho n est w o m an of h e r w hile he h eld H is M a je s ty ’s C o m m issio n w ould no
d o u b t h a v e been d e e m e d sc a n d a lo u s co n d u c t u n b ec o m in g a n o fficer
a n d a g e n tle m a n . C a sh ie re d a n d d is g ra c e d , h e w a s fr e e to h e ed th e
“ s t r ic tu r e s an d w a rn in g s ” of M a c q u a rie , w ho w a s u sin g both th e stic k
20
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
a n d th e c a r r o t to g e t his r e lu c ta n t su b je c ts to th e a lta r . On 12th N o v e m b e r
1814 J o h n s to n a n d E s th e r w e re m a r r ie d b y th e R e v e re n d S a m u e l
M arsd en .
It w a s p a r t of M a c q u a r ie ’s p o licy to c o n fe r fa v o u rs a n d b e n e fits on
re fo rm e d c h a r a c te r s . Jo h n sto n , in h is d e clin in g y e a r s a p illa r of law
a n d o rd e r a n d , h o w e v e r b e la te d ly , of d o m e stic re s p e c ta b ility , w a s one
of th e b e n e fic ia rie s. On 16th N o v e m b e r 1816 th e C olonial S e c re ta ry
in fo rm e d S u rv e y o r-G e n e ra l O xley th a t “ th e G o v e rn o r h a s no o b jectio n
to th e L a n d s p ro m ise d to G eo rg e Jo h n sto n E s q re . S e n r. b eing lo c a te d
fo r h im a t o r n e a r to th e M a c q u a rie R iv e r on its W estern sid e in the
sa id D is tric t of I l la w a r r a ” . T h ey w e re lo c a te d a c c o rd in g ly , a n d th e
g ra te fu l Jo h n sto n n a m e d th e p ro p e rty “ M a c q u a rie G ift” .
M a c q u a rie v is ite d th e p ro p e rty in 1822, w ritin g in h is jo u rn a l, “ T his
fa r m is a v e ry fin e one, w ell w a te re d , a n d c o n ta in s so m e v e ry
e x te n s iv e b e a u tifu l m e a d o w s, b o rd e rin g on th e la k e a n d r i v e r ” . In fa c t
it a p p e a rs fro m th e p a ris h m a p th a t J o h n s to n ’s g r a n t d id n o t e x te n d to
th e la k e , b u t in 1822 th e r e w as p ro b a b ly n o th in g to p re v e n t h im from
o ccu p y in g th e in te rv e n in g la n d . Jo h n sto n h im se lf w as a n o th e r
a b s e n te e , b u t so m e of h is d e s c e n d a n ts fig u re d in Illa w a rra h isto ry .
D av id J o h n s to n , w ho w as one of M a c q u a rie ’s c o m p a n io n s on his
I lla w a r r a jo u rn e y , in h e rite d “ M a c q u a rie G ift” , (h e a lso re c e iv e d two
g r a n ts f u r th e r to th e so u th -w e st, in la te r y e a rs know n a s “ J o h n s to n ’s
M e a d o w s” ; b u t e x c e p t fo r one s m a ll c o rn e r th e la t te r w e re o u tsid e th e
a r e a c o v e re d by th e se n o tes).
F ro m him “ M a c q u a rie G ift” p a ss e d in 1860 to h is d a u g h te r E s th e r ,
a n d th ro u g h h e r to th e W eston fa m ily .
B la n c h e J o h n s to n , G e o rg e ’s y o u n g e st d a u g h te r , h a d p a r r i e d C a p ta in
G e o rg e E d w a rd N ich o las W eston (b ro th e r of W illiam F re d e r ic k W eston
of “ H o rs le y ” ). T h e ir e ld e s t son E d w a r d m a r r ie d h is c o u sin E s th e r .
A lthough so c lo se to “ M a rsh a ll M o u n t” , “ M a c q u a rie G ift” (a lso know n
in la te r y e a r s a s “ W esto n ’s M e a d o w s” ) w a s o n e of th e few p ro p e rtie s
th e r e a b o u ts w h ich e lu d e d H e n ry O sb o rn e ’s ta k e -o v e r b id s. It w as
w o rk ed by E d w a rd W eston a s a d a iry in g a n d ra c e h o rs e -b re e d in g e s ta te
u n til 1900, a n d re m a in e d th e p ro p e rty of th e W eston fa m ily (m u c h of it
le t to te n a n t f a r m e r s ) till th e e a rly 1920’s. * T h e fa m ily th e m se lv e s w e re v a |
h o w ev er m o re clo se ly a s s o c ia te d w ith A lbion P a r k th a n w ith D ap to .
k ifl
K e m b la G ra n g e : K e m b la G ra n g e w a s a n ill- s ta r re d a r e a . Its firs t
re c o rd e d “ o w n e r” , a n a b o rig in a l c h ie f know n a s C h a rlie H ooka, c a m e
to a stic k y e n d w hen h e w a s m u r d e re d a n d d e c a p ita te d by tw o b l a c k s ^ ^
of th e P ig e o n H ouse T rib e . * M o st of its w h ite o w n e rs w e re little m o r e M
fo rtu n a te .
“ D unlop V a le ” : J . D. W yllie. T h e firs t m a jo r la n d h o ld e r, Jo h n
D unlop W yllie (o r W ylie), a n a tiv e of D a iry in A y rsh ire , a r r iv e d in th e
colony in 1824, b rin g in g w ith h im so m e p u re b r e d A y rsh ire c a ttle . H e
re c e iv e d fro m G o v e rn o r B ris b a n e , a n o th e r A y rsh ire m a n , a p ro m ise of
‘A C a ttle -s ta tio n by th e Y a lla -L a k e ’
21
1,000 a c r e s , w hich he s e le c te d on th e n o rth sid e of M u llet C re e k . T he
p ro p e rty , a t firs t know n a s “ S h o ra n V a le ,” w as b y 1829 “ D unlop V a le ” ,
D unlop b ein g n ot only W y llie’s m id d le n a m e , b u t th e p la c e w h e re th e
A y rsh ire b re e d (o n ce k now n a s D u n lo p s) h a d o rig in a te d . G e ttin g into
fin a n c ia l d iffic u ltie s, W yllie left th e p ro p e rty a n d b e c a m e a n em p lo y e e
on B e r r y ’s S h o alh av en e s ta te s .
S om e of W y llie’s b o rro w in g s h a d b e e n g u a r a n te e d by y e t a n o th e r
A y rsh ire m a n , th a t tu r b u le n t p rie s t - fo r w h en it c a m e to tu rb u le n c e , new
p re s b y te r, a s M ilton o b se rv e d , w a s b u t old p r ie s t w rit la r g e - th e
R e v e re n d Jo h n D u n m o re L a n g .
Jo h n D u n m o re L a n g ’s p ro p o se d P r e s b y te r ia n S e ttle m e n t:
W yllie,
o b tain in g a p ro m ise of a f u r th e r 1,000 a c r e s , tr a n s f e r r e d th e w hole
2,000 a c r e s to L an g in 1830, b u t a p p a re n tly w ith so m e p riv a te
u n d e rs ta n d in g th a t he w ould re ta in so m e rig h ts in th e p ro p e rty . L ang
p ro p o sed to d iv id e it into s m a ll fa r m s fo r S co ttish s e ttle r s w ho w e re to
be s e le c te d by h im se lf a n d to m ig r a te “ u n d e r th e p a s to ra l s u p e r in te n d ­
e n ce of a m in is te r of th e C h u rch of S c o tla n d ” (L a n g , th e a r c h ­
d is ru p te r, b e in g a s y e t w ith in th e fold of th e A uld K irk ).
‘‘Of all s a d w o rd s of to n g u e o r pen,
T he s a d d e s t a r e th e s e : ‘I t m ig h t h a v e b e e n ! ’ ”
A m in ia tu re O tago, u n c o rru p te d by gold, a new L ew is, m ig h t h a v e
a ris e n on th e b a n k s of M ullet C reek . L a n g ’s flock m ig h t h a v e follow ed
him fa ith fu lly a s he d is ru p te d th e D isru p tio n , a n d sp lit th e K irk into
e v e r s m a lle r s p lin te rs . H av in g b e c o m e th e w e e st a n d fr e e s t of K irk s,
they m ig h t h a v e re m a in e d th e s te r n e s t a n d w ild e st of W ee F r e e s , lyin g
a c ro s s th e h ig h w ay to b lock tra ffic on th e S a b b a th , o r sin g in g , s e a te d
a n d u n a c c o m p a n ie d s a v e fo r th e p r e c e n to r ’s tu n in g -fo rk :
“ In c h a rio ts so m e p u t c o n fid en ce,
S om e h o rs e s tr u s t upon,
B ut w e re m e m b e r w ill th e n a m e
Of o u r L o rd G od a lo n e ...
An h o rs e fo r p re s e rv a tio n
Is a d e c e itfu l th in g ,
A nd by th e g r e a tn e s s of h is s tre n g th
C an no d e liv ’ra n c e b rin g ” .
D iabolis a lite r v isu m . D unlop V ale w a s d e stin e d to (a lm o s t) to tal
d e p ra v ity , its sole o th e rw ise re d e e m in g f e a tu re , th e go lf c lu b , a h o tb ed
of s a b b a th -b re a k in g a n d o n e -a rm e d b a n d itry . One c a n im a g in e th e
fie ry elo q u e n c e w ith w hich L a n g w ould ta k e up his te s tim o n y a g a in s t
K em b la G ra n g e a s it is:
22
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
“ H e w a le d a m a is t ju d e e c io u s te x t,
A n’, la u n c h in ’ in to h is p re le c tio n s,
Sw oopt, w i’ a sk irl, on a ’ d e fe c tio n s...
N ae s h a u c h lin ’ te s tim o n y h e re ,
We w e re a ’ d o m n e d , a n ’ th a t w a s c le a r
I ow ned, w i’ g ra titu d e a n ’ w o n d e r
H e w a s a p le e s u re to s it u n d e r ! ” *
R o b e rt a n d W illiam C a rru th : T h e e le c t P re s b y te ria n s did no t co m e
to I lla w a r r a . “ T h e re w a s th e n ” , sa id L a n g , “ a fa v o u ra b le p ro s p e c t of
W yllie b e in g c o m fo rta b ly s e ttle d on one h a lf of h is g r a n t, in c lu d in g a ll h is
p re v io u s c u ltiv a tio n , in c o m p a n y w ith tw o y o u n g S co tch fa r m e rs ,
re la tiv e s of h is th e n re c e n tly a r r iv e d ” . T h ese w e re R o b e rt a n d W illiam
C a rru th , w ho a r r iv e d in S y d n ey in 1835. S h o rtly a f te r w a r d s L an g
re c o n v e y e d to W yllie a n d th e C a rru th s th e p o rtio n of th e p ro p e r ty w e st of
th e G re a t S o u th R o ad .
B ut th is tu rn of fo rtu n e h a d co m e too la te fo r W yllie. A lrea d y ill
w hen th e C a rru th s a rr iv e d , h e d ied on 27th S e p te m b e r of th e s a m e
y e a r. T he C a rru th s w o rk e d th e p ro p e rty till th e g r e a t d ro u g h t of 1838,
When th ey sold ou t to G e ra rd G e ra rd a n d w e n t to N ew Z ealan d .
J o h n D u n m o re L an g in th e s a m e y e a r sold th e e a s te rn se c tio n to his
b ro th e r A n d rew for£2,400. On 30th M a rc h , 1840 th e g r a n t fin ally issu ed
to A n d rew L a n g , in tr u s t a s to one m o iety fo r A n d re w L a n g a n d a s to
th e o th e r fo r G e ra rd G e ra rd . L ess th a n tw o m o n th s la te r A ndrew L an g
o ffered h is se c tio n , su b d iv id e d in to 34 fa r m s of fro m 6 to 70 a c re s , for
sa le by a u c tio n . “ T h e s a le b ro u g h t a to ta l of£6,876 4s. 6d., th e p ric e p er
a c r e v a ry in g fro m £ 5 to £ 1 4 10s.” *
G e ra rd G e r a r d : G e ra rd G e ra rd , w h en h e b o u g h t th e C a r r u th s ’
p ro p e rty , w a s no t long o u t fro m h is n a tiv e F r a n c e . H e w a s a m e m b e r of
th e f ir s t I lla w a r r a D is tric t C ouncil a p p o in te d on 24th A u g u st 1843, w as a
s h a re h o ld e r in th e I lla w a r r a S te a m P a c k e t C o m p a n y , a n d w a s on th e
c o m m itte e of th e I lla w a r r a A g ric u ltu ra l A sso c ia tio n a n d a su c c e ssfu l
e x h ib ito r a t lo c a l show s. H e w a s sa id to h a v e b e e n th e firs t f a r m e r in
I lla w a r r a to m ilk th e cow s w ith o u t th e c a lv e s.
T he n a m e “ K em b la G ra n g e ” . A p p a re n tly it w a s G e ra rd w ho n a m e d
the p ro p e rty “ K e m b la G ra n g e ” . T h e n a m e w a s of c o u rs e ta k e n fro m
M ount K e m b la , w hich is sa id to be a c o rru p tio n of th e a b o rig in a l
D ’je m b la a n d to m e a n “ P le n ty of g a m e ” o r “ P le n ty of w ild fowl
a b o u t” .
“ N ew to n ” : D. W. Irv in g . G e ra rd sold p a r t of th e p ro p e rty to D avid
W illiam son Irv in g , th e y o u n g e st son of a n E d in b u rg h W rite r to th e
S ig n et w ho h a d b een a schoolboy frie n d of S ir W a lte r S cott. Irv in g h a d
been a g e n t to W illiam H ow e of “ G le n le e ” , C am p b ellto w n , h a d m a rrie d
h is e m p lo y e r’s d a u g h te r J a n e , a n d h a d p re v io u sly fa rm e d a t T e r a r a on
th e S h o alh a v en a n d a t S u tto n F o re s t. H e n a m e d h is K e m b la G ra n g e
p ro p e rty “ N e w to n ” a f te r th e L a n a rk s h ire s e a t of h is u n cle L ord
N ew ton, a L o rd of S ession in S c o tlan d . On it h e b u ilt in 1845 th e house
w hich is still s ta n d in g . H e liv ed th e r e till 1862, w hen h e a c c e p te d an
"A C a ttle -s ta tio n by th e Y a lla -L a k e ”
23
a p p o in tm e n t a s P o lic e M a g is tra te a t F o rb e s - w hich s u g g e s ts th a t he
h a d no t been p a rtic u la rly su c c e ssfu l a s a fa r m e r.
R o b e rt H aw o rth of “ K e m b la G ra n g e ” : In 1853 G e ra rd sold th e
re s id u e of th e p ro p e rty - 471 a c r e s - to R o b e rt H aw o rth (in so m e
c o n te m p o ra ry re fe re n c e s H o w arth , b u t on h is to m b sto n e H a w o rth , like
the B ro n te s ’ v illa g e , w hich is a lso p ro n o u n ce d H o w a rth ).
H aw o rth h ad ris e n fro m h u m b le b e g in n in g s - he is sa id by M cC affrey
in h is “ H is to ry ” to h a v e fed p ig s a n d c a lv e s fo r th e C a rru th s on
“ D unlop V a le ” , w hile, b ein g a s h o e m a k e r by tr a d e , h e m a d e b oots for
the s e ttle r s in h is own tim e . E lse w h e re M cC affrey s a y s th a t H a w o rth ,
a n a tiv e of B u ry in L a n c a s h ire , g o t into tro u b le th ro u g h h o rs e -ra c in g ,
co ck -fig h tin g a n d g a m b lin g , a n d trie d to g e t ou t of it by fo rg e ry ; th a t
he w a s d e te c te d an d in 1834 tr a n s p o rte d fo r se v e n y e a r s ; a n d th a t on
a r r iv a l in A u stra lia he w as a ss ig n e d to C a rru th s . At “ D unlop V a le ” he
looked a fte r th e pig s a n d c a lv e s by d a y , a n d m a d e b oots a n d sh o es a t
n ig h t a n d on S unday e v e n in g s. H e fo rsw o re sp o rt a n d g a m b lin g in
e v e ry fo rm , s a v e d e v e ry p e n n y , a n d w hen h e h a d se rv e d h is tim e
b ro u g h t h is w ife an d fam ily out to W ollongong.
No one should be c o n v ic te d on M c C a ffre y ’s u n c o rro b o ra te d ' e v id e n c e,
b ut in th is c a s e th e re m a y be so m e c o rro b o ra tio n . T he 1828 c e n su s
re c o rd s “ R o b e rt H o w a rth , 26, G o v e rn m e n t S e rv a n t (i.e. c o n v ic t),
F lo re n tia , 1828, 7 y e a rs ; P r o te s ta n t; la b o u re r to Jo h n rfe a p s , P o rtla n d
H e a d ” . T he a g e c o rre sp o n d s w ith th a t s ta te d on H a w o rth ’s to m b sto n e
an d th e s e n te n c e w ith M c C a ffre y ’s s to ry . T h e d a te of a r r iv a l does not,
nor does th e e n try ta lly w ith M c C a ffre y ’s im p lic a tio n th a t im m e d ia te ly
on a r r iv a l H aw o rth w as a ss ig n e d to th e C a rru th s . B ut it is an
u n co m m o n n a m e , an d it could be th e s a m e m a n ; a n old re s id e n t a d d s
th a t in h e r young d a y s th e H aw o rth fa m ily w e re n o t c o n sid e re d so cially
a c c e p ta b le by llla w a r r a g en tlefo lk .
W h eth er he h a d e n te re d C a r r u th s ’ e m p lo y m e n t v o lu n ta rily or
in v o lu n ta rily , H aw o rth p ro s p e re d a fte r le a v in g it. H e h a d a ta n n e r y in
W ollongong so m e w h e re n e a r th e site of th e ra ilw a y s ta tio n . A ccord ing
to M cC affrey his title w as d e fe c tiv e , an d M rs. O sb o rn e, w idow of D r.
Jo h n O sborne of “ G a rd e n H ill” , c la im e d th e la n d a s “ h e r d o w ry ” .
H aw o rth w alk ed to Sydney to b o rro w £33 6s. 8d. to se ttle h e r c la im .
(M c C a ffre y ’s a c c o u n t is n o t p a rtic u la rly lu c id ; b u t a s £33 6s. 8d. is
e x a c tly o n e-th ird o f£ l0 0 , p o ssib ly h e co n fu sed th e b r id e ’s “ d o w ry ” w ith
th e w idow ’s “ d o w e r” - th e w id o w ’s rig h t a t c o m m o n law to a
life -in te re st in o n e-th ird of h e r h u s b a n d ’s la n d s ).
T he ta n n e ry w as a su c c e s s, a n d H aw o rth w a s a b le to buy “ K em b la
G ra n g e ” , w h e re , a c c o rd in g to M cC affrey , he b u ilt a fine re s id e n c e - th e
ru in s w e re still v isib le w e st of th e ra ilw a y in th e 1950’s - a n d th e lodge
on the h ig h w ay , often m ista k e n ly d e sc rib e d a s a toll-house, w hich
s u rv iv e d into th e 1960’s. He w as m e m b e r fo r llla w a r r a fro m 1860 to
1864, a n d fo r a tim e w a s a sh in in g e x a m p le of th e self-h elp b elo v ed of
the V ic to ria n s - p a re n ts could po in t h im o u t to th e ir c h ild re n a n d sa y ,
‘ You c a n b e like M r. H a w o rth , if you w o rk h a rd , s a v e y o u r p e n n ie s,
a n d p ra c tis e y o u r h a n d w ritin g .”
24
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
T hen s o m e th in g w en t w ro n g . M cC affrey s a y s th a t H a w o rth c a m e to
g rie f th ro u g h “ going s u r e ty to th e G o v e rn m e n t fo r P a tr ic k L aiffe (sic )
w ho h ad th e c o n tr a c t of c o n s tru c tin g th e W ollongong h a rb o u r - th e
a m o u n t w a s £10,000 a n d H a w o rth h a d to c o m p le te th e w o rk w hich c o st
him £4,000” . ( P r e s u m a b ly th is re f e r s to th e c o n stru c tio n of B e lm o re
B a sin , tho u g h th e r e is no re f e re n c e to it in C.W . G a rd in e r-G a rd e n ’s
“ P o rt of W ollongong” ).
£1,000 sh o u ld no t h a v e s p e lt ru in fo r th e s q u ire of “ K e m b la G ra n g e ” , an d
p o ssib ly it d id not, fo r h e e v id e n tly re m a in e d in th e d is tric t, a n d ,
a f te r all his u p s a n d dow ns w a s b u rie d u n d e r a fa irly e la b o r a te m o n u m e n t
in St. L u k e ’s C h u rc h y a rd . H is v ic is s itu d e s m ig h t b e w o rth f u r th e r stu d y .
'T h e V e te ra n s ’ G ra n ts . A n o th er s e rie s of g r a n ts w a s u n iq u e in th e
Illa w a r r a D is tric t. In 1829 S u rv e y o r K n ap p w as in s tru c te d to su rv e y
ten 100-acre lo ts for v e te r a n s on D ap to C re e k (th is b ein g th e first
re c o rd e d u se of th e n a m e D a p to ), to se le c t d ry s itu a tio n s for th e h u ts
a n d to p o in t th e m out to th e c o m m a n d a n t a t W ollongong, L ie u te n a n t
B u tle r, w ho w as to h a v e a h u t b u ilt on e a c h g r a n t by w o rk in g p a rtie s .
E a c h v e te r a n w a s to be su p p lie d w ith food fo r a y e a r a n d to h a v e a
co n v ic t la b o u r e r a ss ig n e d to h im .
T h e se g r a n te e s w e re m e m b e rs of th e V e te ra n C o m p an y (also a n d
c o n fu sin g ly c a lle d th e N ew South W ales C o rp s, b u t not to be
co n fo u n d ed w ith th e o rig in a l R um C o rp s) fo rm e d a few y e a rs e a r lie r
fo r s e rv ic e in New South W ales, w h e re th e firs t c o n tin g e n t a r r iv e d in
1826. T h e u n it’s e x is te n c e w a s b rie f; it w a s d is b a n d e d a f te r only th re e
y e a rs .
F o r on ce th e G o v e rn m e n t' trie d to p ro v id e g e n e ro u s ly for its old
so ld ie rs , b u t not for th e firs t o r la s t tim e a so ld ie r s e ttle m e n t sc h e m e
w en t w ro n g . In th o se d a y s v e te r a n m e a n t v e te r a n - m e n e n liste d for
tw en ty -o n e y e a rs , an d th e s e v e te r a n s m u s t h a v e b een r a t h e r long in th e
tooth for p io n e e rin g . T h ey w e re p ro b a b ly not c u t o u t fo r fa rm in g in an y
c a s e . T h e D uke of W ellin g to n ’s d e sc rip tio n of h is a r m y a s “ th e sc u m of
th e e a r th , e n liste d for d r in k ” , h a s o ften b een q u o te d ; less o ften , for
so m e re a s o n , his n e x t r e m a r k , “ It is re a lly w o n d e rfu l th a t w e should
h a v e been a b le to m a k e th e m th e fin e fellow s th e y a r e ” . B ut th e D uke,
w ho w a s n o th in g if n o t a re a lis t, w ould h a v e b e e n th e firs t to a d m it th a t,
though th e old B ritis h A rm y m a y h a v e b e e n a th in re d lin e of h e ro e s w hen
th e d ru m s b e g a n to ro ll, sin g le m en in b a r r a c k s d o n ’t g ro w in to p la s te r
sa in ts . T he q u a litie s w hich e n a b le d th e m to c h a rg e in to th e c a n n o n ’s
m o u th in th e b re a c h of B a d a jo z , o r d ie u n flin c h in g ly in s q u a r e a t
W ate rlo o , d id n o t g u a r a n te e su c c e s s in civ il life - e sp e c ia lly a civ il life
w hich in v o lv ed long h o u rs of m o n o to n o u s a n d lo n ely toil in th e b u sh . * In I
th e u p sh o t only th r e e of th e v e te r a n s ; J o h n M cK elly, J o h n R o b in s an d
J a m e s M itch ell, a c tu a lly re c e iv e d th e ir g r a n ts . A n o th e r, R ic h a rd M allon,
s e ttle d on h is la n d , b u t d ied b e fo re re c e iv in g h is g ra n t, w h ich w e n t to
E liz a b e th h is w idow , b y th a t tim e M rs. C ray . It w a s s h e w ho g a v e fo u r
a c r e s a t W est D a p to a s th e s ite fo r a R o m a n C ath o lic C h u rc h a n d fo r th e
c e m e te ry in w hich R ic h a rd M allon lie s b u rie d .
‘A C a ttle -s ta tio n by th e Y a lla -L a k e ”
25
J o se p h H a rris . T he v e te r a n s on D ap to C re ek w e re n o t th e only old
so ld ie rs to re c e iv e g r a n ts in th e a r e a .
Jo se p h H a rris h a d se rv e d in th e 39th R e g im e n t, w h e re h e h a d been
b a tm a n to a young o ffice r n a m e d C h a rle s S tu rt. W hen th e 39th c a m e to
A u s tra lia , a n d S tu rt w e n t off e x p lo rin g in th e u n k n o w n in te rio r, H a rris ,
w ho, S tu rt s a y s , “ h a d s h a r e d m y w a n d e rin g s a n d h a d c o n tin u e d in m y
s e rv ic e fo r e ig h te e n y e a r s ” , a c c o m p a n ie d h im on b o th th e 1828
e x p ed itio n , w hich d isc o v e re d th e D a rlin g , a n d th e 1829-30 e x p ed itio n ,
w hich tr a c e d th e M u rru m b id g e e to th e M u rra y a n d th e M u rra y to th e
s e a . On th e la t te r ex p ed itio n he w on S tu r t’s sp e c ia l c o m m e n d a tio n by
foiling an a tte m p t by b la c k s to ro b th e b o a t - “ I w as m u ch p le a s e d ” ,
w ro te S tu rt, “ by th e co o ln ess of m y s e r v a n t a s w ell a s by his
c o n s id e ra t'o n ” . He w ent w ith S tu rt to N orfolk Isla n d , w h e re his e ld e st
son w a s b o rn ; th en in 1832, in re c o g n itio n of h is s e rv ic e s on th e tw o
ex p e d itio n s, he re c e iv e d a g r a n t of 100 a c r e s a t W est D ap to . In 1834 he
w as a p p a re n tly living a t W ollongong - it s e e m s p ro b a b le th a t h e w as
th e “ old so ld ie r n a m e d H a r r i s ” w h o se d w ellin g , a c ro s s th e p ro p o sed
line of H a rb o u r S tre e t, w as th e c a su s b elli in a m e m o ra b le ro w ,
d e sc rib e d by A le x a n d e r S te w a rt, b e tw e e n M a jo r M itch ell a n d C h a rle s
T h ro sb y S m ith . By 1836 he w a s liv in g on his g ra n t.
An a d jo in in g block of 100 a c re s w as g ra n te d to J a m e s F r a s e r ,
a n o th e r ex -so ld ie r w ho h a d a c c o m p a n ie d S tu rt on his e x p e d itio n s ; b u t
F r a s e r soon sold out to H a rris .
In 1839 M r. J o s e p h H a rris (A n a sta sia h is w ife jo in in g in th e c o n v e y a n c e
to b a r d o w er) c o n v ey ed his g r a n t to W illiam S h eaffe E s q u ir e - a nice
d istin c tio n b e tw e e n th e e x -ra n k e r a n d th e o ffic e r a n d g e n tle m a n : S h eaffe
w as a c a p ta in in th e 50th R e g im e n t of F o o t, o th e rw ise k now n a s th e D irty
H alf H u n d re d , w ho h a d firs t c o m e to llla w a r r a in c o m m a n d of th e g u a rd
of th e c o n v ic t g a n g s w o rk in g on M itc h e ll’s ro a d .
S ettlin g a t W est D ap to , h e b e c a m e one of th e firs t tr u s te e s of St. L u k e ’s
C h u rch of E n g la n d , a n d a c h u rc h w a rd e n . H e d ie d in 1860, a n d is b u rie d in
the c h u rc h y a r d . *
F r a s e r ’s g r a n t w a s n o t in c lu d e d in th e c o n v e y a n c e to S h eaffe. P e rh a p s
it w as th e “ S tru g g le F a r m ” w h ich J o s e p h H a rris w h en he d ie d in 1862
d ev ised (s u b je c t to a n a n n u ity to his d a u g h te r M a ry A le x a n d e r) to h is son
W illiam for life a n d W illia m ’s so n s a fte r him . A n a s ta s ia w a s not
m en tio n ed - p ro b a b ly sh e h a d p re d e c e a s e d h im . J o s e p h ’s goods a n d
c h a tte ls (p ro b a te did not th en a ffe c t r e a lty ) w e re sw o rn a t u n d e r £200 little en o u g h fo r a m a n w ho, a s so ld ie r a n d p io n e er, h a d d o n e so m u c h fo r
his co u n try .
W illiam e v id e n tly s tru g g le d to so m e p u rp o se , fo r in 1877 h e w a s a b le to
buy b a c k th e o rig in a l g r a n t fro m S h e a ffe ’s w idow (w ho h a d re tu rn e d to
E n g la n d ) a n d h e r sons. It h a s re m a in e d e v e r sin c e in th e h a n d s of J o s e p h
H a r r is ’s d e s c e n d a n ts , one of w hom , M r. D o u g la s H au g , is th e p re s e n t
ow ner.
T he H u s s a r of H u s s a r F a r m . A n o th er old so ld ie r, S e rg e a n t W illiam
26
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
K e e v e rs (s p e lt K e e v o rs on th e P a r i s h M ap ) h a d s e rv e d in th e In n isk illin g
D ra g o o n s a n d th e 18th H u s s a rs in th e P e n in s u la a n d a t W a te rlo o . H is w ife
too h a d so ld ie re d w ith h is re g im e n t, a n d is s a id to h a v e s e rv e d a s a n u rs e
a t W a te rlo o - th e r e w e re no tr a in e d a n d c o m m is sio n e d n u rs e s th e n , b u t no
d o u b t th e s o ld ie r’s w iv e s w ho w e re on th e s tre n g th tu r n e d to a n d d id w h a t
they could in a n e m e rg e n c y .
A fter a n a p p o in tm e n t a s d rill in s tru c to r to th e firs t tro o p of N ew
South W ales M ou n ted P o lice , S e rg e a n t K e e v e rs re c e iv e d a g r a n t of 100
a c r e s a t W est D a p to (P o rtio n 40, P a r is h of K e m b la , in c lu d in g th e W est
D ap to P u b lic School s ite ) w h ich h e c a lle d “ H u s s a r F a r m ” . T h is he
la te r sold, se ttlin g n e a r W oodstock M ills a t J a m b e ro o . He d ie d a t a rip e
a g e in N o v e m b e r, 1871, tw o d a y s a f te r b ein g p re s e n te d to th e G o v ern o r,
L o rd B e lm o re , a n d w as b u rie d w ith m ilita r y h o n o u rs in th e A ng lican
c e m e te ry a t J a m b e ro o , w h e re h is to m b sto n e re c o rd s h is p re s e n c e at
W ate rlo o .
T he p u r c h a s e r of his g r a n t w as G eo rg e M c P h a il, th e g r a n te e of
P o rtio n 223, w hich a d jo in e d it on th e n o rth . B orn a t In v e rn e ss in 1832,
he c a m e to A u stra lia a t th e a g e of se v e n w ith h is p a r e n ts Jo h n an d
M a r g a re t M c P h a il. Jo h n w a s for a tim e th e s c h o o lm a s te r a t C h arco al
( U n a n d e r r a ) , th e n se ttle d in D ap to , w h e re h e w a s th e te n a n t of v a rio u s
fa r m s . G e o rg e m a r rie d C o rp o ral J a m e s S m ith ’s d a u g h te r E liz a b e th .
H e g a v e th e la n d fo r W est D ap to P u b lic School, a n d w a s one of th e firs t
e ld e rs of th e D apto-A lbion P a r k P r e s b y te r ia n C h u rch . H is d e c e n d a n ts
still liv e a t W est D ap to .
In a n a n g le fo rm e d by th e b o u n d a rie s of M c P h a il’s a n d K e e v e rs ’
g r a n ts is a 25-acre g r a n t to J o s e p h M a rc e a u , a F re n c h -C a n a d ia n
“ P a tr io t e ” tr a n s p o rte d a fte r th e re b e llio n of 1837. As a re b ellio n it w as
a lm o s t a s m u ch a fiasc o a s th e E u re k a S to c k a d e , b u t it h a d d ire r
c o n se q u e n c e s for th e re b e ls. T w en ty -n in e w e re e x e c u te d , a n d o v e r a
h u n d re d a n d fifty w e re tr a n s p o rte d . T h o se fro m U p p e r C an ad a
(O n ta rio ) w e n t to V an D ie m e n ’s L an d . T he re la tiv e ly m o re fo rtu n a te
F re n c h C a n a d ia n s fro m L o w er C a n a d a w e n t to th e sto c k a d e at
L on g b o tto m (C oncord, w h e re th e y a r e c o m m e m o ra te d in th e n a m e s of
F r a n c e , C a n a d a an d E x ile B a y s ), to w o rk by d a y in th e q u a rrie s
c u ttin g sto n e fo r th e P a r r a m a t t a R o ad , a n d to s te a l o u t a t n ig h t tc
co lle c t firew o o d a n d sh e lls fo r lim e -m a k in g , a n d sell th e m to p assin g
b o a tm e n .
A fter tw o h a rd y e a r s in g o v e rn m e n t se rv ic e , a n d a few m o n th s as
a ss ig n e d s e r v a n ts , th ey re c e iv e d tic k e ts of le a v e . L a te r th e y w e re
p a rd o n e d , a n d all e v e n tu a lly re tu rn e d to Q uebec e x c e p t for th r e e w ho
d ied in S y d n ey , a n d M a rc e a u . He m a r r ie d a n A u s tra lia n g irl, M ary
B a r r e tt, a n d s e ttle d a t D ap to , w h e re he d ied in 1883, a g e d 76. H is g ra v e
is in th e C ath o lic c e m e te ry a t W est D ap to - th e in sc rip tio n on th e
h e a d sto n e d is c re e tly b rie f a n d u n e n lig h te n in g .
C H A P T E R TWO
" A Numerous Class o f Small Settlers":
Clearing-leases and M ixed Farming
T h e re w e re o th e r e a rly s e ttle rs w ho re c e iv e d no g ra n ts , s ta r te d w ith
little in th e ir fa v o u r, b u t le ft th e ir m a r k on th e d is tric t.
T he d e ta c n m e n t of th e 50th w ho c a m e to llla w a r r a to g u a rd th e ro a d
g a n g s in clu d ed J a m e s S m ith , a S c o tsm a n w ho h a d se rv e d in Ire la n d
a n d h a d b een p ro m o te d to C o rp o ra l n o t long b e fo re co m in g to A u st­
ra lia . W ith h im c a m e h is w ife M a ry , a n d th e ir e ld e s t ch ild w a s b o rn
at “ S to ck ad e, W ollongong” in 1836. On b ein g d is c h a rg e d J a m e s S m ith
se ttle d a t W est D apto, liv ed th e re till his d e a th , a n d w a s b u rie d a t
B row nsville, leav in g a la r g e fa m ily . One son, b o rn a t W est D ap to in
1845, bought from the B a rre tt fam ily in 1900 th e “ C oral V a le ” p ro p e rty
at W ongaw illi, still th e hom e of J a m e s S m ith ’s g ra n d s o n M r. E . L.
S m ith, from w hom m u ch in fo rm a tio n in c o rp o ra te d in th is n a r r a tiv e h a s
been o b ta in e d .
W illiam T h o m as. T h e b a rq u e W e stm in ste r b ro u g h t to A u stra lia in
1838 th r e e fa m ilie s - th e D e n n isse s, th e P ip e r s a n d th e T h o m a se s - w ho
w e re to be w ell know n in llla w a r r a . On a r r iv a l in S ydney, W illiam
T h o m as, a c a r p e n te r , w as e n g a g e d by H en ry O sb o rn e to w o rk on
M arsh all M ount H ouse, w h e re he b u ilt th e c e d a r s ta ir c a s e ; th en ,
tra n s fo rm e d into a g a rd e n e r , se t up th e o rc h a rd a n d g a rd e n s . L a te r he
look up a fa rm a t Log B rid g e on th e M a rsh a ll M ount R o ad , w h e re his
son H enry lived on until 1920; b u t th e la te r h isto ry of th e fa m ily , m o st
a d e q u a te ly c o v e re d by M r. S tan T h o m as in his book, “ O ne h u n d re d an d
T h irty Y e a r s ” belo n g s m o re to Albion P a r k th a n D ap to .
R ic h a rd D en n iss. R ic h a rd D en n iss, his w ife S a ra h a n d th e ir th re e
eld e st c h ild re n se ttle d a t “ G a te F a r m ” n e a rb y in a m q re o ffh an d w ay.
T he D e n n isse s tra v e lle d dow n to W ollongong b y th e s te a m e r W illiam th e
F o u rth , b o u g h t b u llo ck s a n d a w ag o n , a n d h e a d e d o u t in th e d ire c tio n of
M a rsh a ll M ount. On a rr iv in g a t a point on th e w e st sid e of M a rsh a ll
M ount R oad, ab o u t o p p o site th e e n d of Y a lla h R oad, R ic h a rd d e cid e d
it looked a p ro m isin g sp o t, th r u s t his s p a d e in to th e g ro u n d an d
g a v e h im se lf liv e ry of se isin , w ith o u t le a v e , lic e n c e o r in v e stig a tio n of
title - a fre e s e le c to r b efo re his tim e . H e re , o v e r th e n e x t few y e a rs , he
e s ta b lish e d a good fa r m , fa th e re d ten m o re c h ild re n , a n d b a c k slid . He
an d his w ife S a ra h h ad been m a r rie d in th e B a p tist c h a p e l at
D y m c h u rc h in K en t; bu t now , no lo n g er a good B a p tist (if he e v e r h a d
b e e n ), he e m b ra c e d h o rse s, ru m a n d A n g lic an ism . T h e firs t p a rish
“ GOLDENA COTTAG E”
T h e h o m e of th e D en n iss fa m ily a t M a rs h a ll M ount
( I lla w a r r a H isto ric a l S o ciety c o lle c tio n )
J . F IT Z G E R A L D ’S H O U SE AT W E S T D A PT O
A ty p ic a l fa rm h o u s e of th e la te n in e te e n th c e n tu ry
( W eb er c o lle c tio n )
‘A N u m e ro u s C lass of S m a ll S e ttle r s ’
29
r e g is te r of St. L u k e ’s, B ro w n sv ille, re c o rd s th e c h riste n in g of fiv e
D enniss ch ild re n en m a s s e in D e c e m b e r, 1847, a n d m o re k ep t co m in g
along for s e v e ra l y e a rs th e r e a fte r. In c id e n ta lly , th e c h ild re n ’s n a m e s
s e e m e d to h a v e so m e co n n ectio n w ith R ic h a r d ’s fall fro m g ra c e . Sarah-,
A d am , R u th , R e u b e n , J a c o b , N ao m i, R a c h e l a n d A b ra h a m (p ro b a b ly th e
p ro d u c ts of h is B a p tis t p e rio d ) w e re follow ed b y W illiam , A n d rew ,
G eo rg e, J e ffre y a n d A lfred , w ho so u n d ed m o re lik e little E p isc o p ­
a lia n s. As for th e h o rse s a n d th e ru m , his g re a t-g ra n d d a u g h te r re la te d
th a t w hen R ic h a rd h ad fin ish ed his new h o u se, e m b e llish e d w ith th e
firs t b ra s s d oorknobs see n in th e d is tric t, he c e le b ra te d ; th e n , filled
w ith sin ful p rid e an d ru m , he in siste d on b rin g in g h is fa v o u rite m a r e
B lack B ess in to a d m ire th e d o o rk n o b s. T ry in g to tu rn ro u n d in th e
n a rr o w h a llw a y , B ess b e n t one of th e d o o rk n o b s, a n d it re m a in e d b e n t for
a s long a s th e ho u se la s te d .
R ic h a rd bu'U fine sta b le s a n d o u tb u ild in g s a lso - w hen M iss L illian
D enniss sa w th e m in 1916 an In d ia n h a w k e r h a d d riv e n h is c o v e re d
w agon a n d p a ir of h o rses into th e b a rn , a n d th e re w a s a loft a b o v e th a t.
B ut R ic h a r d ’s p rid e h a d a sa d fall. T he law fu l o w n er of th e la n d
tu rn e d up b efo re R ic h a rd ’s p o sse sso ry title h a d m a tu re d , a n d o u t he
w en t. T he h o u se stood for m a n y y e a r s a n d in its la te r y e a r s w a s o cc u p ie d
by th e R een fa m ily . A fig tr e e p la n te d b y R ic h a rd D e n n iss is all th a t
re m a in s to m a r k th e spo t.
B efo re R ic h a rd a n d S a r a h ’s c o n trib u tio n s to th e St. L u k es b a p tis m a l
r e g is te r h ad e n d ed , A d a m ’s h a d b eg u n . J u s t to h elp in co n fu sin g th e
issu e, his w ife w as also n a m e d S a ra h . On 30th M a rc h , 1856 th e e ld e s t
son, H en ry W illiam , w as b a p tise d .
M a rtin an d C a th e rin e M o ran . M a rtin a n d C a th e rin e M o ran c a m e w ith
th e ir six sons a n d a d a u g h e r, fro m R o ssm o re , C ounty G alw a y , to s e ttle in
1840 a t T a lla w a r ra B ay (now th e site of T a lla w a r ra P o w e r S ta tio n ) ,n e a r
tw o sw a m p s fa m o u s fo r w ild d u c k s a n d , u n d e r th e n a m e of M o ra n ’s
S w am p s, a fa v o u rite r e s o rt of sh o o te rs u n til th e y w e re filled in w h en th e
p o w er sta tio n w as b eing b u ilt. A g ra n d s o n , Jo h n M o ran , la te r p u rc h a s e d
ten a c r e s a n d a n old ho u se on th e e a s te r n sid e of th e m a in ro a d , b etw een
th e old P u b lic School a n d R e id ’s H otel. T h e re h e la te r b u ilt a new h o u se in
w hich h is y o u n g est d a u g h te r M rs. Irw in (th e so u rc e of m y in fo rm a tio n on
th e fa m ily ) still re s id e s . O th e r m e m b e rs of th e fa m ily s e ttle d on th e
U p p er C o rd eau x (b efo re th e W ate r B o a rd took o v e r) a n d a t C ald erw o o d .
M a rtin a n d C a th e rin e M o ran , a n d fo u r g e n e ra tio n s of th e ir d e sc e n d ­
a n ts , a r e b u rie d in th e W est D ap to C ath o lic C e m e te ry , to w h ich , b y h e r
own e x p re s s w ish, C a th e rin e ’s body w a s c a r r ie d on a b ie r fro m
T a lla w a r ra by h e r six sons.
E ffe c ts of C essatio n of T ra n sp o rta tio n . O ne of th e g r e a te s t p ro b le m s
th e e a rly la n d o w n e r h ad to solve w as th a t of g e ttin g his la n d c le a re d ;
for w hen th e c e d a r h ad b een c u t o u t, th e tim b e r re m a in in g in th e
b ru s h e s w a s of little v a lu e . W hile th e r e w e re co n v ic ts to be a ss ig n e d ,
30
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
th e job could be d o n e; b u t w ith th e c e s s a tio n of tr a n s p o rta tio n in 1840
th e flow of c o n v ic ts s h ra n k to a tric k le , a n d soon to n o th in g , a s those
re m a in in g d ied o r w o rk e d ou t th e ir tim e .
E v en in th e fo rtie s fre e la b o u r w as e x p e n siv e - it c o st fro m £ l0 to £15
an a c r e to c le a r by c o n tr a c t. In th e g o ld -ru sh d a y s of th e fifties it
b e c a m e p ro h ib itiv e . “ Men a r e g e ttin g fro m 25 to 35 P o u n d s p a r y e a r ,”
Jo h n L e v e re tt w ro te fro m W est D ap to in 1857 to h is p a re n ts in E n g la n d ,
“ S ingle G irls su ch a s g e t 5 o r 6 P o u n d s p a r y e a r a t h o m e a n d th in k e it
good w a g e rs W ill g e t fro m 20 to 25 P o u n d s p a r y e a r a n d M a r re d C uples
g et from 40 to 50 P o u n d s p a r y e a r a n d th a r e R a s h e rs if a m a n goote
w e rk e by th e w eek h e g e t 1 P o u n d o r 1 P o u n d 5 a n d R a sh in g s 10
P o u n d s of B eef 10 of flo w er a n d 4 of S h a g e r a n d h a lf L b. of T ea a n d it
is So w ith all E x c e p t w ith th o se th a t L iv e w ith th a r e M a r s te r a n d B erd
a t his ta b le th e re is no h o u se r e n t r a t e s o r tith to p a y h e re o r Wood o r
C les to By for th e fire all of th e m a r e fre e fo r th is is a fre e an d
P le n ty fu l C o u n te ry ” .
H igh w a g e s of c o u rs e m e a n t high p ric e s fo r th in g s w hich could not be
p ro d u c e d lo c ally . “ T ea a n d S h o g a r th e y sa y is v e ry d e e r fo r te a is 2s
a n d 6 p en ce p a r pound a n d S h o g a r 7 p e n c e p a r p ound p a rk e a n d M utten
A B out 6 p e n c e a n d B eef fro m 2 p e n c e to 3 p e n c e p a r p o u n d an d all
w a re in g A p arl a r e a s c h a p e a s a t h o m e B ut h a ts a n d B e e ts a r e v e ry
d e e r B oots a r e 17s p e r P a r e . ”
C le a rin g L e a se s. To co p e w ith th e c le a rin g p ro b le m m o st of th e
la r g e r o w n e rs re s o rte d to th e c le a rin g -le a s e s y s te m . “ In th is d is tr ic t” ,
w ro te Jo se p h P h ip p s T o w n sen d , a v is ito r to Illa w a rra in th e la te 1840’s,
“ is to b e found a n u m e ro u s c la s s of sm a ll s e ttle rs c a lle d ‘c le a rin g -le a se
m e n ’. T h ey ta k e a sm a ll p ie c e of u n c le a re d la n d (e a c h a b o u t th irty
a c r e s ) on con d itio n of h a v in g it re n t-fre e for six y e a rs , a n d fo rm on it a
kind of s h a n ty , m u c h in th e s ty le of a g ip s y ’s te n t; b ein g o ften no th in g
m o re th a n a b a rk ro o f p la c e d on th e g ro u n d . U n d e r th is th e y liv e w h ilst
they c le a r a n d im p ro v e th e ir little h o ld in g ; th o u g h u ltim a te ly th ey ru n
up v e ry d e c e n t h u ts. By th e tim e th e ir o rig in a l te n a n c y e x p ire s, they
h a v e g e n e ra lly g o t on p re tty w ell in th e w o rld , a n d c a n a ffo rd to p ay
ab o u t ten p o u n d s a -y e a r for th e ir now re c la im e d la n d . M ost of th ese
m en h a v e a d a iry cow a n d a m a r e , w hich g e t th e ir own livin g u n d e r
th e m o u n ta in s ; a n d th e sa le of th e ir b u tte r a n d th e ir c ro p s, an d the
m o n ey they o c c a sio n a lly e a rn fro m th e o th e r s e ttle r s a n d la b o u re rs,
k eep th e po t b oiling. I h a v e se e n so m e of th e m g iv e six g u in e a s fo r a
d a iry cow ; w hich is a la r g e p ric e in a c o u n try so ab o u n d in g w ith c a ttle .
B u tc h e r’s m e a t is g e n e ra lly v e ry c h e a p ; a n d I h a v e know n ro u n d s of
fre sh b eef to be c a rte d fro m a boiling-dow n e s ta b lis h m e n t in this
d is tric t, a n d d e liv e re d a t a d is ta n c e of fiftee n m ile s a t one p en n y a
pound. (T his,, of c o u rs e , w a s b e fo re th e in fla tio n b ro u g h t a b o u t by th e
gold ru s h ). ‘W h a t’ sa id one of th e m , ‘Do you th in k I ’d c o n se n t to be
b a n is h e d dow n to
H oly D o lla r (U lla d u lla )? W h at co uld I do th e re , I
w o n d e r? ' A c le a rin g -le a s e m a n m u s t h a v e so m e e x p e rie n c e in th e colony
b efo re he c a n w ith p ru d e n c e c o m m e n c e o p e ra tio n s, a n d h e m u s t h a v e
c a p ita l en o u g h to su p p o rt h im s e lf a n d fa m ily fo r o n e y e a r.
In
"A N u m ero u s C lass of S m a ll S e ttle r s ”
31
fa c t, he m u s t la y in su p p lie s a s if he w e re b ound on a v o y a g e of
d is c o v e ry , a n d tw elv e m o n th s w e re to e la p s e b efo re h e co u ld hope
jo y fu lly to e x c la im , ‘L a n d ! H o ! ! ’ I b e lie v e th a t m o s t of th e s e ttle r s in
llla w a r r a , ot w h a te v e r g ra d e , a r e c o m fo rta b le a n d h a p p y .” Any
c o m fo rt w a s re la tiv e only - th e ir co n d itio n s a s d e s c rib e d by C ousins do
not sound p a r tic u la r y c o m fo rta b le to m o d e rn e a r s :
“ T hey h a d firs t to im p ro v ise so m e s h e lte r in w hich to liv e u n til th e
firs t s m a ll p a r t of th e b ru s h w a s fe lle d a n d b u rn t off. T h e fellin g itse lf
w a s v e ry tough w o rk . At firs t, th e v in e s a n d u n d e rg ro w th h a d to be
re m o v e d su ffic ie n tly to s e c u re a p ro p e r fall. T h e usd of an a x e fro m
d a y lig h t to d a rk by one u n u se d to su c h w o rk m e a n t b lis te re d h a n d s a n d
h a rd so re m u s c le s. T h e ir liv in g co n d itio n s w e re v e ry sim p le , sla b o r
c a b b a g e -tre e h u ts w ith b a rk or c a b b a g e -tre e ro o fs, e a r th floor, no
w indow s, la r g e w ooden fire p la c e s tre tc h in g th e w hole w id th of th e
room a n d p ro te c te d by sto n e s. T h e fire s w e re of g r e a t logs o v e r w hich
hung th e p o ts a n d c a m p oven a b o v e a n d su sp e n d e d fro m a n iro n c ro s s
b a r.
T he c a m p oven w a s a b ro a d r a t h e r sh allo w pot a n d in it th e w om en
m a d e d e lig h tfu l b re a d . T h e lig h t w a s a h o m e -m a d e c a n d le . T h e food
w as p o rrid g e , colonial o ven b re a d , b e e f or p o rk , g e n e ra lly b oiled a n d
m o stly c o rn e d w ith p o u ltry a n d a p le n tifu l su p p ly of g a m e , to g e th e r
w ith p o ta to e s, p u m p k in s, tu rn ip s , a n d w h a te v e r g re e n v e g e ta b le s could
be gro w n . T he w om en soon le a r n t to m a k e h a ts fro m th e fa n s of th e
c a b b a g e p a lm - h a ts w o rn by p ra c tic a lly e v e ry m a n a n d boy in
llla w a rr a .
As soon a s a sm a ll a r e a w as b u rn e d off it w a s p la n te d w ith w h e a t,
m a iz e , p o ta to e s a n d tu rn ip s. W hen p o ssib le th e w h e a t w a s se n t to a
m ill, b u t o ften th e s e ttle rs h a d to b e sa tisfie d w ith m e a l g ro u n d on th e
f a r m .”
Jo h n L e v e re tt on C le a rin g L e a se s. Jo h n L e v e re tt, in th e e a rly d a y s
of his c le a rin g -le a s e , se e m s to h a v e been c o n te n t a n d ho p efu l. “ I h a v e
Now B egen th e w u rld I h a v e ta k e n 30 A k ers of B oosh L an d to C la re an d
fen ce it in, I h a v e got it fo r 8 y e a r s fre e of E x sp e n c e . I h a v e B ilded
M yself a h o u se a n d firn e s h e d it. I a m now C la re in g a p e a c e of L a n d
for W h ate I S hall N ot h a v e A N uff m o n ey to c a r y all th e y e a r b u t My
M a r s te r h a s p ro m ise d to S ta n d My fre n d so I se e no fa r e B ut I sh a ll
G et on v e ry w ell a fte r a y e a r o r So W ith th e h e lp e of God a n d My
M a rs te r fo r th is is a good C u n te ry all m a y do w ell th a t w ill” . T h re e
m o n th s la te r he w as w ritin g : “ O ur S p rin g is now Set in a n d v e ry
w a rm a n d d ry it is now a n d it s u te m e firs r a t for I a n d A n o th er m an
A re B u rn in g of w e h a e g o t 20 A k e rs of B u sh g ro u n d to C la re fo r C o rn e
Indy C orne it is w h a t is C alled m a y s it g ro w fro m 8 to 12 fe e t h ig h an d
th e hed of it th e Cob we c a ll it g ro w a s Big a s m y A rm a n d fro m 9 to 15
in ch es long....W e e x sp e c t to B ee B issy in H a rv e s t a t C h ris tm u s W hen
you w ill B ee Set o v e r th e fire a n d tellin g Sum Old ta le . ..h e re th a y
grow O nley 2 C rops a n d th en th a y lay it dow n fo r g r a s s w e h a v e go t A
Bout 100 a n d 50 A k ers of g r a s s g ro u n d a n d it is B e tte r th a n C u ltiv atio n
fo r B u tte r h a v e B een 2 S h illin gs p a r p ound in S ydney w e se n d O ur
32
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
B u tte r to S ydney 3 tim e s a w eek a n d O ur M ilk w e g iv e C alfs a n d pigs
a n d fa t th e m a n d th em w e sen d S y d n ey ....
I am in ho p es W en o u r y e a r is up W ee S hall h a v e 20 or 25 pou n d s of
C la re M oney an d I h a v e a C alf th a t w ill B ee W arth 2 p o u n d s a n d w e got
A se t of fow.ls....
T h is is a v e ry fine C u n ta ry a n d I sh o u ld like to se e you all h e r e ” .
Jo h n I.e v e re tt on C a b b a g e -T re e H a ts. H e h a d h ad so m e th in g to sa y ,
too a b o u t th e c a b b a g e -tre e h a ts . A sking W illiam (his b ro th e r? ) who
w a s “ M a re d a n d S atled in th e B ig S i t t y t o se n d him ‘‘A fla sh C o a t,”
he p ro m ise d , “ I will Send H im a C a b b a g e tr e h a t in re tu rn a n d th en He
w ill B ee A v e ry F la s h G en t for in S idney C a b b a g e tr e h a ts fro m 15
S hillings to 15 P o u n d s Ach th e C ab b ag e T h re e is th o u g h t a g r a te deel of
in th is C u n ta ry a n d in d e e d it is a v a ry fine p la n t for it g ro w fro m 40 to
50 fe e t high a n d it is not m o re th a n 15 or 18 in c h e s th ro u g h th e b u t of
th em th a y g ro w a s n a re lik e a ru n a w a y C a b b a g e a s p a s s a b le th a t h av e
n e ith a la fe n o r b ra n c h fro m bo tto m to the top of th e m th e la fe grow
like A la d e s fa n a n d a s th a y gro w old th a y sp re e d o pen a n d a t A
d is ta n c e s th a y look lik e A sun sh a d e ....w e g e t th e young la v s an d
S cald s th em a n d B leech th e m a n d th en w e S plit th e m a s S tra w s a re
sp lit for h a ts a t hoom I h a v e m a d e m y Self 2 a n d m y Sun 1 a n d v e ry
nise o n es th a y a r e we trim m th em w ith a B lack rib a n d a n d le t th e en d s
h a n g dow n B eh in d it is 2 in ch es W ide a n d w e w a re W hite tro u se s an d
Blew s h a r ts a t o u r w e rk an d on S u n d ay w ee w a re W hite tro u se s a n d A
g a y S h a rt w ee d o n et O ften w a re A c o a t fo r th e w e th e r is so w a rm th a t
w ee doo no t w h a n t th em n o r w e sk ee t for w ee w erk in o u r S h u rt S ieves
all th e w in te r e x se p t in w et w e th e r a n d th en w e donet w e rk e a tta ll. B ut
m ilk o u r Cows n ig h t a n d m a r n in g ” .
A dam D en n iss. M ore c a u tio u s th a n his fa th e r, A dam D en n iss h ad
ta k e n a c le a rin g le a s e on th e W e sto n s’ p ro p e rty ( o r ig in a lly p a r t of
C olonel J o h n s to n ’s “ M a c q u a rie G ift” ) ab ou t h a lf w ay b e tw een th e spot
w h e re R ic h a rd h a d s q u a tte d a n d M a rsh a ll M ount H ouse. As la te a s
1881 he w a s still c o v e n a n tin g to p ro p e rly c le a r a n d ta k e o u t all stu m p s
on not le ss th a n ten a c re s p e r y e a r, though he w a s a lso p a y in g a cash
re n t of £40 p e r y e a r for his se v e n ty -se v e n a c re s , w h ich , if he h ad duly
fu lfilled h is c o v e n a n ts, w ould by th en h a v e b een c le a re d th re e tim e s
o v e r. S o m e of th e fa r m b u ild in g s e re c te d b y A d am D en n iss s u rv iv e d
un til 1968; th e n , w hen his g ra n d so n M r. D av id D en n iss re tire d , the
p ro p e rty w a s sold to a n ad jo in in g o w n er, M r. B ill F in c h , w ho d e cid ed
to d e m o lish th e old c o tta g e a n d fa rm b u ild in g s. H e g a v e th e Illa w a rra
H isto ric a l S ociety a fre e h a n d to sa lv a g e m a te r ia ls , a n d a d e m o litio n
sq u a d fro m th e S ociety w en t to w o rk . In s p ite of a p ro n o u n c e d list an d
a g e n e ra lly p re c a rio u s a p p e a ra n c e th e old fa r m b u ild in g s - a
s to re ro o m , d a iry a n d fo rg e - w e re f a r fro m e a s y to w re c k , a n d th e
p ro d u c ts of p io n e e r b u ild in g m e th o d s p ro v ed fa r m o re solid th a n they
looked.
A S a m p le of P io n e e r A rc h ite c tu re . M assiv e h a rd w o o d p o sts, ro u g h ly
s q u a r e d w ith an a d z e , h a d b een s e t u p rig h t in th e g ro u n d a t e a c h
‘A N u m e ro u s C lass of S m a ll S e ttle r s ’
33
c o rn e r, a n d s q u a r e d h ard w o o d b e a m s n a ile d a c ro s s th e to p s to th e
fro n t, th e r e a r , a n d e a c h en d . T ria n g u la r fr a m e w o rk s of sa p lin g s,
risin g ab o v e th e s e b e a m s a t e a c h en d , su p p o rte d a n o th e r sa p lin g w hich
se rv e d a s a rid g e p o le , th is in tu rn b ein g jo in e d to th e fro n t a n d b a c k
b e a m s by sa p lin g r a f te r s . T he e x te rn a l w a lls c o n siste d of v e rtic a l
h ard w o o d sla b s , se t in th e g ro u n d a n d n a ile d a t th e to p to th e b e a m s
w ith s q u a r e h a n d -fo rg e d n a ils. H o riz o n ta l la th s s p lit fro m c a b b a g e p a lm s w e re n a ile d to th e in sid e of th e s la b s . T h e in te rs tic e s w e re
filled , a n d th e in sid e s u r fa c e s p la s te re d , w ith c la y e y m u d , w h ich w as
w o rk ed to a sm o o th fin ish a n d w h ite w a sh e d . (O ne lo c a l re c ip e fo r th e
w h ite w a sh w a s a m ix tu r e of w h ite w o o d -ash a n d s k im m e d m ilk ).
T h e ro o f w a s of c e d a r sh in g le s n a ile d to h o riz o n ta l b a tte n s . T he
rid g e -c a p p in g - g a lv a n is e d iro n b e a te n m o re o r le s s fla t, th e n b e n t to
m a k e a n in v e rte d V - w a s o b v io u sly n o t o rig in a l, a n d w e s u r m is e d th a t th e
f irs t rid g e -c a p p in g c o n siste d of long s h e e ts of b a r k b e n t o v e r th e
rid g e of th e roof a n d o v e rla p p in g th e u p p e rm o s t sh in g le s. U n d e r th e
sh in g le roof of th e d a iry , tim b e r s h a d b ee n la id a c ro s s fro m th e fro n t to
th e b a c k b e a m s , a n d a ce ilin g of w h ite w a sh e d h e ss ia n n a ile d to th e ir
u n d e rsid e s.
T he o rig in a l floor p ro b a b ly c o n siste d of e a r th a n d c re e k -g ra v e l,
r a m m e d h a rd . L a te r th e d a ir y h a d b een c e m e n te d , a n d th e sto re -ro o m
floored w ith c o n v en tio n a l b o a rd s on ad z e d sa p lin g jo ists. A tre e -tru n k
h ad been p la n te d u p rig h t in th e floor of th e d a iry - M iss D en n iss sa id a s
a sta n d for th e la r g e fla t p a n in w h ich , b e fo re s e p a r a to r s , m ilk stood
until th e c re a m ro se to th e top a n d co u ld be sk im m e d off.
O ne of th e w in d o w -fra m e s of th is b u ild in g c o n ta in e d th e re m a in s of a
r e m a r k a b le a n tic ip a tio n of th e C ooper lo u v re , c a r r ie d o u t in wood
in s te a d of g la s s a n d m e ta l, w hich h a s b een in g en io u sly re - c re a te d for
th e S o c ie ty ’s M useum by M r. E . B. B ra d fo rd of J a m b e ro o . F ro m
a n o th e r old b u ilding, a lso b ein g d e m o lish e d , on th e s a m e p ro p e rty ,
c a m e a n o th e r in geniou s b u sh a r c h ite c t’s d e v ic e - fo rk e d s tic k s n a ile d to
the sla b w alls a t in te rv a ls to su p p o rt th e g u tte rin g . T h e s la b s a n d
sh in g les s a lv a g e d fro m th e s e b u ild in g s w e re u se d in th e b la c k s m ith ’s
shop e re c te d a t th e r e a r of th e M u seu m in M a rk e t S tre e t, W ollongong.
CH A PTER TH R EE
"T h e Bridge A cro st the C rick":
A Digression on Roads and Bridges
T he F ir s t W ollongong - D ap to R o ad . M ean w h ile c o m m u n ic a tio n s
w e re b ein g o p en ed up a n d th e to w n sh ip d ev e lo p in g . A cco rd in g to
A le x a n d e r S te w a rt, (sp e a k in g in 1894) th e firs t ro a d to D ap to s ta r te d
fro m B rig h to n B e ac h , r a n d ia g o n a lly th ro u g h th e p re s e n t M a rk e t
S q u a re , a c ro s s C row n S tre e t, n e a r G eo rg e B ro w n ’s H otel (in w h a t is
now M a cC a b e P a r k ) , th e n “ th ro u g h th e G le b e ....a n d on th ro u g h th e
new R. C. B u ry in g g ro u n d , till it c a m e ou t a c ro s s th e B lind C reek , now
c a lle d M ount St. T h o m a s. T h en it c ro s se d o v e r S p rin g H ill, th ro u g h
T a te ’s fla ts , a n d c a m e o u t n e a r H ero n F a r m , w h e re it c ro s se d A lla n ’s
C reek . F ro m th e r e it w en t on to n e a r th e co k e w o rk s a t U n a n a d e rra ,
w h e re it r a n to th e rig h t of C h a rc o a l C re ek (th e p re s e n t ra ilw a y b eing
on th e rig h t of th e old ro a d ) th ro u g h th e B e rk e le y E s ta te , a n d a c ro s s
th e C h a rc o a l C reek n e a r U n a n d e rra ra ilw a y sta tio n . T h en it w en t a t
th e b a c k of M r. G e o rg e L in d s a y ’s s to re , a n d jo in e d th e n ew ro a d
(a f te rw a rd s ) to th e so u th w e st of th e F a r m e r ’s A rm s, a s la b a n d b a rk inn
on th e slo p e of th e hill going dow n to K e m b la G ra n g e . It th e n r a n th ro u g h
W y llie’s fla ts till it c ro s s e d M u llet C reek b y a fo rd n e a r th e p re s e n t
S h o w g ro u n d (now B e a c h tP a rk ).' F ro m M u llet C re ek to M a c q u a rie R iv e r
th e old tr a c k a n d th e p re s e n t M ain South C o a st R o a d a r e p ra c tic a lly th e
s a m e , th e d u c k h o les th a t w e re th e r e th e n b ein g th e r e still. T h e W est
D a p to R o a d b ra n c h e d off th e old D ap to R o ad w h e re K e m b la G ra n g e
sta tio n now s ta n d s , a n d r a n th ro u g h th e v e te r a n s ’ g r a n ts . T h e p re s e n t
W est D ap to R o a d is p ra c tic a lly th e s a m e ’’. (It m u s t, of c o u rs e , be b o rn e
in m in d th a t b y “ p r e s e n t” S te w a rt m e a n t “ In 1894” ).
A P rim itiv e F o o tb rid g e . At th e c ro s sin g of M ullet C reek sp e cia l
fa c ilitie s fo r p e d e s tria n s w e re p ro v id e d , a s A le x a n d e r H a rris found in
th e e a rly 1830’s.
“ S om e of th e c re e k s w e h a d to p a s s ” , h e s a id ,
“ w e re r a th e r
q u eer-lo o k in g p la c e s to be c ro s se d by su ch b rid g e s a s alo n e offered
th e m se lv e s. T h e M ullet C reek w h e re w e p a s s e d it m u s t h a v e been
n e a rly five a n d th irty fe e t w ide a n d th e b rid g e w a s one of th o se sle n d e r
c a b b a g e tr e e s g ro w n on th e B an k a n d flung by so m e b u sh m a n o r b lack
a c ro s s th e c re e k w ith h is a x e , e ith e r w ith a view to u sin g it a s a b rid g e
o r fo r th e s a k e of th e in te rio r p a r t of th e h e a d w hich is v e ry s im ila r
w hen d re s s e d to c a b b a g e a n d is a fa v o u rite a rtic le of food w ith m a n y . I
co n fess th a t is w a s w ith no slig h t tre p id a tio n th a t I m a d e m y firs t
“ T he B rid g e A cro st th e C ric k '
35
a tte m p to w alk b e tw ix t 30 a n d 40 fe et upon a sm a ll ro u n d s u rfa c e , th e
m id d le of w hich w as c u rv e d dow n n e a rly to w a te r ’s ed g e w ith its own
w e ig h t. m e re ly , a n d w ith th e w eig h t of th e p a s s e n g e r w as a c tu a lly
u n d e r w a te r tw o o r th re e in c h e s a n d w hich all th e w hile k e p t sp rin g in g
a n d sp la sh in g the w a te r e v e ry ste p th a t w as ta k e n . B ut a s m y g u id e,
w ho w as u sed to th e se fe a ts , a s I a lso soon b e c a m e , m a d e h is w ay
a c ro s s w ith o u t e x p re s sin g a n y doubt a b o u t m y n e rv e , I s c a rc e ly h ad
an y a lte rn a tiv e b u t to follow h im . A gain p u llin g off m y boots an d
sto c k in g s, I b eg a n to u rg e m y se lf slow ly a c ro s s sid e w a y s , b u t I q u ick ly
found th a t w ould n e v e r d o ; I w as n e a rly g o n e, w hen th e th o u g h t s tru c k
m e to im a g in e m y se lf w alk in g alo n g th e jo ist of an u n b o a rd e d ho u se,
w hich I w as p re tty w ell u sed to, a n d follow ing th e th o u g h t by th e
p ra c tic e I tu rn e d fa c e fo rw a rd a n d s te p p e d c a re le s s ly a n d firm ly
along. I found I could do it th is w ay v e ry w ell, only th e sp o t th a t w as
u n d e r w a te r in th e m id d le r a th e r b a u lk e d m e. H o w ev er, it w as b u t a
sin g le ste p a n d th a t o v e r I felt m y se lf so bold th a t I did th e re m a in d e r
w ith the u tm o st a s s u ra n c e . T he a g ility a n d e a s e w ith w hich th e b la c k s
w ent a c ro s s th e se c a b b a g e tr e e b rid g e s is q u ite a s to n ish in g ; ev en th e
g ins, (w om en) w ith th e ir p ic k a n in n ie s on th e ir b a c k s se e m e d to c ro ss
q u ite a t th e ir e a s e .”
M ajo r M itch ell’s South C o ast H oad.
W hen M a jo r M itch ell, the
S u rv e y o r-G e n e ra l, in 1834 c a m e to m a r k out th e ro a d s th ro u g h
I lla w a rra , he p re f e rre d a d iffe re n t ro u te :
“ T h e ro a d so u th w a rd
lea v in g th e K e e ra R oad a b o u t tw o m ile s w est of W ollongong is
co n tin u ed in n e a rly a s tr a ig h t lin e a c ro s s ‘C h a rc o a l C re e k ’ (w h e re a
good b rid g e w ill be re q u ire d b efo re th e ro a d c a n be of m u c h u se ) a n d
a c ro s s a v e ry fa v o u ra b le hollow in th e b ru sh hill e a s t of R y a n ’s la n d ,
k eep in g the s a m e d ire ctio n u n til it c u ts th e p re s e n t ro a d a sh o rt
d is ta n c e fro m ‘M ullet C re e k ’, c ro s sin g th a t c re e k one h u n d re d y a rd s
low er th a n th e p re s e n t fo rd , (a t a p la c e w h e re also a s u b s ta n tia l b rid g e
is n e c e s s a ry ), it is co n tin u e d in a p e rfe c tly s tra ig h t d ire c tio n an d
a c ro s s level g ro u n d , so a s a g a in to fall in w ith th e p re s e n t ro a d a t a
m ile a n d a h a lf beyond M ullet C re e k ; th e lin e is th e n m a rk e d along
so m e risin g g ro u n d n e a rly in th e s a m e d ire c tio n a s th e p re s e n t ro a d ,
until a c u t of tw o m iles is m a d e th ro u g h th e la n d s of W illiam B row n
(s ic ), th u s avo id in g a c o n sid e ra b le d e to u r in th e p re s e n t ro a d , a n d a
b ad sw a m p c ro ssin g th is n e a r its h e a d , w h e re it is v e ry n a rr o w .”
M itc h e ll’s m a p of Illa w a rra in 1834 sh o w s both lin es of ro a d , a n d
w hile it is not possib le to re co n c ile A le x a n d e r S te w a rt’s d e s c r ip t­
ion of th e old ro a d w ith th e m a p in e v e ry d e ta il, th e g e n e ra l p ic tu re is
c le a r en ough.
S te w a rt h ad so m eth in g to sa y also of th e m a k in g of M a jo r M itc h e ll’s
ro a d : “ In 1835, w hilst one g a n g of C row n p ris o n e rs ....w e re m a k in g th e
d a m a n d th e s tr e e ts of W ollongong, a n o th e r g a n g w as b ro u g h t dow n
an d sta tio n e d a t w h a t b e c a m e G e a r d ’s c o rn e r fth e C ross R o a d s)....
T h e re w e re a good m a n y m e n in th is seco n d g a n g , a n d so m e 10 o r 12
so ld ie rs ....T h e re w as a sto c k a d e a t G e a r d ’s c o rn e r, a n d th e p riso n e rs
36
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
w e re lo ck ed u p in bo x es th e r e fo r th e n ig h t....T h is g a n g h a d th e m a k in g
of th e ro a d fro m G e a rd ’s c o rn e r, w hich th e n b elo n g ed to Colonel
L eah y , to M ullet C reek . T h ey only ju s t fo rm e d th e ro a d . T h ey c u t th e
w a te rta b le s a n d th re w th e d ir t into th e m id d le of th e ro a d , to r a is e it
th e re . T h ey a lso m a d e th e b rid g e s, b u t th e y w e re v e ry ro u g h o n e s, th e
d eck in g b ein g sla b s a n d ro u g h s le e p e rs . T he r a ils w e re th e only saw n
p a r t of th e m . T h ey d id n o t c u t dow n th e h ills, n o r d id th e y p u t m e ta l on
th e ro a d s ....W h e n th e ro a d h a d b een m a d e fro m th e C ross R o ad s to
F ig tre e , th e sto c k a d e w a s re m o v e d to R y an !s p a d d o c k a t F ig tre e , an d
lo c a te d on th e fla t o p p o site th e old p o st office th e r e , b e tw e e n H ic k m a n ’s
H otel a n d th e c re e k b e lo w ” .
T he b rid g in g of M ullet C reek . A few y e a rs a f te r A le x a n d e r H a rris
p a s s e d th a t w ay , th e G o v e rn o r, S ir G eo rg e G ip p s, v is ite d D ap to . It h a s
b een s a id th a t for h is v is it a b rid g e w as b u ilt o v e r M ullet C re e k ; b u t
a c c o rd in g to a m e m o ria l p re s e n te d to th e G o v e rn m e n t b y D ap to
re s id e n ts in 1858, good in te n tio n s w e re f r u s tr a te d by S ir G eo rg e h im se lf
- “ th e s a id B rid g e w a s a c tu a lly c o m m e n c e d ; b u t on th e o c casio n of th e
la te S ir G e o rg e G ipps v isitin g th is d is tric t w h ilst th e w o rk w a s in p ro ­
g r e s s , h e c a u s e d th e p e rs o n s e m p lo y e d on it to b e re m o v e d to a s s is t in th e
c o m p le tio n of th e C h a rc o a l B rid g e , fro m w h e n c e th e y w e re re m o v e d out
of th e d is tr ic t a lto g e th e r ” .
T he m e m o ria l c o n tin u e d : “ S ince th a t tim e th e p u b lic h a v e been
c o m p e lle d to c ro s s th e C reek a t a c ro s sin g -p la c e ro u g h ly c o n stru c te d
by la y in g logs a n d sto n e s on th e b ed of th e c re e k w hich a r e d is tu rb e d
o r w a sh e d a w a y e v e ry tim e th e c re e k r is e s , a n d w hich h a v e to be
re p a ire d o r re p la c e d by th e in h a b ita n ts of th e im m e d ia te v ic in ity a t
th e ir ow n co st.
“ T h a t, e v e n in d ry w e a th e r, g r e a t in c o n v en ien c e is fe lt....fro m th e
s te e p n e s s of th e d e sc e n t fro m e ith e r b a n k , a n d fro m th e v e ry unev en
s u r fa c e of th e c ro ssin g -p la c e .
“ T h a t, in tim e s of h e a v y ra in , th e w a te rs of th e c re e k ris e su d d en ly
to su c h a h e ig h t a n d ru n w ith su ch v e lo c ity a s to re n d e r it p e rfe c tly
im p o ssib le to c ro s s by a n y m e a n s e x c e p t in a b o a t, w hich c a n only be
u se d by p a s s e n g e r s .”
B e c a u se of th e la c k of a b rid g e o v e r M ullet C reek , th e m e m o ria l
p o in ted o u t, th e b rid g e “ re c e n tly c o n s tru c te d a t a la r g e e x p e n se o v er
th e M a c q u a rie R iv e r ” w ould b e of little a d v a n ta g e to a n y o n e : T he
llla w a r r a M e rc u ry , in su p p o rt c la im e d th a t d u rin g th e floods of th e
p re v io u s w in te r, “ th e in h a b ita n ts of th a t la r g e tr a c t of c o u n try b e tw een
th e c re e k a n d M a c q u a rie R iv e r w e re c u t off fro m W ollongong by th e
im p o ssib ility of c ro ssin g th e c re e k fo r d a y s to g e th e r” ; no t ev en th e
m a ils co u ld g e t th ro u g h , “ th is c a u sin g in c a lc u la b le lo ss a n d d is a p p o in t­
m e n t to th e p u b lic in g e n e r a l” .
A p p a re n tly th e G o v e rn m e n t d id not a c t; b u t a f te r th e e s ta b lis h m e n t
of th e C e n tra l llla w a r r a C ouncil in th e follow ing y e a r, th in g s b e g an to
m o v e. On 9th O cto b e r 1860 th e M e rc u ry in fo rm e d its re a d e r s th a t th e
C ouncil h a d “ s e c u re d th e s e rv ic e s of M r. W e a v e r, th e w ell-know n
“ T he B rid g e A cro st th e C ric k ”
37
a r c h i te c t” , w ho “ a f te r a v e ry c a re fu l a n d p r o tr a c te d s u rv e y of th e
M u llet C re e k ....s e le c te d th e h ig h b a n k s clo se to th e D a p to m ill a s th e
m o st e lig ib le site . F o r th e la s t tw e n ty y e a r s th e r iv e r b a n k s a t th is
p la c e h a v e su ffe re d little c h a n g e , a n d th e y a r e full ten fe e t h ig h e r th a n
an y s ite th a t could be ch o se n below th e d a m . To a p p ro a c h th e b rid g e ,
a t th e s ite p ro p o se d , th e ro a d w ill h a v e to d iv e rg e to th e r ig h t th ro u g h
p ro p e rty b elo n g in g to th e O sb o rn e fa m ily , th u s A voiding th e low b ro k e n
g ro u n d , a n d th e tw o a n a b ra n c h e s of th e r iv e r , b y w h ich th e d a m is a t
p re s e n t a p p ro a c h e d .”
In A ugu st th e follow ing y e a r th e b rid g e w a s triu m p h a n tly o p en ed .
T his tim e th e s ite w a s d e s c rib e d a s b ein g “ a s h o rt d is ta n c e to th e left
of th e old c ro s s in g -p la c e ” - co n fu sin g , b u t p e rh a p s th is tim e th e
r e p o r te r w a s looking a t it fro m th e o th e r s id e ; in a n y c a s e , th e m ill
w a s u p s tre a m fro m th e fo rd w hose re m a in s a r e still v isib le . T h e b rid g e
w a s b u ilt e n tire ly of lo ca l tim b e r , w a s tw e n ty fe e t w id e , a n d “ it is
co n fid en tly c a lc u la te d th a t it w ill w ith s ta n d a n y flood lik e ly to v is it th a t
p o rtio n of th e d is tr ic t.” T h e o c c asio n w a s c e le b ra te d by “ a m o st
su m p tu o u s d in n e r, p re p a r e d by M ons. L an n o y , of th e I lla w a r r a H otel,
a t th e in s ta n c e of th e c o n tr a c to r s ” . (M e ssrs. M oore a n d V a u g h a n ), a t
w hich n u m e ro u s to a s ts , a c c o m p a n ie d by th e in e v ita b le sp e e c h e s , w e re
d ru n k , co n clu d in g w ith “ P ro s p e rity to th e M u n ic ip a lity , a n d
p e rm a n e n c e to th e M u llet C reek B rid g e .”
A p p a re n tly th o se ho p es w e re n o t fu lfilled - p h o to g ra p h s d a tin g fro m
th e se v e n tie s a n d e ig h tie s sh o w s th e fo rd in u se a g a in , a n d still
a n o th e r b rid g e w a s in c o u rs e of c o n stru c tio n in 1890.
M r. S m ith is B ogged D ow n. T he m a in South C o ast R o ad re m a in e d
p rim itiv e fo r m a n y y e a rs . In 1859 th e M e rc u ry re p o r te d “ a m o st
d a n g e ro u s slo u g h ” a t th e foot of E v a n s ’ H ill. “ C. T. S m ith E s q ., a n d
la d y , on th e w ay to S h e llh a rb o u r in a g ig , w e re p la c e d in g r e a t p e ril a t
th is p la c e ....M r. S m ith , se e in g a tr a c k th ro u g h th e slo u g h , m a d e an
a tte m p t to c ro s s it, b u t h a d no t p ro c e e d e d f a r b e fo re th e h o rs e sa n k up
to its sh o u ld e rs, a n d th e v e h ic le b e c a m e e m b e d d e d . B oth M r. a n d M rs.
S. h a d to g e t out of th e gig a n d m a k e th e b e s t of th e ir w ay th ro u g h th e
m ire , a n d it w a s only w ith c o n sid e ra b le e x e rtio n th a t th e h o rse
e x tr ic a te d th e v e h ic le ” .
In 1876 th e C e n tra l Illa w a rra C ouncil w a s a sk in g th e C olonial
S e c re ta ry to re lie v e it of th e m a in te n a n c e of th e ro a d , b u t m a n y y e a rs
w e re to p a s s b e fo re th e M ain R o ad s B o a rd c a m e to th e re s c u e . In th e
m e a n tim e tr a v e lle r s c o n tin u e d to s u ffe r. A c co rd in g to th e Town and
C o u n try J o u r n a l re p o r te r of 1879 th e ro a d , a f te r p a ss in g a lo n g a ro u g h
rid g e , d e sc e n d e d a s te e p h ill c a lle d M ount B ro w n . “ T h e rid g e b ein g
p a s t, the fa cilis d escen su s * on the fa c e of the hill lea d s the traveller,!
in w et w eath er esp e c ia lly , into so m eth in g far w orse - the m iserab le'
c ro s sin g know n u n d e r th e n a m e of D uck H oles - one w hich, in flood
w e a th e r, c a n be sa fe ly a tte m p te d only by th e d u c k s ” .
R outes to the T ablelands. The other m ajor road of ea rly d a y s w as
th a t w hich led to Bong Bong P a ss. As far back a s 1820 C harles Throsby
38
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry X>apto.
h a d w ritte n to M a c q u a rie : “ I h a v e fully e s ta b lis h e d th e p ra c tic a b ility
of a s h o rt c o m m u n ic a tio n b etw e e n th e c o a s t, a t th e D is tric t of
llla w a r r a , a n d th e new c o u n try , in th e C ounty of C a m d e n , by a p a s s in
th e m o u n ta in s , s e v e ra l m ile s to th e s o u th w a rd of th e o rig in a l ro a d
b e h in d B ulli , d is c o v e re d a n d m a d e b y m e , w h e re I h a v e su c c e e d e d a
few d a y s sin c e in D riv in g a h e rd of m y c a ttle in th e s h o rt s p a c e of one
D ay , h a v in g b een a t so m e e x p e n se in c u ttin g b u sh , a n d e tc ., to c le a r a
su ffic ie n t ro a d , by th e s a m e ro u te a n d d ire c tio n I p a s s e d in F b ry 1817.”
A cco rd in g to J a m e s J e r v is , “ th is tr a c k e v id e n tly lay n o rth of th e d en se
b ru s h on th e v o lc a n ic c o u n try ab o u t B u rra w a n g a n d R o b e rtso n , a n d
re a c h e d th e c o a s ta l d is tric t b e h in d D a p to .”
In 1831 S u rv e y o r J a c q u e s d e s c rib e d th e “ P a s s ” b e tw e e n W ollongong
a n d B ong Bong (n e a r M oss V a le ), a s b ein g “ on a v e ry n a rro w sh elf, on
th e p re c ip ito u s sid e of th e M o u n tain , th e a c c liv ity b e in g so v e ry s te e p a s
not to be m a d e s u ita b le fo r D ra y s w ith o u t tu n n e lin g so th a t it m u s t be
a lw a y s d a n g e ro u s e v e n fo r H o rse s a n d C a ttle ” ; b u t n e x t y e a r th e
“ S ydney M o n ito r” c a lle d it “ a w ell b e a te n p a th w h ich m ig h t be
im p ro v e d ” .
A lley ’s L ine. T he c o n stru c tio n of a ro a d fro m D ap to to Bong Bong
w as m u ch d is c u sse d lo cally in 1842. At a m e e tin g in S e p te m b e r th a t
y e a r G eo rg e U nd erw o o d A lley re p o rte d th a t a b rid le ro a d could be
m a d e to th e top of th e m o u n ta in for £150; W. P . F a ith fu ll a n d W. W.
Je n k in s c a p p e d th is w ith a n e s tim a te of £1000 to m a k e a good r o a d ; an d
th e m e e tin g re s o lv e d th a t “ th e p a s s p o in te d o u t b y M r. A lley h a v in g b een
e x a m in e d a n d found c a p a b le of b ein g m a d e in to a good d ra y ro a d ,
m e a s u re s be ta k e n fo r its c o n s tru c tio n .”
T he a d v o c a te s of th e sc h e m e follow ed th is m e e tin g u p w ith a d in n e r a t
th e top of th e m o u n ta in , w hen a ll p re s e n t w e re in v ite d to s u b s c rib e to a
fu n d fo r b u ild in g th e ro a d . No c a s u a ltie s w e re re p o r te d ; b u t if it w a s lik e
m o st d in n e rs of th e tim e , th e s p e c ia l p ro v id e n c e th a t w a tc h e s o v e r
lu n a tic s a n d d ru n k s m u s t h a v e w o rk e d o v e rtim e to b rin g a ll th e d in e rs
sa fe ly dow n. In D e c e m b e r it w a s re p o r te d th a t £ 4 9 0 h a d been
s u b s c rib e d to w a rd s th e c o n stru c tio n of th e r o a d ; b u t an o fficia l re p o rt
n ex t y e a r in d ic a te d th a t both e s tim a te s of c o st p u t fo rw a rd a t th e
m e e tin g h a d b een w ildly o p tim istic .
S u rv e y o r B u rk e 's R e p o rt (1843). In 1843 S u rv e y o r B u rk e re p o r te d to
his c h ief, S ir T h o m a s M itch ell, th a t he h a d su rv e y e d “ th e lin e of
c o m m u n ic a tio n fro m D ap to to B e r r i m a ...m a r k e d by M r. A lle y ....a
B rid le T ra c k is in p ro g re ss of fo rm a tio n . It c o m m e n c e s a t M r. G eo rg e
B ro w n ’s Inn a t D ap to , a n d ....jo in s M r. H. O sb o rn e ’s C a ttle T ra c k a t
10:l4 m ile s fro m B ro w n ’s I n n .”
B u rk e e x p re s s e d th e opinion th a t A lley ’s lin e an d O sb o rn e ’s tr a c k
w e re th e “ only tw o p a s s e s by w hich a ro a d c a n b e ta k e n o v e r th e
llla w a r r a R a n g e in th is d ir e c tio n ” , though h e w a s no t o v e r-e n th u sia stic
a b o u t e ith e r. A lle y ’s lin e w a s, he th o u g h t, th e b e s t “ n a tu r a l r o a d ” fo r a
h o rse tr a c k (m e a n in g by “ n a tu r a l r o a d ” , h e e x p la in e d , one w hich
" T h e B rid g e A cro st th e C ric k "
39
re q u ire d v e ry little a rtific ia l m a k in g to re n d e r it p a s s a b le , a n d w hich
could be k e p t in r e p a ir fo r ro u g h tra ffic a t triflin g e x p e n s e ). B ut th e
g ra d e s of A lley ’s line w e re “ su ch a s to p re v e n t th e tr a n s p o rt of goods
in d ra y s o r ev en th e sa fe p a s s a g e of w h e ele d v e h ic le s, “ th e g r e a te s t b e ­
ing 1 in 2, w hich is m u ch too s te e p fo r u s e ” . (H e c o u ld sa y th a t a g a in ,
fo r it is n e a rly tw ice a s s te e p a s H u n tley H ill o r th e lo w -g e a r p in ch on
M ount K e ira ) ; b u t on ce o v e r th e p a s s it w a s “ th e b e st th a t c a n be
found, a n d h a s no se rio u s d ifficu lty in th e w a y of a h o r s e - tr a c k .”
O sb o rn e ’s c a ttle tr a c k w ould h a v e b een m o re p ro m isin g , if m o re
fu n d s h a d been a v a ila b le . T h e ru lin g g ra d ie n t w ould h a v e b een no
m o re th a n 1 in 8, w hich “ w ould g iv e a to le ra b le d ra y r o a d ” , b u t its
fo rm a tio n w ould re q u ire m u c h m o re la b o u r a n d e x p e n se , p a rtic u la rly
on th e la s t h a lf-m ile to th e s u m m it. B u rk e e s tim a te d th e c o st a t
£3602.10.0, a s a g a in s t £655.12.0 fo r a h o rse tr a c k a lo n g A lley ’s lin e ;
th e re fo re “ t h e £1000 p ro p o sed to be ra is e d by th e p a rtie s w ould fo rm
only a sm a ll p o rtio n of th e th e e x p e n se of m a k in g th e b e st ro a d , bu t
w ould be su ffic ie n t to m a k e a n a tu r a l ro a d for a b rid le t r a c k ” .
S u rv e y o r S h o n e’s R e p o rt (1851). E ig h t y e a r s la te r S u rv e y o r Shone
re p o rte d u n fa v o u ra b ly on “ th e lin e of ro a d fro m D ap to to B e rrim a ,
co m m o n ly know n a s ‘A lley ’s lin e ’ ” , sa y in g “ I do not c o n sid e r th a t this
ro u te o r a n y o th e r fro m D ap to to B e rrim a , w hich m u s t tr a v e r s e a
b ro k en line of c o u n try , c a n be m a d e a v a ila b le a s a ro a d for tra ffic
fro m th e S o u th ern C o u n try to Illa w a rra - T h e m o u n ta in a s c e n t is
e x c e e d in g ly d ifficu lt a n d a b r u p t....I c a n n o t....s e e th e u tility of lay in g
out a few h u n d re d pou n d s on th is line of ro a d , w hen so m e th o u sa n d s
w ould be re q u ire d to re n d e r it sa fe , a n d p r a c tic a b le e v e n for lim ite d
tr a f f i c .” A sto n ish in g ly , he a d d e d th a t “ d u rin g th e e a rly p a r t of th e
y e a r 1849 I also m a d e a p re lim in a ry su rv e y a n d e x a m in a tio n in th e
s a m e d ire c tio n fo r th e p ro p o se d E a s te r n lin e of R a ilw a y to w a rd s
G o u lb u rn ” ; for, though p a r t of th e U n a n d e rra - M oss V ale lin e follow s
A lley ’s lin e, c o n sid e rin g it a s a S y d n ey - G o u lb u rn (a n d in th e fu ln ess
of tim e a S ydney - M e lb o u rn e) ro u te one c a n only sa y w ith B e rtie
W o o ster: “ I in sp e c te d th e im a g in a tio n . It b o g g le d .”
Som e of th e s ta te m e n ts q u o te d a b o v e , h o w e v e r, a r e a t v a ria n c e w ith
Jo h n B ro w n ’s re p o rte d r e m a r k s in 1897 w hen a p a r ty of D ap to
re s id e n ts , w ith M r. A rc h ib ald C a m p b e ll, M .P ., a s c e n d e d Bong Bong
P a s s to th e “ T a b le R o c k ” , a sh o rt d is ta n c e so u th of th e s u m m it: “ T he
ro u te w a s d isc o v e re d by h is la te f a th e r, G o v e rn m e n t su b se q u e n tly
g ra n tin g g a n g s of m en to c le a r a n d fo rm it, a s fa r a s su ch w a s done,
an d th e s e ttle r s of th e d is tric t p ro v id in g th e m e n w ith ra tio n s....O n th e
co m p letio n of the P a s s ro a d in 1843 his fa th e r g a v e a lu n ch eo n to a
c o n sid e ra b le n u m b e r of th e in h a b ita n ts of Illa w a rra on th e v e ry ro ck
on w hich they w e re a s s e m b le d ” .
A ccording to Jo h n B row n, “ th e P a s s w as in te n d e d to be a ro a d by
w hich p ro d u c e fro m th e so u th e rn in te rio r, in clu d in g wool, w ould be
co n v ey ed dow n th e m o u n ta in .. .an d sh ip p e d a t W ollongong. It w as
a c tu a lly u sed to a v e ry c o n sid e ra b le e x te n t a s a sto c k r o u te ” . M r.
40
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D ap to .
J a m e s S w an a d d e d th a t “ h e h a d ta k e n d ra y s u p a n d dow n th e P a s s
m a n y tim e s in th e d is ta n t p a s t, a n d h a d se e n o th e rs do lik ew ise, until
w ith in a b o u t th e la s t th irty y e a r s .”
S u p e rse ssio n of B ong B ong P a s s . In 1860 th e Bong Bong R o ad w as
sa id to be in a d a n g e ro u s s ta te b e c a u se of th e in c re a s e d tra ffic o v e r it.
a n d a su b s c rip tio n w a s o p e n e d to r e p a ir it. Jo h n B ro w n in 1873 r e f e r r e d to
th e B ong B ong R o a d (th e n a p p a re n tly u n d e r th e c o n tro l of a s p e c ia l
T ru s t) a s h a v in g “ fa lle n in to a m o st w re tc h e d s t a t e ” , b u t in 1888 he
re f e rs to it a s “ still in u s e ” , a lth o u g h “ J a c k W h ite ’s M o u n tain P a s s ”
(so f a r not id e n tifie d ) w as th e n “ im p a s s a b le ” .
As la te a s 1897 e ffo rts w e re b ein g m a d e to m a k e th e P a s s tra ffic a b le
a g a in , th e o b je c t of th e e x e rc is e m e n tio n e d ab o v e b ein g “ to b rin g
u n d e r th e n o tic e of th e m e m b e r fo r th e d is tric t th e n e c e ss ity fo r th e
P a s s th e y h a d tra v e lle d b ein g im p ro v e d to su c h a n e x te n t th a t
v e h ic u la r tr a ffic could ta k e p la c e o v e r it a n d w ith s a f e ty ” . M r.
C a m p b e ll “ e x p re s s e d h im se lf d e e p ly im p re s s e d w ith th e re p r e s e n t­
a tio n s m a d e to h im , a n d p ro m ise d to do all th a t m ig h t b e in h is p o w er
in th e d ire c tio n in d ic a te d ” . B ut h e p ro v ed fa ir a n d fa ls e ; a n d th e
m a k in g of a re s p e c ta b le ro a d , by c o n te m p o ra ry s ta n d a r d s , up
M a c q u a rie P a s s in 1897-98 c a u se d Bong Bong P a s s to be fin ally w ritte n
off a s a m a in ro a d . (A cco rd in g to D av id D e n n iss, C arl W eb er, th e
w ell-know n W ollongong su rv e y o r, h a d b een p u t on to th e jo b on
M a c q u a rie P a s s “ w ith a p la in h in t th a t th e d is c o v e ry of a p ra c tic a b le
ro u te w a s n o t re a lly d e sire d . H o w ev er, h e co u ld n o t c o n sc ie n t­
iously s a y a p r a c tic a b le ro u te co u ld n o t b e found a n d re p o r te d in
fa v o u r a n d th e ro a d w a s c o n s tru c te d ” . It is s a id th a t W eb er m a rk e d
out h is ro u te on th e p rin c ip le of n e v e r s a c rific in g a n y h e ig h t once
g a in e d , w h a te v e r th e c o st in c u rv a tu re - a p e rfe c tly re a s o n a b le m e th o d
fo r th e h o rs e tr a ffic of h is d a y , w h a te v e r la te r g e n e ra tio n s of m o to rists
m a y h a v e th o u g h t of h im ).
A lp a c a s on B ong Bong P a s s . Of a ll th e tr a v e lle r s w ho u sed th e
Bong B ong R o a d , n one could h a v e b een m o re e x o tic th a n th e fo u rte e n
a lp a c a s w ho c a m e th a t w ay in 1866. A lthough th e e x p o rt of a lp a c a s w as
fo rb id d e n by th e P e ru v ia n G o v e rn m e n t, C h a rle s L e d g e r, a n E n g lish
re s id e n t in P e r u , m a n a g e d in 1858 to b rin g a s m a ll flock - “ sm u g g le d to
N ew South W ales a t g r e a t ris k a n d e x p e n s e ” - to S y d n ey , w h e re th e y
w e re b o u g h t by th e N ew South W ales G o v e rn m e n t fo r £15000, a n d kept
su c c e s siv e ly in th e D o m a in , a t L iv erp o o l a n d a t W ingello. B u t, th e
a lp a c a ’s n a tu r a l h a b ita t b ein g f a r h ig h e r a n d e v e n c o ld e r th a n
W ingello, a c c lim a tis a tio n p ro v e d d iffic u lt, a n d in 1866 th e flock w as
sold to p riv a te la n d o w n e rs. F o u rte e n w e re p u rc h a s e d by one of th e
O sb o rn es, (a c c o rd in g to th e M e rc u ry of 6th J u ly 1866 “ M r. P .
O sb o rn e ,” b u t a c c o rd in g to th a t of 24th A u g u st “ H. H. O sb o rn e E s q u .,”
the la t te r in view of th e la te r re fe re n c e to A v o n d ale, b ein g p ro b a b ly
c o r r e c t.)
T h e M e rc u ry re p o rte d th e ir a r r iv a l a t M a rsh a ll M ount,
h a v in g c o m e by th e Bong B ong R o ad , a n d se v e n w eek s la te r th a t th ey
‘The B rid g e A cro st th e C ric k ’
41
w e re “ now d e p a stu rin g a t A vo n d ale, a n d a p p a re n tly doing v e ry w e ll” .
B ut, if th ey h a d not flo u rish ed a t W ingello, it w a s m o re th a n o p tim istic
to e x p e c t th em to do so a t A vo n d ale. A cco rd in g to th e “ A u stra lia n
E n c y c lo p a e d ia ” , the p u rc h a s e rs “ found th a t th e a lp a c a n e e d e d m o re
a tte n tio n th a n m e rin o sh e e p , a n d w a s le ss p ro fita b le . G ra d u a lly th e
flocks w an ed , a n d by 1880 all tr a c e s of th e im p o rta tio n s h a d g o n e .”
M a rs h a ll M ount R o ad . M a rsh a ll M ou n t R o a d , “ fo rm e rly a b y e -ro a d u se d
by H e n ry O sb o rn e by W esto n ’s p e rm is s io n , fo r w h ich O sb o rn e u se d to
w rite a n n u a lly ” w a s b y 1886 a p u b lic ro a d a n d a b o n e of c o n te n tio n
b etw een C e n tra l I lla w a r r a a n d S h e llh a rb o u r C ouncils - th e c o n te n tio n
b ein g no' to ow n, b u t to disow n th e c re e k c ro s sin g a t th e m u n ic ip a l
b o u n d a ry , s a id to be “ e x tre m e ly d iffic u lt a n d d a n g e ro u s ” , m o re th a n one
f a ta l a c c id e n t h a v in g o c c u re d th e re .
T he ro a d fro m M a rsh a ll M ount to Y a lla h w a s a n a fte rth o u g h t, a
b y -p ro d u ct of th e build in g in 1887 of a ra ilw a y p la tfo rm (o rig in a lly
c a lle d A lbion P a r k ) a t th e South C o ast R o ad lev el c ro ssin g .
K an ah o o k a R oad.
b o u n d a ry of G eo rg e
p ro c la im e d in 1861,
a p p a re n tly along th e
A ro a d to K an ah o o k a P o in t a lo n g th e so u th e rn
B ro w n ’s (G eo rg e I ’s) 300 a c r e g r a n t h a d been
b u t e v id e n tly n e v e r u se d . In 1882 a new ro a d ,
lin e of th e p re s e n t K an ah o o k a R o ad , w a s n otified.
THE FO R D AT BROW NSVILLE, c. 1890
B row n’s M ill in right background
(P h oto by G. G. W ensem ius)
Mount
Kembla
A
Kembla
"Kembla
G range.
I House
Grange
I
N e w to n "*
''©St.Luke's Cof
^ ^ B ro w n s v ille (
( B r o w n 's )
L a k e
S m e ltin g W o r k s
K a n a h o o k a Point
l l l a w a r r a
Eliz a b e th Point
^ T a l l a w a r r a Point
Mount
A Brown
ose'
Jf
f{
420 '
DAPTO
llD u c k
AND DISTRICT
Road s
l ll
I
l l l a w a r r a R a i l w a y ( N.S.W.G.R.)
_ u l l l a w a r r a H a r b o u r & Land C o r p o r a t i o n & S m e l t i
C o . o f A u s t r a l i a L td .R a i l w a y s
d e n o t e s a b u i l d i n g li ste d by t h e N a t i o n a l T r u s t
C h u r c h o r s ite o f c h u r c h
H o te l o r s i te o f h o te l
0
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C H A P T E R FO U R
"O n e Unpretentious Pub":
The Beginnings o f the Tow nship
“ In fa c t th e to w n sh ip , a ll in all,
“ Is ju s t one u n p re te n tio u s p u b .”
-A . B. P a te r s o n ,
“ T h e W a rg e ila h H a n d ic a p ”
G eo rg e B ro w n : th e “ Ship In n ” a n d B ro w n ’s M ill. T h e o rig in a l tow n
of D ap to ow ed its b eg in n in g , a t th e p la c e now k now n a s B ro w n sv ille, to
th a t G eo rg e B row n (G eo rg e I) p re v io u sly m e n tio n e d a m o n g th e e a rly
g ra n te e s . A n a tiv e of th e K ingdom of F ife , h e a r r iv e d in N ew South
W ales in 1822 a n d s e ttle d a t L iv erp o o l, w h e re h e h a d a n in n . T h e 1828
c e n su s g iv e s h is a d d re s s a s Illa w a rra , w h e re h e h a d a m a n e m p lo y e d
m a k in g s a lt on th e b e a c h n e a r th e p re s e n t W ollongong. He o w ned 460
c a ttle a n d 626 sh e e p . B ut b efo re long h e w a s b a c k b eh in d th e b a r. In
1831 h e o p en ed th e Ship Inn a t W ollongong, a n d th r e e y e a r s la te r
tr a n s f e r r e d th e lic e n c e to a ho u se of th e s a m e n a m e a t M ullet C reek . In
1839 he b u ilt a w in d m ill, w h e re a c c o rd in g to tra d itio n h e w ould, if th e
w ind w a s fa v o u ra b le , g rin d y o u r g ra in w h ile you w a ite d , ta k in g a
p e rc e n ta g e a s h is fee. M illing m u s t h a v e b een a p ro fita b le sid e lin e ;
b efo re long h e h a d o p en ed a s te a m flo u r-m ill, w hich w a s th e s c e n e of a
cu rio u s c e le b ra tio n d u rin g th e 1844 d ro u g h t, w hen h e in v ited th e
g e n tle m e n of Illa w a rra “ to w itn e ss th e e x p e rim e n t of ste a m in g dow n a
b u llo ck in h is la r g e a n d e x c e lle n t s te a m m ill....309 lb s. of ta llo w w as
o b ta in e d . A fter th e boiling-dow n th e c o m p a n y w a s e n te r ta in e d a t th e
h o te l....D r. A lex O sb o rn e b ein g c h a ir m a n w ith C. T. S m ith E s q ., J . P .
a t th e foot of th e ta b le .” S p ee c h e s a n d c h a m p a g n e follow ed till 4 p .m . no bullock co u ld e v e r b efo re o r sin c e h a v e h a d su ch a w a k e .
In y e t a n o th e r ro le , B row n in 1841 b e g a n a th ric e -w e e k ly co ach
s e rv ic e b etw ee n D ap to a n d W ollongong. T h e tr ip took a n h o u r, a n d c o st
fo u r sh illin g s.
G eo rg e B row n d ied on 5th A u g u st, 1850, a g e d 56. He is b u rie d in St.
L u k e ’s c h u rc h y a r d (for w hich h e g a v e th e la n d ) a n d is c o m m e m o ra te d
by th e ly c h -g a te of th e c h u rc h . H e le ft tw o so n s, J o h n (of w hom m o re
la te r ) w ho in h e rite d th e m ill a n d th e u n o fficia l m a y o r a lty of D ap to ,
a n d G eo rg e W illiam w ho c a r r ie d on th e inn.
By th is tim e a tow n h a d b eg u n to d ev elo p a ro u n d th e in n a n d m ill.
T he o rig in a l in n b u ild in g w as b u rn t dow n a f te r a few y e a rs a n d a new
b u ild in g , a fte rw a rd s know n a s th e L ak e Illa w a rra o r I lla w a r r a H otel,
took its p la c e .
T h e re w a s also a s to re k e p t b y a c e rta in E d w a rd H a m m o n d
“ One U n p re te n tio u s P u b ’
45
H a rg ra v e s , a f te r w a r d s fa m o u s a s th e d is c o v e re r of go ld (o r a t a n y
r a t e th e m a n w ho g o t th e re w a rd fo r th e d is c o v e ry of g o ld ) in
A u stra lia .
C h u rch of E n g la n d . In 1841 it w a s re p o r te d th a t a n A n g lican C h u rch
w ould be e re c te d “ a f te r th r e e y e a r s of m a n o e u v rin g ” , G e o rg e B row n
h a v in g o ffe re d tw o a c r e s of la n d fo r th e p u rp o s e . T h e f ir s t tr u s te e s
w e re G e ra rd G e ra rd , S h eaffe a n d A rth u r M a rs h a ll, a D a p to s to r e ­
k e e p e r; H e n ry O sb o rn e a n d W illiam Je n k in s w e re a d d e d to th e list in
1843, in w hich y e a r it w a s re p o r te d th a t th e fo u n d a tio n s h a d b ee n laid .
T he C h u rch w a s so f a r fin ish ed in F e b r u a r y 1845 th a t se rv ic e s c o u ld be
p e rfo rm e d a n d it w a s lic e n se d by th e B ish o p of A u stra lia . J . P .
T ow nsend w ro te fo u r y e a rs la t e r , “ A n e a t c h u rc h h a s b een e re c te d a t
‘D unlop V a le ’ b u t is, a s so m e th in k d is fig u re d by a c ro s s , w hich is
stu c k o v e r The e n tr a n c e , a n d c e rta in ly looks r a t h e r fo rlo rn . S o m e of th e
s e ttle r s a r e a s m u c h a s sc a n d a lis e d b y its p re s e n c e a s if it w e re a
c ru c ifix , a n d th in k in g it s a v o u rs of p o p e ry , re fu s e to s u b s c rib e .”
(D unloo V ale w a s K e m b la G ra n g e , b u t a s no o th e r r e f e re n c e to a n y
c h u rc h th e r e h a s been fo u n d T o w n sen d m u s t h a v e b e e n r e f e rrin g to th e
c h u rc h ju s t a c ro s s M u llet C re e k ).
T he F i r s t R e g is te r of S t. L u k e ’s. T h e f ir s t r e g is te r of St. L u k e ’s,
re c o rd in g b a p tis m s to 1865, m a r r ia g e s to 1856 a n d b u ria ls to 1874, is
still in e x is te n c e . D ap to w a s u n til 1852 (w h en it b e c a m e a s e p a r a te
p a ris h u n d e r th e R ev . W illiam W est S im p so n ) p a r t of th e p a ris h of
W ollongong, w h o se r e c to r , th e R ev. M a tth e w D e v en ish M e a re s , w a s no
d e a le r in e u p h e m ism s. In h is book th e r e w e re no d e fa c to re la tio n sh ip s
o r ex -n u p tia l c h ild r e n ; a s th e o c casio n re q u ire d h e b lu n tly n o te d in th e
r e g is te r “ L iv in g in a d u lte r y ” o r “ F o rn ic a tio n ” ; o r, in th e c a s e of
b e la te d re lic s of “ th e S y s te m ” : “ H olding tic k e t of le a v e ” o r “ B ond,
p e r ‘A lic e ,’ 1816.
Of th e 28 b rid a l co u p les liste d , 12 b rid e g ro o m s a n d 14 b rid e s w e re
illite r a te . Of th e 212 b u ria ls , 81 w e re of c h ild re n u n d e r te n - 32 of th e m
le ss th a n a y e a r old.
T he o c c u p a tio n s of ju s t on 400 of th o se c o n c e rn e d - th e fa th e r, th e
b rid e g ro o m o r th e d e c e a se d - a r e g iv en . By fa r th e c o m m o n e st, as
m ig h t b e e x p e c te d , w e re th o se of fa r m e r , s e ttle r, c le a rin g le sse e , e tc .
T he h ig h e r a n d low er r u r a l s t r a ta - g e n tle m a n , g e n tle m a n s e ttle r,
la n d e d p ro p rie to r, e tc . a n d fa r m s e r v a n t, la b o u re r, e tc . b ro u g h t th e
to ta l of a g ric u ltu ra l o c c u p a tio n s to 338 - w ell o v e r e ig h ty p e rc e n t of th e
w hole. T he only o th e r o c c u p a tio n to re a c h d o uble fig u re s w a s th a t of
su rg e o n o r m e d ic a l p ra c titio n e r - b o th D r. G eo rg e U nd erw o o d A lley
a n d D r. Jo h n G e ra rd c o n trib u te d n o ta b ly to th e ta lly of b a p tism s.
A m ong o th e r o ccu p a tio n s liste d w e re sc h o o lm a ste r, b la c k s m ith ,
w h e e lw rig h t, c a r p e n te r , m a s o n , sh o e m a k e r, sa w y e r, w a te rm a n , pilot,
fis h e rm a n , lic e n se d v ic tu a lle r, a n d ev en “ gold s e e k e r ” a n d “ gold
46
N in e te e n th -C e n tu r y D apto.
d ig g e r” - though th e re is no re c o rd of an y o n e s e rio u sly see k in g , let
a lo n e fin d in g , gold in llla w a rr a .
M any w ell-know n D ap to n a m e s k eep re c u r rin g in th e r e g is te r O sb o rn es, M a rs h a lls , M a c C ab e s, S w an s, D e n n isse s, T h o m p so n s, E v a n s ­
es, W estons, D u ley s, L in d sa y s, o v e r a n d o v e r a g a in . A m ong th e m o re
u n u su a l e n tr ie s a r e th o se of th e b a p tis m s of “ M a ry H op k in s an
a b o rig in a l g irl of th e llla w a r r a trib e a g e d ab o u t 15 y e a rs , fo u r y e a rs in
the s e rv ic e of C a p ta in H opkins of D a p to ” (12th N o v em b e r 1854); of
“ Jo h n Chin Chi a C hinese in th e s e rv ic e of H en ry O sb o rn e E sq . of
M a rsh a ll M ount ag e d a b o u t 28 y e a r s ” (3rd S e p te m b e r 1854) a n d of
“ Jo h n Chi a n a tiv e of A m oy in C hina a g e d a b o u t 28 y e a r s ” (27 M ay
1860); of th e w ed d in g of “ Jo h n Chin Chi of th is p a ris h B a ch e lo r to L ena
L eslie of th is p a rish S p in s te r” (21st M arch 1854); a n d th e b u ria l of
“ H en ry F ra h lig c a lle d F elix .. .a G e rm a n M u sician in A sh to n ’s E q u e s t­
ria n C irc u s ” , w ho d ied , a g e d only 21, on 9th J u ly 1856.
Rom an Catholic Church and School. W hile th e A n g lican s h a d been
m a n o e u v rin g , th ey h a d been o u tfla n k e d . F a th e r R ig n e y , th e p io n e e r
p rie s t a t W ollongong, h ad e sta b lish e d a R o m an C ath o lic school w ith 25
p u p ils, a n d p a y m e n t of J . H a y e s a s its te a c h e r w a s a u th o ris e d in
D e c e m b e r 1839. T h e school build in g is b eliev ed to h a v e se rv e d a lso a s a
c h a p e l. In la te r y e a rs a c h u rc h a n d c o n v e n t w e re b u ilt on th e c h u rc h
p ro p e rty a d jo in in g th e c e m e te ry a t W est D apto.
P resb yteria n School and Church. T h e P re s b y te ria n s also h a d th e ir
school. W hen th e ir “ n e atly -b u ilt b ric k school ro o m ” w a s o p en ed in
1851, the c o st a m o u n tin g to £86.6s.2d h a d b een m e t by th e m o n ey s
c o lle c te d , th o u g h a sm a ll su m w as still d u e fo r th e w oodw ork.
It w ould s e e m , h o w ev er, th a t P re s b y te ria n se rv ic e s h a d b een h eld for
a t le a s t ten y e a r s b e fo re 1851, sin c e D ap to is lis te d a m o n g th e p re a c h in g
c e n tr e s s e r v e d b y th e R ev . J o h n T a it, th e firs t s e ttle d m in is te r
in W ollongong (1837-41), w h o se c h a rg e e x te n d e d a s f a r a s S h o a lh a v e n in
one d ire c tio n a n d “ p ro b a b ly A p p in ” in th e o th e r. D a p to a p p e a r s to h a v e
re m a in e d p a r t of th e W ollongong c h a rg e till 1888, a n d P re sb y e ria n s e r v ic e s w e re h eld fa irly re g u la r ly ;
b u t n o t re g u la rly
enough fo r G eo rg e M c P h ail, w ho, w hen th e re w a s no s e rv ic e in D ap to ,
u sed to w alk into W ollongong a n d b a c k r a t h e r th a n forgo h is S a b b ath
en jo y m e n t.
M ethodist Church T he h isto ry of th e M eth o d ist C h u rch is p a r t ­
ic u la rly w ell d o c u m e n te d , th a n k s to th e la b o u rs of th e la te M r. A. A.
A rm s tro n g . It ow ed its b eg in n in g to “ a d e v o u t la y m a n ” n a m e d Jo h n
‘O ne U n p re te n tio u s P u b ”
47
G ra h a m . (T h e b e a r e r of th a t illu strio u s n a m e s e e m s a s out of p la c e in
th a t fold a s A ngus A le x a n d e r A rm s tro n g h im se lf.) T his s tra y e d sh eep
a r r iv e d fro m N o rth e rn Ire la n d in 1844 to se ttle w ith his w ife a n d fa m ily
on the M a rsh a ll M ount E s ta te . T h e re , w ith o th e r M eth o d ists, he
e s ta b lis h e d r e g u la r s e rv ic e s in a build in g m a d e a v a ila b le by H en ry
O sborne, w ho la te r p re s e n te d th e a llo tm e n t on w hich th e firs t M a rsh a ll
M ount W esleyan C hapel w as built a n d open ed on 5th D e c e m b e r, 1856. It
w a s b u rn t dow n in 1879, a n d w hen th e c h u rc h w as re -e re c te d it w as on
a n o th e r site . T he o rig in a l site is now o ccu p ie d by th e school re sid e n c e .
B efo re th is o c c u re d Jo h n G ra h a m h ad m o v ed to A v ondale a n d
in itia te d M eth o d ist w o rk in D ap to itse lf, w h e re H e n ry O sb o rn e a g a in
p ro v id e d a s ite fo r c h u rc h , on a fa rm th e n o ccu p ie d by G eorge
S o m erv ille, on th e n o rth sid e of M ullet C reek , n e a rly o p p o site B ro w n ’s
m ill. T he c h u rc h w a s o p en ed in N o v e m b e r 1848 by th e R ev. W. H.
H ay es, G e n e ra l S u p e rin te n d e n t of th e W esley an C h u rch in th e colonies
W ithin a few y e a r s e ro sio n w as th re a te n in g th e b u ild in g , a n d in 1861
a s a f e r site w a s p re s e n te d by C o uncillor (Jo h n ) B row n, a q u a r te r of an
a c r e “ fro n tin g the ro a d n e a r the, cro w n of th e hill, a little to th e
n o rth -w e st (sic - qu. so u th -w e st? ) of th e E p isc o p a lia n c h u r c h .” T he
b u ild in g , bfei'ng c o n s tru c te d of w ea’tlftrb o a rd , w as re m o v e d from th e old
s ite to th e new . “ It w as re o p e n e d w ith tw o se rm o n s a n d a
te a - m e e tin g ,” a tte n d e d by o v e r 500 p eo p le, follow ed by a p ublic
m e e tin g , a t w hich sev en “ a p p ro p r ia te a d d r e s s e s ” w e re d e liv e re d , plus
th r e e v o te s of th a n k s . “ An e ffic ie n t c h o ir, a c c o m p a n ie d by a
h a rm o n iu m ” , g a v e “ s e v e ra l c h a n ts , a n d o th e r p ie c e s of m u s ic ....,
b etw een th e sp e e c h e s, w hich h ad a v e ry p le a sin g e ff e c t.” ; all in sp ire d
by, a n d e n d u re d on, noth in g m o re th a n te a .
Other Schools.
In a d d itio n to th e c h u rc h sch o o ls, th e r e w as a
sh o rt-liv e d G o v e rn m e n t school fo r a few m o n th s in 1852, a n d in th e
s ix tie s la d ie s n a m e d A rm ita g e c o n d u c te d a p riv a te school a t W est D ap to,
on th e so u th sid e of D a p to C reek .
L iterary and Mutual Instruction Society.
N or w e re in te lle c tu a l
in te re s ts n e g le c te d . A M ercury of 1856 re p o rts a m e e tin g of th e D apto
L ite ra ry a n d M u tu al In s tru c tio n S ociety to d e b a te th e q u e stio n : “ W as
C rom w ell G u iltless of H is C o u n try ’s B lo o d ? ” “ T he s p e a k e r s in fa v o u r
of C ro m w ell w e re 5 to 1,” b u t ev en in th a t h e y d a y of C a rly le an d
M a c a u la y , th e re w a s in D ap to one of th e h o n est p a r ty w ho w as n o t to
b e o v e ra w e d by th e w eig h t of n u m b e rs o r a u th o rity . “ T he c a u s e of
C h a rle s w a s w ell a d v o c a te d by M r. W illiam W ilso n” , a n d th e sile n t
m a jo rity of D ap to , its h e a rt in th e rig h t p la c e , re s o lv e d “ th a t C ro m w ell
w a s g u ilty of th e’Blood of C h a rle s th e I . ”
The F irst D apto Show. 1857 w a s m e m o ra b le in D a p to ’s h is to ry a s th e
y e a r of the D ap to A g ric u ltu ra l S o c ie ty ’s firs t show . T he fo rm a tio n of a
s e p a r a te so c ie ty c a u se d so m e h e a rtb u rn in g s in th e Illa w a rra A g ricu lt-
48
N in e te e n th -C e n tu r y D apto.
u ra l S o ciety , e sp e c ia lly w hen th e new body fix ed th e ir show d a te a h e a d
of W ollongong’s. “ It b e c a m e a q u e s tio n ” , s a id C. T. S m ith , th e
P re s id e n t of th e llla w a r r a S o ciety , “ w h e th e r a n a m a lg a m a tio n should
not b e so u g h t fo r .” “ M r. S m ith sa id , if th e in te r e s ts of th e
a g ric u ltu ris ts of th e d is tric t w ould b e p ro m o te d b y su ch a c o u rs e , he
w ould not s ta n d in th e w ay b u t w ould fo reg o h is fe e lin g s in th e m a tte r ;
fo r th e fo rm a tio n of th e D ap to S ociety d id a p p e a r to h im , a t th e firs t
b lu sh , in th e c h a r a c te r of an o p p o sitio n ; b u t h e w a s w illin g to b e lie v e
b e tte r m o tiv e s in flu en ced th e o rig in a to rs of it. T he g e n e ra l fee lin g of
th e g e n tle m e n p re s e n t w a s, th a t th e o b je c ts so u g h t by so c ie tie s of th is
n a tu r e w ould be b e st a tta in e d by h a v in g b u t one S o ciety fo r th e w hole
of th e d is tric t; b u t it w ould be a v e ry u n se e m ly p ro c e e d in g fo r th e
p re s e n t so cie ty of th e d is tric t, in th is th e th irte e n th y e a r of its
e x is te n c e , to g iv e w a y to one of so re c e n t fo r m a tio n .”
So th e u p s ta r t D ap to S ociety w e n t its s e p a r a te w a y a n d on 4th
F e b r u a r y 1857 p re s u m p tu o u s ly a n tic ip a te d th e llla w a r r a S o c ie ty ’s
show . T h e show “ took p la c e a t B ro w n ’s D a p to ” , w h e re “ M r. J . B row n
g a v e up a la r g e p o rtio n of h is m ill to th e ex h ib itio n a n d a lso , m o st
g a lla n tly , a ffo rd e d th e la d ie s a c o u p le of ro o m s to r e t ir e in ” .
A rra n g e m e n ts h a d b een so m e w h a t ru s h e d ,' “ th e so c ie ty h a v in g been
o rg a n ise d b u t a few w e e k s” , a n d th e ju d g e s w e re a p p o in te d only on th e
m o rn in g of th e show . “ T h e g r e a t q u a n tity of a rtic le s e x h ib ite d , a n d th e
la r g e body of p e rso n s w ho c a m e to look a t th e m , re n d e r e d th e s p a c e
d ev o te d to th e show of p o u ltry , g ra in , fr u it a n d flo w ers q u ite
in a d e q u a te ” ; w o rse still, th e c o m m itte e h a d n e g le c te d “ to sta tio n
p e rs o n s to p re v e n t th e fru it b ein g ta k e n a w a y ....In a s h o rt tim e a lm o st
all th e fr u it w a s e a te n u p ....H o w c a n a n y o n e ju d g e of th e p ro d u c tio n s of
th e d is tric t, w hen th e b e st a rtic le s h a v e b een c a r r ie d off o r e a te n ? ”
T he M e rc u ry re p o r te r sp o k e h ig h ly of th e e x h ib its of g ra in ( “ w h ea t,
m a ltin g b a rle y , o a ts a n d m a iz e ), a n d of “ h o rn e d c a tt le ” , w hich,
s tra n g e to s a y , in clu d ed “ horseS 4, c o lts 3, m a r e s 9, fillies 2”
(u n ic o rn s? ) a n d “ b o a rs 4, sow s 6 .” He w a s le ss e n th u s ia s tic a b o u t th e
b u tte r ( “ T he se a so n of th e y e a r is n o t w ell ch o sen fo r a good
d is p la y ....T h e re w e re e lev e n la r g e k e g s of s a lt, a n d a m u c h la r g e r
n u m b e r of d is h e s of fre sh b u tte r....th e b u tte r w ould look m o re
a ttr a c tiv e to th e e y e if it w e re m a d e u p in to p o u n d s fo r e x h ib itio n .”
F o r th e fr u it (e x c e p t fo r “ so m e a p p le s v e ry la r g e a n d good, b u t not
rip e , a n d fo u r o r fiv e p e a c h e s th e s ig h t of w h ich w ould h a v e m a d e an
a ld e r m a n ’s te e th w a te r ” ) a n d th e flo w ers h e h a d little good to sa y .
“ T h e show of v e g e ta b le s w a s n o t la r g e , b u t g o o d ” ; th is se c tio n in c lu d e d
h oney a n d c h e e s e - “ s h e ’s a ru m ’u n is N a tu r ” ' e s p e c ia lly a t D a p to in
1857. T h e m o re u n u su a l e x h ib its in c lu d e d “ a s m a ll b u n d le of S o rg h a u m
S a c c h a ra tu m o r C h in ese s u g a r p la n t” - e v id e n tly so m u c h o f a n o v elty
th a t th e r e p o r te r h a d to e x p la in its n a tu r e a t so m e le n g th - a n d tw o
b o ttle s , o ne c o n ta in in g a c o c h in e a l in s e c t a n d th e o th e r a s a m p le o f d y e
m a d e fro m th e in s e c ts. B oth th e s e n o v e ltie s w e re e x h ib ite d by a M r.
M albon, w ho h a d o b ta in e d h is so rg h u m se e d fro m th e G o v e rn o r, S ir
W illiam D eniso n .
“ One U n p re te n tio u s P u b ”
49
F iv e d a y s e a r lie r a plo u g h in g m a tc h , a lso o rg a n ise d by th e
A g ric u ltu ra l S ociety, h a d b een h eld in M r. A rm s tro n g ’s p a d d o c k a t
K e m b la G ra n g e . “ T h e re w e re no e n tr a n c e s fo r th e plo u g h in g w ith
h o rse te a m s , w hich m a y be a c c o u n te d fo r by th e fa c t th a t th a t m o d e of
ploughin g is b u t seldo m a d o p te d by o u r fa r m e rs . F o r th e p loughing
w ith b u llo ck s, h o w ev er, th e r e w e re five e n tr a n c e s , c o m p risin g all th o se
re p u te d a s th e b e st p lo u g h m e n in th e d is tr ic t.”
E a c h c o m p e tito r w a s re q u ire d to p lough “ 2 la n d s 12 fe e t w ide a n d 35
roods lo n g ; th e fu rro w s to be 5 in c h e s d e e p a n d 9 in w id th . T he
p lou g h in g c o m m e n c e d a t a b o u t 12 o ’clo ck , a n d continuecj till n e a r s ix .”
F ir s t p riz e ( £ 5 ) w en t to S te p h e n L y n ch , a n d se c o n d ( £ 3 ) to A d am
D e n n iss; w h e re u p o n “ m o s t of th e p a r tie s a s s e m b le d a d jo u rn e d to th e
Illa w a r r a H o te l,” w h e re G e o rg e B row n a n d E v a n E v a n s sh o t off a p ig eo n
m a tc h fo r £10 a sid e . B row n w on a n d a fte rw a rd s e n te r ta in e d
“ s e v e ra l g e n tle m e n p re s e n t....in su c h a m a n n e r a s only h e c a n do su ch
th in g s .”
M r. B row n w a s c a lle d on to e x e rc is e h is ta le n ts fo r e n te r ta in m e n t on
a g r a n d e r sc a le a t th e A g ric u ltu ra l S o c ie ty ’s d in n e r, w hen “ a b o u t fo rty
g e n tle m e n took th e ir s e a ts a t th e ta b le
T h e ro o m w a s v e ry a p p ro p ­
ria te ly a n d ta s te fu lly d e c o ra te d w ith festo o n s of flo w e rs a n d e v e r ­
g re e n s fix ed a g a in s t th e w alls. On th e ta b le , w e re m a n y b e a u tifu l
b o u q u e ts, s u rp a s s in g by f a r th o se e x h ib ite d a t th e sh o w ....E v e ry th in g
w as th e re th a t could b e o b ta in e d to te m p t a n d g ra tify th e p a la te , it w as
p re p a r e d a n d p u t on th e ta b le in th e m o st a p p ro v e d a n d fin ish ed
m a n n e r, a n d of all th e re w as a p ro fu sio n . U n d er th e d ire c tio n of th e
h o st, th e ta b le w a s a tte n d e d e x c e lle n tly ....E v e n a fte r th u s fully
d e p ic tin g th e m a te r ia ls of th e fe a s t a n d its c o n c o m ita n ts, n e e d w e sa y ,
th a t th o se in v ited to p a r ta k e of it d id so w ith in d e s c rib a b le v ig o u r,
d e te rm in a tio n a n d re lish . C o u rse a f te r c o u rs e w a s p la c e d upon th e
b o a rd , a tta c k e d , an d d e m o lish ed , w ith th e g r e a te s t p o ssib le c e le r ity .”
N o tw ith sta n d in g th a t c e le rity , th e p ro c e e d in g s la s te d fro m 6 p .m . till
the e a rly h o u rs of th e m o rn in g , p o ssib ly b e c a u se one of th e
c o n c o m ita n ts of th e fe a s t w a s a n o rg y of o ra to ry . S ix tee n to a s ts w e re
p ro p o se d , m o s t of th e m se c o n d e d , “ d ra n k (sic ) w ith all th e h o n o u rs ” (a
'b a n d p la y in g m o re o r le s s a p p ro p r ia te tu n e s ) a n d a ll re s p o n d e d to,
in so m e c a s e s m o re th a n o n ce. E v e n w hen “ T h e A rm y a n d N a v y ”
found no r e p r e s e n ta tiv e of e ith e r s e rv ic e p re s e n t to re sp o n d , the
P re s id e n t flu n g h im se lf in to th e b re a c h a n d re sp o n d e d , on th e s tre n g th
of h a v in g a b ro th e r in e a c h se rv ic e , a n d a g ra n d f a th e r w ho h a d been
one of th e c a s u a ltie s of th a t so m e w h a t le ss th a n g lo rio u s e x p ed itio n
(n o t so d e s c rib e d by M r. Irv in g ) to H o lland w h ich im m o rta lis e d “ T he
G ra n d Old D uke of Y o rk .”
M ore im p o rta n tly , M r. Irv in g a ttrib u te d th e fo rm a tio n of th e D ap to
S ociety to th e fa ilu re of th e Illa w a rra S ociety to h o n o u r a n u n d e rs ta n d ­
ing th a t its show sh o u ld b e h e ld a t d iffe re n t c e n tr e s in ro ta tio n ;
in s te a d , it h a d b een c o n sta n tly h eld in W ollongong “ to th e n e g le c t an d
d e tr im e n t of D ap to a n d K ia m a ....H o w e v e r, so p ro s p e ro u s h a d b een the
D ap to S o ciety , th a t sh o u ld a union b e tw ee n it a n d th e Illa w a rra S ociety
50
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
h e re a f te r be d e e m e d a d v is a b le , it w ould be in th e p o sse ssio n , not only
of b e a u ty a n d stre n g th , b u t a lso of a ric h d o w ry .”
(A c e n tu r y la te r , w hen th e a u th o r w a s fo r a tim e S e c re ta ry of th e
W ollongong Show S ociety, th e union w as still b ein g ta lk e d of, w as
g e n e ra lly d e e m e d a d v is a b le - a n d h a s still not e v e n tu a te d ).
M unicipality of Central lllaw arra. T h e s e a l w as s e t on D a p to ’s
e s ta b lis h m e n t a s a to w n sh ip w hen th e M u n ic ip a lity of C e n tra l
llla w a r r a w as in c o rp o ra te d - a c c o rd in g to Jo h n B row n, a g a in s t th e
w ish es of th e la r g e la n d o w n e rs, w ho “ a s
a
w hole, w e re a g a in s t
m u n ic ip a l g o v e rn m e n t, o b je c tin g to th e ta x e s .” In th e firs t e le c tio n , on
16th A ugu st 1859, Jo h n B row n, E v a n R o b e rt E v a n s a n d H en ry Hill
O sborne w e re e le c te d fo r W ard III - B row n s e rv in g a s an a ld e r m a n ,
e x c e p t for a b re a k of one y e a r, for o v e r h a lf a c e n tu ry . T he new
C ouncil e s ta b lis h e d its h e a d q u a rte rs a t D apto.
GEORGE LINDSAY (left)
and JOHN BROWN (right)
at the D apto Ju b ilee
Show, 1907
(City of W ollongong
P ublic L ibrary collection )
C H A P T E R F IV E
Cow:
The Change to Dairying
“ Sell y o u r ’o rs e s, sell y o u r 'a r r e r s , a n d ’ y o u r r e a p e r s , a n ’ y o u r p lough;
If you w a n t y o u r la n d to p ay you, sa c rific e y o u r life to C ow .”
C. J . D ennis,
“ C ow ” .
T he E n d of W heat G ro w in g in D apto.
E v e n b e fo re
th e D apto
A g ric u ltu ra l S ociety h eld its p lo u g h in g -m atc h th e w ritin g w as on th e
w all fo r D ap to a s a w h eat-g ro w in g a r e a . In D e c e m b e r 1856 th e
M e rcu ry h a d re p o rte d not only th a t “ a c o n sid e ra b le q u a n tity of
fo rw a rd w h e a t in th e v ic in ity of M a rsh a ll M ount an d T e r r y ’s
M ead o w s” h a d been d e stro y e d by a h a ils to rm , b u t, m o re o m in o u sly ,
“ ru s t h a s d e stro y e d a c o n sid e ra b le q u a n tity in so m e lo c a litie s .”
By 1865 it w a s b ein g re p o r te d th a t “ o rd in a ry w h e a t” a t M a rsh a ll
M ount w a s “ so in fe c te d a s to b e n o t w o rth r e a p in g ” , a lth o u g h a n a c re
of “ g ia n t w h e a t” g ro w n b y M r. J a m e s P e a rs o n w a s fre e fro m r u s t. B u t
so m e th in g m u s t h a v e g one w ro n g w ith th e g ia n t w h e a t too; in th e n ex t
few y e a rs one fa r m e r a fte r a n o th e r w ent o v e r to d a iry in g , an d
w h eatg ro w in g in D apto w as fin ish ed .
A dam D en n iss, “ re p u te d a s one of th e b e st p lo u g h m en in the
d is tr ic t” , w a s one of th e la s t to s u r re n d e r. F in a lly , a f te r c ro p a fte r
c ro p h ad been ru in e d by r u s t, one of h is d a u g h te rs , w hile on a c tiv e
s e rv ic e in th e field, th re w dow n h e r reap in g -h o o k a n d d e c la re d “ I ’ll
re a p no m o r e ! ” - irre s is tib ly re c a llin g th e T o m m y w ho, w hen o rd e re d
to fall in, th re w dow n his m u s k e t a n d s a id , “ I ’ll so ld ie r no m o re , you
m a y do w h a t you p le a s e ! ” All he a c h ie v e d w a s im m o rta lity in th e
M an u al of M ilita ry L aw ( “ S p ecim en C h a rg e s: D iso b ey in g , in su ch a
m a n n e r a s to show a w ilful d e fia n c e of a u th o rity , a law fu l c o m m a n d
g iv en p e rs o n a lly by h is s u p e rio r o ffic e r in th e e x ec u tio n of h is o ffic e ” );
but M iss D en n iss a p p a re n tly c o n v in ce d th e old m a n th a t M a rsh a ll M ount
w a s fin ish e d a s w h e a t c o u n try . L ik e th e r e s t, th e y w en t o v e r to d a iry in g ;
b u t th e y co n tin u e d to g ro w fru it, p e a s a n d p u m p k in s a s a sid e lin e .
W ith the g e n e ra l c h a n g e to d a iry in g , th e flo u r-m ill fell on evil d ay s.
Jo h n B ro w n ’s letter-b o o k for 1873 show s th e m ill still o p e ra tin g
in te rm itte n tly , a p p a re n tly m a in ly g rin d in g m a iz e ; b u t it c o n ta in s also
a le tte r to T. H. M ort o ffe rin g th e m ill fo r e x p e rim e n ts in re f rig e r a tin g
m ilk , a n o th e r to one J . L. M elly, o ffe rin g to let it for so a p b oiling, a n d
52
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
su n d ry o th e rs re v e a lin g B ro w n ’s a n x ie ty to g e t th e w h ite e le p h a n t off
his h a n d s.
B ro w n ’s M ill a s a C h eese F a c to r y . A few y e a r s la te r th e m ill g o t a f r e s h _ _ _
s t a r t a s a c h e e se fa c to ry . A cco rd in g to G e o rg e L in d sa y , “ in 1878 *
m y u n c le J a m e s W ilson a n d his b ro th e r c a m e o v e r fro m V ic to ria a n d
o p en ed a c h e e se fa c to ry a t B ro w n sv ille . T h e m ilk su p p ly fro m K e m b la
P a r k ( h is f a t h e r ’s p ro p e rty ) w a s ta k e n th e r e fo r c h e e se m a k in g a t firs t
by b u llo ck s a n d d ra y a fte rw a rd s b y lo rry a n d tw o h o rs e s ....B u tte r a t th a t
tim e w a s only 6d. lb . a n d th e y b o u g h t m ilk a t 3V2d. p e r g allo n . F o r so m e
tim e a fte rw a rd s b u tte r ro s e in p ric e to o n e sh illin g p e r p o u n d . T he
f a r m e r s fa ile d to su p p ly m ilk w hen b u tte r a d v a n c e d a n d th e fa c to ry w as
clo sed . M y u n c le a n d h is b ro th e r th e n r e tu r n e d to V ic to ria . T he w rite r
took c h a rg e of th e C h eese u n til th e y w e re all so ld ....
“ M y f a th e r p u rc h a s e d th e c h e e se p la n t a t B ro w n sv ille a n d w e b ro u g h t it
to H o rsley a n d s ta r te d m a k in g c h e e se a n d b u tte r a lte rn a tiv e ly w ith
su c c e s s, o b ta in in g p riz e s fo r b o th a t lo ca l sh o w s a n d a firs t p riz e for
c h e e se a t th e R o y al Show in S y d n e y .”
D a iry in g in th e S ev en tie s. J u d g e M c F a rla n d , in h is “ llla w a r r a a n d
M a n a ro ” g a v e a sp irite d d e sc rip tio n of d a iry fa rm in g a s p ra c tis e d in
th e se v e n tie s. A fter se v e re ly c ritisin g th e slo v en ly a n d w a stefu l
s ta n d a rd s of fa rm in g in llla w a r r a g e n e ra lly h e sa id , “ T h e n e a tn e s s of
R u sse ll V ale a n d th e tr u e fa rm in g of K e m b la G ra n g e a r e e x a m p le s
th a t h a v e no l been g e n e ra lly follow ed. A bout D ap to a n d A vo n d ale...
th e re p re v a ils a b e tte r s ta te of th in g s; su c h of th e la n d a s h a s been
c u ltiv a te d a p p e a rs to h a v e b een p ro p e rly c a r e d fo r a n d m a n a g e d ; th e
fen ces a r e good,, th e p a s tu ra g e is e x c e lle n t a n d th e h o m e s te a d s trim
a n d o rd e rly . B u t th e re , a s e ls e w h e re th ro u g h o u t th e e n tire d is tric t, th e
c u ltiv a te d la n d b e a r s a v e ry sm a ll p ro p o rtio n to th e p a s to ra l. H e a v e n h a s
g iv en th e g r a s s a n d th e r e is little o cc a sio n fo r m a n ’s la b o u r - B u tte r,
B u tte r! is th e one th in g n e e d fu l. A t h a lf a cro w n o r tw o sh illin g s a
pound it w a s v e ry re m u n e ra tiv e , a n d it m u s t still su ffic e fo r I l la w a r r a ’s
w a n ts w hen th e p ric e is 6d. o r 3d., e sp e c ia lly a s th e w o m en a n d c h ild re n
c a n m a k e it a n d th e f a r m e r is only e x p e c te d to d riv e in th e co w s m o rn in g
a n d e v e n in g ; jo g to th e se a p o r t on th e old m a r e , 6 n c e a w eek o r fo rtn ig h t,
a n d d riv e b e fo re h im a p a c k -h o rse la d e n w ith a k eg o r tw o of th e p re c io u s
m a te r ia l. In fa c t, a s th e pig is to th e Iris h m a n , so is b u tte r to th e
llla w a r r a m e n , a n d th e long frieze-lo o k in g c o a ts th a t so m e of th e m w e a r
a r e th e co n n e c tin g lin k .
“ T h ese a r e th e g e n e ra l c la s s of d a iry f a r m e r s ; a n d th e fa r m s of
m a n y of th em a r e k e p t a s slo v en ly a n d u n p ro d u c tiv e a s w ell c a n be w ile so m e of th e ir d a irie s a r e f a r fro m c le a n ly . B ut th e re a r e o th e rs of
a d iffe re n t c la s s , m en w ho w ork e a rly an d la te , if not w ith th e ir h a n d s
a t le a s t w ith th e ir h e a d s, an d h a v e tru e -h e a rte d a s s is ta n c e fro m th e ir
w iv es a n d c h ild re n - m a n y in te n t upon im p ro v in g th e q u a lity of th e
g r a s s a n d th e b re e d of th e c a ttle , k eep in g a ll th in g s n e a t a n d o rd e rly ,
ra is in g b u tte r in la r g e q u a n titie s , se n d in g it to th e w h a rf in d ra y lo ad s,
Cow: The C h a n g e to D a iry in g
53
a n d ex p o rtin g it to M elb o u rn e a n d E n g la n d o cc a sio n a lly a s w ell a s
Sydney - though t . e v e n tu re s to th e m o th e r c o u n try h a v e not been
re n u m e ra tiv e h e re to fo re , ow ing to th e c a re le s s n e s s of sh ip p in g a g e n ts
an d th e d ish o n esty of th e k n a v ish tr a d e r s , w ho h a v e fo rw a rd e d to
London w o rth le ss co m p o u n d s a s A u stra lia n b u tte r a n d th u s d a m a g e d
th e sa le of the g en u in e a rtic le . T h e n u m b e r of cow s m ilk e d by th e d a iry
fa r m e rs v a rie s of c o u rse a c c o rd in g to th e size of th e fa r m s a n d th e
se a so n of th e y e a r, s a y fro m 5 a n d 6 u p to 70 o r 80; g e n e ra lly th e cow s
a r e m ilk ed e v e ry m o rn in g a n d e v en in g b u t so m e d a iry m e n , lazy ones
u su a lly , only m ilk in th e m o rn in g . M ilking w ith its a c c o m p a n y in g
la b o u rs b eg in s or o u g h t to b egin w ith d a y lig h t a n d a t fo u r o r five
o ’clock in the a ftern o o n a n d w hen th e e s ta b lis h m e n t is on a la r g e sc a le
m a y la s t fo r th re e o r fo u r h o u rs. T h e d riv in g of th e cow s fro m th e
p ad d o ck s into th e y a rd s , th e b a ilin g , th e m ilk in g , a n d th e tu rn in g of
th em loose a g a in , th e c a rr y in g of th e p a ils to th e d a iry a n d th e
co llectin g of th e ir c o n te n ts into b u tts th a t a r e b o rn e to it on a tr a m - all
th is o ccu p ie s tim e a n d is a so u rc e of so m e in te re s t. N or a r e th e cow s
u n p ro te c te d ; th e old bull a tte n d in g in so lem n p rid e to w a tch o v e r th e
sa fe ty of h is h e rd ; a n d th e c a lv e s c lu s te rin g in th e ad jo in in g y a rd ;
w hile th e pig s a r e g a th e rin g a b o u t to a w a it w h a t th e d a iry m a y p ro v id e
for th e m . M en, w om en a n d c h ild re n a r e e m p lo y e d in m ilk in g a n d an
e x p e rt h a n d w ill m ilk n in e cow s in an h o u r. A d a iry w ith u p w a rd s
p e rh a p s of 120 or 130 p a n s of m ilk ra n g e d in o rd e r a n d ra is e d tie r upon
tie r is a sig h t w o rth se e in g a n d n o t by a n y m e a n s u n u su a l in Illa w a rra .
“ On th e s m a lle r fa r m s c h u rn in g is done by m a n u a l la b o u r,
so m e tim e s in a long ro u n d o ld -fash io n ed c h u rn b u t m o re fre q u e n tly in
a box c h u rn , a n d in th e la r g e r e s ta b lis h m e n ts h o rse p o w er is u s e d .”
T his w a s d one by p u ttin g a h o rse in a tr e a d m ill, a c c o rd in g to C ousins,
w ho a d d e d som e, f u r th e r d e ta ils : “ T hough th e d a irie s w e re g e n e ra lly
w ell k e p t th e m ilk in g y a rd s le ft m u c h to be d e sire d . T h e m ilk sh e d s w e re
g e n e ra lly b a d ly p a v e d , e ith e r w ith sp lit sla b s o r la r g e fla t sto n e s a n d su ch
a th in g a s lim e w a sh w a s g e n e ra lly u n k n o w n , w h ile th e y a rd s th e m se lv e s
w e re d eep q u a g m ire s in w et w e a th e r a n d fo r so m e tim e a f te r . E v e ry
fa r m e r k e p t p ig s a n d th e p ig s tie s too w e re b a d ly p a v e d e ith e r w ith sla b s
o r w ith, c o b b le sto n e s. T h e re w a s no h e a lth c o n tro l o v e r d a iry in g ,
e v e ry o n e b e in g a law to h im se lf .
T he b u tte r w as s e n t to S ydney in k eg s, w hich h eld fro m a b o u t 50 to
ab o u t 90 lb, a n d w e re m a d e lo cally by c o o p ers in e v e ry sm a ll d a iry in g
c e n tre . T he k eg s w e re u se d a g a in a n d a g a in until th e y fell to b its. The
re tu rn e d e m p tie s w e re c o lle c te d by th e o w n ers a t th e w h a rv e s, e a c h
id en tify in g h is own k eg s by th e b ra n d on th e m . T he fa r m e r s fro m
D apto, A vondale a n d M a rsh a ll M ount a n d th e v ic in ity se n t to
W ollongong, w hich h a d a s te a m s e rv ic e tw ice o r th r e e tim e s a w eek
fro m th e e a rly fo rtie s ;
b u t th e s e rv ic e d e p e n d e d upon th e w e a th e r,
a n d th e fa r m e r s so m e tim e s h a d to w ait a fo rtn ig h t to g e t th e ir b u tte r,
c a lv e s, pig s a n d p o u ltry a w a y . Up to th e e ig h tie s no s te a m e r tra d in g to
Illa w a rra h a d m o re th a n one d e c k a p a r t fro m th e hold. So a good d e a l
of th e b u tte r w as sto w ed on th e d eck a m id sh ip s, w ith p ig s a n d c a lv e s in
p en s fo rw a rd a n d p a s s e n g e rs a m id sh ip s a n d aft.
54
N in e te e n th -C e n tu r y D apto.
T ho se f a r m e r s w ho could a ffo rd th e m h a d c a r ts in w hich th e y took to
tow n not only b u tte r b u t a lso p ig s, c a lv e s a n d m e m b e rs of th e fam ily
going in fo r th e w eek ly sh o p p in g . S om e u se d p a c k -h o rse s, b a la n c in g
th e ir k eg of b u tte r by p u ttin g a b a g of e a rth o r sto n e s on th e o th e r side
of th e p a c k s a d d le (o r, it is sa id , so m e tim e s a k e g of m o o n sh in e ).
Som e u sed bullock d ra y s . In th e e a rly d a y s so m e d a iry m e n c a r r ie d th e
b u tte r on th e ir b a c k s fro m fa rm to w h a rf.
T he p o rts “ w e re cro w d e d on m a r k e t d a y s w ith a h e te ro g e n e o u s
th ro n g of v e h ic le s h o rse s a n d p a c k h o rs e s ra c in g to th e w h a rf to d eliv e r
th e ir goods a n d c o lle c t th e ir e m p tie s ” . At W ollongong a n d K ia m a “ on
su ch d a y s th e r e w ould be a n influx of 500 o r m o re c o u n try fo lk ” .
Im p ro v e m e n t of B re e d in g of D a iry C attle . W ith th e g e n e ra l sw itch to
d a iry in g w en t th e im p ro v e m e n t of d a iry c a ttle , a n d in p a r tic u la r th e
d e v e lo p m e n t of th e A u stra lia n llla w a r r a S h o rth o rn b re e d . T his
so m e w h a t c o n tro v e rsia l su b je c t, on w hich th e a u th o r is to ta lly
u n q u a lifie d to e n te r, is d is c u sse d a t le n g th in M c C a ffre y ’s “ H isto ry of
ll la w a r r a ” a n d C o u sin s’ “ T he G a rd e n of N ew South W a le s” . A m ong
th o se w ho c o n trib u te d m u c h to th is im p ro v e m e n t w e re th e E v a n s e s of
“ P e n r o s e ” , w ho b re d “ R obin H ood” , a n o ta b le s ir e ....a n d a c o n sta n t
w in n e r a t th e K ia m a Show a n d a lso th e S y d n ey S h o w ” , a n d th e le g e n d a ry
bull “ M a jo r” - th e only o ffic e r fo r w h o m M c C a ffre y e v e r h a d a good
w o rd ; th e B ro w n s, w ho n e a r th e e n d of o u r p e rio d (1902) e s ta b lis h e d a t
“ W o llin g u rry ” a n o te d J e r s e y s tu d ; a n d th e L in d sa y s a t “ H o rs e ly ” . In
1878 J o h n L in d sa y b o u g h t for £.100 (w h ich “ m a n y llla w a r r a fa r m e r s
c o n sid e re d a s foolish e x tr a v a g a n c e ” ) a n d b ro u g h t fro m V ic to ria “ a fine
A y rsh ire b u ll, ‘T h e E a r l of B e a c o n sfie ld ’ ” - n a m e d a f te r th e B ritish
P r im e M in iste r of th e D ay , b e tte r know n a s B e n ja m in D isra e li .-(If an y
in n u en d o w a s in te n d e d , D izzy w ould p ro b a b ly n o t h a v e re s e n te d it - he
took h im se lf le s s se rio u sly th a n m o s t V ic to ria n p u b lic m e n ) . O ne of th e
E a r l ’s d a u g h te r s w a s “ H o n ey co m b , a g r e a t show c o w ....(a n d ) a su p e r
cow in p ro d u c tio n ” , of w hom G eo rg e G re y of G re y le ig h s a id , “ It w as
H o n e y c o m b ’s p e rf o rm a n c e th a t b e c a m e fix e d in th e m in d s of d a iry m e n
a s th e ty p e of cow to a im a t b re e d in g fo r th e ir h e r d s .” F ro m su ch
a r is to c r a ts th e im p ro v e d q u a litie s w o rk ed dow n th ro u g h th e d is tric t
h e rd s , on th e s m a lle r fa r m s a s w ell a s th e la r g e r,
a s w ell a s th e la r g e r.
In 1887, th e y e a r th e ra ilw a y o p en ed , a b u tte r fa c to ry w a s e sta b lish e d
- B ro w n ’s old m ill tr a n s fo r m e d y e t a g a in - a n d th e C o u n try M ilk
C o m p an y s e n t dow n tw o s e p a r a to r s - m a s s iv e c o n tra p tio n s w o rk ed by
h o rse p o w e r, too m a s s iv e fo r a n y w h e re b u t fa c to rie s a n d th e v e ry
la r g e s t p ro p e rtie s . T h re e y e a rs la te r th e lo cal f a r m e r s g a th e r e d a t
R eid s H otel to h e a r r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s of th e F re s h F o o d a n d Ice
C o m p an y ex p o u n d p la n s fo r a d iffe re n t sy s te m a m ilk d ep o t
ad jo in in g D ap to sta tio n w h e re th e c re a m w ould be s e p a r a te d a n d se n t
to be m a d e into b u tte r in S ydney. If th e f a r m e r s stu c k h a r d a n d fa s t to
th e c o m p a n y , sa id its sp o k e s m a n , it w ould p ro m is e n o t to re d u c e th e
p ric e of m ilk below fiv e p e n c e a g a llo n (C h e e rs ).
Cow:
The C h a n g e to D a iry in g
55
B y O cto b er n e x t y e a r th e M e rc u ry re p o r te d th a t “ th e ra p id ly
in c re a s in g q u a n tity of m ilk re c e iv e d d aily (a t th e d e p o t) h a s re n d e re d
n e c e s s a ry th e fixing up of a d d itio n a l m a c h in e ry . T he c re a m is se n t to
S ydney d a ily ” .
B y th e b e g in n in g of 1892 th e r e w e re tw o up m ilk tr a in s d aily , bu t
th e ir ru n n in g w a s f a r fro m sa tisfy in g th e e m b a ttle d f a r m e r s w ho m e t
a t R e id ’s H otel to c o m p la in a b o u t th e ra ilw a y s ’ u n p u n c tu a lity th ro u g h ­
out th e s u m m e r m o n th s, a n d p a rtic u la rly o v e r th e h o lid ay s. On
C h ris tm a s D ay n e a rly 3000 g allo n s of m ilk h a d gone so u r th ro u g h
d e la y s alo n g th e line. It w a s b a d en o u g h th a t th e ra ilw a y a u th o ritie s
“ c o n sid e re d th e p le a s u re of a few p a s s e n g e rs in p re fe re n c e to th e m ilk
t r a i n s ” - th e ir a te s p e a k e r s w ould h a v e jo in e d R a c h e l H enning in
d e p lo rin g th e r a ilw a y ’s b rin g in g dow n “ on h o lid a y s a n d so fo rth , all th e
r a g - ta g a n d b o b ta il of S y d n ey to in v a d e o u r b e a u tifu l h ills a n d v a lle y s ” .
It w a s w o rse w hen m ilk tr a in s w e re h e ld u p for b a lla s t tr a in s . B ut,
w o rst of a ll, a M ilk C o m p an y re p r e s e n ta tiv e s a id th a t h is c o m p a n y
“ re c e iv e d th e ir m ilk fro m th e s o u th e rn lin e fa irly r e g u l a r ” . We w e re
a lw a y s “ th e C in d e re lla lin e of th e S ta te ” .
B re a k in g -u p of L a rg e E s ta te s . L a n d lo rd ism in th e D ap to d is tric t h a d
n e v e r b een a s o v e rp o w e rin g a s in th e v a s t B e rry do m in io n f u r th e r
s o u th :
“ I w e n t to I lla w a r r a , w h e re m y b r o th e r ’s g o t a fa r m ;
H e h a s to a s k h is la n d lo rd ’s le a v e b e fo re h e lifts his a r m ;
T h e la n d lo rd ow ns th e c o u n try sid e - m a n , w o m a n , dog a n d c a t;
T hey h a v e n ’t th e ch e e k to d a r e to sp e a k w ith o u t th e y tou ch th e ir h a t ” .
B ut su ch a s it w as, it w a s on th e w ay out. In J u n e 1890 H am ilto n
O sb o rn e sold off the re m a in in g 3300 a c r e s of “ M a rsh a ll M o u n t” , in
tw enty-tw o lo ts of fro m 86 to 290 a c re s , a t p ric e s v a ry in g fro m £ 4 15s Od to
£20 10s Od p e r a c re . A m ong th e p u rc h a s e rs w e re W illiam P e a rs o n , Jo h n
P e a rs o n , H e n ry T im b s, G. T im b s, a n d J a m e s D aw es. W hile, a c c o rd in g to
a lo cal jo u rn a lis t, “ it m ig h t h a v e c a u s e d a p a n g of r e g r e t to so m e a t
seein g one of th e e a r lie s t h o m e s te a d s in th e I lla w a r r a d is tric t b ro k e n up
an d p a rc e lle d out to a sc o re of p u rc h a s e rs , th e d e c im a tio n of th e te n u re
c a n n o t b e a r o th e r th a n h ig h ly b e n e fic ia l r e s u lts to th e d is tric t a t la r g e ” .
(A ctu ally w h a t w a s b ein g b ro k e n u p a n d p a rc e lle d ou t w a s th e m e re
ru m p of w h a t M a rs h a ll M ou n t h a d b e e n in its g r e a t d a y s).
T he s t a r s in th e ir c o u rs e s fo u g h t a g a in s t H en ry Hill O sb o rn e ’s
e x e c u to rs w hen th e y p u t up th e “ A v o n d a le ” fa r m s for s a le in th e
d e p re s sio n y e a r of 1893. T h e su sp en sio n of p a y m e n ts by th e E . S. & A.
C h a rte r e d B an k , an n o u n c e d th e p re v io u s d a y , “ a ffe c te d th e s a le a lm o st
a s a v e ry s e v e r e e a r th q u a k e w ould a ffe c t a c ity on th e s u r fa c e a b o u t
th e d is tu rb a n c e ....M o s t of th e p eo p le in th e A lbion P a r k a n d C apto (sic)
d is tr ic ts ....d e a lt w ith th e b a n k , a n d , lik e th e b a n k , w e re te m p o ra rily
su s p e n d e d a n d p la c e d in a p o sitio n of su ch u n c e rta in ty th a t all w e re
56
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
p ra c tic a lly p a r a ly s e d .” A th u n d e rs to rm a n d a d o w n p o u r w hose
d ru m m in g on th e iro n ro o f of th e h all fre q u e n tly d ro w n e d th e voice of
th e a u c tio n e e r w e re th e la s t s tra w s .
S e v e ra l lots w e re p a s s e d in ;
a n d th o u g h m o st w e re sold a t an
a v e r a g e p ric e of £14 p e r a c r e , th is w a s only d o n e by allo w in g e x te n d e d
te r m s a n d a c c e p tin g E . S. & A. c h e q u e s fo r th e d e p o sits - th e c o n tr a c ts
to b e c a n c e lle d if th e c h e q u e s w e re not m e t b y th e follow ing Ju ly .
P u r c h a s e r s in c lu d e d T h o m a s A rm s tro n g , C. H e in in g e r, G eo rg e
T h o m a s, J a m e s D aw es a n d E . R. E v a n s . F e e lin g s ra n h ig h ; s e v e ra l of
th e p u rc h a s e rs w e re loudly c h e e re d , p a ric u la r ly w hen a te n a n t b ought
h is h o ld in g ; a n d w hen a te n a n t w a s o u tb id , ‘‘m a n y boohooed a t th e fall
of th e h a m m e r ” . T h e h a ra s s e d a u c tio n e e r w a s re p o r te d a s sa y in g th a t
“ th e r e n e v e r w a s a s a le p u t th ro u g h in th e d is tric t u n d e r m o re a d v e rs e
c ir c u m s ta n c e s ...th o s e w ho h a d p u rc h a s e d knew th e y h a d b o u g h t th e ir
p ro p e rtie s d a sh e d c h e a p ” (p ro b a b ly a c e n so re d v e rsio n of his a c tu a l
re m a r k s ) .
“ L a k e la n d s ” a n d D aisy B a n k ” a s w ill a p p e a r la te r , m e t a d iffe re n t
fa te , b u t th e y too w e re fin ish e d a s la r g e e s ta te s . T he o rig in a l
M a c q u a rie G ift g r a n t, a t th is tim e ow ned by th e W eston fa m ily , w as
not sold off till a b o u t 1920, b u t it w a s a n e x c e p tio n . By th e en d of th e
c e n tu ry o w n er-o c c u p a tio n w a s th e ru le in th e d is tric t.
T he cow -co ck ies w e re not e x a c tly th e a ris to c r a c y of r u r a l A u stra lia .
In B an jo P a te r s o n ’s s to ry “ W h ite-w h en -h e’s-w a n te d ” th e old S cots
s ta tio n -m a n a g e r c o u ld th in k of no m o re a n n ih ila tin g r e to r t to th e fla sh
b o u n d a ry -rid e r th a n , “ Y e ’r e a c a ttle m a n - so y e s a y - d o m m e d if ah
b e lie v e it. Ah b e lie v e y e -re a d a ir r r y - f a r r r m i n ’ body f r a e llla w a r r a . Ye
ken n e ith e r h o r r r s e n o r c a tt le ” .
It w a s in so m e w ay s a h a rd life, b u t p ro b a b ly no h a r d e r , a n d le ss
p re c a rio u s , th a n m o st f a r m e r s ’ liv es th e n . T he w o rst th in g a b o u t it w as
m o n o to n y . Q uite a n u m b e r did m o d e ra te ly w ell, a n d could b o a st w ith
C .J. D e n n is’s co ck y :
“ C o w ,c o w I ’m a c a p ita lis t now ,
T hough I on ce w as poor a n ’ lonely a n ’ a w a s te r, I ’ll allo w ;
Now I ’v e ’a n d s th a t I c a n ’e c to r
I ’m a n U p p er ’O use e le c to r
A n’ th e s a n ita r y in sp e c to r is a n in te r f e r in ’ c o w !”
(T ho ugh th e in te rfe rin g s a n ita r y in s p e c to r w a s a re la tiv e ly la te a r r iv a l
on th e sc e n e ).
T he h a n d s of th e co c k y h e c to re d h a d a h a r d e r life still. M r. D av id
D en n iss p re s e rv e d in h is co llectio n a n e w sp a p e r c u ttin g (u n fo rtu n a te ly
u n d a te d ) w hich p u rp o rte d to se t o u t w h a t an llla w a r r a fa rm h a n d u sed
to do fo r six bob a w eek a n d k eep . (B u t th e e d ito r sa id th e w rite r
“ su re ly e x a g g e ra te s so m e w h a t” , a n d no d o u b t it sh ou ld b e ta k e n w ith
a fa ir-sized p in ch of s a l t ) :
“ H e ’tu r n s o u t’ a t 5 a .m ., m a k e s fire , g ro p e s a ro u n d gu llies a fte r
Cow: T he C h a n g e to D a iry in g
57
cow s, w hich a r e y a rd e d a t six. T h en m ilk s for tw o h o u rs , a n d h a s
h a rd ly s a t dow n to b r e a k f a s t b efo re h e is h u rr ie d a w a y to s e p a r a te th e
m ilk , S e p a ra te s , feed s p ig s a n d p o d d ies, c a tc h e s a n d h a rn e s s e s m o k e,
an d aw a y w ith m ilk to c a tc h tr a in . B ack w ith ‘e m p tie s ’ a t 11, w a sh e s
c a n s, a n d off to dig sp u d s, a fte r w hich yo k es up b u llo ck s, an d fe tc h e s
lo ad o r tw o of w ood fro m ra n g e s . A fte r d in n e r, c u ts c o u p le of w ag g o n
lo ad s of g re e n s tu ff, a n d d is trib u te s it a b o u t p a d d o c k s for co w s: plo u g h s
a b it, a n d rid e s tw o m ile s to P . O. T h en a g a in a fte r cow s, w hich a r e ‘in ’
a t five. S w eeps m ilk in g -sh e d , m ilk s till 7, a n d s e p a r a te s till 8. T hen
c le a n s s e p a r a to r - an h o u r’s g r a f t; a n d fe e d s p o d d ies a n d p ig s once
m o re . T hen su p p e r a n d a fte r h elp s m a k e tallo w -c an d le s un til 10.30 an d
a tte n d s ‘fa m ily p r a y e r s ’ till 11. T h en to b u n k , fro m w hich h e is c a lled
in his s h irt, on a n a v e ra g e th r e e tim e s n ig h tly to ‘so o l’ dog on bull in
so rg h u m -c ro p , o r c h a s e n a tiv e -c a ts fro m h en -ro o st. ‘B etw een tim e s ’ he
is e x p e c te d to ‘s e t ’ h e n s, a n d ru n dow n b a n d ic o o ts a n d h a re s for d o g s’
feed. W hat s o rt of boss sh o u ld h e m a k e ? ”
S om e of th e f a r m e r s e x p lo ite d th e ir own c h ild re n p re tty ru th le s s ly “ P u t y e r w ife a n ’ f a m ’ly in it
W ork ’em e v e ry w a k in ’ m in u te .”
Old tim e te a c h e rs often u se d to tell of c h ild re n fallin g a sle e p in c la s s
b e c a u se th ey h a d done a d a y ’s w o rk b efo re co m in g to school. T he size
of c o w -co ck ies’ fa m ilie s b e fo re th e in v en tio n of m ilk in g m a c h in e s w as
p ro v e rb ia l. A f a r m e r w ho h a d fa ile d to p ro v id e a su ffic ien t la b o u r fo rce
by h is own e x e rtio n s m ig h t o b ta in it by ta k in g “ S ta te B o y s” , fro m th e
Child W elfare a u th o ritie s , a n d so m e tim e s m ig h t tr e a t th e m p re tty
b a d ly - so m e th in g so n o to rio u s th a t ev en a new c h u m lik e M artin
S m ith , th e p e ra m b u la tin g P o m m ie w ho re c o rd e d in h is d ia ry his
im p re ss io n s of Illa w a rra o v e r th e N ew Y e a r h o lid a y of 1893, h a d h e a rd
of it. S p eak in g of A lbion P a r k a t a slig h tly la te r p e rio d , M r. W eston
sa id “ P o ssib ly a s th e sole o p p o rtu n ity of b re a k in g a w a y fro m an
u n in v itin g fu tu re , it is s ig n ific a n t th a t m o re S ta te B oys th a n f a r m e r ’s
so n s e n liste d fro m th e d is tric t in W orld W ar I ” .
A fter a few y e a rs in a n Illa w a rra
c o w y a rd , th e m u d of
P a s s c h e n d a e le h eld no te r ro rs .
Still, it w ould be a m is ta k e to p a in t too g lo o m y a p ic tu re . As M r .i
W esto n ’s re m in is c e n c e s of A lbion P a r k -I- d e m o n s tra te , co w -co ck ies, a n d I
cow -cocky c o m m u n itie s , m a n a g e d to g e t a fa ir a m o u n t of e n jo y m e n t out
of life. If th e ir p le a s u re s w e re u n s o p h istic a te d , th e y co uld no t h a v e c a re d
less. A nd, of c o u rs e , th e a c tiv itie s a n d o rg a n is a tio n s in th e to w n sh ip
d e p e n d e d on th e f a r m e r s a n d th e ir fa m ilie s a s m u ch a s , o r m o re th a n , on
th e to w n sp eo p le.
✓
BR O W N SV IL L E H OUSE
H om e of Jo h n B row n, South C o ast R o a d (now P rin c e E d w a rd D riv e ),
B ro w n sv ille. D em o lish ed e 196:1
( C ity of W ollongong P u b lic L ib ra ry c o lle c tio n )
ST. L U K E ’S (O SB O R N E M E M O R IA L ) C H U R CH , B RO W N SV ILLE
T he firs t c h u rc h b u ild in g ( 1S45) is on th e left. T he w all a n d ly c h -g a te
a r e a m e m o ria l to G e o rg e B row n (G e o rg e I)
(City of W ollongong Public Library collection )
CHAPTER SIX.
“ The M ost Straggling V illa g e in Illaw a rra ":
The Tow nship from 1860 to 1887
T h ro u g h o u t th is p erio d D ap to re m a in e d by la te r , if no t by c o n te m p ­
o ra r y , s ta n d a rd s iso la te d fro m th e o u tsid e w o rld ; Jo h n B row n in 1873
a d v is e d a v is ito r: “ I th in k y o u r b e s t p la n w o u ld b e to c o m e o v e r la n d you w ould ta k e th e tr a in to C am p b ellto w n on a n y d a y e x c e p t S u n d ay ,
th e n c e im m e d ia te ly by th e m a il co a c h to W ollongong, th e n c e to
B ro w n ’s a rr iv in g a t th e Illa w a rra H o te l....a b o u t h a lf p a s t 4 o ’clo ck in
th e m o r n in g .” T he a lte rn a tiv e w as th e tw ice-w eek ly s te a m e r to
W ollongong.
T he to w n sh ip w a s still s c a tte r e d alo n g th e h ig h w a y for a co u p le of
m ile s. A “ Tow n a n d C o u n try J o u r n a l” c o rre s p o n d e n t’s d e sc rip tio n in
1879 h a s often been q u o te d : “ D ap to is th e m o st s tra g g lin g v illa g e in
I lla w a rra . T he tr a v e lle r s c a rc e ly know s w hen h e e n te rs it; h e is n e v e r
s u r e w hen he is in it, a n d he is e q u a lly u n c e rta in w hen h e le a v e s it. T he
few in h a b ita n ts m u s t h a v e h a d a stro n g p ro p e n s ity fo r d isp e rsio n an d
e a c h one h a s su c c e e d e d in g e ttin g to a re s p e c ta b le d is ta n c e fro m his
n e ig h b o u r.”
Jo h n B row n - not, of c o u rs e , a c o m p le te ly u n b ia s e d w itn e ss - h ad
w ritte n in 1873: “ B ro w n ’s is s itu a te d a b o u t tw o m ile s n e a r e r
W ollongong th a n th e D ap to P o st O ffice, it is all c a lle d D a p to ; in fa c t
B ro w n ’s is th e v illa g e of D a p to , th e r e is no to w n sh ip ,” b u t a c c o rd in g to
th e T .C .J. c o rre sp o n d e n t, a lth o u g h “ th e h otel a n d tw o o r th re e a d ja c e n t
h o u ses h a v e p e rh a p s th e b e st c la im to be c o n sid e re d th e n u c leu s of th e
p la c e ,” th e r e w a s “ a n o th e r c lu s te r of d w ellin g s of n o t m u c h le ss
im p o rta n c e ly in g a lo n g w a y f a r th e r so u th ” .
B ut in th e s e v e n tie s “ B ro w n ’s ” still h a d th e m a in bu ild in g s.
A ccording to Jo h n B row n, in 1873 th e re w e re on th e a llo tm e n ts
ad jo in in g th e s to re “ th e Illa w a rra H otel, th e C e n tra l Illa w a rra Council
C h a m b e rs , a b u tc h e r ’s shop a n d a sm ith y , C h u rch of E n g la n d a n d
W esleyan C hapel a n d o th e r b u ild in g s a n d p o lice s ta tio n .” T he s to re
b u ild in g s, o ffe re d fo r le a s e a t ten sh illin g s p e r w eek , c o m p rise d “ th e
shop a b o u t 18x15 a n d th r e e o th e r ro o m s, also a n o u tb u ild in g co n ta in in g
a s ittin g a n d b ed ro o m s .” T h e re w a s no w a te r on th e p re m is e s , b u t
B row n a s s u re d a p ro s p e c tiv e te n a n t th a t “ th e c re e k is a b o u t 100 y a rd s
d is ta n t w h e re th e re is enough w a te r to su p p ly a c ity .” T he b u sin e ss of
th e s to re w a s “ p a rtly done in fa rm p ro d u c e su ch a s p o u ltry , eg g s,
b u tte r, h id e s, e tc . - p a rtly by c a s h a n d p a rtly b y c re d it a c c o u n ts of
th re e m o n th s .” T he sto re k e e p e r “ n e e d e d to k e ep a h o rse an d sp rin g
c a r t to ta k e th e p ro d u c e to th e s te a m e r a t W ollongong tw ic e a w eek
60
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
a n d to c a r t out g o o d s.” T h e la s t s to re k e e p e r, B row n th o u g h t, “ ju d g in g
fro m a p p e a ra n c e ....m u s t h a v e n e tte d a t le a s t £300 p e r an n u m d u rin g
the tim e he w a s in b u sin e ss h e r e ” - n o t a t all a b a d in co m e in th e
1870’s.
G eorge O sborne’s E ncounter with the M issing Link. T he Illa w a rra
(o r L ak e I lla w a rra ) H otel h a d th en b een fo r so m e y e a rs c o n d u c te d by
one G eo rg e O sb o rn e - no re la tio n , it is u n d e rsto o d , to th e O sb o rn es of
M a rsh a ll M ount a n d D aisy B ank. A cco rd in g to lo cal tra d itio n , th e
I lla w a rra su p p lie d not only o rth o d o x tip p le s, b u t a lso m o o n sh in e of the
h ig h e s t q u a lity an d p o te n c y , m a n u fa c tu re d in th e g u llie s u n d e r th e
Illa w a rra R a n g e . P o ssib ly , on a c e rta in n ig h t in 1871, w hen G eorge
O sborne w en t up into th e m o u n ta in s b eh in d A vo n d ale to ta k e th e
c e n su s, h e a lso took th e o p p o rtu n ity to v isit his su p p lie rs a n d te s t a few
s a m p le s . In h is own a c c o u n t (w hich m u s t be tr u e - it w a s in the
M ercury) G eo rg e O sb o rne d ep o sed :
“ On m y w a y fro m M r. M atth ew R e e n ’s, co m in g dow n a ra n g e a b o u t
h a lf a m ile b eh in d M r. Jo h n G r a h a m ’s re s id e n c e a t A vo nd ale, a fte r
s u n s e t, m y h o rse w as s ta r tle d by see in g a n a n im a l co m in g dow n a tre e
w hich I th o u g h t a t th e m o m e n t to be a n a b o rig in a l: W hen it g o t w ithin
a b o u t 8 feet of th e g ro u n d it lo st its g rip a n d fell. ..A lthough m y h o rse
w a s re s tle s s , I e n d e a v o u re d to g e t a good g lim p s e of th e a n im a l a s it
r e tr e a te d u n h u rt in th e gu lly . It so m e w h a t re s e m b le d th e sh a p e of a
m a n a n d h eig h t ab o u t five fe e t, sle n d e r p ro p o rtio n , a r m s long, leg s like
a h u m a n b ein g a n d fe et a b o u t e ig h te e n in c h e s long, a n d sh a p e d lik e an
ig u a n a w ith long to e s ....th e fro n t a n d fa c e p ro je c te d fo rw a rd w ith
m o n k ey fe a tu re s , e v e ry p a rtic le of th e body e x c e p t th e fe et a n d th e
fa c e w as c o v e re d w ith b la c k h a ir w ith a ta w -co lo u red s tre a k fro m th e
neck to th e a b d o m e n ...it w alk ed q u a d ru p e d fash io n , b u t a t e v e ry few
p a c e s it w ould tu rn a ro u n d an d look a t m e follow ing su p p o rtin g the
body w ith the tw o leg s a n d one a r m , w hile th e o th e r a r m w as p lace d
a c ro s s th e hip . It h ad no ta il. It a p p e a rs th a t tw o c h ild re n n a m e d
S u m m e rs saw th e s a m e a n im a l or one s im ila r in th e s a m e lo cality
a b o u t tw o y e a rs ag o , b u t th e y sa y it w as th e n only th e size of a boy
a b o u t 13 o r 14 y e a rs of a g e . P e rh a p s th is is th e s a m e a n im a l w hich M r.
B. R ixon sa w a t th e C o rd eau x R iv e r a b o u t fiv e o r six y e a r s a g o .”
W h eth e r th e p a rty of th e seco n d p a r t - m issin g link, a b o m in a b le
sn o w m a n , or a lie n fro m o u te r s p a c e - is to be n u m b e re d a m o n g the
founding fa th e rs of D ap to h a s been a m a tte r of so m e c o n je c tu re ; th e re
h a v e been re s id e n ts in w hom th e ir frie n d s a n d n e ig h b o u rs th o u g h t
so m e o f its lin e a m e n ts w e re d is c e rn ib le - no n a m e s , no p ac k -d rill.
M r. O sb o rn e re m a in e d a t D a p to till 1873, w h en h e m o v ed to th e
B rig h to n a t W ollongong ( “ w h e re I d o n ’t th in k he w ill do m u c h g o o d ,”
sa id Jo h n B ro w n ), a n d th e Illa w a rra w as ta k e n o v e r by “ little G e o rg e ”
B row n. T he v e rs a tile M r. O sb o rn e m a d e en d s m e e t by c o m b in in g th e
b u sin e sse s of p u b lica n a n d u n d e rta k e r.
Schools:
T he d is tric t w as w ell p ro v id e d w ith schools. In sp e c to r
H u ffe r’s re p o rt in 1872 m e n tio n s p ublic schools a t A vo n d ale, w ith 29
‘The Most S tr a g g lin g V illage in l l l a w a r r a ’
61
p u p ils, a n d M a rsh a ll M ount w ith 42. (At th e la tte r , h e sa id , “ T he
d isc ip lin e is s a tis f a c to r y e x c e p t a s r e g a r d s th e a tte n d a n c e of p u p ils
d u rin g th e h a r v e s t tim e ” , so e v id e n tly so m e th in g w a s still b ein g grow n
th e re on a b ig en oug h sc a le to d is ru p t th e e d u c a tio n s y s te m ) . B oth
A v ondale a n d M a rsh a ll M ount h a d b eg u n a s “ N a tio n a l S c h o o ls” ,
M a rsh a ll M ount in 1859, A vo n d ale a t so m e d a te b e fo re 1861, w hen a t a
p u b lic m e e tin g , m a k in g an e v id e n tly su c c e ssfu l p ro te s t a g a in s t a
p ro p o sed c h a n g e of n a m e to B e n a re s, it w a s s ta te d th a t th e re h a d been
a “ n o n -v e s te d ” N atio n a l School fo r so m e y e a rs on th e A vondale e s ta te ,
a n d th a t “ A v o n d ale, a s th e n a m e of a lo c a lity , is w ell know n th ro u g h a il
th e d is tr ic t” .
In D ap to itse lf, a c c o rd in g to M r. H u ffer, th e r e w e re th re e “ c e rtifie d
s c h o o ls ” - C h u rch of E n g la n d , R o m an C ath o lic, a n d P re s b y te ria n . He
m a d e it p re tty c le a r th a t in his opinion one sch o o l, “ w ell p la c e d ” ,
w ould b e enough.
N e v e rth e le ss, a t le a s t tw o of th e s e schools w e re o u tsid e th e tow n of
D apto. T he R. C. c h u rc h in th o se d a y s a d jo in e d th e old c e m e te ry in
W est D ap to ro a d . T he c o n v e n t a n d school w e re n e a rb y , ju s t on th e
K e m b la G ra n g e sid e of D ap to C reek . On th e p a ris h m a p a b lock on th e
so u th sid e of S h e a ffe ’s R o ad n e a r its e a s te rn en d is m a rk e d
“ E p is c o p a lia n S choo l” . (T h e C h u rch of E n g la n d h a d b e e n in filtra te d th e m a s te r w a s M r. A le x a n d e r C a m p b e ll, w ho m a y h a v e b e e n re sp o n sib le
for th e d e sc rip tio n , th e E p is c o p a lia n C h u rc h p e rh a p s b ein g in h is e y e s a
n o n c o n fo rm ist body of w hich th e C h u rch of E n g la n d w a s a s u b s id ia ry ).
T he P r e s b y te r ia n school se e m s to b e fo rg o tte n in D ap to - so m e old
h a n d s w e re p re p a r e d to s w e a r it h a d n e v e r e x is te d - b u t th e
c o n te m p o ra ry ev id en c e fo r it is irre fu ta b le . Such in fo rm a tio n a s is
a v a ila b le s u g g e s ts th a t it w a s on th e m a in ro a d n e a r C lev e lan d R oad.
It w a s th e only one of th e th re e D ap to sch o o ls on w hich M r. H u ffer
re p o rte d in d e ta il - a “ 5>/2 o u t of 10 - co u ld do b e tt e r ” s o rt of re p o rt
en d in g , “ T he p ro ficie n cy ra n g e s fro m to le ra b le to f a i r ” .
W h e th e r a s a re s u lt of M r. H u ffe r’s s tr ic tu r e s o r no t, a b ra n c h of th e
P u b lic School L ea g u e w a s fo rm e d , a n d by N o v em b e r 1874 w as
a g ita tin g v ig o ro u sly fo r a p u b lic school in D apto.
T he P r e s b y te r ia n S ch o o l’s c e rtif ic a te w a s w ith d ra w n , a s fro m 31
D e c e m b e r 1874, “ on a c c o u n t of w a n t of a tte n d a n c e ” . T h e re m a y h a v e
been so m e co llu sio n ; a t a m e e tin g of th e P u b lic School L e ag u e th e
p re v io u s m o n th th e R ev. J . A. S tu a rt h a d re f e r r e d to a n o th e r school
w h e re th e P re s b y te ria n s h a d “ d one th e ir u tm o s t to g e t it c o n v e rte d
into a P u b lic School, for w hich p u rp o se th e y h a d , a s a la s t d e s p e ra te
re s o rt, ta k e n th e ir c h ild re n a w a y fro m i t ” .
If th e “ w a n t of a tte n d a n c e ” w as a put-u p jo b , it w a s not im m e d ia te ly
su c c e ssfu l. T he e a rly m o n th s of 1875 w e re filled w ith m e e tin g s ,
p e titio n s a n d a g ita tio n . T h e tru s te e s of th e P re s b y te ria n School o ffered
to h a n d it o v e r for co n v ersio n into a P u b lic S chool; th e C ouncil of
E d u c a tio n d e clin ed . Jo h n B row n o ffe re d a site a t B ro w n sv ille ; P a tr ic k
Hill O sb o rn e o ffered one “ on th e so u th sid e of th e m a in ro a d , a b o u t
62
N in ete e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
m id w a y b etw e e n th e C h u rch of E n g la n d p a rs o n a g e a n d th e P o s t o ffic e ”
(th en n e a r C lev elan d R o a d ). A fter m a n y c o n tra d ic to ry re so lu tio n s,
a m e n d m e n ts a n d re s c iss io n s, a p u b lic m e e tin g on 28th M ay re so lv e d
“ th a t th e m a tte r of d ecid in g a s ite ....b e le ft in th e h a n d s of th e C ouncil
of E d u c a tio n ” . T he C o u ncil’s ch o ice w a s th e s ite o ffe re d by O sb o rn e
(now th e s ite of th e T e c h n ic a l C o lleg e), b u t it w a s n e a rly tw o y e a r s
b e fo re th e school w e n t u p . In th e m e a n tim e , c la s s e s w e re c o n d u c te d in
th e P r e s b y te r ia n school h a ll u n d e r J o s e p h B a y liss; b u t th e E d u c a tio n
D e p a rtm e n t’s re c o rd s do not show th e a c tu a l d a te w hen th e school
co m m e n c e d .
On 24th S e p te m b e r 1875 th e M e rc u ry a n n o u n c ed th e a p p o in tm e n t of a
lo cal School B o a rd . T he m e m b e rs w e re K. M ack en zie, R. J . M a rsh a ll,
C. H e in in g e r, Jo h n B o v a rd , D u n can M a c ra e a n d E v a n R. E v a n s . F o u r
w eek s la te r th e B o a rd in s e rte d a n a d v e rtis e m e n t c a llin g for te n d e rs for
th e b u ild ing. A cco rd in g to th e M e rc u ry th e p la n w a s fo r a “ v e ry n e a t
an d c o m m o d io u s” school h o u se, d e sig n e d to a c c o m m o d a te 54 p u p ils,
an d te a c h e r ’s re s id e n c e .
F in a lly th e new school b u ild in g w a s o p en ed on 2nd A pril 1877. It h a d
c o s t £1,492. T h e in sp ectio n re p o rt fo r th a t y e a r s ta te d :
“ T he b u ild in g s a r e of b ric k , re c e n tly e re c te d a n d w ell fu rn ish e d . T he
school g ro u n d s h a v e b e e n p la n te d w ith o rn a m e n ta l tr e e s . All th e s u b je c ts
p re s e n te d by th e C ouncil a r e ta u g h t. T h e sch o o lro o m is c le a n a n d w ell
v e n tila te d , a n d th e g e n e ra l d isc ip lin e is fa irly s a tis f a c to r y in m o st
re s p e c ts .”
U ltim a te ly th e “ E p is c o p a lia n ” sch o o l fo ld ed up, b u t M r. C a m p b e ll a n d
m o s t of h is p u p ils m o v e d a lo n g th e ro a d to th e new W est D a p to P u b lic
School w hich o p en ed in 1882. T h e R o m a n C ath o lic school c a r r ie d on a s
befo re. So, a f t e r a ll M r. H u ffe r’s h u ffin g a n d p u ffin g , th e r e w e re still
th re e sch o o ls w h e re h e h a d th o u g h t th r e e w ere' tw o too m a n y .
F o r th e a d u lts th e tow n b o a ste d a p a r lia m e n ta r y d e b a tin g c la s s , an d
th e L ite ra ry A sso ciatio n , w hich h a d e sta b lish e d a c irc u la tin g lib ra ry .
T he Show , a f te r la p sin g fo r so m e y e a rs , h a d b een re v iv e d in 1867 an d
w as b eing held re g u la rly , D ap to c o n trib u te d its q u o ta to th e W ollon­
gong V o lu n tee r R ifle s - m o re v o lu n te e rs th a n rifle s , fo r J o h n B row n h a d
w ritte n to W illiam L in d sa y a t C h a rc o a l a sk in g fo r th e u se of th e H en ry
rifle g iv en by C a p ta in O w en fo r th e C h a rc o a l a n d D ap to m e m b e rs of th e
co rp s. R e g a tta s on L ak e Illa w a rra w e re a r e g u la r a ttr a c tio n ; a n d in th e
e a rly e ig h tie s D a p to w as p u t on th e m a p , no t only of A u s tra lia , b u t of th e
w o rld by th e v illa g e b la c k s m ith .
Bill B each, Champion Sculler of the World. W illiam B e a c h , born in
S u rre y in 1850, c a m e w ith h is p a re n ts in 1853 to D a p to , w h e re h is fa th e r
se t up a s a v e te r in a r y su rg e o n a n d f a r r ie r . W hile still a ch ild , W illiam
is sa id to h a v e b egun his sc u llin g c a r e e r on M a c q u a rie R iv u le t, ro w in g
h im se lf in a w ooden tu b w ith a b ro o m . He b e c a m e a b la c k s m ith , a n d
an a m a te u r o a rs m a n , w in n in g local fa m e in m e m o ra b le r a c e s a g a in s t
T om C lifford on M ullet C reek a n d L a k e Illa w a rra .
E n c o u ra g e d by Jo h n B row n, th e u n o fficia l M a y o r of D ap to , h e s e t h is
sig h ts on m o re d is ta n t ta r g e ts . F ro m 1881 o n w a rd s h e ro w ed , w ith
•The M ost S tr a g g lin g Village in l l l a w a r r a ”
63
e v e r-in c re a s in g su c c e s s, in p ro fe ssio n a l ra c e s in S y d n ey , w h e re th e
sp o rt h a d th en a la r g e follow ing. In th e “ P u n c h T ro p h y ” r a c e of 1883
he w a s b e a te n by h a lf a le n g th by M ick R u sh , w ho a t th e p a y in g -o v e r
of th e s ta k e s w as in s p ire d to p ro p h e s y : “ T he m a n I b e a t to -d ay in one
y e a r w ill be C h am p io n of A u stra lia a n d in tw o y e a rs w ill b e C h am p io n
of th e W o rld .”
N ext y e a r B each w on th e A u stra lia n ch a m p io n sh ip a g a in s t T ric k e tt.
T he w o rld c h a m p io n a t th e tim e w as a C a n a d ia n n a m e d E d w a rd
H a n la n . “ It b e c a m e a m a t te r of n a tio n a l im p o rta n c e ” , s a id B an jo
P a te r s o n , “ th a t w e sho u ld find a m a n to b e a t th is C a n a d ia n . T he m a n
w as “ a b la c k s m ith n a m e d B e a c h w ho h a ile d fro m th e South
C o a s t....s o m e tim e s know n a s G ipsy B e a c h ....H is fa c e w a s th e fa c e of
B ism a rc k , th e m a n of blood a n d iro n ; h is f r a m e w as k n o tte d w ith
m u s c le s b u ilt up by y e a r s of sw in g in g th e s le d g e h a m m e r....D r.
F o rte s c u e , a le a d in g su rg e o n in S y d n e y ....sa id of all th e th o u sa n d s of
m en he h a d e x a m in e d in his life n one could c o m p a re w ith B e a c h ....
‘T h e re n e v e r w a s a m a n lik e th is. H e ’ll b e a t H a n la n ’.”
On 16th A ugust 1884 B each m e t H a n la n on th e P a r r a m a t ta R iv e r,
o v e r a c o u rs e of th r e e m ile s 330 y a rd s fro m th e b rid g e a t R y d e (sc. th e
ra ilw a y b rid g e a t M ead o w b an k ) to “ T he B ro th e r s ” Inn. “ T h e C an a d ia n
m a d e a fine sho w ing, d e cid in g to b e a t th e c h a lle n g e r o v e r th e firs t
m ile , b u t it w as n ot to b e. B e ac h of llla w a r r a h u n g c lo se to his r e a r an d
a t th e firs t m ile w a s b u t a few sh o rt le n g th s b eh in d . At th e sec o n d m ile
th e r a c e w a s o v er. B ea c h co m in g w ith th e s tre n g th of a lion w ith his
s tro k e s in p e rfe c t unison w hile th e C a n a d ia n , th o u g h fig h tin g g a m e ly ,
w a s d o n e ...T h e tim e fo r th e ra c e w a s 20 m in u te s 28‘/2 se c o n d s, th e
fa s te s t tim e on re c o rd to th a t d a te . T he e x c ite m e n t in S ydney w as
tre m e n d o u s, b u t th e e x c ite m e n t of llla w a r r a s u r p a s s e d a ll .”
B each w en t h o m e to llla w a r r a by th e I.S .N . S te a m e r “ B e g a ” . N ev er
b efo re h a d W ollongong se e n su ch a cro w d . T h e c ro w d c o v e re d th e
w h a rf r ig h t up to th e old B rig h to n H otel, a n d a s th e ‘B e g a ’ ro u n d e d th e
L ig h th o u se th e b a n d c o m m e n c e d to p la y “ See th e C o n q u erin g H ero
C o m e s” .
So R u s h ’s p ro p h e c y w a s fu lfilled . Six tim e s B e a ch su c c e ssfu lly
d e fen d ed h is W orld C h am p io n sh ip (tw ic e a g a in s t c o m e b a c k a tte m p ts
by H a n la n , a n d once a g a in s t T om C lifford, h is old riv a l of th e L a k e
llla w a r r a r e g a t ta s ) . In 1887 h e re tire d u n d e fe a te d . A fte r a p e rio d a s a
p u b lic a n in S ydney, he re tu rn e d to D ap to , w h e re h e sp e n t th e re s t of
h is long life u n til h is d e a th in 1935. He w a s no t only (in e v ita b ly )
P re s id e n t of th e D ap to R e g a tta C lub; h e w a s a lso a n a ld e r m a n of th e
C e n tra l llla w a r r a C ouncil, a T ru s te e of th e D ap to S h o w g ro u n d a n d of
R eed P a r k , a n d a d ir e c to r of th e D ap to C o -o p erativ e D a iry in g
C o m p an y , a n d in all w a y s one of th e to w n ’s m o s t u sefu l a n d re s p e c te d
citiz e n s. (M a rtin S m ith n o te d th a t M ullet C reek w as “ so m e tim e s c a lle d
B e a c h ’s R iv e r ” ). On h is p o p u la rity B a n jo P a te r s o n h a d th e la s t w o rd ,
w hen he w ro te fro m E n g la n d in 1901 to G e o rg e R o b e rts o n : “ T h ese
E n g lis h ....a re q u ite in th e d a rk a b o u t us a n d o u r id e a s . T h e ir one id e a
is th a t th e v is it of th e D u k e of Y o rk (a f te rw a rd s K ing G e o rg e V)
64
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
m a r k e d a n ep o ch in th e h is to ry of A u s tra lia . I lo n g ed to s a y ‘Y es, he
got n e a rly a s b ig a re c e p tio n a s B ill B e a c h th e s c u lle r ’.”
T he O sb o rn e M e m o ria l C h u rc h . D u rin g th is p e rio d D a p to ’s a r c h ite c t­
u ra lly m o s t o u ts ta n d in g b u ild in g w as slow ly ta k in g sh a p e . In J a n u a r y
1878 te n d e r s w e re c a lle d fo r th e e re c tio n of th e O sb o rn e M em o ria l
C h u rch of St. L u k e, B ro w n sv ille ; b u t n o t u n til J u ly 1880 w a s th e
fo u n d atio n sto n e la id , a n d n o t u n til N o v e m b e r, 1882 w a s th e c h u rc h
o pened a n d c o n s e c ra te d by th e D e a n of S y d n ey , th e R ev . W illiam
C ow per. B etw ee n 600 a n d 700 p eo p le w e re p re s e n t a t th e o p e n in g ;
a m o n g th o se w ho w e re n o t p re s e n t w a s th e d e s ig n e r o f th e c h u rc h , th e
e m in e n t S ydn ey a rc h ite c t Jo h n H o rb u ry H unt.
In h is se rm o n D ean C ow per “ m a d e sp e c ia l m e n tio n of th e p le a s a n t
fa c t of th e O sb o rn e fa m ily h a v in g so c o n s id e ra te ly a n d lib e ra lly
d ev o te d a la r g e a m o u n t of m o n ey for th e tw o-fold c o m m e n d a b le
p u rp o se of a s s is tin g th e c a u s e of G od a n d doing h o n o u r to th e
m e m o rie s of th e ir la te fa th e r an d m o t h e r ;” a t th e su b s e q u e n t lun ch eo n
in th e D ap to Show P a v ilio n (p ro v id e d , by c o in c id e n c e , by O sb o rn e
B ro s., b a k e rs , of W ollongong), D ean C ow per a n d D ea n E w in g of
W ollongong u n d e rlin e d th e s e rm o n : “ th e e x a m p le of C h ristia n lib e r­
a lity by th e O sb o rn e fa m ily w a s u n iq u e w ith in th e d io ce se of S y d n ey , if
n ot th ro u g h o u t th e w hole c o lo n y .”
M r. R . J . M a rsh a ll th e n p re s e n te d th e r e c to r , th e R ev . J . S ta c k , w ith
a c o m p lim e n ta ry a d d re s s a n d a p u rs e co n ta in in g fo rty so v e re ig n s. “ In
a c c e p tin g th e a d d re s s a n d p u rs e , M r. S ta c k m a d e feelin g re fe re n c e to
th e la te B ishop B a r k e r ” ; th e n m a d e ev e n m o re feelin g re fe re n c e to
th e a b s e n t M r. H o rb u ry H u n t. H e d w elt a t so m e le n g th on th e
in o rd in a te tim e th e c h u rc h h a d ta k e n to b u ild ; “ T he a r c h ite c t, if he
w e re p re s e n t, could no d o u b t g iv e a p la u sib le if not a s a tis fa c to ry
re a s o n for it. A nd, ta lk in g a b o u t a rc h ite c ts , he did n e t know w hy su ch a
r a c e w a s s e n t upon e a rth a t all, e x c e p t it w a s fo r th is - th a t m e n w ho
h ad a n y th in g to do w ith th e m sh o u ld h a v e th e ir p a tie n c e se v e re ly
tr ie d .” H u n t, w hen h e h e a rd of th e R e c to r’s r e m a r k s , c o m m e n te d ,
“ T he w o rd s of a fool w ho h a s h a d a s m u c h to do w ith th e w o rk a s a __
c h ild ;” b u t P ro f e s s o r F re e la n d , in h is life of H u n t, * c o m m e n ts , “ T he
b la m e m a y w ell h a v e b een p la c e d on th e rig h t p e rso n b e c a u se H unt
could be m o st d ifficu lt a n d u n c o -o p e ra tiv e w hen h e w is h e d .”
T h e b u ild in g d id n o t m e e t w ith th e a p p ro v a l of th e e d ito r of th e M e r­
c u ry : “ In a p p e a ra n c e , th e in te rio r of th e b u ild in g m o re e sp e c ia lly
is s te rn ly s tiff a n d c h e e rle s s , th e s e v e re o u tlin es of th e a rc h ite c tu re
b eing in te n sifie d a lm o st into c a v e rn c o ld n e ss by th e su b d u e d if not
so m e w h a t in a d e q u a te lig h t th e n a rro w w indow s w ith th e ir c a th e d ra l
g la s s a ffo rd . Of p la s te r, p a in t, co lo u rin g , o r v a rn is h , th e re is n o t a
v e stig e to be see n . W ithin th e b u ild in g , a n d a s if to m a tc h th e net-w o rk
of n a k e d an d ru stic -lik e b e a m s a n d r a f te r s o v e rh e a d , th e a isle is
flo o red w ith dull c o lo u re d c o m m o n b ric k s. H o w ev er, a ll th e s e fe a tu re s
a r e m e r e m a tte r s of ta s te , w hich d iffe rs a lm o s t a s m u c h a s do fa c e s.
In r e g a r d to s tre n g th , th e b u ild in g p o sse sse s a lm o s t th a t of a fo rtre s s ;
" T h e Most S tr a g g lin g V illage in l l l a w a r r a ’
65
an d th e s e a ts , e sp e c ia lly , a r e p e rh a p s th e b e st in th e d is tric t in e v e ry
re p e c t. T h e re b eing only one do o r, a n d th a t a so m e w h a t n a rro w one,
for in g re s s a n d e g re s s by th e c o n g re g a tio n , h o w e v e r, is not e x a c tly as
it should b e .”
P ro f e s s o r F r e e la n d ’s opinion is v e ry d iffe re n t: “ To a le ss ja u n d ic e d
ey e St. L u k e ’s is a m o st h a n d so m e b u ild in g . It is th e se v e ry p o in ts of
a d v e rs e c ritic is m w hich a r e th e so u rc e of its s tre n g th s a n d v irtu e s. T he
in g e n u ity , skill a n d b e a u ty of w ell d e sig n e d a n d e x e c u te d b rick w o rk
a n d tim b e r u sed co n siste n tly a n d u n in te rru p te d ly fo r e v e ry p a r t of th e
b u ild in g a r e e x c e lle n t. T h e to w e r, w ith its b ric k -c o v e re d s q u a t p y ra m id
ro o f a n d its ric h u se of p u rp o s e -m a d e b ric k s is a sp len d id a rc h ite c tu ra l
s ta te m e n t of fun ctio n a n d m a te ria l.
“ St. L u k e ’s D ap to , is th e h ig h -p o in t of H u n t’s d e v elo p in g id e a s on th e
u se of m a te r ia ls a n d e c c le s ia s tic a l a rc h ite c tu re . A full-blooded, p o w erful
an d in d e p e n d e n tly m in d e d b u ild in g , it is th e e p ito m e of th e s ta n d a rd s a n d
v a lu e s of its a r c h ite c t.”
W hile on th e s u b je c t of c h u rc h e s , one sh o u ld m e n tio n th a t a s e p a r a te
R o m a n C atholic p a ris h of D ap to h a d b een e sta b lish e d in 1870 u n d e r
F a th e r C oghlan.
A nd, d e sp ite the loss of its school, th e K irk a lso w en t on gro w in g . In
1888 th e D ap to P r e s b y te ria n C h u rch w as s e p a r a te d fro m th e W ollon­
gong c h a rg e , to fo rm , w ith M o u n t K e m b la a n d A lbion P a r k a new
c h a rg e u n d e r th e R ev. R ic h a rd M iller. T h e e ld e rs in clu d ed G eo rg e
M c P h a il a n d Jo h n B o v a rd , b o th of w hom h a d p re v io u sly been m e m b e rs
of th e W ollongong sessio n . D ap to w as still p a r t of th e Albion P a r k
c h a rg e in 1905, w hen th e “ C e n te n a ry H isto ry of th e P re s b y te ria n
C h u rc h ” re c o rd e d th a t “ M r. M iller co n tin u e s to m in is te r to an a tta c h e d
flock. T h e re a r e c h u rc h e s a n d S a b b a th sch o o ls in all th e c e n tr e s ” .
T he y e a r a f te r St. L u k es w a s o p en ed , “ a n in flu e n tia l m e e tin g ” u rg e d
th e o p en in g of a p o st office a t B ro w n sv ille. A ld e rm a n T h om pson
“ p o in ted o u t th a t a p o st office w h e re s ta te d w ould b e a g r e a t p u b lic
c o n v e n ie n c e ” - w hich m ig h t h a v e b een m o re fe lic ito u sly p u t.
T h e m e e tin g re so lv e d th a t a m e m o ria l b e p re s e n te d to th e P o s tm a s te r
G e n e ra l. T h e m e m o ria l, re p o r te d a t le n g th in th e W ollongong A rg u s, s e t
out:
“ T h a t B ro w n sv ille is s itu a te d on th e m a in South C o ast R o ad , d is ta n t
a b o u t tw o m ile s n o rth of D ap to P o st O ffic e ....It is th ick ly p o p u late d a n d
c e n tr a lly s itu a te d , a n d c o n ta in s a la r g e n u m b e r of b u ild in g s, in clu d in g
tw o p la c e s of w o rsh ip , la r g e h o tel, b la c k -s m ith ’s shop, flo u r m ill a n d
o th e r b u ild in g s, also p o lice sta tio n a n d lock-up re c e n tly b u ilt by th e
G o v e rn m e n t....
“ T h a t th e old C ouncil C h a m b e rs a t D a p to is a m o s t c o n v e n ie n t s itu a te d
b u ild in g fo r a p o st o ffic e ....M r. Jo h n B ro w n h a s o ffe re d to g iv e th e u se of a
p o rtio n of th e b u ild in g ....fo r th e p u rp o s e fr e e of c h a r g e ” .
In S e p te m b e r th e A rg u s re p o rte d th a t th e a g ita tio n h a d been
su c c e ssfu l.
T h ese re p o r ts a r e th e e a rlie s t re fe re n c e s to B ro w n sv ille , b y th a t
n a m e , th a t I h a v e see n . It w a s e v id e n tly so m e th in g new - th e A rg u s
66
N in e te e n th -C e n tu r y D apto.
re f e r s to “ th e old C ouncil C h a m b e rs , D ap to , now know n a s B ro w n s­
v ille ” , a n d th e M e rc u ry to B ro w n sv ille, h ith e rto k now n a s “ B ro w n s’s . ”
N ote th e re f e re n c e to th e “ o ld ” C ouncil C h a m b e rs . S o m e w h e re along
the lin e D ap to h a d su ffe re d one se tb a c k w hen th e C e n tra l Illa w a rra
C ouncil m o v ed its h e a d q u a rte rs to U n a n d e rra . C ousins s a y s it d id so in
1900, b u t th is m u s t be w ro n g - M a rtin S m ith sp e c ific a lly m e n tio n s th e
C ouncil C h a m b e rs a t U n a n d e rra in 1893.
A tte m p ts to fix th e d a te of th e c h a n g e w e re n o t e n tire ly su c c e ssfu l w o rm s h a d d e v o u re d th e c e n tr a l p a r t of e a c h p a g e of th e re le v a n t
C ouncil m in u te book. Still, one c a n g e t fa irly clo se. On 22nd M arc h 1878
th e C ouncil w a s m e e tin g a t D ap to . At th e m e e tin g on 27th M arch
te n d e rs w e re c a lle d for a W.C. a t th e new C ouncil C h a m b e rs . On 7th
M ay the C ouncil, h av in g p re s u m a b ly p ro v id e d fo r th e a ld e r m e n ’s
n e c e s s itie s , w a s m e e tin g a t th e C ouncil C h a m b e rs , C h a rc o a l; a n d in
D e c e m b e r M r. Jo h n B la c k m a n w as o b je c tin g to “ C h a rc o a l” a s th e
n a m e of th e lo c a lity in w hich th e C ouncil C h a m b e rs w e re s itu a te d ,
sa y in g it w a s “ a n ugly th in g of th e p a s t ” .
D e sp ite th is se tb a c k , B ro w n sv ille h a d on th e w hole led on p o in ts in its
co n te s t w ith th e so u th e rn s e ttle m e n t. B ut now th e r e a p p e a re d a new
c o n te n d e r, to k nock th e m both out.
W ILLIA M BEA CH
C h am p io n S c u lle r of th e w orld
(T ow n a n d C o u n try J o u r n a l, 27 O c to b e r 1883)
C H A P T E R SE V E N
"T h e C ity Surpassing N ew castle": The New
Tow nship and the Smelting-works Boom
O pening of th e llla w a r r a R a ilw a y . T he tra n s fo rm a tio n of D apto
to w n sh ip b e g a n w ith th e co m in g of th e ra ilw a y . By th e tim e th e
iso la te d lin e b etw een C lifton a n d W ollongong w as o fficia lly o p en ed in
J u n e 1887, th e n e x t se c tio n so u th w a rd w as f a r en ough a d v a n c e d for
D ap to peo p le to tr a v e l to th e c e re m o n y in tr a in s of tru c k s d ra w n by th e
c o n tr a c to r ’s e n g in e. F iv e m o n th s la te r , on 9th N o v e m b e r, th a t sectio n
(W ollongong to N o rth K ia m a , now B om bo) w a s o p en ed , a n d w ith it
D apto s ta tio n . T o w ard s th e en d of th e follow ing y e a r, w ith th e o p ening
of th e W aterfall-C lifto n se c tio n , tr a in s r a n th ro u g h to S ydney.
D ap to sta tio n w a s, a n d is, a r c h ite c tu r a lly u n d istin g u ish e d - a
s ta n d a rd ty p e of tim b e r sta tio n b u ild in g ; its im p o rta n c e w as in its
lo catio n . T he g ro u n d n e a r th e c ro ssin g of M ullet C reek w a s c o n sid e re d
too low, sw a m p y a n d s u b je c t to flooding. O nly a w a te r ta n k w as
p ro v id ed th e re (a t th e s o u th e rn en d of th e tim b e r v ia d u c t) a n d th e
sta tio n w as s e t up on f irm e r g ro u n d w ell to th e so u th , b e tw e en th e two
old tow nship c e n tre s . A g itatio n , re n e w e d fro m tim e to tim e , to s e c u re a
p la tfo rm so m e w h e re n e a r th e D a r k e ’s R o ad c ro s sin g , to s e rv e th e old
B ro w n sv ille se ttle m e n t, p ro v e d u n a v a ilin g .
T he S hifting of th e Tow n C e n tre . A new tow n b e g an to g ro w up
a ro u n d th e s ta tio n . A rig h t of w ay o v e r w hich, by g ra c e a n d fa v o u r of
M rs. A nne M a rsh a ll (n e e O sb o rn e ) of “ D a isy B a n k ” , h e r cousin
P a tr ic k Hill O sborne d ro v e h is c a ttle to w a te r, w as tra n s fo rm e d into
Bong B ong S tre e t, a n d e x te n d e d w e stw a rd to lin k u p w ith th e o ld e r
Bong Bong R o ad from B ro w n sv ille to th e p a ss . Soon a fte r M rs.
M a r s h a ll’s d e a th in 1888 h e r tr u s te e s su b d iv id ed h e r la n d w est of th e
South C o ast R o ad , fro m C lev elan d R o ad to U n a ra S tre e t. On th e
e a s te r n sid e of th e h ig h w ay , p a r t of “ L a k e la n d s ” fro m B y a m e e S tre e t
to W erow i S tre e t, w a s a lso su b d iv id e d - a su b d iv isio n d istin g u ish e d by
e x c e p tio n a lly w ide s tr e e ts a n d b a c k , a s w ell a s fro n t, a c c e s s to all
b locks, th o u g h th e blo ck s th e m se lv e s w e re n a rro w a n d d is p ro p o rtio n ­
a te ly long. T h e se tw o su b d iv isio n s w e re , fo r a ll p ra c tic a l p u rp o s e s, to be
th e tow n of D ap to fo r h a lf of th e tw e n tie th c e n tu ry .
M ean w h ile B ro w n sv ille s ta g n a te d . “ T h e B ro w n s” , w ro te D av id
D en n iss, “ w hile re m a rk a b ly p ro g re s s iv e in so m e d ire c tio n s w e re
so m e w h a t c o n s e rv a tiv e in o th e rs , a n d one of th e s e w as a fa ilu re to
re c o g n ise th a t if B ro w n sv ille w a s to c o n tin u e to p ro g re s s la n d for
68
N in e te e n th -C e n tu r y D apto.
su b d iv isio n m u s t be m a d e a v a ila b le for u rb a n blo ck s a t te r m s w ithin
th e re a c h of a ll c la s s e s . T h e B ro w n s r e m a in e d in d e p e n d e n t (sic) to th is
r e q u ire m e n t w h ile th e M a r s h a lls ....d e m o n s tra te d th e ir fo re sig h t by
su b d iv isio n s w hich e n a b le d h o m e b u ild e rs to a c q u ire blo ck s w hile
c o tta g e s w e re also e re c te d by th e M a rsh a lls to m e e t th e n e e d s of th o se
w ho re q u ire d c o tta g e s a s te n a n ts ” . B u t, w h ile th e in c u ra b le A u stra lia n
p re d ile c tio n fo r fre e h o ld w hich h a s b een th e d e s p a ir of so m a n y la n d
re f o rm e r s a n d p la n n e rs m a y h a v e p la y e d so m e p a r t, it se e m s m o re
lik ely th a t th e lo ca tio n of th e ra ilw a y sta tio n c r e a te d th e d e m a n d a n d
th e M a rsh a lls m e t it.
T he new tow n a ttr a c te d b u sin e sse s a n d s e r v ic e s fro m both th e old
c e n tr e s . By O cto b e r 1891 it w a s re p o r te d th a t “ s h e e r fo rc e of
c ir c u m s ta n c e is d riv in g th e tow n in th e v ic in ity of th e sta tio n . A lrea d y
s e v e r a l new b u ild in g s a r e in c o u rs e of e re c tio n ; th e lo c a l b la c k s m ith
a n d w h e e e lw rig h t h a v e re m o v e d th e ir e s ta b lis h m e n ts a n d th e s to re ­
k e e p e r c o n te m p la te s th e bu ild in g of a new s t o r e ” .
“ T h e re n o t b ein g a b a k e ry a t D a p to ” , w ro te G e o rg e L in d sa y , “ th e
w rite r h a d a la r g e b a k e ry e re c te d a n d F ra n k C o rr (w ho h a d p re v io u sly
le a s e d B ro w n ’s old oven a t B ro w n sv ille) le a s e d th e b a k e ry a n d c o tta g e
a n d tr a n s f e r r e d h is b u sin e ss th e re ....T h e p o st office w a s a t a s to re a n d
h otel a b o u t a m ile aw a y (n e a r C lev elan d R o a d ). T he p eo p le w a n te d a
p o st a n d te le g ra p h office n e a r th e ra ilw a y s ta tio n . T h e w rite r w ent
a ro u n d w ith a p etitio n a n d o b ta in e d a long list of n a m e s w hich w as se n t
to M r. A. C am p b ell M .P
It w a s p re s e n te d a n d s a n c tio n e d ” ; th o u g h it
w a s still a n o n-official p o st office in a s to re ( “ too p u b lic a n o ffic e ” ,
sa id L in d say .
T he c h u rc h e s w e re a lso m o v in g in to th e new tow n. T h e site of th e
p re s e n t P re s b y te ria n C h u rch w a s co n v ey ed by th e M a rs h a ll tr u s te e s in
1892 to G eo rg e M c P h a il, Jo h n B o v ard a n d B e n ja m in M a rsh a ll “ upon
tr u s t fo r th e e re c tio n of a c h u rc h fo r p u b lic re lig io u s w o rsh ip a cc o rd in g
to th e u se of th e P r e s b y te ria n C h u rch of N .S .W .” J u s t w hen th e c h u rc h
w as e re c te d is n o t c le a r - th e p re s e n t b u ild in g d a te s only fro m 1958, b u t
th e re s ta n d s b eh in d it a m o d e s t w e a th e rb o a rd a n d c o rru g a te d iron
b u ild in g , a p p a re n tly fa irly old, w hich p re v io u sly se rv e d a s th e c h u rc h .
M r. J . L. M c P h ail of W est D ap to , w h o se fa m ily h a v e b ee n co n n e c te d
w ith th e k irk in D ap to fro m its firs t b e g in n in g s s a y s th a t th e p rev io u s
c h u rc h bu ild in g (w hich w as su b s e q u e n tly b u rn t dow n) w a s on th e
o p p o site sid e of th e h ig h w ay a n d f u r th e r so u th , a b o u t o p p o site th e end
of C lev elan d R o a d . As th is is a lso th e lo c atio n g iv en fo r R e id ’s H otel, it
looks a s if m a n y a d ra m h a d g ra c e sa id o v e r it in D ap to .
T h e fo u n d a tio n sto n e of a new co n v e n t in J e r r a m a t t a S tre e t w a s laid
by C a rd in a l M o ran on 3rd N o v e m b e r, 1899. On 9th M ay in th e follow ing
y e a r h e la id th e fo u n d atio n sto n e of a new c h u rc h . T h e re is a n old
w e a th e rb o a r d build in g b e tw ee n th em w hich so m e lo cal p eo p le sa y w as
th e o rig in a l c h u rc h m o v ed in bodily fro m W est D ap to , b u t so fa r this
h a s not b een a u th e n tic a te d .
T he M eth o d ists m o v ed up fro m B ro w n sv ille so m e y e a r s 'l a t e r . T hey
h a d h a d one w a rn in g a g a in s t b u ild in g on s a n d , o r r iv e r silt. Not
‘The City S u rp a s s in g N e w c a s t le ’
69
sa tisfie d w ith build in g on one ro c k , on 22nd J u n e 1904 th e y laid no le ss
th a n six fo u n d atio n sto n e s fo r th e ir new c h u rc h .
O nly th e C h u rch of E n g la n d re m a in e d dug in a t B ro w n sv ille. St.
L u k es w a s too new , too s u b s ta n tia l a n d fa r too d istin g u ish e d
a rc h ite c tu ra lly to b e ab a n d o n e d , th o u g h th e re c to ry a n d a h a ll w e re in
th e new tow n. T he old 1845 bu ild in g a t B ro w n sv ille also re m a in e d , an d
s ta n d s to th is d ay b esid e St. L ukes.
E v e n th e sh o w g ro u n d m o v ed up to th e new tow n. As w ith th e school,
Jo h n B row n an d P a tr ic k Hill O sb o rn e m a d e co u n te r-o ffe rs. B row n
o ffered se v e n a c r e s a t B ro w n sv ille on le a s e , to be c o n v ey ed to tru s te e s
if £200 w e re e x p en d ed on im p ro v e m e n ts w ith in tw o y e a rs ; b u t ev en
a f te r th e c o n v e y a n c e th e re w ould h a v e b e en s trin g s a tta c h e d (w hich
g iv e s so m e su p p o rt to M r. D e n n iss’s r e m a r k s q u o ted e a r lie r ) . O sborne
o ffered a ch o ice of tw o te n -a c re s ite s, to b e c o n v ey ed o u trig h t. A fter
so m e v a c illa tio n (Jo h n B row n b ein g th e p re s id e n t of th e S o ciety ) th e
C o m m itte e on 18th A ug u st 1894 a c c e p te d one of O sb o rn e ’s s ite s, G eo rg e
L in d say p o in tin g out th e u n d e n ia b le fa c ts th a t “ it c o n siste d of th re e
a c r e s m o re g ro u n d a n d it w a s c lo se to th e ra ilw a y s ta tio n ” . T h e s e le c te d
site w a s d e s c rib e d a s “ b e tw e e n M r. H e in in g e r’s b u tc h e r ’s shop a n d th e
R ev. M r. S ta c k ’s p a rs o n a g e , h a v in g a fro n ta g e to th e M .S.C.
(M ain South C oast), ro a d . T h e g ro u n d is le v e l, b u t ra is e d , a n d h a s good
d ra in a g e , w hich w ill k ee p it d ry in th e w e tte s t of w e a th e r ” . It w a s s ta te d
th a t “ th e re s id e n ts of D a p to in te n d to e r e c t a p u b lic h a ll....fo r m e e tin g
an d g e n e ra l p u rp o s e s ” . M r. C a m p b e ll M .L.A . w a s re q u e s te d to se e k “ a
sp e c ia l g r a n t fo r th e D ap to A. a n d H. A sso c ia tio n ” fro m th e M in iste r of
A g ric u ltu re , a n d th e full C o m m itte e w e re a p p o in te d “ To c a n v a s s th e
w hole of th e d is tric t in o rd e r to o b ta in fu n d s .”
T he Lake Illa w a rra Harbour S chem e. A g r e a t im p e tu s to th e g ro w th
of th e tow n w a s g iv en b y th e L a k e I lla w a r r a a n d sm e ltin g w o rk s
s c h e m e s (D a p to ’s g r e a t m ig h t-h a v e -b e e n s, w hich if th e y h a d fully
co m e off, could h a v e m a d e D ap to w h a t P o rt K e m b la now is ). T h e sto ry
of th e s e s c h e m e s a n d of th e w o rk s th e m se v le s h a s been told e ls e w h e re
( “ T he Old D ap to S m e ltin g W o rk s” by R ev . B ro. J . P . O ’M alley * a n d
n eed n ot be re p e a te d a t le n g th . It b e g a n w ith th e Illa w a rra H a rb o u r
an d L an d C o rp o ra tio n ’s s c h e m e to c a r r y o u t h a rb o u r w o rk s a t L ak e
Illa w a rra a n d d re d g e a c h a n n e l 23 fe e t d e e p a c ro s s th e la k e to p e rm it
o cean-going v e sse ls to co m e up to E liz a b e th P o in t, a s h o rt d is ta n c e
n o rth of K an ah o o k a P o in t, w h en ce co al w ould b e sh ip p e d , a fte r h a v in g
been b ro u g h t by ra il fro m a c o llie ry , la te r know n a s F le m in g ’s M ine, in
th e ra n g e b eh in d W est D ap to . T he ra ilw a y w a s a b o u t 5% m ile s lo n g . It
w as b u ilt a t a c o st of a b o u t £42,000 a n d so m e re lic s of it c a n still be
seen . F o w le rs R o ad u se s p a r t of its ro a d b ed , old ra ils fo rm in g p a r t of
th e s p u r w hich co n n e c te d it to th e m a in lin e w e re till re c e n tly
e m b e d d e d in M a rs h a ll S tre e t, a n d a r e still in p o sitio n b e h in d th e high
fe n c e s on
e ith e r sid e a n d old e m b a n k m e n ts , c u ttin g s a n d b ro k en
v ia d u c ts c a n be se e n a t v a rio u s p o in ts a ro u n d K a n ah o o k a , B ong Bong
R o ad , W ongaw illi a n d W est D ap to . It is sa id th a t, a p a r t fro m th e
70
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry Dapto.
c o n tr a c to r ’s tr a in s em p lo y e d on th e c o n stru c tio n , th e o rig in a l c o m p a n y
only e v e r r a n one tr a in o v e r its w hole le n g th - th a t w h ich c a r r ie d th e
officia l p a r ty a t th e o p ening.
T he S m eltin g W orks.
By th e tim e th e ra ilw a y w as o p en ed th e
o rig in a l s c h e m e h a d b een a b a n d o n e d ; b u t so m e of th e p ro m o te rs h a d
lifte d th e ir sig h ts a n d a new c o m p a n y (th e S m eltin g C o m p an y of
A u s tra lia L td .) h a d b een fo rm e d , w ith a b a c k in g of o v e rs e a s c a p ita l, to
e s ta b lis h la r g e sm e ltin g w o rk s in th e a re a . N e a r K a n a h o o k a P o in t th e
top w a s c u t off one of tw o h ills know n a s “ T h e T w in s” , p ro v id in g a
s e r ie s of le v e ls to w hich th e o re s w ould g r a v ita te fro m one s ta g e of
tr e a tm e n t to a n o th e r, w o rk s w e re b u ilt, a s p u r ra ilw a y fro m th e
E liz a b e th P o in t L in e w a s c o n s tru c te d - b u t th e c o a l u se d c a m e fro m
c o llie rie s f u r th e r n o rth , n o t fro m W est D a p to , a n d w a s c o n v e rte d in to
coke a t the A u stra lia n Coke C o m p a n y ’s W orks n e a r th e p o in t w h e re th e
M ount K e m b la R a ilw a y c ro s se d th e m a in lin e. So th e g r e a te r p a r t of
th e llla w a r r a H a rb o u r a n d L an d C o m p a n y ’s ra ilw a y p ro v e d a w hite
e le p h a n t. T he c ro ssin g o v e r th e m a in lin e w a s re m o v e d in 1902, lo cal
f a r m e r s m o v e d in a n d s q u a tte d on th e ro a d b ed , a n d only th e d e fu n c t
c o m p a n y ’s title to th e la n d re m a in e d to b e d e v il g e n e ra tio n s of
so lic ito rs y e t u n b o rn .
T he w o rk s th e m se lv e s w e re in full sw ing by 1899 a n d for a few y e a rs
p ro s p e re d , tr e a tin g le a d , silv e r, zinc, c o p p e r a n d gold fro m B roken
H ill, Z eeh an , M ount M o rg an a n d W estern A u s tra lia . At one tim e th ey
e m p lo y ed 500 m e n a t a ru lin g r a t e of 6s. a n d 6d. a d a y - n o t too b a d a w ag e
w hen a fo u r-ro o m e d w e a th e rb o a rd h o u se in D a p to c o u ld b e re n te d fo r 7s.
a w eek o r b u ilt fo r £200. H. F . B an fie ld w a s a d v e rtis in g u p to d a te
ta ilo rin g w ith p e rfe c tly fittin g su its fo r 42s., g u a ra n te e d q u a lity 50s.,
h ig h e s t g r a d e 60s.
A B oom Tow n. T he tow n w as flo u rish in g . It h a d fo u r h o te ls: th e old
L ak e llla w a r r a a t B ro w n sv ille, w h e re M a rtin S m ith a n d h is m a te found
“ th e ro o m w ell fu rn ish e d a n d sc ru p u lo u sly c le a n ” , th e b re a k fa s t
“ e x c e lle n t” a n d th e h o st, a M r. C a rte r , “ g e n ia l” , one c lo se to th e
ra ilw a y s ta tio n , w hose b u ild in g sto o d till a few y e a r s ag o , th o u g h th e
g lo ry h a d d e p a rte d , a n d it h ad d e c lin e d in to a m e r e b o a rd in g -h o u se ;
one on th e p re s e n t site (b u t not, of c o u rs e , th e p re s e n t b u ild in g ); a n d
R e id ’s H otel on th e m a in ro a d o p p o site C lev ela n d R o a d , R eid h im se lf
w a s a g r e a t s p o rts m a n a n d p a tro n of s p o rt, a n d fo r m a n y y e a r s th e
lo cal c ric k e t m a tc h e s w e re p la y e d ju s t b e h in d h is h o tel. *
• T h e re w a s a lso th e F a r m e r s ’ A rm s, on th e slo p e dow n from
U n a n d e rra to K e m b la G ra n g e . M iss D en n iss re m e m b e r e d it a s a sla b
a n d b a rk b u ild in g , still sta n d in g in h e r y o u n g d a y s. It w as no t only th e
build in g th a t w as p rim itiv e , e v e n by th e e a s y s ta n d a rd s of c o u n try
p u b s in th e n in e tie s. M a rtin S m ith found it a d is a s te r a r e a : “ M v b ed
w a s v e ry d a m p , a n d G eo rg e fa n c ie d h e h a d a ll th e liv e sto c k in th e
‘The City S u rp a s s in g N e w c a stle '
71
d is tric t in h is ” ; a n d w hen S m ith a sk e d th e la n d la d y fo r so m e m ilk sh e
“ took th e g la s s e s in to th e y a rd a n d m ilk e d it s tr a ig h t fro m th e co w ” . It
is only f a ir to a d d th a t S m ith sp e a k s of th e k in d n e ss th e y re c e iv e d . T h e
pub w as “ k e p t by Irish p e o p le ” , w hich e v id e n tly e x p la in e d e v e ry th in g .
T he tow n also h a d th e D ap to E n te r p r is e B an d , a d ra m a tic so c ie ty ,
a n d a ra c e -c o u rs e b e tw e e n K a n a h o o k a P o in t a n d M ullet C reek w hich
w a s la te r u sed fo r liv e h a re c o u rsin g . It h a d a b ic y c le clu b a n d a
b ic y c le sh o p (on th e s ite of B o w d en ’s P h a r m a c y ) , w h ich h u n g o u t a
full-sized p e n n y -fa rth in g b ic y c le o v e r th e fo o tp a th a s a tr a d e sig n . T he
South C o ast H e ra ld , a w eek ly fo u n d ed a t A lbion P a r k in 1895, m o v e d to
D ap to in 1902. It w a s a c c o rd in g to M r. A rm s tro n g , “ g e n e ra lly a liv e
w ire tow n in w hich tw o p o lice o ffic e rs w e re s ta tio n e d ” . O ne w o n d ers
w h e th e r th e tw o w ould h a v e b ee n en o u g h , fo r it is s a id th a t “ h a lf th e
p o p u latio n w e re liv in g in te n ts, p rin c ip a lly in th e b u sh alo n g th e b a n k s
of M ullet C re e k ” a n d th e s e in c lu d e d “ fifty o r six ty W ooloom ooloo
la r r ik i n s ” ; a n d th e tw o o ffic e rs m u s t h a v e b een fully e x te n d e d on
S a tu rd a y n ig h ts try in g to p o lice fo u r h o tels a n d to k e ep th e le a d e rs of
th e p u sh fro m ta n g lin g w ith th e so -an d -so s fro m th e b ush.
The D ap to C o u rt H ouse. S ince th is could n o t a lw a y s b e p re v e n te d ,
th e tow n h a d its ow n C o u rt H ouse, ev en th o u g h a sm a ll one. By th e
tim e th e m a g is tr a te , th e p ro s e c u to r, th e p ris o n e r, h is le g a l a d v is e r an d
a w itn e ss o r tw o h a d b e e n fitte d in , ju s tic e m a y h a v e b een done, b u t it
could s c a r c e ly h a v e b ee n se e n to b e done, fo r nobody e lse w ould h a v e
got in to se e it. T he b u ild in g , a b o u t th e size of tw o a v e ra g e c o u n try
co n v e n ie n c e s, stood till q u ite re c e n tly , w ith th e fa d e d leg e n d “ C ourt
H o u se” on one of its w indow s, on F a ir le y s ’ la n d a t th e c o rn e r of th e
m a in ro a d a n d Bong Bong S tre e t. It is sa id to h a v e been p la c e d th e re
fo r th e m o re sp e e d y a d m in is tra tio n of ju s tic e b y M r. J . G. F a ir le y ,
J .P ., w ho could slip ou t of th e sid e d o o r of h is s to re , e x e rc is e a v e ry
s u m m a ry ju ris d ic tio n , a n d re tu rn to a tte n d to th e n e x t c u sto m e r. It
should be a d d e d , h o w e v e r, th a t M r. F a ir le y te m p e re d ju s tic e w ith
m e r c y ; a c c o rd in g to lo cal tra d itio n h is s e n te n c e s w e re u su a lly
su sp e n d e d on co n d itio n th a t h e p ris o n e r c a u g h t th e n e x t Sydney tr a in ,
u n d e r th e w a tc h fu l e y e of th e s e r g e a n t of police.
D ap to D o cto rs. D u rin g th e S m e ltin g W orks boom th e tow n a c q u ire d a
d o c to r. D r. W. B. C u rg e n v e n p u t in a b rie f a p p e a ra n c e , b u y in g a block
of la n d on th e m a in ro a d (fo r £ 3 p e r foot) fro m J o h n B row n in 1896.
A ccording to D r. H a rry L ee, a v e te r a n W ollongong p ra c titio n e r, “ he
fell in to fin a n c ia l d ifficu lties....W h e n I la s t h e a rd of D r. C u rg en v en he
w as la y in g th e odds a t R a n d w ic k ” . A fter a n in te rv a l of so m e y e a rs he
w as follow ed by a D r. S co tt, so m e w h a t eq u iv o c a lly c o m m e n d e d by D r.
L ee a s “ a v e ry good p ra c titio n e r w hen a t h is b e st a n d a v e ry n ice
m a n .”
D r. S c o tt’s M otor B uggy. W hile in D ap to , w ro te D r. L ee, “ D r. S cott
a c h ie v e d fa m e in tw o w ay s. He w a s th e firs t m a n to b rin g into th e
d is tric t a m o to r-b u g g y . T h e se w e re te r rib le m a c h in e s. T hey w e re high
d ouble b u g g ie s w ith a n e n g in e u n d e r th e s e a t, tra n s m is s io n by tw o
72
N in e te e n th -C e n tu ry D apto.
b e lts, solid ty re s , a n d top sp e e d of a b o u t tw elv e m ile s a n h o u r. T hey
m a d e a no ise lik e a tra c tio n e n g in e, g a v e out a te r rib le sm e ll, an d
n e v e r did m o re th a n tw e n ty m ile s w ith o u t re q u irin g so m e a d ju s tm e n t.
Dr. S c o tt’s T iger. “ D r. S c o tt’s sec o n d c la im to im m o r ta lity w a s th a t
he w a s a s f a r a s I know , th e only D o cto r in A u stra lia e v e r to be
a tta c k e d by a m a n -e a tin g tig e r. He w a s w alk in g b a c k fro m a
fa rm -h o u s e on F a rm b o ro u g h R o ad w hen h e w as se iz ed fro m b eh in d by
a la r g e a n im a l th a t h e took to b e a tig e r. T h e tig e r g ra b b e d him by th e
w a ist a n d p ro c e e d e d to c a r r y him to th e ro a d , I p re s u m e to e a t h im on
th e m a in ro a d . D ra g g in g h im th ro u g h th e b a rb e d -w ire fen ce, h e b ro k e
a b o ttle of ch lo ro fo rm th a t S co tt h a d in his p o ck e t. T h e sm ell
p re s u m a b ly a la r m e d th e b e a s t, fo r he d ro p p e d S cott a n d m a d e off. He
h a s n e v e r b een se e n sin c e . S co tt e sc a p e d b u t w a s v e ry b a d ly s c ra tc h e d .
H e told m e th e sto ry h im s e lf” .
D ap to At Its Z en ith . In 1903 th e C o m m issio n er fo r R a ilw a y s d e c la re d
th a t D ap to w as th e m o st v a lu a b le sta tio n on th e llla w a r r a L ine, its
tra ffic b ein g d o u b le th a t of W ollongong. H opes fo r th e fu tu re w ere
b rig h te r still: “ A b e a u tifu l tow n is b ein g m a r k e d out a t T a llw a rra
P o in t w h e re th e c ity s u rp a ssin g N e w c astle w ill b e ” .
C losing of th e S m eltin g W orks. T h en , q u ite su d d e n ly , e v e ry th in g
folded up. C o m p etitio n c u t off th e su p p ly of o re fro m W estern A u stra lia
an d B ro k en H ill, an a m b itio u s sc h e m e fo r tr e a tin g n ick el fro m New
C aled o n ia c a m e to n o th in g , a n d in 1905 th e w o rk s c lo sed . T h e c o m p a n y
w as re c o n s tru c te d a n d n e x t y e a r b e g a n to sh ift its w o rk s to P o rt
K e m b la , w h e re th e g o v e rn m e n t w as c o n stru c tin g a h a rb o u r, b u t w ork
on th e tr a n s f e r w as sto p p e d b efo re it w as c o m p le te d , a n d in 1909 th e
c o m p a n y w en t into liq u id a tio n . Its m o st e n d u rin g m e m o ria l looks like
b ein g th e long-w inded, in v o lv ed , a n d in p ra c tic e q u ite m e a n in g le s s
c o v e n a n t w hich a fflic ts th e title to h a lf th e la n d in D ap to .
D ap to At Its N a d ir. T h e c o lla p se of th e w o rk s p ro d u c e d a te m p o ra ry
c o lla p se of th e tow n - one a c c o u n t s a y s “ it s u ffe re d a n a lm o st co m p le te
c lip s ie ” (sc. e c lip se ). M any b u sin e ss p eo p le w e re v irtu a lly ru in e d
b e c a u se of u n p a id d e b ts. D ozens of h o u se s, c o m p le te o r p a rtia lly
e re c te d , w e re c a r te d a w a y b odily, m o stly to P o rt K e m b la . O ne b u ild e r
alo n e, E d w a rd S im p so n , re m o v e d a n d re -e re c te d o v e r 80. T hose w hich
re m a in e d w e re sold for a s little a s £40 o r le t in th e c a s e of b e tte r-c la s s
ho u se fo r Is. o r 2s. a w e e k ; th e o w n e rs of m e r e ly a v e r a g e h o u se s w ould
le t th e m r e n t fre e , fo r th e s a k e of h a v in g th e m liv ed in a n d looked a fte r.
T he m o ra le of th e tow nsfolk w a s so s h a k e n th a t in a lo c a l option poll th ey
v o ted fo r p ro h ib itio n . A lthough th is w a s n o t c a r r ie d b y th e n e c e s s a ry
tw o -th ird s m a jo rity , th e re s u lt w as su ffic ie n t to b rin g a b o u t a re d u c tio n of
lic e n se s a n d th e ericTof th e old h otel a t th e Bong Bong S tre e t c o rn e r.
In th is s o r ry s ta te w e le a v e D ap to , th e sh ad o w of w h a t it h a d b een in
its b rie f boom . B ut p e rh a p s , w hen one c o n sid e rs w h a t th e sm e ltin g
p ro c e s se s th en in u se could do to a la n d s c a p e , th e loss of th e S m eltin g
’" T h e City S u rp a s s in g N e w c a s t le ” :
73
W orks w a s not th e u n m itig a te d d is a s te r it se e m e d a t th e tim e . At le a s t
D ap to h a s n e v e r been d e sc rib e d , lik e one T a s m a n ia n tow n w h e re
lo n g -e sta b lish e d sm e ltin g w o rk s h a d d one th e ir w o rst, a s “ H ell w ith th e
fire s o u t” .
T H E D A PTO SM E L T IN G W ORKS
( Illa w a rra H isto ric a l S ociety c o lle c tio n )
T H E ILLA W A R RA L A K E H O T E L , c 1890
N ote o ld e r w ing on left
( C a rl W eb er c o lle c tio n )
A ppendix I
The Nam e of Dapto
T he e a r lie s t know n u se of th e n a m e of D ap to is in th e in s tru c tio n s to
S u rv e y o r K n ap p in 1829 to m a r k o u t th e v e te r a n s ’ g r a n ts on D apto
C reek.
T h e re is m o re th a n one school of th o u g h t on th e d e riv a tio n a n d
m e a n in g of th e n a m e . T he m o re p ro s a ic v e rs io n , th a t it is a n a b o rig in a l
w o rd , is b a c k e d by J a m e s J e r v is , w ho g iv es no m e a n in g , a n d b y M r. A.
A rm s tro n g , w ho sa y s it m e a n s “ p le n ty w a te r .” T h is m e a n in g h a d been
q u o ted in 1893 by Jo h n B row n, a p p a re n tly w ith a p p ro v a l a n d c e rta in ly
w ith o u t d e m u r, fro m “ a c o rre sp o n d e n t so m e tim e a g o ” in th e Town
a n d C o u n try J o u r n a l: “ T h e w e ste rn p o rtio n of th e H ooka la n d s to w a rd s
W est D a p to ....w a s c a lle d by th e a b o rig in a ls ‘D a b p e to ’ h e n c e th e n a m e
of th e s e ttle m e n t D ap to . T he m e a n in g of th e w o rd ‘D a b p e to ’ is ‘W a te r
p le n ty ’, a n d d u rin g th e re c e n t floods th e re s id e n ts of th e lo c a lity h a v e
h a d a m p le p ro o f of th e c o rr e c tn e s s of th e s a m e . It is, h o w ev e r,
u n d e rsto o d th a t th e w o rd do es no t re f e r to flood w a te rs b u t to th e m a n y
s tr e a m s of b e a u tifu l fre sh w a te r th a t flow th ro u g h th a t p o rtio n of th e
d is tr i c t.”
B row n h a d th en liv ed in llla w a r r a fo r o v e r s ix ty y e a rs . H e w as
in te re s te d in th e lo cal a b o rig in e s, a s a p p e a rs fro m le tte r s a n d a rtic le s
c o n trib u te d by him to lo cal p a p e rs , a n d a p p a re n tly h a d so m e
k n ow ledge of th e ir la n g u a g e .
To th e c o n tr a ry th e re a r e v a rio u s th e o rie s w h ich h a v e one p o in t in
co m m o n - th a t th e n a m e is in so m e w ay a c o rru p tio n of “ D a b -to e ” . M r.
E . B e a le w ro te in th e llla w a r r a H isto ric a l S o ciety B u lletin (M a rc h ,
1975) th a t he w a s told “ by a g re a t-a u n t w ho u se d to s it on th e k n e e of
h e r g ra n d f a th e r C h a rle s T h ro sb y S m ith ....th a t th e n a m e ‘D a p to ’
re f e r r e d to a m a n w ho h a d lo st a to e, th o u g h I c a n n o t r e c a ll how th is
h a p p e n e d , e x c e p t th a t a n a x e p e rfo rm e d th e o p e ra tio n .” M r. B eale
w en t on to q u o te R ev. W. B. C la rk ’s d a iry fo r 9th J a n u a r y 1840: “ M t.
D ap to is not a n a tiv e n a m e . I u n d e rs ta n d it w a s so c a lle d fro m a m a n
c u ttin g off h is toe w ith a h a tc h e t.”
A South C o a st T im e s w rite r in 1957 a p p a re n tly tr ie d to w o rk o u t a
c o m p ro m ise , w hen he s a id th a t “ a u th o r itie s ” (u n sp e c ifie d ) in te rp re te d
it a s a la m e c h ie f o r la m e a b o rig in e ; th e n h im se lf a lle g e d th a t it w as
th e n ic k n a m e of “ a n old a b o rig in e in th e d is tric t w ith a p e rm a n e n tly
in ju re d fo o t.”
T h e la te M r. D a v id D en n iss sa id th a n a n in v e s tig a tio n in co n n ectio n
w ith a “ B a c k to D a p to W eek ” in 1931 w a s in c o n c lu siv e , b u t it se e m e d
A ppendix I
75
m o s t lik ely th a t in so m e w a y it w a s d e riv e d fro m “ D a b -to e ” . His
s is te r, the la te M iss L illian D en n iss, told m e th a t sh e h a d h e a rd fro m
h e r fa th e r th a t th e re w as a n old a b o rig in e in th e d is tric t n ic k n a m e d
“ D a b -to e ” , b e c a u se “ h e h a d w eb b ed fe e t lik e a d u c k ” (a n in trig u in g
th o u g h t, but th e logic of th e n ic k n a m e e s c a p e s m e ).
T he “ D a b -to e ” th e o ry in its m o s t e n tic in g fo rm (a n d th e only fo rm
w hich o ffe rs a n y p la u sib le e x p la n a tio n of th e “ d a b ” p a r t) a p p e a re d in
the C h a rte r N ight p ro g r a m m e of th e D ap to R o ta ry C lub: “ T he c h ie f of
a sm a ll tr ib e of b la c k s liv in g in th e g u llies of W est D ap to w a s a big
m a n a n d of a v e ry in q u isitiv e n a tu r e . O ne d a y a f a r m e r ’s w ife h a d a
la r g e w a sh -b a sin of b u tte r m a d e a n d sa lte d . T he b la c k s w ith th e ir ch ie f
w e re , a s u su a l, v isitin g th e fa r m . T h e c h ie f d a b b e d h is big toe into th e
b u tte r. U pon the re tu rn of th e fa r m e r fro m th e plo u g h in g field th e c h ie f
w as p ro m p tly c h riste n e d ‘D a b -to e ’. ”
In s h o rt, w hile the w itn e sse s w ould a lm o s t u n a n im o u sly a g re e th a t
“ in the e n tire a n n a ls of o u r h is to ry th e r e is a b so lu te ly no c irc u m s ta n c e
so e n tire ly fre e fro m all m a n n e r of d o u b t of a n y k in d w h a te v e r,” th a t
is ab o u t all th ey w ould a g re e on.
T hough it is not s tric tly a c c u r a te - fo r I h a v e m y own opinion on
w hich e x p la n a tio n is m o st lik ely - it is te m p tin g to q u o te a n E n g lish
ju d g e ’s c la s sic su m m in g u p : “ G e n tle m en of th e ju r y , you h a v e h e a rd
the e v id e n c e in th is c a se . If you b eliev e th e w itn e sse s fo r th e p la in tiff,
you w ill find fo r th e p la in tiff. If you b e lie v e th e w itn e sse s fo r th e
d e fe n d a n t, you w ill find for th e d e fe n d a n t. If, lik e m e , you d o n ’t b eliev e
an y of th e m , God only know s how you w ill find. C o n sid er y o u r
v e r d ic t! ”
“ PENRO SE”
T he h o m e of th e E v a n s fam ily
A ppendix II
Buildings included in N ational Trust
o f A u stra lia ( N S W )
Register o f H istoric Buildings
R e c o m m e n d e d C L A S S IF IE D ( “ In th e T r u s t’s view e ss e n tia l to th e
h e rita g e of A u stra lia a n d m u s t be p re s e r v e d ” ):
“ H o rsle y ” , Bong B ong R o ad .
“ M a rsh a ll M o u n t” , M a rsh a ll M ount R oad.
St. L u k e ’s C h u rch of E n g la n d (O sb o rn e M e m o ria l)
in clu d in g old C h u rch , P rin c e E d w a rd D riv e , B row nsville'.
R E C O R D E D : ( “ c o n trib u te s to th e h e rita g e of A u stra lia a n d should be
re c o rd e d a n d p re s e rv a tio n e n c o u ra g e d ” :
“ C le v e la n d ” , C lev elan d R o ad .
“ P e n ro s e ” , P rin c e s H ig h w ay .
F o r m e r D (new listin g to b e d e te r m in e d ) :
“ A v o n d a le ” , A vo n d ale R o ad .
(L ist a s a d v is e d by N a tio n a l T ru s t, S e p te m b e r, 1975)
A D D EN D U M
“ CLEVELAND”
O ne of th e p ro p e rtie s liste d a b o v e , “ C le v e la n d ” , is c u rio u sly little
know n. It is in v isib le fro m C lev elan d R o a d , th o u g h v isib le in th e d is ta n c e
fro m A v ondale R o ad . P e rh a p s b e c a u se its o w n e rs c h a n g e d so o fte n , a n d
so m a n y w e re a b s e n te e s , few of th e m le ft m u c h m a r k lo c a lly . At th e tim e
of its listin g b y th e N a tio n a l T ru s t p ra c tic a lly no in fo rm a tio n on its
h is to ry w a s a v a ila b le ; b u t w hile th is b o o k let w a s in th e p re s s M r. E d g a r
B e a le g e n e ro u s ly m a d e a v a ila b le th e re s u lts of h is r e s e a r c h e s , fro m
w hich th e follow ing n o te is a b s tra c te d .
Appendix II
77
“ C le v e la n d ” s ta n d s on a g r a n t of 600 a c r e s (P o rtio n 59, P a r is h of
K e m b la ) m a d e in 1833 to G eo rg e W illiam P a u l, a S ydney m e r c h a n t, w ho
h a d d isp o sed of h is la n d ev en b e fo re th e g r a n t w as issu ed . A s e r ie s of
su b d iv isio n s a n d c o n v e y a n c e s follow ed in fa irly ra p id su c c e ssio n . In
F e b ru a r y , 1841 M a u ric e F itz g e ra ld b o u g h t 300 a c r e s for £ 150; in M ay of
the s a m e y e a r h e sold 145 a c re s fo r £800; w hich su g g e s ts th a t th e ho u se
w a s b u ilt in th e in te rv a l.
T he p u rc h a s e r, H e rc u le s W att, h e ld it only till N o v e m b e r, w hen h e sold
to C o rn eliu s W holohan, w ho m o rtg a g e d th e p ro p e rty to one T h o m a s
J e s s e tt. T h en in 1843, in th e d e p th of th e d e p re ssio n of th e “ h u n g ry
f o r tie s ” , W holohan d ied . J e s s e tt e x e rc is e d h is p o w er of s a le - so m e w h a t
d u b io u sly , “ fo r a su sp icio u sly low p ric e a n d in a su sp ic io u sly sh o rt tim e ” ,
to a p u r c h a s e r w ho sold b a c k to him b e fo re th e y e a r w as o u t. J e s s e tt
w o rk ed th e p ro p e rty fo r s e v e ra l y e a rs , e v id e n tly su c c e ssfu lly , w inning
p riz e s a t lo cal show s fo r p ro d u c e (in clu d in g h o p s), p o u ltry , cow s a n d
p ig s, b eco m in g a s te w a rd a n d a c o m m itte e m e m b e r of th e Show S ociety,
an d fo r th r e e y e a r s a m e m b e r of th e llla w a r r a D istric t C ouncil. T hen
W holohan’s h e ir, h is son T h o m a s, bo u g h t a n e q u ity su it to re d e e m th e
m o rtg a g e a n d , a fte r p ro tra c te d p ro c e e d in g s, in 1853 J e s s e tt w a s o u ste d
fro m h is se e m in g ly ill-g o tten e s ta te .
T h o m a s W holohan, h o w e v e r, a p p a re n tly sa w h is re d e e m e d in h e rita n c e
only a s a so u rc e of p ro fit. He p ro m p tly sold to W illiam S p e e r, w ho sold in
1856 to W illiam H ow e, a son of W illiam H ow e of “ G le n le e ” . H ow e
s u rv iv e d only tw o y e a r s ; h is w idow a n d d a u g h te r liv ed e ls e w h e re , a n d
th e p ro p e rty w a s le t to a su cc e ssio n of te n a n ts , a m o n g th e m M r. K ing
B a rto n , w ho h a d been G o v e rn o r F itz R o y ’s p riv a te s e c r e ta r y - a n office
c a llin g fo r th e u tm o s t d is c re tio n a n d d ip lo m a c y - a n d h is w ife, a g ra n d e
d a m e in th e h ig h V icto ria n tra d itio n w ho m u s t h a v e s tru c k a w e in to th e
n a tiv e s. “ A ny su g g e stio n th a t th e y w o rk ed th e f a r m ” , s a y s M r. B eale,
“ m u s t b e q u ick ly d isc o u n te d ; n e ith e r of th e m e v e r w h ilst on th is e a rth
su llied a h a n d w ith ev en d o m e stic w o rk ” .
In 1888 th e p ro p e rty w a s sold, e v id e n tly in p o o r co n d itio n (th e p ric e h a d
d ro p p e d o v e r th irty -tw o y e a rs fro m £3500 to £2610) to th e M ad d en
fa m ily , w ho h e ld it till 1912.
T he h o u se, d e s c rib e d a s p o sse ssin g “ a rc h ite c tu ra l in te re s t, c h a r m a n d
a tm o s p h e r e ” , h a s u n fo rtu n a te ly su ffe re d so m u c h fro m th e ra v a g e s of
tim e , a n d of e a r th tr e m o rs in re c e n t y e a rs , a s to m a k e its fu tu re
e x tre m e ly d o ubtful.
Notes
R e fe re n c e s in th e te x t a n d n o te s to C ousins, J e r v is a n d M cC affrey
a r e re s p e c tiv e ly t o :
C ousins, A rth u r:
T h e G a rd e n of N ew South W ales.
( P r o d u c e r s ’ Co-op. D istrib u tin g
S ociety L td ., S y d n ey , 1948).
J e r v is , J a m e s :
I lla w a r r a : A C e n tu ry of H isto ry ,
1788-1888. (R o y al A u s tra lia n H isto ric a l S ociety
J o u rn a l a n d P ro c e e d in g s, Vol. X X V III, S y d n ey , 1942).
M cC affrey , F r a n k :
T h e H isto ry of Illa w a rra a n d Its P io n e e rs.
(T he a u th o r, H a b e rfie ld , 1922).
1.
By M r. E d g a r B e a le , w ho h a s m a d e a d e ta ile d stu d y of R o b e rt
B row n a n d of th e e a rly e x p lo ra tio n of I lla w a r r a , th e r e s u lts of w hich
a r e to be p u b lish e d by th e Illa w a rra H isto ric a l S ociety.
2. M r. J .F .R . B ro w n e, in “ A H isto ry of W illiam ‘M e r c h a n t’ B ro w n e of
A b b o tsb u ry a n d A p p in ” (p u b lish ed by th e a u th o r, 1974).
3. In th e d e e d by w hich la te in 1832, G eo rg e B row n co n v ey e d th e 500
a c r e s to R ic h a rd B ro o k s, h e w as d e s c rib e d a s “ of S y d n ey , F a r m e r ” ,
a n d h is w ife ’s n a m e w a s g iv en a s M a ria . B ut in a m o r tg a g e o v e r a
y e a r b efo re G eo rg e B row n of B ro w n sv ille w a s d e sc rib e d a s “ of
I lla w a rra , In n k e e p e r” (w hich w ould still h a v e b een a n a p p ro p ria te
d e sc rip tio n in 1832) a n d his w ife w as M ary Ann (se e th e B row n fam ily
to m b in St. L u k e ’s C h u rc h y a rd ). M o reo v er, in th e m o rtg a g e h is 300
a c r e s a r e d e sc rib e d a s “ b o unded on th e so u th by 500 a c re s g ra n te d to
M r. G eo rg e B ro w n ” ; if m o rtg a g o r a n d ad jo in in g o w n er w e re one a n d
th e s a m e th e d e sc rip tio n w ould p re s u m a b ly h a v e re a d “ b o u n d ed on th e
so u th by o th e r la n d of th e sa id G eo rg e B ro w n ” , o r w o rd s to th a t effec t.
4. T he sto ry of H en ry a n d S a ra h O sb o rn e a n d of “ M a rsh a ll M o u n t” is
re la te d in m u ch g r e a te r d e ta il in “ S om e S o u th e rn H o m es of New South
W a le s” , by G. N esta G riffith s.
5. T hough th e old ho u se for a tim e fell on evil d a y s , it is a p le a s u re to
be a b le to a d d th a t it is now in good h a n d s a n d is b ein g fittin g ly
re s to re d by th e p re s e n t o w n er, M r. G. F . M cD onald.
6. M r. B. J . Dowd in “ T he F ir s t F iv e L an d G ra n te e s ” (p .5) a p p e a rs to
im p ly th a t “ M a c q u a rie G ift” w as in clu d ed in th e s a le of “ J o h n s to n ’s
M ead o w s” in 1876, b u t fro m title s w hich I h a v e in v e s tig a te d it se e m s
c le a r th a t th e M a rsh a ll M ount en d of th e g r a n t a t le a s t w as ow ned by
th e W estons till m u ch la te r.
7.
F o r th e sto ry of C h a rlie H ooka, se e Illa w a rra H isto ric a l Society
B u lletin s, O ct-N ov-D ec. 1970.
79
Notes
8. To w ale a te x t: to g iv e o u t th e te x t of a se rm o n .
S k irl: sh rie k , s c re a m .
S h a u c h lin ’: sh u fflin g ; h e n c e h e s ita tin g , u n c e rta in .
Sit u n d e r: to s it u n d e r a m in is te r w a s to a tte n d h is k irk a n d listen to
his se rm o n s.
T he q u o tatio n is fro m “ T h e S c o ts m a n ’s R e tu rn fro m A b ro a d ” , by R.
L. S tev en so n . In th e se u n re g e n e r a te d a y s it m a y be n e c e s s a ry to ad d
th a t th e p re c e d in g v e rs e q u o ta tio n is fro m th e m e tric a l P s a lm s .
9. L a n g ’s co n n ectio n w ith K e m b la G ra n g e is m o re fully d e a lt w ith in
“ Jo h n D u n m o re L an g on M ullet C re e k ,” by A. G ilc h rist.
10. Jo h n D u n m o re L a n g w as e v id e n tly of th is op in io n : “ T h e re w a s a
s e ttle m e n t of v e te r a n so ld ie rs fo rm e d by th e la te colonial a d m in is tr a t­
ion: th e is su e of w hich , I a m s o rry to sa y , e n tire ly c o n firm s th e
re m a r k s I h a v e e lse w h e re m a d e , in r e g a r d to th e im p ro b a b ility of e v e r
fo rm in g a n in d u strio u s a n d th riv in g p o p u latio n o u t of such m a t e r i a ls .”
11.
M cC affrey r e la te s th a t w hen th e b la c k s w e re ra id in g th e m a iz e
p a d d o ck , S h e a ffe ’s o v e rs e e r c o n c e a le d h im se lf in th e c ro p w ith a
d ra w n sw o rd , a n d , w hen a b la c k re a c h e d th ro u g h th e fe n ce to ste a l a
cob, sla sh e d off th e th ie f’s h a n d . T h is sto ry is, I th in k , to be re g a rd e d
w ith su sp icio n . It se e m s in h e re n tly im p ro b a b le - sh o o tin g w ould h a v e
been le ss tro u b le ; M cC affrey , a s w ell a s b ein g c re d u lo u s, w as e a g e r to
r e p e a t, so fa r a s th e law allo w ed , a n y sto ry te n d in g to th e d is c re d it of
P r o te s ta n ts a n d th e E s ta b lis h m e n t; a n d an old re s id e n t te lls m e h e h a s
h e a rd th e sto ry re la te d of a d iffe re n t p erso n a t a d iffe re n t tim e a n d
place .
12.
E a s y d e sc e n t. P o ssib ly a re fe re n c e to V irg il’s facilis d escen su s
Averni - “ e a s y d e sc e n t to H e ll” .
13. J e r v is (p. 278) s a y s 1879; C ousins (p. 110) 1876.
14.
lllaw arra H istorical Society B ulletin, N o v em b e r 1973-D ecem ber
1975.
15. “ A rc h ite c t E x tr a o r d in a r y : T h e L ife a n d W ork of Jo h n H o rb u ry
H unt, 1838-1904,” by J . M. F re e la n d ; C assell. A u stra lia 1970.
16. llla w a r r a H isto ric a l S o ciety , 1950, seco n d ed itio n 1968.
17. T he lllaw arra M ercury of 16 J u n e 1876 re c o rd e d th a t “ on T u e sd ay
la s t M r. Jo h n R eid (la te of K ia m a ) a p p lie d for a n d o b ta in e d a
p u b lic a n ’s licen ce for th e p re m is e s fo rm e rly know n a s th e D ap to P o st
O ffice” .
R eed P a r k , one of the p rin c ip a l local sp o rts g ro u n d s, is so m e tim e s
said to h a v e d e riv e d its n a m e fro m Jo h n R eid. B ut on so m e p a rish
m a p s “ R eed P a r k ” (so sp e lt) a p p e a rs to be show n a s th e n a m e of
E d w a rd R o b e rt S ta c k ’s 300-acre g r a n t (P o rtio n 55, P a ris h of K e m b la)
w hich in clu d es th e p re s e n t p a rk . B y-law s g a z e tte d on 10 N o v e m b er 1922
r e f e rre d to “ th e lan d a t D ap to , a r e a 10 a c re s , p ro c la im e d 22nd
S e p te m b e r, 1893, to be a p u b lic P a r k ....a n d know n a s ‘R eed P a r k ’ ” .
T he a sc rip tio n of th e n a m e to Jo h n R eid th e re fo re s e e m s e x tre m e ly
doubtful.
INDEX
A g ric u ltu ra l S ociety, 47-50, 69
A lle y, G eorge Underw ood, 38, 45
“ A lle y ’s L in e " — see Bong Bong
Pass
Alpacas, at Avondale, 40-41
A rch ite ctu re : pioneer, 32-33
St. Lu ke’s, B row nsville , 64-65
A rm itag e, M isses (scho ol), 47
A rm stro n g , Thom as, 56
"A th a n lin ” , 11-13
“ A von da le” , 14, 16, 18, 40-41, 5556
Avondale P ub lic S chool, 60-61
Band, Dapto Enterprise, 71
B a n fie ld , H. J . , 70
B arrett, M ary, 26
B a yliss, Joseph, 62
Beach, W illia m , 62-64
B lackm an, Joh n, 66
Bong Bong Pass & Road, 37-39,
40
Bovard, Joh n, 62, 65, 68
B risbane, S ir Thom as, 15, 20
B rooks, Henry, 10
B rooks, Richard (snr.), 9, 10, 15
B rooks, R ichard (jn r.) & A ugusta,
10
Brow n, G eorge (I), 14, 39, 44, 45,
78
Brow n, G eorge (II), 14, 78
Brow n, G eorge W illia m (III), 15,
44, 49
Brow n, G eorge (IV) (’’little "), 49
Brow n, John: on Bong Bong
pass, 39, 40
Gives M e th o d ist Church site,
47
F irst Show Secretary, 48
A lderm an, 50
On "B ro w n ’s ” in 1873, 59-60
O ffers sch o o l site , 61
And B ill Beach, 62
O ffers b u ild in g fo r P.O ., 65
R eluctance to sell freeh old, 6768, 69
O ffe rs s h o w g ro u n d , 69
On nam e of Dapto, 74
B row n, R obert, 9
B row n, W illia m , 9
Brown fa m ily of W o llin g u rry , 54
“ B ro w n 's” , see B row nsville
B row n’s Inn (see also Hotels)
B row n’s M ill, 44, 48, 51, 52, 54
Browne, W illia m (“ Merchant”),
11-13
B ro w n sville (“ B ro w n ’s ” ): In 1873,
59-60
Post O ffice at, 65
B u ild in g s at, in 1883, 65
Name, firs t use o f, 65
Stagnates a fte r 1887, 67-68
Burke, Surveyor, 38-39
B utle r, L ie u t., 24
“ C a ld e rw o o d ” , 16
C am pbell, A rch ib a ld , M .P ., 3940, 68, 69
C am pbell, John T hom as, 11
Canadian “ P a trio te s” , 26
C arruth, Robert and W illia m , 22
C a ttle , Im provem ent o f breeding
(see also D airyin g), 54
C a ttle -S tealing Prevention A s s o ­
c ia tio n , 13
Cem etery, R .C ., W est Dapto, 24,
26, 29
Central Illaw arra, M u n ic ip a lity of:
fo rm a tio n , 50
H.Q. at Dapto, 50
move to Unanderra, 66
Cheese fa cto ry, 52
C hi, John, 46
C hi, John C hin, 46
C hurches: A n g lica n , 45-46, 6465, 69
M e th o d ist, 45-46, 68
P resbyterian, 45, 65, 68
Roman C a th o lic, 24, 46, 65, 68
Clarke, Rev. W. B., on name of
Dapto, 74
Clearing leases, 30-32
C liffo rd , Tom , 62, 63
Coach services, 44, 59
C oghlan, Rev. Father, 65
“ Coral Vale” , 27
Corr, Frank, 68
C o un try M ilk C o., 54
C ourt House, 71
Cowper, Dean, 64
Index
C ray, E lizabeth, 24
Cream , — (M anager o f “ Ex­
m o u th ” ), 10
Curgenven, Dr. W. B., 71
“ D ab-toe” (A b o rig in e ), 74-75
D airying: in 1870’s, described,
52-53
im p rovem e nt of breeding, 54
b u tte r fa c to ry , 54
cheese fa c to ry , 52
cream sent to Sydney, 54-55
w o rkin g c o n d itio n s , 56-57
“ Daisy B ank” , 15, 56
Dapto: nam e o f, 24, 71-72
to w n s h ip , in 1879, 59
new to w n centre, 67-69
Dapto Creek, V eterans’ grants on,
24
Dawes, Jam es, 55, 56
D enniss, Adam , 29, 32, 49, 51
Denniss, Richard and Sarah, 27,
29
Duck H o les, C. T. S m ith bogged
at, 37
“ D unlop V ale” (see also Kem bla
G range), 20-22
Elizabeth P oint, 69
Elyard, A lfre d , 14
Evans, Evan R obert, 14, 49, 50,
56, 62
Evans, G eorge W illia m , 9
Evans fa m ily and A .I.S . breed,
14, 54
E w ing, Dean, 64
“ E xm o u th ” , 9-10, 12, 16
F airley, J. G ., 71
F a ith fu ll, W. P., 38
F le m in g ’s M ine, 69
F rahlig, Henry, 46
Fraser, Jam es, 25
Fresh Food and Ice C o., 54
Gerard, Gerard, 22, 23, 45
Gerard, John, 45
G ipp s, S ir G eorge, 36
G raham , Joh n, 46-47
Hanlan, Edw ard, 63
Hargraves, Edward H am m ond,
44-45
H arris, A lexander, 12-13, 34-35
H arris, Joseph and A nastasia, 25
Harris, W illia m , 25
H aw orth, R obert, 23-24
Hayes, J., 46
H eininger, C ., 56, 62
81
H enning, Rachel, on railw ay, 55
Hooka, C harlie, 20
H o pkin s, Mary, 46
“ H o rsle y” , 10, 54
H otels: B row n’s Inn, 38, 44, 49
Farm er’s A rm s, 70-71
lllaw arra (Lake lllaw arra), 44,
49, 59, 70
Reid’s, 68, 70, 79
Ship Inn, 44
H u ffe r, Insp ector, 60-62
H u nt, John H orbury, 64-65
lllaw arra H arbour & Land C o rpo r­
a tio n , 69, 70
lllaw arra, Lake: 12, 13, 20, 69
races on, 62, 63
Irving, David W illia m s o n , 22-23,
49
Jacques, Surveyor, 38
Jam es, W illia m , 14
Jen kin s, W illia m W arren, 38, 45
Jo h n sto n , Blanche, 20
Jo h n sto n , David, 20
Jo h n sto n , G eorge and Esther, 19,
20
“ J o h n s to n ’s M eadow s” , 20
Kanahooka P oint, 10, 69
Kanahooka Road, 43
Keevers, W illia m , 25-26
Kem bla Grange: early h is to ry of,
20-24
Knapp, Surveyor, 24, 74
Lake lllaw arra H arbour schem e,
69
“ Lakelands” , 19, 56, 67
L a n d lo rd ism , end of, 55-56
Lang, A ndrew , 22
Lang, John D unm ore, 21-22, 79
Le vere tt, John: le tte rs quoted,
30, 31, 32
Lind say, G eorge, 10, 52, 68, 69
Lind say, John (snr. and jn r.), 10,
49
Lindsay, W illia m , 62
Literary and M utual In s tru c tio n
S ociety, 47
“ Log B rid g e ” , 27
Lynch, Stephen, 49
M cFarland,
(Judge)
A lfre d ,
qu oted , 52-53
M cK elly, John, 24
Mackenzie, K., 62
M cP hail, E lizabeth, 25
M cP hail, G eorge, 25, 46, 65, 68
82
M cP ha il, John and M argaret, 26
M acquarie, Lachlan, 11, 12, 19,
20
“ M acquarie G ift” , 19, 20, 32, 56,
78
M acquarie Pass, 40
M acquarie R ivulet, 12, 20, 36
Macrae, Duncan, 62
M albon, — , 48
M allon , Richard and E lizabeth, 24
Marceau, Joseph and Mary, 24
M arsh all, Anne, 15, 67
M arsh all, A rth u r, 45
M arsh all, Rev. B enjam in, 15
M arsh all, B enjam in H a m ilto n , 68
M arsh all, R obert, 15
M arsh all, Robert Jam es, 62, 64
M arshall Estate su b d iv is io n , 67
“ M arshall M o u n t” (E state), 16,
18, 55
M arshall M ou nt (L o c a lity ): M eth­
o d is t C hurch, 47
F ailure of w heat, 51
P ub lic S cho ol, 61
Meehan, Jam es, 9
M ille r, Rev. R ichard, 65
M issin g lin k , G. O sborne m eets,
60
M itc h e ll, Jam es, 24
M itc h e ll, (S ir) Thom as L iv in g ­
ston e, 25, 35
M oore & Vaughan, 37
M oran, M artin and C atherine, 29
M oran, Joh n, 29
M ora n’s Sw am ps, 29
M o to r B uggy, Dr. S c o tt's , 71-72
M u lle t Creek, 9, 21, 34, 44, 71
C ro ssing of, 34-35
B rid gin g o f, 36-37
S c u llin g races on, 62
Called “ Beach’s R iver", 63
“ M u lle t Creek F arm ", 14
Neale, Jam es, 10
“ N e w to n ", 22
O 'B rien, C o rn e liu s. Henry and
Thom as, 12
O sborne, A lic k , 15, 16, 44
O sborne, Anne, 15, 67
O sborne, G eorge (son of Henry),
19
O sborne, G eorge (p u b lica n ), 60
O sborne, H a m ilto n , 55
O sborne, Henry, 15-16, 18, 45, 47
Index
O sborne, Henry H ill, 18, 40-41,
50, 56-57
O sborne, Joh n, 15
O sborne, P atrick H ill, 19, 44, 6162, 67, 69
O sborne, Sarah, 15-16, 18
O sbo rn e’s C a ttle Track, 38-39
O xley, John, 9
Paterson, Andrew Barton (B anjo)
on B ill Beach, 63-64
“ P a trio te s ” , Canadian, 26
Pearson, Jam es, 51
Pearson, Joh n, 55
Pearson, W illia m , 55
"P e n ro se ” , 14, 54
“ P um pkin C o tta g e ” , 16, 18
Racecourse, 71
Railw ays: Illaw arra line, 67
Illaw arra H arbour & Land C or­
p o ra tio n ’s, 69-70
M ilk tra in s , 55
Railw ay sta tio n s : Dapto, 67, 72
Y allah, 43
Reed Park, 79
Reid, Joh n, 70, 79
R ifles, W o llo n g o n g V olunteer, 62
Rigney, Rev. Father, 46
Roads: Bong Bong, 37-39, 42-43,
67
F irst Dapto Road, 34
F ow ler’s, 69
Kanahooka, 41
M ain South Coast, 34, 35-36,
37
M arshall M ount, 41
W est Dapto, 34
R obins, John, 24
S chools: A rm ita g e ’s, 47
Avondale, 61
Dapto: “ E p isco p a lia n ", 61, 62
Dapto P resbyterian, 46, 61-62
Dapto P ub lic, 47, 61-62
Dapto R .C ., 46, 61, 62
M arshall M ount, 61
W est Dapto P ub lic, 26, 62
S cott, Dr., 71-72
Sheaffe, Capt. W illia m , 25, 45, 73
Shone, Surveyor, 39
“ Shoran
V ale",
see "D u n lo p
V ale", 39
S how ground: M u lle t Creek, 48
Moved to new to w n , 69
S im p son , Edward, 72
S m elting W orks, 70, 72
83
Index
S m ith , Charles T hrosby, 16, 25,
37, 44, 48, 74
S m ith, E lizabeth, 25
S m ith, G. O. M artin, 57, 66, 70-71
S m ith , Jam es and M ary, 26-27
S om e rville, G eorge, 47
"S o u th Coast H e rald” , 71
Stack, Rev. J., 64, 69
Stew art, A lexander, qu oted , 34,
35-36
Store at “ B ro w n ’s ” , in 1870’s,
54-55
S tuart, Rev. J. A ., 61
S turt, C harles, 25
T ait, Rev. Joh n, 46
T allaw arra P o in t, proposed tow n
at, 72
Thom as, G eorge, 56
Thom as, Henry, 27
Thom as, W illia m , 27
Thom p son , A ndrew , 10
T hrosby, C harles, 37-38
Tiger, atta cks Dr. S co tt, 72
T im bs, G ., 55
T im bs, Henry, 55
“ Town and C o u n try J o u rn a l” : on
Dapto in 1879, 59
on name of Dapto, 74
Tow nsend, Joseph P hipps: on
clearing lease syste m , 30-31
on Church o f England, 45
T ra n sp o rta tio n , e ffe cts
o f cesa tio n o f, 29-30
Veterans' G rants, 24
V o lu n te e r R ifles, 62
Weaver (A rc h ite c t), 36
W eber, Carl, 40
“ W est H o rsle y” , 10
W eston, A ug usta, 10
W eston , B lanche, 20
W eston, Edward and Esther, 20
W eston, E lizabeth, 10
W eston, G eorge Edward N ic h o l­
as, 20, 43
W eston, W illia m Frederick, 10, 20
W ild , Joseph, 9
W ilso n , Jam es, 52
W ilso n , W illia m , 47
“ W o llin g u rry ” , 11, 54
W yllie , John D unlop, 20, 21, 22
Y allah, 11, 12, 19, 43
Yallah Lake (see lllaw arra, Lake),
ILLAW A RRA H ISTO R IC A L SOCIKTY P U B L IC A TIO N S
1960 T H E F IR S T F IV E LAND G R A N T E E S AND T H E IR G RA N TS IN
ILLA W A R R A : B. T. Dowd F .R .A .H .S .
1963 H IST O R Y O F B E R K E L E Y : K. H. B arw ic k .
1965 C O R N E L IU S O 'B R IE N - P IO N E E R O F B U L L I: N.S. King.
1966 ILLAW A RRA TOLL BARS (KIAM A AND R U S S E L L V A L E ):
P . F le m in g .
A.
1966
E A R L IE S T ILLAW A RRA , BY ITS E X P L O R E R S AND
P IO N E E R S : (E d ) W. G. M cD onald
1967 T H E A L B E R T M E M O R IA L H O SPIT A L, W O LLONGONG: A. P .
F lem in g .
1968 E A R L Y W OLLONGONG C O N G R E G A T IO N A L CHU RCH AND
SO M E O F ITS P E R S O N A L IT IE S : K. & M. M a rsh a ll.
1968
T H E OLD D A PTO SM E L T IN G W ORKS (2nd e d n ): P . J.
O ’M alley.
1969 B R IG H T O N BEA C H , W O LLONGONG: A. P . F le m in g .
1970 200 FA C TS ABOUT H IST O R IC ILLA W A R R A : H ilde J . Shaw .
1970 RAILW AY H ISTORY IN ILLAW A RRA - 3rd ed n 1972): C. C.
S ingleton.
1971 T H E W OLLONGONG R E S T P A R K : A. P . F le m in g .
1972 C A PTA IN W ALDRON D E C E A S E D : W. G. M cD onald.
1972 W H IT E T O W E R S - T H E ILLAW A RRA L IG H T H O U S E S :
F le m in g .
A. P.
1973 IN R E A G E N T L E M A N , O N E (F R A N C IS W O O D W ARD): W. G.
M cD onald.
1973 L A W R E N C E H A R G R A V E O F STAN W E LL P A R K (R e v ise d E dn.
- p r in te d ) : W. G. M cD onald.
1973 T H E C H IL D R E N ’S ILLA W A R RA : W illiam A. B ay ley F .R .A .H .S .
1975
THE
F IR S T -F O O T E R S :
ILLA W A R R A : W. G. M cD onald.
BASS
1975 T H E P O R T O F W O LLONGONG:
E d n ).
AND
F L IN D E R S
IN
C. W. G a rd in e r - G a rd e n (3rd
1975 T H E W OLLONGONG P IL O T S E R V IC E , 1840-1867: A .P . F lem in g .
1976 OLD M A R K E T
G O N G : A. P . F le m in g
1976 T H E P IO N E E R
(M OU NT K E M B L A ):
SQ U A RE - H IST O R IC H E A R T O F W OLLON­
(2nd E d n ).
K E R O S E N E W ORKS AT A M ER IC A N C R E E K
A. P . F le m in g (2nd E d n .)
(O b ta in a b le a t Illa w a rra H isto ric a l S ociety M u seu m , 11 M a rk e t S tre e t,
W ollongong. O rd e rs by p o st to Box 241 P . O. W ollongong E a s t. P ric e
lists a v a ila b le fro m s a m e a d d re s s e s .)