WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
TIMELESS WOLLONGONG
With the colony of NSW in the grip of severe droughts from 1813, affecting the outlining areas of Sydney, Governor Lachlan Macquarie directed George William Evans, the assistant Land Surveyor, to explore a passage beyond the Blue Mountains in search of good soil and an abundance of fresh water.
The party of five set out on Saturday, November 20, 1813 and after having crossed the Blue Mountains, they explored the valley on the western side where it came across good soil and an abundance of fresh water.
It was hoped in November 1814 that the drought had broken, based on reports that rain was falling in the area.
This news was received with reservation as the dry seasons caused the ground to harden so much that it would take a lot of rain to prepare the soil for planting crops.
It was known by March 1815 that good grazing land was available about the Five Islands (soon known as Illawarra) although it was reported that it was impracticable to convey cattle across land to that area mainly due to the escarpment.
It was a case of two cultures working together when local Aborigines guided Dr Charles Throsby's stockmen and a small number of cattle down Bulli Mountain into the Illawarra. This co-operation resulted in a stockmen's hut being built in the vicinity of Harbour Street, Wollongong.
It would take another 21 months - on December 2, 1816 - before five settlers were promised grants of large tracts of land at Five Islands during a meeting with Surveyor General John Oxley at the stockmen's hut.
Soon after, herds of cattle started to arrive in Illawarra.
An advertisement appeared in September 1817 that stated that landholders and proprietors of stock in the Illawarra were offering £20 reward for information leading to the conviction of persons detected stealing or destroying their cattle.
By January 1819 Illawarra pastures were proving beneficial as fattening grounds for cattle.
A tenant farmer on land owned by G M Woodhouse at Appin found it necessary to place a notice in the newspaper that he had repeatedly observed gentlemen droving cattle back and forth to the Five Islands with the cattle passing over his cultivated land.
He asked the gentlemen and their servants to drove the cattle on the road leading round the hill to prevent further trouble and loss to him.
In 1819 many advertisements appeared in the newspaper, such as from Darcy Wentworth in April, to have cattle grazing on his land removed, as well as Major George Johnston of Annandale in May cautioning those about felling timber or grazing their stock on his estate called Macquarie Gift.
Cornelius O'Brien, a settler of Bulli, placed a notice in the newspaper seeking a subscription from each land proprietor in Illawarra to clear the brush as he was prepared to make a better passage for cattle for a road from Illawarra to the district of Appin.
In January 1822 the road was completed and referred to as "Subscription Road".
Governor Macquarie travelled this road from Appin across the Cataract River to Five Islands via Mount Brisbane on his 1821 visit to the Shoalhaven and Illawarra.
By then, the Illawarra was being settled with landholders setting up farms on large estates and bringing in many skilled people to settle.
Cornelius O'Brien advertised in August 1823 for a man acquainted in management of a dairy.
Some of these larger landowners were letting out their estates, like David Allen, who placed his 2200 acres up for lease.
In 1825, 10 years after the first cattle arrived to graze at Five Islands, a gentleman by the name of William (Merchant) Browne was still taking his fattened cattle back to Abbotsbury, near Campbelltown, where they were advertised for sale.
If it had not been for the co-operation of local Aboriginals in early 1815, no doubt the colonists would not have had enough healthy cattle fattened on Five Islands pastures to feed themselves, their workers and the growing population of Sydney.
Information courtesy of Carol Herben OAM. Call 0409 832854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au