Parramatta - Convict Settlement to Prosperous Town
A Rich History
PARRAMATTA, meaning in the aboriginal tongue, a place abounding in eels is, next to Sydney, the oldest town in the colony. No other town in Australia is so rich in historical incident and associations.
The first settlement was formed here in
the latter part of 1788, the year in which the colony was
founded. History explains that Governor Philip being by no
means satisfied that the soil in the vicinity of Sydney was
suitable for the growth of cereals, made frequent
excursions in various directions in search of a more
eligible place.
Colony Food Bowl
After a short time, it was determined to
remove most of the men employed in clearing land for
cultivation to a spot 15 miles distant, at the head of the
navigation of the harbour.
The new farm was named the Crescent, and afterwards Rose
Hill by the Governor, but the native name of Parramatta was
retained by the people and was officially adopted.
Fast Paced Progress
At Parramatta in December of the following
year, 1789, the first Australian harvest was reaped. The
foundation-stone of St. John's, the first church ever
erected in the Southern hemisphere for a Protestant
congregation was laid on April 5th, 1797, at
Parramatta.
The first bale of wool over produced in Australia was grown
in the vicinity of Parramatta; and when Major-General Sir
Edward Macarthur, C.B., then a youth, left Sydney for
England in 1808, he took from his father's (John Macarthur) merino flocks at
Elizabeth Farm this bale of wool with him to London.
The Rev. Samuel Marsden, one of the first clergymen that
settled in this colony, took up his residence in
Parramatta, and preached his first sermon there.
Seat of Education
Among other associations it is pointed out
that Parramatta has frequently been the residence of the
Governor and for a long time was the principal seat of
Education.
The town was headquarters of the regiments formerly
stationed in the colony and the birth place and burial
place of many of the old leading families, as a visit to
the old Church of England burial ground will prove.
Flourishing Municipality
In 1876 Parramatta had 25 miles of
streets and a population of 5000 people. There were three
tweed manufacturers in the neighborhood along with many
fine shops, two banks, and about 25 inns and hotels.
There were two Orphan Schools, Protestant and Roman
Catholic, the Lunatic Asylum, and the gaol - most
interesting and well conducted
institutions.
The Female Factory
The first Female Factory was built at
Parramatta in 1804 and was replaced by a three storey
barracks built in 1821. It was mainly used to house women
who had committed local offences, convict women with
children and convict girls unsuitable for work with the
settlers.
The barracks was surrounded by a 12 feet high wall which
some liberty loving inmates had no difficulty in clambering
over. The Female Factory was described by the London
Missionary Society in 1824 as, "...a house of refuge
for the most forlorn of human beings..."
Images: Illustrated Sydney News - 3 October 1879.
Trove Digitized Newspapers - National Library of
Australia.
Cradle of Christianity
In this venerable old cemetery, side by
side, are the tombs of the wives of two Governors - Lady
Elizabeth Jane Bourke, wife of Sir Richard Bourke, who died
on the 7th May, 1832, aged 66 and Lady Mary Fitzroy, who
was thrown from her carriage and killed in the Parramatta
Domain on the 7th December, 1847.
The name of Lieutenant Charles Chester Masters, aged 27
years, 68th Regiment, and aid-de-Camp to the Governor, who
was also thrown out of the carriage and killed at the same
time, appears on a stone at the side. A weeping willow
stands at the head of the grave of Lady Mary Fitzroy.
Note: Following a Coronial Inquest, Lady's Mary's
funeral was held at 1.00pm, 9 December 1847. Over 4,000
people turned out for the funeral as shops were requested
to remain closed as a mark of respect until the completion
of the service.
Passing of the Pioneers
The vaults or graves of Darcy Wentworth,
the Macarthur's, the Campbell's the Blaxland's, the Cox's,
the Reverend Samuel Marsden, "died 12th May, 1838, aged 73"
and of his wife, aged 63; of the Revs. Messers Shelly and
Hassall, early clergy men, and of John Palmer, Esq.,
Assistant Commissory-General, aged 73, who came to the
colony with the " first fleet," are among those
noticed.
In the Roman Catholic cemetery there are also many
remarkably interesting monuments and vaults. Amongst the
most picturesque is one constructed by Sir James Martin;
the father of the Chief Justice is buried here, and it is
said that he himself has chosen this for his last resting
place.
Prosperous Parramatta
The Parramatta Domain and old Government
House, where nearly all the Governors, up to the time of
Sir William Denison (1855 - 1861), resided during some
portion of their time in the colony, is also well worthy of
a visit.
Parramatta is well paved, clean streets, nice private
residences, a new bank building, the town lit up with gas,
the old King's School revived, and boasting a roll of over
100 boys. Here, too, are eight or nine churches, an
excellent public, and several denominational besides
private schools.
The visitor who desires to remain in Parramatta for a few
days, cannot do better than put up at host Payten's of the
Woolpack and visit the justly celebrated orange groves in
the district - a sight worth making a journey from the
remotest part of Australia to see.
Source: Trove
Digitized Newspapers - Australian Town and Country
Journal - 26 February 1876.