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- I I I " I I I THEMATIC HISTORY I, WYONG SHIRE IfERITAGE STUDY i I I I I I I I I I WENDYTHORP 12 Campbell Street, Eastwood. 2122. I November 1994 I w'10N"G "5Y1.IRE.- (t>UNC.\l, I I I I I CONTENTS OF THE REPORT I I I i 1.0 Introduction . 1 1.1 Role of Thematic History ........................ 1 I 1.2 Structure of Thematic HIstory ..................... 1 I 1.3 SHIP Programme . 2 2.0 Landscape and Topography - A Framework for History . 4 I 3.0 Old and New Inhabitants ........................ 7 I 4.0 Slow Beginnings ............................ .10 5.0 Subdivision - A Sense of Community ..................13 I 6.0 Town Growth . .19 I 7.0 Lines of Communication ........................23 I 8.0 Timber . .27 9.0 Primary Industry .............................31 I 10.0 Sydney's Playground .......................... .38 I 11.0 Subsidiary Documentation ...................... .42 11.1 Endnotes to the Text . .42 I 11.2 Bibliography . .48 I I I I I -- I I Wyong Heritage Study: Thematic History I 1.0 INTRODUCTION I 1.1 The Role of the Thematic Study A thematic history does not purport to be a detailed analysis of the myriad of facets of local development and anecdotal stories that comprise the wealth of local history. It I does not attempt to document the construction of every significant building, the acquisition of every land grant, the commencement of every major industrial I enterprise or identify every settler prominent in the history of the study area. The primary purpose of the work is to define, as concisely as possible, the principal I events or catalysts that were influential in the unique development of a particular area. It is not so much a "what" history as a "how" or "why" history although, in its explication, it does provide a considerable wealth of detail with respect to the "whats" I of history. With respect to the latter, detailed analysis and discussions of sites, events and I personalities of the Wyong Shire have been included in several local histories. These works have examined a wealth of primary material as well as contributing local understanding and observations that have been invaluable in the formation of this I thematic overview. For quite specific discussions of these aspects the reader is referred to these works which are identified in the bibliography of this paper. I Principally the thematic study'S use is in providing a concise overview that may be used to underpin or support the selection or nomination of buildings, relics or areas as "heritage items". It provides the framework in which to determine whether such an I item is rare or informative about the history of the area, whether it acts as a landmark or commemoration of important processes or events. Thematic histories provide an objective framework in which to evaluate items that may not have, for example, much I aesthetic appeal and might, therefore, be overlooked in a survey without this historical conteAi. It provides an objective means of assessment rather than a subjective I reaction. I 1.2 The Structure of a Thematic Study I Thematic histories are presented in chapters that reflect what has been found to be those principal catalysts in the history of the area. In the case of this study nine such I themes have been identified. These are: o Landscape and Topography - A Framework for History Old and New Inhabitants I G Slow Beginnings I o Subdivision:· A Sense of Community I Hi I I I Wyong Heritage Study: Thematic History I • Town Growth I • Lines of Communication • Timber I • Primary Industry • "The Scenery is Picturesque and the Climate Quite Healthy" - Metropolitan I Playground No one theme or themes is more important than any other; their presentation or I placement in the paper does not represent a ranldng or statement of relative importance. Each theme of local development has been as important as the others I although in quite different, and in many cases, interlinked ways. I 1.3 The State Heritage Inventory Project Themes I As a means of evaluating the entire state's heritage a project has been underway for some years to provide a standard format for recording items. In addition, the thematic studies of each heritage review must also conform to or identify standard I themes that have been developed for the state. To this end the themes identified for this review may be equated with the state themes in the following manner: I Local: Landscape and Topography - A Framework for History State: Environment Local: Old and New Inhabitants State: Aboriginal Pre-Contact I and Post-Contact Local: Slow Beginnings State: EA'Ploration; Convict; Pastoralism; Agriculture; Land Tenure; Environment; I Government and Administration Local: Subdivision: A Sense of Community State: Pastoralism; Agriculture; Land I Tenure; Environment; Townships; Commerce; Law and Order; Social Institutions; I Leisure; Sport; Religion; Education Local: Town Growth State: Pastoralism; Agriculture; Land Tenure; Environment; Townships; Commerce; I Law and Order; Social Institutions; Leisure; Sport; Religion; Education; Utilities; Commerce; Government and Administration; Housing; Social Institutions; Cultural I Sites; Health; Welfare Local: Lines of Communication I State: Exploration; Transport; Communications I H2 I I I Wyong Heritage Study: Thematic History I Local: Timber State: Environment; Industry I Local: Primary Industry State: Pastoralism; Agriculture; Mining; Fishing I Local: liThe Scenery is Picturesque and the Climate Quite Healthy" - Metropolitan Playground I State: Environment; Townships; Leisure. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I H3 I I I Wyong Heritage Study: Thematic History I 2.0 LANDSCAPE AND TOPOGRAPHY - A FRAMEWORK FOR HISTORY The physical form of Wyong Shire, its creeks, beaches, hills and trees have had a I critical role to play in the unique historical development that characterizes this area. Two hundred and seventy million years ago the land south of the Hunter region began I to sink and great quantities of eroded material washed into the depression. A wide shallow sea was formed in the Sydney Basin. As part of this process massive coal deposits were laid down and deep sand deposits formed in the area. The sea retreated i about two hundred and fifty million years ago and more coal deposits were laid in the broad swampy area that encompassed Wyong (1). I More eroded material came to the area by means of two large rivers emptying into the basin. The deposition of more sediment and its consolidation formed solid ground. A I sandy coastline was developed as the basin was gradually closed from the sea by the advancing sediment. This sediment formed N arrabeen sandstone. Two hundred million years ago more erosion occurred and caused more sandstone to be laid down I (2). The erosion of the various geological forms resulted in the creation of a variety of soil types. Silt deposits, in particular, produced fine agricultural soils. I Approximately thirty million years ago eucalypt and rainforest vegetation evolved in the area. The rainforest vegetation eventually retreated to the more shady gullies. Red cedar became particularly noticeable in the forests at this time (3). Other species that I adapted were the blue gum, blackbutt, round-leafed gum, spotted gum and white mahogany amongst others (4). I The shire is now characterised by sandy beaches and sand dune systems separated by varying lengths of rocky shoreline on the open, flat coastal region. Inland is more mountainous. The major streams, Ourimbah and Wyong Creeks, empty into the I largest of coastal lagoons, Tuggerah Lake. The latter is the largest of the three coastal lagoons. A third stream, Jilliby Creek, is a tributary of Wyong Creek as is Cedar Brush Creek. Wallarah Creek is to the north. The district has developed three relatively I wide valleys (5). The topography that has resulted from the millions of years of geological formation has created constraints and possibilities for the people who came I to settle the area. Creeks provided navigational possibilities while features such as the Kangy Angy Range separating Ourimbah and Wyong Creeks presented difficulties and, in places, I almost insuperable barriers. I One of the most outstanding features of the local environment, however, and one that probably had one of the most significant impacts on the history of the shire was the dense and in places almost impenetrable tree cover. Early survey maps, such as those I of Sir Thomas Mitchell, recorded the large areas of dense bush and in places tea-tree swamp. One of the most vivid accounts of the untouched local environment was produced by Sarah Mathew, wife of the surveyor Felton Mathew who was sent to I e:A.'}Jlore and map the area. In 1834 Sarah described the area just to the south of Wyong emphasising as she did so the difficulty of passage, particularly because of sand an I H4 I I I Wyong Heritage Study: Thematic History I mud in the area of the creeks and lakes; "... fine forest country, occasionally crossed by belts of dense brush I absolutely impervious to the sun's rays ... These brushes always border creeks and gullies and are composed of rank vegetation in every shape; trees of gigantic height, the magnificent and graceful palms and the I beautiful, feathery fern tree are all collected here with vines of immense size twisting their snakelike branches to the tops of the smallest trees and hanging in grotesque forms from one to another; these vines... vary in I thickness from the size of the finger to that of a man's arm and twined in many places so firmly together that the aid of an axe is necessary to cut a I patch through" (6).