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1 CARRINGTON, , :J' PORT STEPHENS

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REPORT' TO THE HERITAGE

(OUNCIL,OF N.S.W.

1980--81

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-':-:--~ri~~ge!C9~nCil orN.S.w. -175 Uve~OOI ~treet. Sydney 2000 Telephor:le (O~) 266.7111

- ~ ~ Forwarded with Compliments

P.O. Box A284 Sydney South 2000

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INTRODUCTION.

Carrington, Po~t Stephens, was the original headquarters of the Australian Agricultural Company. The settlement was begun in 1826 but by 1850 the Company's activities were centred elsewhere and the township was virtually abandoned. In the brief period of its existence, this was a complete and self­sufficient company town, with brickyards and a lime kiln, lumber yards, stockyards, farms and gardens, a watch-house, a military guard-house, a blacksmith's shop, carpenter's shop, a flour mill, boat-yards, wharves,stores and dwellings for free mechanics, overseers and convicts. The Company's agent Jived at Tah1ee House, still standing, on the other side of the creek.

Maps ~xist which show the location of many of these struc­tures. The remains of some of them were known. Other areas remained to be explored. The following report springs from the activities of students of the Workers' Educational Association over a weekend in October, 1980, when the area from the Tahlee Gardens site in the west to the North Arm in the east and from the shore to the brickyards site was reconnoitred and a number of sites within that area recorded in detail.

Those who took part in this survey were:

Co-ordinaters: John Turner, M.A., Ph.D.

Damaris Bairstow, M.A., LL.B. Area Supervisors: Martin Davies, B.A.

Volunteers:

Wendy Thorp, B.A. Graham Wilson, B.A., B.Sc. Mr Bi 11 Abbott Mrs Glenys Borkett Mr Paul Child Mr Peter Fenwick Miss Pame1a Harrison Miss Patricia Harrison Mr Stephen Horton Mr John Howell

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Mr Robert Jakes Ms Marcia Johnston Mr John Reay M r Ke IJ i n vJ a k e m an

Due acknowledgement must also be given to the Department

of Community Pro~rammes, University of Newcastle and to the staff of the Workers' Educational Association of N.S.W., Hunter Region, without whom this record would never have been made.

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CONTENTS .

Introduction

Contents

Abbreviations

Li s t of Maps

List of Plates

1. The Australian Agricultural Company at POtt Stephens

2. Carrington, 1980

2.1 Site Survey

2.2 Tahlee House

2.3 Wharves & Boat Harbours

2.4 Brickyards &. Lime Kiln ,

2.5 Tanning Pits

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26

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42

48

54

2.6 Lumber Yard Area 58

2.7 Area of Adam's-Armstrong's Houses 64

2.8 StaceY's-Barton's Houses

2.9 Church of Holf Trinity

2.10 Cemetery

3. Location & Owners

Bibliography

VOLUME 11: Plates.

69

74

80

88

92

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ABBREVIATIONS.

A.A.Company (Co.)

A.N.U.

Committee

Court

N.M.H.

R.A.H.S.J. (& P.)

Australian Agricultural Company.

The Australian National University.

The Colonial Committee of the Australian Agricultural Company.

The Governor and Court of Directors of the Australian Agricultural Company.

Newcastle Morning Herald.

Royal Australian Historical Society Journal (& Proceedings).

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LIST OF MAPS AND PLANS.

MAPS

1.1 Bird's Eye View of Port Stephens, 4 February, 1826, from A.A.Company Records, 8/83 and Dawson's Letters.

1.2 Port Stephens, undated but probably drawn by Armstrong in 1826, private collection.

1.3 Tahiee, 1826, from 'Plan of domain from Karabeen Creek to Yalinbah Point,' Archives of Busin~ss A,Labour, The Research School of Social Sciences, A;N.U., No.A95.

1.4 Carrington, Town and Environs, 1830, from A.A.Company

sett1ement ~t Carrington, A.N.U.Archives, NO,A97.

1.5 Carrington, 1830, detail of above.

PLANS

- 2.1 Plan of T~hlee Bouse showing intended iroproyeroents , 1830, A.N.U.Archives, No.Pll.

2.2 Elevation of Tahlee House, 1830, detail of above.

2.3 Plan of Tahlee House, lB40, from G.B.Gidley King: "Aspects of the First Decade of the Australian Agricultural Company, Part II," DESCENT 1969, p.76.

2.4 Tahlee, 1840, from King, loc.cit~, p.7?

2.5 Tahlee, 1980.

2.6 Tah1ee House, 1980, Cellar.

3.1 Tahlee Boat Harbour~ 1980.

3.2 Tahlee Boat Harbour, Sketch of Construction.

3.3 Boat Harbour and Lime Kiln, Kokrenoya Po.int, 1980.

4.1 Lime Kiln, 1980.

4.2 Elevation of Lime Kiln and Boat Harbour.

4.3 Brick Yard, 1980.

4.4 Elevation of Brick Kilns.

5.1 Tanning Pits, 1980.

5.2 Elevation of Triple Tanning Pit.

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6.1 Lumber Yard area, Feature A, 1980.

6.2 Lumber Yard area, Feature B, 1980.

6.3 Lumber Yard area, Feature D, 1980.

6.4 Lumber Yard area~ Feature D, detail of northern stonework.

7.1 Plan and elevation of cottage; Dawson, 30 April, 1.827.

7.2 Area of Adam's~Armstrong's houses, 1980.

7.3 Area of Adam's-Armstrong's houses, hearth.

8.1 Area of Staceyis and Barton's houses, Featrue Aa

8.2 Area of Stacey's and Barton's houses, Feature B.

9.1 Church of Holy Trinity~ north-west elevation.

9.2 Church of Holy Trinity, plan.

9.3 Church of Holy Trinity, e1evations A and B.

9.4 Church of Holy Trinity, elevation C.

9.5 Church of Holy Trinity, elevation D.

-10.1 Cemetery.

MAP

. 3.1 Carrington, 1980.

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LIST OF PLATES.

,. Dam in Tahlee Garden.

2. Bricks in situ on road near site of guard-house.

3. Site in which bricks were found.

5.

6.

Remains of jetty (?), Balberook Cove!(quarried stones loosely arranged).

Quarry, Balberook Cove.

Quarry, detail of face.

7. Tahlee House, 1880s.

8. Tahlee House, 1980.

9. Tahlee House, servants' quarters from north-west.

10. Tahlee House, servants' quarters from north-east.

11. Tahlee boat harbour from south-east.

12. Tahlee bo,at harbour from north-east.

13. Boat harbour, Balberook Point.

14. Lime kiln from south-east.

~15. Lime kiln from south-west.

16. Brick ~iln, No.l on plan, from west.

17. Tanning pit, Ho.l on plan, from nort~.

1 8 ~ Tan n i' n 9 p ft, No. 21 0 n p 1 all, fro m nor t h - ea st.

19. Tanning pit, No.3 on plan, from north.

20'. Double tanntng pit from north.

21. lumber yard area, Feature A from south-east.

22. Lu~ber yard area, corner feature A from east.

23. Lumber yard area 3 Feature B from north-west.

24. Lumbe- yard area$ Feature 0 and concrete wall from north-west.

25. Lumber yard area, Feature 0 and concrete wall, detail.

26. lumber yard area, Feature 0, timber behind above.

27. Lumber yard area, Feature D, northern stonework, western wall, from east.

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28. Lumber yard area i Feature D, northern stonework, detail.

29. Lumber yard area, Feature D, northern stonework, detail.

30. Lumber yard area, Feature 0, northern stonework, detail.

31. Lumber yard area, Feature D, northern stonework, eastern \'1 a 11 , from \'1est.

32. ' Lumber yard area, Feature '0, northern stonework, eastern \'l/al1"detail.

33. Lumber yard area, Feature D, northern stonework, eastern wall, detail.

34. Lumber yard are~, Feature 0, northern stonework, eastern wall, detail.

35. Lumber yard area, Feature 0, northern stonework, eastern wal1, detail.

36. Lumber yard area, Feature D, northern stonework, ~astern

wall, from south.

37. Area of Adam's-Armstrong's houses, hearth.

38. Stacey's-Barton's houses. Feature A, detail.

39. Stacey's~Barton's houses, Feature A, detail.

40. StaceY's-Barton's houses, Feature A, detail.

41. StaceY,'s-Bat-ton's houses, Feature A., brick and stone rubble.

42. Stacey's-Barton's houses, Feature B, east wall.

43. StaceY's-Barton's houses, Feature B, east wall.

44. Stacey's-Barton's houses, Feature B, west wall.

45. Stacey's-Barton's houses, Feature B, north wall.

46. Stacey's-Barton's h~uses, Feature S, south wa11.

47. Church of Holy Trinity from south. "

48. Church of Holy Trinity from north.

49. A.A.Company's be1l outside above.

50. A.A.Company's bell outside above.

51. Cromarty's grave.

52. Cromarty's grave, detail.

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53. Cast iron tombstone and railing~ No.3 on plan.

54. Cast i ran tombstone, detail.

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"I THE AUSTRALIAN , -

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"AGRICULTURAL COMPANY

AT PORT STEPHENS

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Australia began as a penal colony but could not remain one. Sons of convicts were born free. Convicts themselves gained their freedom. Their military guards, seeing an opportunity in the land, became settlers. A few, like the Blaxland brothers, came as free colonists, though this was not encouraged. By 1817, however, the growing cost of the prisoners, the growing demands of free settlers, led to a commission of enquiry in the form of William Thomas Bigge.

Bigge, influenced by such as Macarthur, Bowman, the Blaxlands, sa", the future of the colony in a' capitalist, pastoralist economy. The British textile industry, recovering after the Napoleonic Wars, demanded wool. The seemingly limitless land of New South Wales could accommodate flocks of fine-wool led sheep and wool was one of the few commodities that could be transporte~ across the world. Pastoralists would need labour to clear ldnd and shepherd flocks. Convicts could supply that

~ labour and at the same time lessen the Government burden of housing, feeding and ciothing them. Grazing, however, needed capital. Only those with money to develop the land and to stock it need apply.

The Bigge R~ports were published in 1822 and 1823. It was in this atmosphere that the Australian Agricultural Company was bo rn • 1

Incorporated in 1824, the AoA.Company had a nominal capital of fl,OOO,OOO by reason of which it was to obtain a grant of 1,OOO~OOO acres. Though its stated object was IICultivating Waste Lands ll in New South Wales, the Company's prime purpose was the production of fi~e wool. Robert Dawson, a man

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1. Atchison, J.F.: PORT STEPHENS AND GOONOO - A REVIEW OF THE EARLY PERIOD OF THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY, unpublished Ph.O Thesis, A.N.U., 1972, pp 1, 10; A.A.CO. ~,Ruthven & Whitcomb, London, 1826, p.S; Campbell, J.F.: liThe First -Decade of the Aust­ralian Agricultural Company, 1824 to 1831.,11 R.A.H.S.J.& P. 4X (1923) 113; Gregson, Jesse: THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY 1824-1875, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1907, pp xi-xvi; Ritchie, John: PUNISH­MENT OR PROFIT, Heinemann, Melbourne, 1970, p.222; Roberts, Stephen ~HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN LAND SETTLEMENT 1788-1920, Macmillan, Melbourne, 1§'24. pp 23, 38', 52-3.

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experienced in managing English estates, was appointed agent in the colony and dispatched to buy French and Saxon merinos, Durham cattle and thoroughbred horses. Shepherds and mech­anics were recruited to accompany him to New South Wales'

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The A.A.Company was London based. With the exception of John Macarthur, Jnr.~ none of the directors had ~ny experience in Australia. There were, however, a number of colonial shareholders from whom a local committee was appointed to advise the Court of Directors on the land to be selected, on the progress of the Company's affairs and to whom the Company's agent in the first instance would be answerable. Five men were chosen: Archdeacon Scott who had bee~ Bigge's private secretary but who ,declined to act; Captain Philip. Parker King, R.N., son of Philip Gidley King a former Governor of New South' Wales~ who had earlier explored par~ of the coast but who didn't return to the colony; James Macarthur, son of

- Captain ,John Macarthur; Hanniba'l Macar.thur, James' cousin, and James Bowman, James' brother-in-law. The lack of interest shown by Scott and King left lithe family committee" in effective control. 3

Having been requested to advise as to the location of the Company's 9!ant, the tolonial Committee consulted Surveyor­General Oxley who probably had more knowlege of the interior than any other man. He suggested Liverpool Plains br the head of the Hastings River but both were reject~d bec~use of :t: het r d i' ,~. t a, nee . f r q m the co a, s tan d con se que n t t ran s po r t cos t s t

Oxley then suggested Port Stephens'4

* * * * 29 Atchi,son, 0PQcit., 39·~Ltl; A.A,.Co., -loc.cit., 5-10, '15; Campbel1,

1 oc • c it., 1 1 9.

3. Atchison, op.cit., 42; A.A.Co., loc.cit., 14-15; AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHY; Campbel1, loc.cit., 119, 122; Dawson, Robert: STATEMENT OF THE SERVICES OF MR. DAWSON AS CHIEF AGENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICliL­JURAL COMPANY,. Smith Elder & CO' t london, 1829, pp 5-6; Gregson, op.cit. 15, 27; King, G.B.Gidley: "Aspects of the First Decade of the Australian ~gricultural Company, Part I,ll DESCENT, 1968, pp 19-20; Robertson, John: "The Aus·tra1ian Agricultural Company and the Port Stephens Fiasco,1I R.A.H.S.J. 50 (1964) 217-8.

4. Atchison, op.cit., 46-7; A.A.Co. Report to Special Meeting, July, 1825, pp 32, 35-8; Dawson, Robert: THE PRESENT STATE OF AUSTRALIA, Smith,Elder & Co., London, 1830, p.7. -

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J Port Stephens had been discovered by Cook in 1770 and named by him after a Secretary to the Admiralty. Charles Grimes had made a survey of the harbour in 1795. Lieutenant Shortland •• reached Port Stephens in 1797 in his search for the Cumberland.

In 1811-12 it was visited by Macquarie who named Nelson Bay after his brig, the Lady Nel~on. Oxley1s expedition of 1818

had ended at Port Stephens. The harbour, therefore, was well known and Oxley seemed equipped to advise the Committee as to the land1s potential. None of the Committee actually inspected the area and Oxley wasn1t a sheep farmer.

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In June, 1825, the ships York and Bro1:hers sailed from Cowes with Dawson, his nephew and 25 men, 14 women and 40 children, 690 ewes s 30 rams, 12 head of cattle. 5 mares and 2 stallions. Both ships arrived late in December. Personnel and stock were sent to Retreat Farm w~ile Dawson, after consultation with the C~mmittee, went to Port Stephens.

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Having been told that there was no'-suitable agricultural land on the harbour, Dawson first explored the Karuah River. On his

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return he was "much struck with the beauty of the scenery on the north side ll and IIbecame convinced ll that this \vas the site for settlement. He "fixed upon a spot by the side of a small creek, where there was sufficient depth of water to admit the open craft that had been purchased in Sydney.1I This was to become Carrington. For himself, Dawson pitched his IItent on an elevated spot ••• in a situation which commanded a view of the harbour and" some of the surrounding country ••• 1I This was Tahlee Hill. In February, 1826, the nucleus of the settlement was formed· 7

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Dawson t 1829, op.cit., 12; Denning, H.W.: THE STORY OF PORT STEPHENS; D'Ombrain, Athol: "Early Port Stephens History,i' N.H.H., 18 Oetober,1958; Ed.: EARLY DAYS OF PORT STEPHENS, Chronicle Print, Dungog; Fryer, John (Ed.): SURVEYING THE HUNTER, Hunter Hanning Group of the Institute of Surveyors, Australia, Newcastle, 1980, pp 7,48.

Atehison, op.eit., 50-2; A.A.Co., loc.eit., 32; Campbell, loe.eiL, 119; Dawson, 1829, op.cit., 8; Dawson, 1830, op.eit., 12; King, loe.eit., 20.

Atchison, op.cit., 53-4; A.A.Co., 3rd Annual Report, 1827. pp 7-8; Campbell, loe.cit., 121; Dawson, 1830. op.eit., 12-13, 14-15, 18,26-7.

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Temporary housing in the form of bark huts largely built by aboriginals was run up for the families. A store of split ironbark slabs, thatched with dried grass as no one could cut shingles, was built for th~ supplies. Later in the year, Dawson marked but a square on the western side of the creek ,where he proposed to build, amongst other workshops, a carpenter1s house and shop and sawpits. Convict huts were constructed north of this. A military guard was placed on Kokrenoyo Point. Dawson remained under canvas until Mandorbah Cottage was built. These sites are marked on a map drawn by Armstrong in July, 1826 (Map 1.3)"8

The "immediate needs of the settlement having been supplied, Dawson determined to construct all future buildings in brick, though he had difficulty in obtaining a bricklayer which delayed t~e realization of his plans. The bark huts seem to have been replaced by ones of slab and possibly adobe. Meanwhile more Saxon merinos were shipped out and Dawson was buying large numbers of colonial sheep'g

, From its inception the Company faced local opposition. It was feared that it would cause an over-suppiy of wool and force down wool prices. It was alleged also, possibly with justification, that the Company's pu~chases of local stock had forced these prices up. This no doubt delighted those with established flocks but not the new settlers of the 1820s who sought to buy. The drought of 1827 exacerbated the situation and caused stock losses at Port Stephens. Rumours began to circulate that the settlement lacked discipline and of Dawson's mismanagement. The Australian D

which had always opposed ~he Company, waxed strong on the subject. James Macarthur was delegated by the Colonial

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.8. A.A.Co., loc.cit., 10; Dawson to Committee, 24 April, 1826, 1 August, 1826, A.A.Co.: RECORDS; Dawson, 1830, op.cit., 18,27-8,37-8.

9. Dawson to Committee, 1 August, 1826, 30 April, 1827, 7 December, 1827. Dawson to Brickwood, 4 August, 1827, A.A~Co., loc.cit; Dawson. 1829. op.cit •• 30-33, 46, 50.

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Committee to visit Port Stephens and report back.10

Macarthur arrived at Carrington in December, 1827, and returned to Sydney in January, 1828~ His report to the local shareholders was unfavourable. A sUb-committee was then sent to Port Stephens. Its report was equally adverse. The sheep had not fared well on the coarse coastal pastures but it is to be remembered that many of these sheep had been sold to the Company by members of the Colonial Committee at prices apparently dictated by them. It seems likely that it was to save their own reputations that the Committee suspended Dawson in Aprils 1828 9 and, while detaining him in Sydney, dispatched James Macarthur to London with a series of charges against hi·m. James Bowman, who had no complaints when he was at Carrington in October, 1827, now reported:

" ••• 1 examined the whole of the Establishment at Carribeen and was surprised to find so little work had been performed since I was there in October 1ast.

11 Se ve r a 1 Ho use s then co mm e n c e d for the 0 f f ice r s of the Establishment and Free Servants ••. might have been completed· in a few weeks, had proper attention been paid ••• but it appears .the Workmen had been ~~moved to other occupations, thus. ieaving those works which were on hand and of the utmost importance unfinished ••• "

John Macarthur alleged:

"The Buildings are 111 situated, ill contrived, badly built~ and yet expense appears never to have been an object of consideration .•• "In the Workshops, waste, disorder and misman-

--- . agement prevailed wherever the eye was turned •• "The Wharfs constructed under the direction of Mr. Dawson, are not at all ~alculated for the use of the Com~any.- not one place has been finished, where a Boat can anchor close to the Shore at low water.- the Wharf, where all the stores are landed, is situated in the most

* * * 10. Gregson~ op.cit., :33, 35-6; King~ loe.cit., 211-5.

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inconvenient spot, that could have been selected ••• 11

On the other hand, Henry Dangar, who had assisted in the survey of the Company's land and who had visited Carrington at least twice, recorded that when he was there in May, 1827, he

"was surprised to 'observe with what amazing rapidity improvements had gone forward. Here in the short space of seventeen months spacious stores and workshops were built. Mr. Dawson

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himself, and the whole of his officers, were comfortably housed; extensive brtck-making was in activity for various projected buildings; large tracts had been cleared and fenced, and ' ploughs were already diligently at work; large kitchen· and experimental gardens were also in a high state of culture. The Company1s flocks and herds then gra4ed over upwards of three hundred square miles of country ••• "

a description quoted by, Dawson in his Statement of Services. Peter Cunningham also wrote of Port Stephens in glowing terms:

liThe Aus~ralian Agricultural Company has fixed its establishment at Port Stephens, •• one of the finest harbours fo~ merchant ships in the world • •• It is extraordfnary that, before the arrival of Mr. Dawson, •• it was believed not a ~ingle acre of land in its vicinity was worth ~cceptance; yet a m 11 1 i·o n a c res 0 f good a r a b 1 e p' a s t u r e 1 and have been with all imaginable ease culled out here, superiorly watered to almost any other district in the colony; abounding in coal; and exhibiting such specimins of lime as afford the strongest hopes that this valuable mineral will hereafter be found in ample" quantifies~ while the immense beds ,of shell on the harbour beach will supply all ordinary wants for many years to come ••• "A great portion of the grant ••• consists of grassy, thinly-timbered ranges, admirably adapted for sheep-husbandry; but there are in

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abundance also of alluvial flats, of sufficient

extent and richness for all agricultural pur­

poses. Out of 300,000 acres, in fact, inspected by Mr. Dawson, only 100 acres were calculated

to be absolutely worthless; 500 more were bad,

but still productive; leaving 299,400 acres of

land 9 either excell~nt, or at least of very

tolerable quality ••• ""

While Dawson was held inactive in Sydney, John Macarthur

went to Port Stephens where he promptly discharged some of the free servant~ who had been brought from England,

returned a number of convicts to the Government and placed the establishment in the han~s 6f Mr.H. Ebsworth, the

Company's accountant, with strict instructions to economise'12

In the tw~ years between Dawson's suspension and the arrival of Sir Edward Parry, his successor, very little improvements were made. Indeed it is likely that the settlement was allowed to fall into disrepair. Nevertheless, Parry, on his first inspection of Carrington, was able to record:

liThe stores appeared to be well arranged ••• Visited every' house, rich and poor, at the

settlement. The row of cottages ••. and the barracks, also the watch-house or jailo are neatly and regularly built~ That lately

occupied by Mr. Slade, with a store adjoining, is the neatest looking. At a considerable distance farther on are the cottages of Messrs. Barton and Stacey, very handsome, with gardens in front, v~ry 'neat and nice .•• -V-isited the brickfield in the wood and the tan-yard, both ••• very useful estab1ishments .•. 1I

* * * 1 J. Bowman to Commi ttee, 17 Hay, 1828, John Macarthur to Court, 26 May.

1828, A.A.Co., RECORDS; Campbel1, loe.cit., 122; Cunningham, Peter: TWO YEARS IN NEW SOUTH WALES, Colburn, London, 1828, Vol.1 I, 327-9; Dan'g"a r, -Henry:' -, NDEX AND DIRECTORY TO MAP OF THE COUNTRY BORDER I NG UPON THE RIVER HUNTER,-Cross, London, 1828, p.ll]; Day/son, 1829, OPe

cito t 'S5, 69, 77-~~--rll; Gregson, op.cit., 36-9.

12. Campbe11, loc.cit': t 126; Gregson, op.dt., 39-40.

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The plan of Carrington prepared that year by Armstrong on Parry's orders (Maps 1.4 & 5) shows a fairly substantial settlement. As there is no record of any expansion of the village during that year, the establishment recorded by Parry and Armstrong must have been the achievement of Robert Dawson· 13

Whilst Dawson may have been made the scapegoat, the grant had

been badly selected and accepted, it seems, without any attempt

to explore the eastern half. The first detailed examinati,on of this area was made by Parry in company with Ebsworth and Charles Hall, the CDmpany's stock superintendant, both by this time with four years experience in the colony. It now became abundantly clear that the greater part of the Port Stephens grant was' unsui.table for sheep. The site of Carrington was equally ill-chosen. Macarthur's criticism ~s quoted by Parry that Dawson had "placed the establishment

~ in a ~wamp and opposite a mud flat in the sea" may be exagg~rated but the main advantage of Port St~ph~ns was its harbour and this Dawson failed to utilize. There was insufficient depth of water at Carrington for ocean-going ships. James Corlette alleged:

"The present Store House at Carabeen is situated in a very awkward place for Maritime purposes, being impracticable for a Vessel of 109 Tons Burthen to anchor within a 'mile of it, or of Boats of five tons burthen to unload from the Vessel twice in a tide, the depth of water in the channel seldom exceeds two and a half feet at high water.

~ ••• The Wharfs already constructed are of no use in embarking produce, or landing imports, one being at T9 hlee, a Mile above the Store-

. ... .-house~ the other at Cokrenoyo a mile below and cannot but with difficulty be approached with Boats at 10\"1 water.1!

Parry, a naval officer, was more scathing:

* * * * J3._C&mpbell, ibid., Parry, Sir .W. Edward: JOURNALS, 9 January, 1830.

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11 • 0 • In a nautical point of view, the planning

of the chief s -e t t 1 em e n t here is a blunder, for duri ng -more than one-third of the 24 hoiJrs,

there is no landing any-~Jhere dry even with an unloaded boat of any size ••• " 11 ••• 1 rode down to Carrington in order to see the state of the ground after the rain, and certainly it did not change my opinion of the folly of placing the principal settlement where it is. Indeed I do not know which ;s most to be reprobated - the land or the nautical blunder. A great part of the flat is a complete swamp ••• 1I

Th~ fate of Carrington was already sealed' 14

In 1833 the Company was able to exchange the eastern half of the Port Stephens grant for lands at Warrah and on the Peel

'. ~ R i it er. C a -r r i n 9 ton was nolo n g e r c e n t r al. L ; t t 1 e i fan y t h i n 9

more was done to develop it. Backhouse, who visited in July, 1836, described it as a "little village ••• composed of a few weather-board cottages ••• 1I Demarr, who was there in 1842, recorded that:

1I ••• Carrington, I found, contained several large ~uildings, stores, and warehouses, a hospital, and a chapel. The dwelling-places for the men being neat brick-built cottages (sic.) There was also a strongly-built lock-up or jail, and a resident constable 3 an indispensable accompan­iment ••• to all the large farms in this neighbour­hood and on the river Huntero.oll'5

Th~re is not the slightest evidence to suggest·that the mens' cottages were rebuilt in brick between these dates. - Indeed, the settlement was being denuded. The IIneat brick-built cottages ll seen by Demarr must have been there in 1836 but it

* * * . * 14. Campbell, loc.cit., 122-3; Corlette to John Macarthur. 20 May. 1828,

A.A.Co., RECORDS; Gregson, opocit., 55-6; Parry, loc.cit., 28 Decem­ber, 1829, 13 January, 1830.

15. Backhouse, James: A NARRATIVE OF A VISIT TO THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES, Hamilton Adams, London, 1843; Campbell, loe.cit., 151; Demarr, James: ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA FIFTY YEARS AGO, Swan Sonnenschein, London, J 8;) 3 ; - P:"1 63 • •

18

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is likely~ in view of the earlier description, that a number of the old timber cottages, no longer of service, had been demolished since Backhouse's visit.

Attempts we~e made to establish a port on the North Arm, east of Carrington (see Map 1.1) but these were unsuccessful. Tahlee House remained the offitial residence of the Commiss­ioner under Colonel Dumaresq, Parry's successor, and Philip Parker King who followed him but the real administrative centre was Stroud. King was dismissed in 1849~ by which time the Company had acquired the right ~o alienate its land. Various schemes were se~ up to attract ,settlers to the Port Stephens Estate. The Company's Deputy ~overnQr, Archibald Wil1iam Blane i was 'sent out to supervise-the sales. He chose Stroud as his official headquarters. Tahl~e House,

'no longer of use to the Company, was sold in 1853. By the time of Arthur Hodgson's a~pointment as general superintendant

~ i n 1 856, Car r i n 9 to n was:

1I ••• a heap of ruins save the church, built of rough stone and in good repair; there is a storekeeper here ••• and three men who may be called his staff - this establishment~ .• wil1 cease to exist at the end of the year ••• J1

16

The A.A.Company failed at Port Stephens. Its importance in Australian history, however, ;s not limited to that site. Its was the first major flow of capital into the colony. It introduced cattle, sheep and horses of breed~ superior ~o any in New South Wales which, though ill adapted as pure-breds to Australian conditions~ provided breeding stock for private settlers. The Company~.s coal mining activities in Newcastle and the Hunter, its sheep breeding at Warrah~, its present ventures in Queensland, lie beyond the scope of this report.

* * * * 16. Atchison~·ep.cit.p 191-2; Campbeli, loc.cit., 151-2; Gregson, op.c!t.,

72, 84, lOO, 127, 129-30, 135-6, 153 footnote, ,180,; Hodge, Ben "Excur­sion to,Carrington,'! unpubl ished; t1ann,. R,.J • .: 'THE, EMIGRANTS" COMPLETE GUIDE TO ,THE UNITED STATES, 'AUSTRALIA, ',PORT STEPHENS, VA.N DtEMA,N'S ~AND, NEW: ZEALAND, Wm. Stn:lnge, Co-nden, 1850, pp 6-7? SIClney, s.' (Eel.):

'SIDNEY'S EMIGRANTS' JOURNAL AND TRAVELLERS I MAGAZINE, 2nd Series, W.S. Orr, London, 1850, pp'-j'!r-1il, 76-78.

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Carrington failed but that very fact has enabled the surviv~l of tangible remains of the first ~ompany town in Australia· 1?

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17. Atchison) op.cit., 38-41; Dangar, op.cit., 111.

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Reference has been made to a group of maps prepared by Armstrong, the Company's surveyor, in 1830 (See Maps 1.4 & 5). These show a number of sites some of which are mentioned in the historic record. As a preliminary to any recording of individual sites, the areas where buildings or activities have been recorded were traversed to ascertain what, if anything, was still discernible.

Armstrong shows an lIexcavation originally for Mill Pond.1! Dawson~ in 1826, planned to build a tide mill for grinding flour on Carabeen Creek. This could account for the excava­tion .. By October of that year, however:

IIA flour mill of four-horse power had been daily at work for some time, and the machinery for the erection of an extensive tide-mill had been ordered from England ••. "

- It doesn't' appear that the tide mill was ever built. Of the other mill, Parry declared:

liThe mill, turned by four horses, is a miserable affair, and being frequently out of repair, does

not grind half what is required, so that flour must be bought, even with abundance of grain ••. 11,

The site of that mill lies under an oyster yard. Excavations for a tide mill should leave some evidence and accordingly the general area of the tide mill and lumber yard was explored. The results yielded sufficient remains to warrant detailed

recording (See Part 2.6). Nothing was found immediately north of this.

North-east of the mill excavation, Armstrong's map shows a number of houses. This area was reconnoitred. Nothing was visible on the slope of the hill but there were a number of brick scatters and apparent foundations on the flat south of the hi1l. These, too, became the subject of a detailed survey (See Part 2.7).

Dawson makes reference to the garden,· apparently meaning that marked by Armstrong as uTahlee Garden.1I This seems to have been where a number of experimental crops were grown. This

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area revealed the remains of two trenche~ forming a right angle in the approximate .location of the w~stern corner of the garden, trenches which didn't appear to have any drainage·function and which may have marked the boundary. Further south were the remains of a dry-stone dam wall (Plate 1).2

In 1827 the corporal's guard was moved from Soldier's Point to the north side of the harbour. The military guard-house was located on Kokr~noyo Point (Maps 1.1 & 2)0 ·A traverse of this area revealed a brick scatter near or at the site of the guard~house (Plates 2 & 3). Without excavation it was impossible to tell whether these bricks evidenced foundations.

The only suggestion of boat-building on Arrostrongls map is the Pboatshed~ on the west side of Carabeen Creek. Whether

- this was used for building or repafring boats is not known. That such activities took place is clear from the historic record but they seem to have centfed upon Balberook Cove, otherwise known as the North Arm. Dawson, in August, 1826, "recorded: .

"The Cove cal'e~ Balberook~ Qdjoining KQkrenoya, offers facilities for the Building of small craft for the Compariy 8 s use, or for Sale ••• "

Barton lists a boatbuilder amongst the tradesmen employed in January, 1828, and Dawson took credit for building and equipping the Company's· schooner~ Lambton. In 1830 Lambton

was repaired on a slipway in the North Arm and the following ,year the steamboat, Karuah, was built, probably on that slip'3

Shipbuilders on the-W~11iams and Paterson rivers at this time and lat~r utilized the mouths of creeks ,to construct docks o Two small creeks discharge into the wesf~ide of Balberook Cove but no evidence of any shipyard remains was discovered. The excursion into this area did reveal what could be the remains of a stone pier (Plate 4) and near to it a quarry whenc;e, .it would seem, the stones came (Plates 5 & 6). This could well be the "fine quarry of stoneoo.discovered on the

27

':---/

water's edge, not far from the settlement~ mentioned by Dawsono 4

The results of these excursions are not to be considered exhaustive. For instance, one of the early cottage~ which reputedly formed part of the military barracks as shown in Armstrong's 1830 mapj still st~nds. This is recorded by the Natio'nal Trust as dating from 1824 which it could not.- No inspection was made. The teams involved were small and since two days only were available ~he bulk of the time was spent recordJng sites which had been located previously and which could.be endangered.

* '* * *

1. Dawson to ~ommittee, l·August, 1826, A .• A~Co.,·RECORPS; Da.wson, 1830~ op.cit., ~8; Parry, 'oc.clt., 9 Jqnuary·p 1.830. .

,. .

2. Dawson, 1830, op.cit., 98. '. I

'-:: . 3. Barton to Commi ttee, .14 January, 1828 p Paws,on to COITrni ttee, 1 August,

1826, A.A~Co.p RECORDS; Oawson', 1829, ·rip.clt., 127; Pa.r-ty, loc.cit., 20 September, 1830, 21 September, 1830, 2 November, 1830, 13 July, 1831, 18 November, 1831, 30 November, 1831.

4. Dawson, 1830, op.cit., 38.

28

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A number of misleading statements have been made by modern writers concerning Tahlee House mainly because they assumed that Tahlee was the house Dawson planned to build as one appropriate to the Company's agent in New South Wales. When writing to the Committee in August, 1826, Dawson stated:

"With regard to a place for my own residence, I have fixed upon:a spot where my tent now stands ••• 1l

In the saffi~ letter he wrote: "Finding considerable inconvenience in being constantly under Tent,here ••• ! ordered a

,~cottage on the potnt, designated on the plan, Mandorbah Point, to be erected, some months sin~e, wit~ the 'mUd and stone found on the spot. The body of the ho~se is to contain two rooms in front, twe~ve by fourteen feet~

surrounded by a verandah, in which is a s'epClrate' room for every- Gentl ema:n~ , In the . , . centre of the Verandah, behind, ts a room whe re l PI"opose th a t 'th ose Ge n tre.men who a re

employed at this Establishment should all mess together till other accommodations are provided'"l

The 1826 map (Map 1.3) shows Dawson's tent and the Ilproposed site for homestead" on the heights of Tahlee Hill and Mandor­bah ~ottage well down the,hill but seemingly on the:site of present Tahlee House.

James Macarthur, who visited the settlement in May, 1827, recorded:

"We slept ••• fn two verandlh rooms. The cottage is commodious. It is butlt of stone and has aQ air of snugness and comfort quite English. TlTere are' sleepi,ng ~partmen'ts and 'a general mess room attached to it5 for all the Gentlemen of the Establishment. 1l

2 The description accords with Dawson's r~ference to Mlndorbah Cottage.

M ea n w h 11 e D a W son con tin u e d to \1/ r i t e 0 f his 'p r 0 po sed h 0 U s_ e.,;, _,

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"The Cottag~ in which I now reside ••• has been erect~d for my own immediate accommodations until my family arrives, and also for that of the other Gentlemen at the. Establishment here ••• III forward ••• a plan and estimate for a house for the residence of the Principal Agent. It is calculated in my ideas for the accommodation

.c f ·1 11 ora aml y... 3

Thi's ho~se was certainly begun. James Macarthur, in 1828, reported:

1I ••• no sooner was the Lambton out of sight, at the time of my return by' her to Sydney~ than a Residence for the Agent, upon an extensive scale, was commenced upon ••• 1I

In evidence before the Committee enquiring into Dawson's ~onduct, Mr Ralph stated:

"o •• upon t~e 9th of January immediately after the departure of the Lambton Hr Dawson ~ad

commenced the building of a 1arge hou~e, which ••• h~~ been in pr~gress for the. space of five we~Ks, and at which .. work from 30 to 40 men were con.stqnt1y employed ••• The said building being raised five feet from the surface of the earth, and upon Mr. Dawson then discovering some omission with respect to cel1~rs, the structure was by his orders~ taken down 9 o P

This was confirmed by one,'Robinson~ who added that when he re t u'r n e d toP 0 r t S t e p hen son 2 1 s t Fe b r u a r y' he

"observed that the butldt~g had ~gain been demolished on account ••• of the insufficiency of the fo unaa t 10n s-. 11

M r Ha 1 e .9 a ve e v i den c e t hat the new h 0 use was 11 a 1 a r g e b u i 1 _ ding with cellars ll but that .... ., .

lithe whole o~ the wall had ••• been taken down for the purpose of being rebuilt with addit-

-iona1 openings for windows and doors ••• "

James Bowman, in his report of 17th May, 1828, stated that: lithe only part of the building then remaining

30

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was the foundation of the front of the House, the rest of the stonework having been taken up to alter the original plan' •• "4

In his report to th~ Directors the same month, John Macarthur, contradicting his son's earlier report, alleged:

"On entering the ~ouse at Tahlee, I found it

inconvenient, mean and ill built ••• 11 ••• nothing can be more ill constructed arid incommodious, in 'fact, it is so to an extent,

~whic'h makes it'next to ,impossible to maintain .o.even the appearance of common decency, combine~ with any moderate degree of comfort ••• II S

This seems to be the first reference to a "House at Tahlee." The question is whether there were one or two houses. Atchison suggests that Tahlee House was started in 1827-8 which is the date of Dawson's proposed house. There is no evidence that this house proceeded further than the found~­tions. On the other hand, the present house at Tahlee is somewhat grander than Mandorbah Cottage seems to have been' 6

Shortly after Parry's arrival in the colony, he met John Macarthur who informed him that:

liThe cottage he [Dawson] built upon a rock, which required more expense of labour and powder tO,blast for a foundation than the whole cottage was worth ••• II ?

The reference to the foundations suggests Dawson's proposed house but only one cottage is referred to and only one is certain) namely, Mandorbah Cottage.

Dawson made clear that he intended to. build higher up the "

hill. This area was searched for evidence of any foundations or cuttings for a cellar but without success. A number of stones litter the area. Some could be weathered cut stones but this iL unlikely. Tahlee House was extended by Parry. It is likely that any cut stone lying loose would have been used for this purpose. The'survey team then concentrated

31

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on Tahlee House.

There is extant an 1830 plan of Tahlee House (Plan 2.1; see also elevation, Plan 2.2). This shows ,"some Intended Improvements" and is endorsed "The South Wing ••• is completed." John Macarthur proposed certain alterations in 1828 but there is no evidence that these involved any extensions. On 2nd April, l83l~ Parry recorded that:

"The South-West wing of Tahlee House was ' completed this day, after being abnut thirteen months in hand ••• "

It would se~m, ·therefore, that the south wing on the plan was Parry!s extension and that the endorsement was ma~e at a

, later dateo 8

Dumaresq apparently "added three rooms somewhere." This statement was made by Lady Franklin, wife of Sir John , .

- Frankl in, Governor of Tasm~ni a, wh,o stayed at Tah,l ee in 1839 when King was tn residence. It is hot ~t ~11 cert~in which rooms these were but a plan~ allegedly dattng from 1840 (Plan 2.3) published by G.B~GidleY,King in 1969 $hows two addittonal rooms in the south wing. Lady Franklin described the house as:

" ••• built On a steep precipitous bank ••• with three front windows under verandah~ a chimney at each end on a frame, with painted front built by Parry, wtth two rooms, in o~e ,I slept, ,one window in front, one side ••• "

The first part seems to refer to the or~ginal cottage with a central door and two flanking windows openi~g onto the verandah; the second part apparently relates to the Parry

. extension, Lady Fr~nklin having slept in ~he south-west room. g .

' Ki ng

date

, " ,

published also a second plan (Plan 2.4) of the same which shows the house and garden.

Ta h 1 e e Ho use was sol din 1 85 3 io r J; 2, 5 00 0 Its his tor y between that date and 1880 is uncertain. In 1880 it was bought by a Sydney, stockbroker, R.H.D.White, and restored

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and extended into his country estate. He added the timber dining room on the east side and built the timber annex which contained a ballroom and billiard room. The garden was landscaped. It may well be that P~rry's south-west wing was demolished at that time. The present contours of the garden leave no room for it. White reputedly had ' twelve gardeners at one time. 'Though Lady Parry ts said to have laid out Tahlee, garden, much of what remains must,date to White. A framed watercolour sketch of the Tahlee complex apparently painted in the 1880s hangs in Tahlee Hoyse (Plate 7). Plate 8 shows the house as it is now. The White dining room, is in the foreground.

10

In 1949 the Gosp~l Fisherman's Mission (now Gospel Servite Mission) leased part of the guest rooms ,and the White annex though not the main house. tn 1959,"however, the Mission was able to buy Tah1ee and the Tahlee Btble College was ,

-established there.11

Since Tahlee House is under no threat, the recording of it did not gain precedence. Plans were made of the major structure including the White extension [Plan 2.5) and the

" ,

on"ly known cellar (Plan 2.6). The cellar bears little relationship to the descriptions of Dawson's massive , excavationsQ Tahlee House, both from the historic record and from comparison of known plans wou1~ seem to be ident­ical with Mandorbah Cottage.

Plan 2.5 shows the major living quarters of Tahlee House as they appeared in 1980. Servants' quarters at the rear were omitted from the plan .though recorded on film (Plates 9 & 10).

. . - ---

A few words of caution should be said in relation to the plan. It was prepared without assistanc~ and the measure­ments are the best which cDuld be achieved without the removal of heavy furniture. The ~hickness of the walls was also difficult to determine. Some appear~d to be two bricks thick, some more and it was impossible to tell if any were cavity walls.

33

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On inspection the house appeared to be a mixture of early ,

and late Nineteenth Century features with some unfortunate -Twentieth Century additions. To trace the exact growth would necessitate a longer and more detailed examination. The plans that survive bear little relation to the present structure. The apparent chronology is that the four front rooms and hall came first, a d~tached kiichen and other rooms were added behind, then came the White dining room and the kitchen was enclosed in a large, roofed structure. More work should be done on this building.

The cellar (~lan 2.6) lies under the south-east corner. The "present entrance is by a trapdoor in ~he" verandah and narrow wooden step~ but.originally access was gained through a double door beneath the verandah from which wide, stone steps led to the cellar. The outer cellar wall, the

_outside foundation wall of the house, is massive. Those north-west and south-east are much thinner. The main features are three stone vaults which cover a third of the floor area. No formal correlation was made between the cellar and the room above but the central arch appears to form the foundation of the fireplace above.

* * * *

1. Dawson to Corrmittee, 1 August, 1826l'J\l-·A~·A'~Co .. , REmRDS •.

2. James Macarthur to OJirmittee, 27 June, 1827, A.A.Co., lce.cit. --

3. DaWSon to COl1rnittee, 30 April, 1827, A.A.Coo, lce.cit.

4. James Macarthur "to Com:nittee, 13 "March, l828,'Barton to Cainnittee, 17 May I 1828, A.A.Co., lce.cit. i Minutes of evidence reSpecting part of the ronduct of Mr. Dawson, A~AoCoo, loc.cit ... B706, 708, 709.

5.. John Macarthur to Court, 26 May, 1828, A.A. Co~ " loc 0 ci t.

6. Atchison, J .. F.: PORI' STEPHENS AND GrXlNOO GOCJi\a) ~ A REVIEW OF 'mE EARLY PERIOD OF '!HE AUSTRALIAN AGRICUIJIURAL COMPA.~, unpUbLi.shed Ph.D 'Ihesis, A.N.D., 1972, p.ll3.

1 i

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8.

9 •

Parry, Sir W.Edward: JOURNALS, 28 December, 1829 •

John Macarthur to Court, 26 May, 1828, A.A.Coo, loc.cito; Parry, lococit., 2 April, 1831.

Lady Franklin quoted by McDaniel1, J.R.: SOUVENIR OF STROUD, p.48; King, G.B. Gidley: "Aspects of the First Decade of the Australian Agricultural Company, Part 11 1 " DESCENT, 1969, pp 76-7

10. A.A.Co., 31st Annual Report9 1855, p.19;,Bigg"ins, Marjorie: "A house called Tahlee, N.M.H., 4 Septerroer, 1971; Knox 1 David: "Tahlee House a I ink in colonial history," loc.cit., 1 March, 1975.

11. Biggins, ib id.; Hodge, Ben: HCURSION TO CARRINGTON, unptb 1 ished.

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Mention h&5 already been made of the unsuitability of the early wharves for the requirements of the settlement. Parry referred to the wharf ~t Tahlee as "an useless and most expensive erection" and from Bowman's report of May, 1828, it could have cost ~900.1

Though it has grown from the original ,wharf, the present boat harbour at Tahlee bears the marks of much later restor­ation. White carried out extensive repairs. He used, it for the small steamer in which he reputedly brought his Sydney house-guests to Tahlee. Here they disembarked, the gentlemen walking, the crinolined ladies being provided with a horse-

, drawn tram to protect their hems and shield them from the exertion of the climb to the house. The tramway can be seen in the 1880s watercolour.

This century, conversions have been made to provide for fishing boats and more recently timber props have been inserted to tie"in the more expo~ed stone faces to the bank. To ascertain what is original and what not, comparison must

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be made between the boat harbour at Tahlee as it presently stands (Plates 11 & 12; Plan 3.1) and that at Kokrenoyo Point which bears no hallmarks of later renovations (Plate 13; Plan ~.3).

In each instance the basic construction is of local stone laid so that the two sides of the harbour are parallel. One side of the harbour is tied to the natural shoreline, the other is built out to form a freestanding breakwater. The similarity is too great to assume other than that these parts of each structure are contemporary' or close thereto.

The harbour at Kokrenoyo.Point was abandoned. That at Tahlee continued to be used and alterations were made. There is an ~ngled entrance to protect the harbour from southerlies. This may have been original. Certainly the stone appears the s~me though this proves.nothing since it is all local stone. The harbour at Kokrenoyo Point opens to the south-west and doesn't appear to have needed the same protection. At Tahlee, however, the stones of the

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main harbour are faced and the shore end is built square with the sides. Again this may be original. Tahlee was- a prestige site, Kokrenoyo was notiand Bowman gives the cost of the second wharf as only t300. Alternatively, this could be the result of White's rebuilding. The steps leading to the water on both sides of Tahlee harbour seem almost certainly to have been White's. There is ~othing similar at Kokrenoyo Point.

On the southern side of Tahlee harbour several courses of 'mortared bricks have been laid above the stone and there are periodic risers of a single course for embellishment. Earth has been packed behind to make a level' landing (Plan 3.2; cf. elevation 4.2). This, surely~ was White. On the north side the bank has been cut into two levels. This could be original. The \'Iharf and the natural slope of the land are

- much higher above water level at Tahlee than at Kokrenoyo Point. It seems more likely, however, that the Tahlee structure was raised by White who was berthing a small ocean-going steamer and not lighters from anchored ships.

~

The floating wooden jetty is of recent orfgin as are the timber poles at the east end of the dock and the timber props that help tie the outer walls to the bank. Indeed props are still being laid for this purpose. It is imposs­ible to tell the age of the boatshed. It is certainly much later than the A.A.Company but is now derelict. The structure seems too simple for White and isn't big enough for other than small craft. The 18805 painting, however, does show a small building ~t the head of the wharf and there is no evidence of any other.

Both harbours ~ave silted up. At Tahlee there is at high tide 1.3 metres of water above the silt bottom. It was

-' not possible to plumb the depth of silt with the equipment available. At Kokrenoyo Point there is now only some 40cm. of water at high tide, none at low. The silt extends at least 80cm., and a depth of 1.2 metres would be ample for lighters and barges.

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Par r y, 0 n .. 2 5 t h Fe b r u a r y, 1 8 30, re cor d e din his d i a r y :

" ••• 1 went in a boat with Mr. Corlette to sound about 'Cokrenoyo' (a point so called) and I think we found a place where at low water spring t~des we should have 6 feet water, ~y co~structing a wharf from 50 to 60 yards long from low-water mark, at about the same expense as one of the present miserable wharves cost ••• "2

It is clear, however, that a wharf had b~en built at .' Kokrenoyo Point before Parry's arrival. Furthermore,

there is no mention in Parry's'Journal :that he ever built . .

a second wharf in this location. For these reasons it would seem that the present wharf dates' back to Dawson.

" * * * *

FOOTNOTES.

1. Boy.man to Court, 17 ~ay, 1828, A.A.Co., RECORDS; Parry, loc.cit., 13 January, .1830.

2. Parry, loc.cit., 25 February, 1830.

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Once he had satisfied the immediate ne-eds 'of his char.ges; Dawson turned his attention to building in permanent materials. In August, 1826 he r~ported:

"Materials for the erection of buildings are in the greatest abQndance, here: Stone­Shells for Lime - good earth for the making of

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.... Br i. c k s, and' 0 f co u r sea . ne v er fail i n g sup p'l y . of timber. . ., .... , "'.:': .......... ,,:':' .. , .' ...... : ....... ',' . .'".', : I

11 I have recently had nearly twenty thou'san'd .' ., ';:'

'brick~ made in Balb~c~ Valley - the clay, is good, and'makes Bricks.of· excellant ~uality •• "As soon as I can procure a Sto~k of Bricks, I propose to build entirely with them, a~

being cheaper~ as well as more durable an~ res ,p e c ta b 1 e t h a n any t h i n gel se •• '. 11

By, D ~·.c: e m b er, 1 82 7 " ' 11 a b.o u t n a 1 f·. a M i 1-1 i o·.n· 0 f B'r i c k s tI \,1 ere _ "in progress. 1

., D'aw'sori's "l"'e'po'rts' '8'1'5'0 lll'ake, 'r-epe'ate'd :r.ef·e·re'm:·e· ·to·: th·e burni·ng of lime for mortar. An abundance of shell was then to be found on the shores of Port Stephens. In one instance, shell. was said to cover over an acre to a depth of several ·feet. ~he-obvious means of transporting shell-for lime~' therefore, was by water .nd it is not surprising that the lime kiln is associated with a boat harbour, that at Kokrenoyo Point (Plans 3.3, 402). Indeed a barge in the boat harbour would have been within ten metres of the kiln. 2

The lime kiln (Plates 14 & 15; Plan 4.1) is an impressive structure of stone, unmortared and laid in two rows with an occasjon~J single stone tyi~g th~ 'two together. There is-a definite opening on the south side, towards the harbour. Another possible opening is indicated to the north-west but this may have been caused by a fall. Though of the circular beehive form common for the period, it is not certain that the kiln was 10aqed from the top though this is more than probable. The sides as they stand now are vertical. There is no curve towards the centre though such must have been the case.· Sufficient stones 'surround the kiln to account

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for much of the re~t of the wall and there are indications ~f. stones inside the kiln, though here they are well cov~red with earth and vegetatiop. The kiln is free­standing, that is, there is no bank of earth to facilitate top-loading but this could have been overcome by the use

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of ladders. Labour, convict, was little problem and the necessity to transport shell and lime would have dictated the selection of. the si.te ahead of any other' consideration. The burnt lime would have been raked out from the southern aperture ~nd taken back to the harbour.

The site of the brickyard was dictated by the supply of clay. Armstrong's map of 1830 shows the yard north of the ere e k • 0 n 1 y .0 n e k i 1 n has bee n f 0 u n din t his 1 0 cat ion (Plan 4.3). The remainder and most of·the clay pits are, to the south. The creek could have been diverted away from

. the clay ~its or alternatively cut a new.channel but the natural ·slqpe ;of the land pre.cludes any creek sout~ .of the

.... enti'r'e "c·om-plex. ''It i,s likely, -there'for,e, that ,t'h'e 'yar,d was expanded after 1830. The area now covered by the remains of this activity is considerable.

Although identified as kilns, the brick mounds (Plate 16) are e'qually commensurate with clamp burning. The elevations (Plan 4.4) show little above th~ ground and in the absence of excavation it was impossible to tell whether this was the result of brick-robbing or the simple removal of bricks from a clamp. The uneven shape of the mounds, though partly the result of disturbance by trees which have grown in the mounds, suggest clamps rather than kilns. On the other hand, the number of bricks mentioned by Dawso~ and the fact that a_ kiln \'Jas carefully built for lime, which can also be clamp burnt, indicates something more permanent.

* * * * FOOTNOTES.

I. Dawson to Committee, 1 August, 1826,7 December, 1827, A.A.Co." RECORDS; i)awson, Robert: THE P'RESENT STATE OF AUSTRALIA, Smith, Elder & Co., London, 1830, pp 38,98.

2. A.A.Co., 3rd Annual Report, 1827.

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In April, 1827, Dawson recorded: "Having app"lied for and obtained from Government, a Tann~r & Currier, it is my intention to turn the Hides from the Slaughter House into leather as soon as possible for our own consumption. Tan pits are already constructed, and with the facilities I possess for procuring Mimosa Bark in abundance, I do not doubt of success."

By December sufficient leat~er was being produced to supply the settlement. l

Barton lists' a tanner and a shoemaker among the tradesmen employed in 1828. Parry considered the tan-yard a useful establishment and-his ~ou~nal entries refer to it from time to time. How long they continued is unknown. The Company's annual reports and balance sheets refer to the export of ,. hides to England but neither do they mention whether the hides were tanned or not nor do they distinguish between the produce of Warrah and the Port Stephens Estate. The s imp 1 e n a tu r'e 0 f the tan - pit s s u 9 g est t hat the y we re use d only for the production of leather required by the settle­ment and therefore that they ceased to be used when that settlement became depleted. 2

Although the only substance recorded as being used for tanning at Carrington is wattle bark, other chemicals are required. To make leather~ the hides were first soaked in milk of lime to l~osen the epidermis so that the hairs and excess fat could be removed more easily. They were then placed in a weak solution of sulphuric acid to swell them so t~at the tanning liquid would be absorbed. After that they wer~ taken to a third pit containing a weak bark solution. Later they were transferred to a stronger bark mixture and finally 1aid out with layers of bark between and covered with a solution of bark. Th~ fi~st three processes were quite short. The last two immersions took

much longer. It is interesting to note that there are five distinct steps and there are five tanning pits (Plan 5.1;

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Plates 17-20). Without soil tests it is impossible to say whether individual pits were used exclusively for certain processes but this would seem likely and it is suggested that the first three, the quicker of the operations, took place ,in the triple pit which is nearest the creek, the slower work being done in the double pit. The group of three pits, it will be seen, are set well apart and this is commensurate with" such distinct chemicals as lime, acid and bark. The double pit, though clearly divided~ is separated by only about 30cm. of eartn.

Though the survey plan shows the pits of different shapes, this is not so apparent to the eye and is largely the result of the s'ides having collapsed unevenly. This could nave been caused by br~ck-robbi~g. A probe indicated the pits were once lined with bricks, which is more than like1y. As

-they would have to be made watertight, the bricks were .. probably backed with clay. The tan-pits are only about five hundred metres from the brickyard and clay pits. Over the years the pits have become filled with earth and leaves so that, whilst distinct, they are now shallow.

Since tanning requires considerable water, the location of the pits near a creek is not surprising. Wattle bark was no doubt common throughout the estate. Other chemicals would have to be carried in but they are not required in great quantities. The main reason the pits were built where they are was probably the smell. They are so sheltered by the surrounding hills as to get almost no wind that cou1d have blown the stench towards the settlement.

* * * *

FOOTNOTES •

1 • DawSon to Committee, 30 April, 1827, 7 December, 1827, A.A.Co., RECORDS.

2. Barton to Committee, 14 January, 1828, A .A. Co. , RECORDS; Parry, loc.cit.,9 January, 1830.

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LUMBER YARD AREA

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As has been stated, the area around the estuary of Carabeen Creek from the site of the lumber yard across to the suggested site of the proposed tide mill as shown on the 1830 map warranted detailed recordino. Four distinct structural remains were located here. To identify with certainty any of these with sites named by Armstrong is impossible without a full and accurate survey and even then would depend on the accuracy of Armstrong's survey which was drawn up on a small scale. Although a tentative identification has been madi in two instances, the four structures are referred to in this report merely as features.

FEATURE A. P 1 an 6. 1; P 1 ate s 2·1 & 22

Location: West of the modern bridge, 10 metres north of the waterfront road and east of the

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cemetery road. Description: Feature A consists of the remains of two

walls placed at right angles to each other. The north-south wall is approximately 6.5 metres long, the east-west wall approxim­ate1y 3 metres long. These appear to form the north and east walls of a building.

FEATURE B.

The average height of the walls above the level of the surrounding estuary channels is 0.18 metre~. They were constructed in mortared sandstone cobbles. Decayed brick and plaster ~re also present on the site. The ruin may be in the position of the strucl,Ire marked IIBent ll and "Pickering" on the western ,side of the lumber yard as shown on the 1830 map.

Plan -6.2; Plate 23.

Location: Approximately 30 metres north of Feature A. Description: This feature consists of a pile of sand-

stone rubble and decayed brick approxim­ately 7 metres by 4 metres in area an9

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FEATURE C. Location:

devoid of stones. No structural arrangement of the stones or bricks could be discerned.

Along the northern edge of the southern~ost estuary~

Description: Feature C consists of an alignment of

FEATURE D.

unmortared sandstone cobbles approximately 35 metres long. The structure may be related to Feature D on the other side of the estuary.

Plans 6.3 & 6.4; Plates 24-36. Location: North of the church approximately 50 metres

north of the road. Description: Feature D comprises two areas of ~tonework

built in conjunction with an arcuate earth mound which separates the two large estuaries. The southern area of stonework appears to be a masonry lined channel excavated to water level with the eastern half being infilled and cemented over to raise it approximately 3 metres above water level. A thin concrete wall has been built across the channel. The structure appears to be a spillway b~ilt in conjunction with the earth dam wall. The use of concrete may indicate that it was reused at a later date. The northern stonework consists of two well­built sandstone rubble walls which extend from the dam wall into the southern estuary. This structure may be part-of the preliminary work for the proposed tide mill.

59

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The Company1s officers were first housed in Mandorbah Cottage but by April,1827,

"0 ne house [had] been erected for the Company's Surveyor, Mr~ Armstrong, in consequence of his recent marriage ... "

This house was substantial~ The following year it was declared to be the only

"habitation upon the Estate "that can be styled a suitable abode for an officer of the Companyll

apart from Tahlee House. Parry described it as it stood in January, 1830:

IIMr. Armstrong's house is a neat brick building, the only one of two stories, and

quit~ apart from the rest ••• lI l

the site of ' Arm strong's house is shown on his map of 1830 which shows ~lso i group of cottages to the west. The cottages appear to be of different sizes but may have adhered in a general way to Oawson1s plan for cottages IIfor the better class of free Mechanics, Overseers &c. 1I

(Plan 7.1). Parry has provided details of Oawson1s methods of construction. Referring to the hospital he recorded:

" ••• at the back of it ;s a collection of green stagnant pools occasioned by the manner in which all the houses built here on the sides of hills have been put into a hole. Instead of raising the front, Mr •. Oawson always let down the back by digging and blasting at an en?rmous expense •.. 1I 2

It wis thought, in view of this description and Dawson's plan, that some evidence of the cottages on the slope would be found but nothing was apparent. The area is, however, much overgrown. Immediately south of the slope where the ground flattens ou~ a number of brick scatters and some apparent foundations were locat~d. These were surveyed (Plan 7.2) and one such site recorded in detail.

Tentatively called a IIhearth,1I this foundation (Plan 7.3; Plate 37) was composed of yellow brick with blackened edges

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and corners. T~e rectangular arrangement and charred edges suggested ·~·firepJac~ but there was ho surface trace of any building. If the bricks represent part of a kitchen, the cottage must have been of timber. The bricks were of two distinct sizes. One was the standard 23 by lOcm •. (9 by 4

inch) brick. The other measured 15 by lO~11cm. (6 by 41n.) and therefore was probably baked locally. The two siiis may mean that the bricks were robbed from other structures. A number of bricks of both sizes scatter the area (Plan 7.2)

It should be stressed that none of the scatters or founda­tions were disturbed. Only surface remains were recorded and, while it can be said that many of the bricks were old and a~p~ared to be of the same vintage as those found at ·the brick kilns, it is ~uite likely that they h~d be~n plun~ered and reus~'d.

* * * *

FOOTNOTES.

1. Dawson to Committee, 30 April, 1827, Barton to Brjck~~od, 27 Septerrber, 1828, A.A.Co., RECORDS; Parry, loc.cit., 9 January, 1830.

2. Parry, ibid.

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On 9th JanuarYi 1830, Parry recorded: ·IlAt ·a. considerable distance farther on [from tne settlement] are.the cottages of Messrs. Barton and St~cey, very handsome, with gardens in front, very neat and nice - Mr. Barton's especially being large and full of vegetables. 1I

Barton, though his complaint was not recorded until after his dismissal by the Company, found it uninhabitable •. He

·'d-escr·ibed 'it as:. ',' .

"Acott'/l'ge"\l' cons.·i s t"i ng of two rooms, wi th an en c 1 o~ ed ve'~~~da'h' a.rid. ·a 'wa s h- ho us e •••

. • . " ': ' '. • .... • I

11 ••• one of the h/o habi t.ab.lt;!.~".fo~ms~., and two in the verandah,. is set .aP'il:-rt· by me for the Co~panyls business~ and occupi~rl by the accountant, the gentleme~ '~~~1~g under him as clerks, and a convict; adjac~n~ is a nursery for the children ••• "

He took credit himself for: 1I ••• the clearance of timber; •• the formation, stocking, and cultivation of an excellent garden; •• fences, drainings, le ••. "l

Dr. Stacey arrived at Carrington in 1828 so presumably hfs house was"built either in time for his arrival or very shortly thereafter. The site of both cottages is shown on Armstrong's map of 1830.

In this area two distinct but possibly related features were located. Again, since identification is conjectural, they are here referred to simply as fe~tures.

Feature A .is a .1ime-mortared, cut· stone retaining wall (Plan 8.1; Plates 38-40) ~t 183 d~grees from a newly cut surveyor's .shield tree. This is an impressive structur~ standing just over a· metre in height and 60-70cm. thick. On ooe side the earth is level with the top, on the other there is a ditch on the far side. likely that both

four metres across with an earth mound No excavatio~ was attempted. It is

wall and mound are higher than the

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dimensions given.

The team r~cording this site fac~d enormous difficulties. The whole area is densely overgrown with blackberries and lantana and every step had to be hacked out~ The'wall ~tops abruptly ~t the north end~ It was possible to trace it eighteen metres from this point. It was'~~lso possible to follow the earth embarikment as it curved south from near the north end of the wall. The team then.cut a second approach through from the east and again met the ditch, here three metres wide, and. the embankment. A

scatter of bricks similar to those found on other sites with some stone rubble was found on the embankment (Plate 41). The ditch continues south of this poi~t but without

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defi ned ban ks.. The dense un dergro\'1th., prevented "cros,s; ng ... : . '. :

the embankment but it ~Jas clear that ,the land slop'es a\'1ay ~ behind it 'and then levels out.

Feature B (Plan 8.2; Plates 42-46), located at 345 degrees from the ,modern stockyard, comprised the remains of what were apparently foundation wallS. MounHs ran parallel and a t rig h tan g 1 e s • The sur fa c e \va s s c r,a p e d a w a'y a t the

'corners and wall junctions. Unmortared but laid stone was found at these points wfth some Carrington-type brick in the northern corner. Th~ division wall seemed to be incomplete, suggesting a'possible doorway between two adjoining rooms. Two bottle fragments (a case gin base fragment 7cm. across, thick dark olive metal with a pontil mark, and a black bottle base fragment 7.5cm. diameter also with a pontil mark) we~e found outside the east wall cl 0 set 0 the i n t ern a~ -d i vis i' 0 n wa 1 1 ;5 lA g-g-e-s tin gap 0 s sib 1 e doorway near this point. A base and rim fragment of lemon glazed Irrawang type pie-dish was found near the east corner. This m~terial sugges~s domestic occupation.

Qn scale the ml?dern'road cut~across,the north-west corner of Dr-;-Stacey' s boundary'. -Feature B is south of the road and Feature A south of Feature B. On the 1830 map roads and excavations are indicated by dotted lines. The dotted

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lines in lIo-t" Stac;ey's Garden lf could-,well represent drainage ditches. Similar lines appear in Mr Barton's garden and Barton claimed to have· incurred expense for IIdrainingso" Feature A, therefore, could be a retainin~ wall and drainage ditch west of the site of Barton's house as shown in that map.

Barton complained that his house had only two main "~ooms. Both B~rton and StaceY,were officers of the Company and are likely to have had similar houses. If Feature A is part of Barton's complex~ which seems likely, then Feature B could be part of Stacey's house.

One problem in this interpretation is that th"e ditch does not now appear to function aS"a "dr~in. Hpwe~er~ '~t was seen in drought conditions. ,',

* * * *

FCOTNOTEs.

Bart:on, W.:' 'THE 'M.EM)RIAI, AND JUSTIFICATION OF 'MR. 'BARI'ON AppJinted to '!he United Offices of SECRETARY AND ACCOUNrANT to the AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL ffi'1PN;1Y in New South Wales # PeTham Richardson, LondOn 1 1832, P .17; Pany: loc.c.1:t., 9 January, 1830.

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FEATURE A

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CHANNEL CONTINUES

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CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY

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The Church of Holy Trinity (Plan 9.1; Plates 47 & 48) was started in 1846-7 but not consecrated until 1851 when £ishop Tyrrell performed the cerqmony. It was built by the A.A.Company although the Company, by that time, had removed the centre of its activities to Stroud. The church Wps closed in 1862 but r~stored by Whi,te in 1?88 when it was rededicated as the Church of Saint Andrew. This restora~ tion possibly 'included the buttresses to the north' and, east:,',: corners. The stonework of the buttresses doesn't tie in with the main walls (Plan 9.2)~ Whilst it is not certain, the simplicity of the iriterior woodwork (Plans 9.4 & 9.5) suggest this is original rather than White. The side windows are unusual in that they are hinged from the top

_ (Plan 9.3, Elevation A) rather than, pivotted from the centre. This, however, ma~ be recent,. A"cons'iderable o ve r 1 ay 0 f P a i n t m a k e s i ,t i 'm p'o s sib i e to: e s tA, m ate w hen the." hinges were fixed. In 1949 the church was again closed ,

-,and leased to the Youth Hostels Association which has partially restored it and made some minor changes to the interior to permit its use as a youth hostel' 1

Ea s t 0 f the ,e n t ran c e a be 11 ins cri bed 11 A u s t r a 1. i a nAg r i c­

u"'tural Compan~ 1829 11 (Plates 49 &,50) ,stands on a short p~destal. Thi~,reputedly was originally a warning bell for escaped convicts. Having been given to the church, it was installed in a timber bellfry which, unfortunately, was ~llowed to rot. The bell fell and was cracked.

* * * *

FOOTNOTES.

1. Gregory, FredY..: "Ear1 y Days of Port Stephens," RAn~OND TERRACE EXAl"'INER, 23 Octcber, 1974; Hodge, loc.cit.

2. O'Ombrain, Athol: IIEarly Port Stephens History," N.~:.H., 18 Octo er, 1958.

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CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY

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MAP 9.2

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--ELEVAT! ON D

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EL A ELEVATION B

f'1AIN WINDOWS INTERN.AL DIMENSIONS

HINGES

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Armstrong's 1830 map shows a "Small burying Ground" between the tanpits and the brickyard. ThiS hai not been located though it must have beeniin use. Parry records several deaths at the settlement and the burial of at least one person there. The cemetery at Car~ington which has been classified by the National Trust, therefore, "was not the first.

To identify the graves, a plan of the cemetery was "made (Plan 10.1) and the graves numbered consecutively. The earliest is No.10, that of Captain William Terry who died in 1837. The most recent is No.l, dated to 1949, one of only two from this century, the other being 1909 (No.6).

The grave numbered 11 (Plates 51 & 52), that of Captain William Cromarty and his son, is possibly of most interest." Cromarty, 'a former Royal Navy captain, had been given land on the Karuah River but when this was included in the A.A.Company's grant he transferred to Salamander Bay. Parry1s Journal entries from time to time mention a man named Cromarty, always in connection with ships, usu&lly assisting in their loading or unloading. Pre~umably "this is the same man who, therefore, was employed bi the A.A.Company though possibly on a casual basis!: "There is no mention of his living at Carrington. The story of his death has variations. One is that he went out to pick up the ship's boat after a whaler had sunk. The other is that it wasn1t a whaler but the steamer, King William.

He, his son and his crew, an assigned convict "and an abor-iginal, were drowned. Cromarty's ship, Fame, has 9 i ve n her n a met 0 F a m e Co ve, the bay ea s t u f" the Nor t h Arm.

The grave numbered 3 (Plates 53 ~ 54) has a cast iron headstone and railing~ not atypical of its period, 1866.

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CARRINGTON CEMETERY: Record of Graves.

1 • In loving Memory of our dear father

Samuel Smith Died 4th Dec., 1949

Aged 69 Years

20 Headstone: marble. Lock & Doherty. Newcastle.

Iron fence:

Inscription: In mory 0 f

EDWARD JONES AGNEW SMITH

DIED JUNE 28th 1886. AGED 86 YEARS.

AND ELLEN

HIS BELOVED WIFE DIED MAY 6th 1878.

3. Headstone: cast iron.

Iron fence:

J.B.BUBB VICTORIA FOUNDRY SYDNEY.

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Inscription: IN MEMORY

OF JOHN SCOTT

DIED 14th JUNE, 1866

AGED 62

ALSO ESTHER, WIDOW

OF JOHN SCOTT

DIED 30th MARCH, 1872

AGED 57

4. Headstone: sandstone.

5.

Inscription:

No headstone. Iron fence:

I n Memory of JOHN MAILER

BORN EDINBURGH 8th SEPTEMBER 1825 DIED CARRINGTON 12th FEBRUARY 1892

o the pain the bliss of dying THIS STONE IS ERECTED BY FRIENDS

AND RESIDENTS OF TAHLEE & CARRINGTON WHO RESPECTED THE ABOVE.

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. 11 J /' . I' L_t __ ~J~_j-Grave partitioned into three.

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8. Marble slab on stone lying on ground.

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Sa cre d to the Memory of

Captain William Terry formerly Master

of the Whaling brig Tigress who departed

This' life 4th November 1837 Aged 36 years

By thy wife's hands thy humble grave adorned By Strangers Carried and by Strangers mourned In hopes of bliss he left this World of Care

With Christ above Eternal life to Share. J. Popplewel1

Sculptor, Pitt St Sydney

With footstone: C W T 1837

Here 1 i e buri ed such remains as were found

of the bodies of Capt. William Cromarty aged 50 years

and William his son, aged 16 years

Who having left their homes on the morning of September the 1st 1838, accompanied by an assigned manservant, and an aboriginal

native for the purpose of recovering a boat which had been cast ashore at the heads

were no more seen, having perished, it is supposed, in launching it through the surf.

Reader~ let this admonish thee of the uncertainty of the present life, and may God's Holy Spirit

Teach thee so to live that death may never find Thee unprepared!

C LEWETT PITT ST. SYDNEY

With footstone: C-PT. W.C. 1848

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In locating the A.A.Companyis sites at Carrington, considerable use was made of Armstrong's map of 1830. Indeed, the tanpits and brickyar~, which are deep in the bush, were found only with the aid of that'map and a compass, bearings being taken from the hills on either side. To identify who now owns these sites proves.

difficult.

Map 3.1, Carrington 1980, was drawn to the same scale as a copy of the 1830 map and superimposed on it with a view to pinpointing the remains recorded in this report. The 1980 map was adapted from an airial photograph and there­fore should be accurate. The. shoreline fits almost exactly, as does th~ creek up to the site marked by Armstrong IIEdwards" and IITu1ko" beyond that point the creek as recorded by Armstrong and that shown in the airial photograph differ in location, the II mo dern

ll creek

~ being north of Armstrong's creek. Despite this, the tanpits were found in the area marked by Armstrong, that is, north of the creek. When superimposing the two maps, that site should be south of the present creek •. The brickyard, on the other hand, spans the present creek

-though the~e is little to suggest that the,,(,:reek could have cut a new bed so far north of Armstro~g~s creek as

the modern creek seems to be.

Recourse was then had to a modern contour map. The contours tally with the airial photograph but not with Armstrong's contours. Some contour 1ines have been drawn onto the 1980 map. These show the hills on either side of the tanpits site in a different posijjon from the hi·lls-­on Armstrong's map. The northern hill on the modern map is further north~ that to the south now extends further

east.

The Great Lakes Shire Council holds maps indicating present ownership. A ma_Jor boundary line-is-the creek but it is not at all clear ~hether the creek so mapped is the creek as it runs today_ Subdivision and sale at

j

o 1

Carrington began in 1851.

The whole,of the land north and ~est of the Council's creek, portions 33 and 206, is owned by J.& H.Spence of 41 Moola Parade, Chatswood. This land certainly includes the cemetery and such sites as the lumber yard art~ the structures marked "Bent" and "Pickering" in Armstrong's map. Inland the boundary of this land is not at all clear. It is natural bush and unfenced.

H hat ha p pe; I sea s tan d sou t h 0 f t h,e c re e k' at t his po i n t is also unclear. The Council provided two maps, one of the town area, the other allegedly of the surrounding rural holdings but" there seemed t.o be a gap between.

"The only owner recorded for this area is Port Stephens" "

Realty of G.P.D. Box 2678, Sydney, but that company denied owning land at Carrington and it may be that their land is further north.

The "industrial area" east of the creek as mapped by Armstrong, the area which included the blacksmith,'s sho~, horse-mill and stores, is owned by various members of the Lyall family whose address is Figtrees, K~~uah. ' This is now overlaid by sheds for packing oys~ers, 'and associated activities.

It should be added that the Council enquiry was made well in advance of the weekend surveyo Reference was then made to Armstrong's map but that stops some distance short of Balberook Cove. It was not anticipated at that time that the area to be covered would extend s~"far east. Sear-eh could be made at the Land Titles Office but this has not been done.

So far as possible, the sites here recorded have been plotted on the 1980 map (Map 3.1') and are as ~ollows:

1. Tahlee House. 2. Tahlee bnat harbour. 3. Lumber yard area, Feature A.

89

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4. 5. ,-

6. 7 • 8.

9.

10. 1 i . 12~

" " .... :"" : .,l:

lumber yard area, Feature B. lumber yard a rea" Feature C. Lumber yard a rea " Feature D. Tanning pits. Brickyard. Area', ,of Adam~s-Armstrong's houses. Stacey I s/Barton I'S houses. . :

Church of Holy Tr i 11 i ty • C,emetery.

MAP 3.1 •

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BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Primary Sources.

A.A.Company

Backhouse, James

Cunningha~, Pet~r

Dangar, Henry

o a w·s 0 n, Rob e r t

Demarr~ James

Secondary Sources.

Atchison, J.F.

Biggfns, r~arjorie

Campbell, J.F.

Denning, H.W.

Annual Reports, Mitche11 Library. Records and Letterbooks, Newcastle

University Archives. Records and Maps, Australian ,National

University. A NARRATIVE OF A VISIT TO THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES, Hamilton Adams, London, 1843.

TWO YEARS IN NEW SOUTH WALES, VOL. 11, Henry Colburn, London, 1828. INDEX AND DIRECTORY TO MAP OF THE COUNTRY BORDERING UPON THE RIVER HUNTER, Joseph Cross, London, 1828.

STATEMENT OF THE SERVICES OF MR. DAWSON AS CHIEF AGENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN AGRIC~ ULTURAL COMPANY, Smith Elder, London, 1829.

THE PRESENT STATE OF AUSTRALIA, Smith Elder, London, 1830.

ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA FIFTY YEARS AGO, Swan Sonnenschein, London, 1893~

PORT STEPHENS AND GOONOO GOONOO - A REVIEW OF THE EARLY PERIOD OF THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY, unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, A.N.U., 1972.

AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIO~RAPHY,

Melbourne University Press, 1966.

~A house called Tahlee," N.M.H., 4 September, 1971.

"The F1r~t Decade of the Au~tralian Agricultural -Gompany, 1824 to l-a3"i\:~iI

R.A.H.S.J.& P. IX (1923) 113-160.

THE STORY OF PORT STFPHENS.

]

]

J

"l

j

J

]

]

D'Ombrain, Athol

Ed.

Fryer, John (Ed.)

Gregory, Fred M.

Gregson, Jesse

Hodge~ Ben

King, G.B.Gidley

Knox, David

McDaniel1 , J.R.

Mann, R. J •.

Ritchie, John

Roberts, Stephen H.

Robertso'n, John

Sidney, S. (Ed.)

"Early Port Stephens History," N.M.H. 18 October, 1958.

j,

EARLY DAYS OF PORT STEPHENS, Chronicle Pr; nt, Dungog.

SURVEYING THE.HUNTER, Hunt~r Manni.ng Group of the Institute of. .. ·Surveyors, Australia, Newcastle, 1980.

"Early Day.s of Port Stephens," RAYMOND TERRACE EXAMINER, 23 October, 1974.

THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY, 1824-1875, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1907.

"Excursion to Carri.ngton," unpubl.ished~ . '.

"Aspects of the.first··Decade of:the': Australian Agricultural Company," DESCENT, 1968, 17-29, 1969, 62-79.

"Tahlee House a link ·in colonial history," N.M.H., 1 March, 1975.

SOUVENIR OF STROUD, 1"824-1926.

THE EMIGRANTS COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, PORT STEPHENS~

'VAN DfEMAN'S LAND, NEW ZEALAND, Wm. Strange, London, 1850.

PUNISHMENT OR PROFIT, Heinemann, ~'elbourne, 1970.

HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN (AND SETTLEMENT 1788-1920, Macmi11a.n,.J1..e1bourne, 1924.

"The Australian Agricultural Company ~

and the Port Stephens Fiasco," R.A.H.S.J. 50 (1964) 216-22Q.

SIDNEY'S EMIGRANTS' JOURNAL AND TRAVEL­LERS· MAGAZINE, 2nd Series, W.S.Orr, London, 1850.