81 3.2.2.7 Large Shed Around 450M South of the Cluster of Farm Buildings
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81 3.2.2.7 Large shed Around 450m south of the cluster of farm buildings is another building known as ‘Large shed 1 with hayloft and machinery (pump)’ (T&T item 7.2) (Figure 3.35, Figure 3.74). It is adjacent to a small dam, referred to as ‘Dam 1’ (T&T item 7.1). The shed mostly has open sides apart from the south end which has an enclosed upper level known as the ‘hayloft’ (Figure 3.75). Some machinery, believed to be a chaff cutter, was seen in this upper level during the site visit (Figure 3.77). Attached to the south end was an enclosed room. This contained various benches (Figure 3.76) and an old water pump with the cast iron component labelled “EVAN’S 6 ‘CORNISH’/ STEAM PUMP” (Figure 3.78, Figure 3.79). These pumps were manufactured by Joseph Evans & Sons Ltd in Wolverhampton, England. They were developed around 1881, and the first known Australian advertisement is from the Melbourne Argus in 1884. In 1892 they were displayed at the Sydney Agricultural Exhibition and they remained in production into the 1930s.222 A building to the south of the large shed was demolished in mid-2015, and appears on the Craig & Rhodes survey dated October 2015. The purpose of this building was unclear but it might be the building known as the ‘pump house’ (T&T item 7.3) (Figure 3.35). No visible remains associated with this building were noticed during the site visit. Figure 3.74: Large shed near dam 1. Photo looking east. NP Figure 3.75: South end of large shed, showing the ‘hayloft’ and the enclosed shed. Photo looking west. NP 222 Argus 8 July 1884, p 3c; Sydney Mail 16 April 1892, p 876b; Parker n.d. A citing The Engineer 16 December 1881; Parker n.d. B. Casey & Lowe Lowes Creek Maryland (Precinct), Rezoning Historical Archaeological Assessment 82 Figure 3.76: Enclosed room attached to south end of the large shed near dam 1. Photo looking west. NP Figure 3.77: Farm machinery seen in the ‘hayloft’ during the site visit. It is thought to be a chaff cutter. Photo looking west. Figure 3.78: Water pump in the southeast corner of the enclosed room attached to south end of the large shed near dam 1. Photo looking southeast. NP Figure 3.79: Detail of the water pump, showing the name on one of the cast iron components. Casey & Lowe Lowes Creek Maryland (Precinct), Rezoning Historical Archaeological Assessment 83 3.2.2.8 Former dam During the site visit, the location of a former dam was inspected (Figure 3.20, Figure 3.80, Figure 3.81, Figure 3.82). This area is adjacent to a watercourse which has been steeply cut. This raises the possibility that the ground has been deliberately cut to obtain clay, possibly for brickmaking. The nearby vegetation consisted of smaller trees, which is consistent with recent regrowth. The area was examined for bricks but none were found. On balance it appears more likely that the steeply cut areas had been formed through erosion caused by the formation and subsequent removal of this dam. The dam was removed sometime between 1947 and 1956.223 A weather-worn timber bridge was also located near the road in this area. This bridge almost certainly would date from after the dam was removed, sometime between 1947 and 1956. Figure 3.80: View of the former dam area examined during the site visit. Photo looking southeast, towards the watercourse and bridge shown in Figure 3.81. Figure 3.81: Watercourse running through the former dam area and the weather-worn bridge. Photo looking northwest. Figure 3.82: View of the former dam area. Photo looking southeast from roughly where Figure 3.81 was taken. 223 Tropman & Tropman 2015:51, 53. Casey & Lowe Lowes Creek Maryland (Precinct), Rezoning Historical Archaeological Assessment 84 Figure 3.83: Annotated detail survey sheet of Maryland, showing the location of the former dam examined during the site visit. Survey by Craig & Rhodes, 23/10/2015, ref 1779G T01[02]-SHT-10. Casey & Lowe Lowes Creek Maryland (Precinct), Rezoning Historical Archaeological Assessment 85 3.2.2.9 North Entry Gatehouse Another stone cottage is located on the Maryland property, just off The Northern Road (T&T item 3.6) (Figure 3.20, Figure 3.84). It is situated at the former northern entry to the property. Up to the 1980s, Maryland had both a north and south entry (Figure 3.21).224 As this cottage was occupied at the time of the site visit, it could not be inspected closely. However, it appears to be very similar to the other stone-walled buildings on the site. Like some of the other cottages on the property it appears to have had later additions made to the rear of the house. It also appears to have been modified in other ways, particularly at its north end. For instance, between December 2009 and March 2013, one of its two chimneys was removed (Figure 3.85, Figure 3.86). Figure 3.84: Detail from sheet 8, showing North Entry Gatehouse, north at top. Survey by Craig & Rhodes, 23/10/2015, ref 1779G T01[02]-SHT-09. 224 Tropman & Tropman 2015:60-61. Casey & Lowe Lowes Creek Maryland (Precinct), Rezoning Historical Archaeological Assessment 86 Figure 3.85: North Entry Gatehouse at Maryland, Bringelly, December 2009. Google Streetview. Figure 3.86: North Entry Gatehouse at Maryland, Bringelly, March 2013. Google Streetview. Casey & Lowe Lowes Creek Maryland (Precinct), Rezoning Historical Archaeological Assessment 87 3.3 Analysis of historic site development The development of the site over time can be analysed through the careful integration of historical descriptions and the present physical evidence. When these two sources of information are critically examined together, a better understanding of the site emerges. This section expands on the sources cited in the historical background and discusses them with reference to the physical layout of the study area. 3.3.1 Birling 3.3.1.1 1810s to 1840s The farm was initially surveyed in May 1812, and granted in August of that year. Sometime around then, the initial house at Birling is likely to have been constructed. An unreferenced piece of information contained in historic notes at Liverpool library state that the first house on the site was burnt down and a second ‘slab homestead was built in front of the earlier home’.225 Robert Lowe was appointed as a magistrate in 1815. This appointment must have had an influence on the structures on the site, as the court met at his house. A relative by marriage, J.B. Martin, recorded the following in 1883: The Court was held on his [Lowe’s] premises, which must have been an important centre, as there were gaol, triangles, and stocks there. I cannot ascertain at whose cost they were erected, but most likely at the expense of the Crown. A paddock near the house is still known as the “Gaol Paddock”. One of his sons informed me that in his boyhood he had often enjoyed the fun of seeing both men and women in the stocks.226 Although this was recorded 63 years after Robert Lowe’s death, J.B. Martin’s long association with the Camden area and his close association with the Lowe family give these comments some credence. Robert Lowe mortgaged ‘Birling’ in November 1817. The mortgage included: all that messuage Tenement or Dwelling House with the Barns, Stables, and all other Erections and buildings thereon erected and Built and also all Yards, Gardens, Orchards, Paddocks, ways, Paths, Passages, water, watercourses, profits, commodities, advantages & app[?] whatsoever of him the said Robert Lowe...227 This description may provide evidence that Robert Lowe had already added these features to his property by this date. This is likely, given that there were already ten adults and three children living on the site as early as 1814 (Table 2.1). However, it is also possible that this description is purposefully broad, so to cover all possible legal bases. Although Robert Lowe’s house was the initial focus of administration in the area, by the mid 1820s, the intersection of Bringelly Road and The Northern Road began to be the location of important public buildings, such as a separate lock-up (1827) and a school house (c.1823).228 225 Liverpool Council n.d.- ‘History of our suburbs: Bringelly’. 226 Johnson 2012 [1883]:27, also reprinted in Australian Town and Country Journal, 15 December 1895, p 52b. JB Martin was the brother-in-law of Emma Hannah Lowe, third child of Robert and Sarah Lowe (Johnson 2012:5; Lowe 2008:76, Sydney Morning Herald 14 September 1861, p 1a) and the brother-in-law of Charles Bland Lowe, eldest son of Robert and Sarah Lowe (Sydney Morning Herald 21 August 1846, p 4c). 227 NSW LPI Old Register Book 7, No. 21, p. 11. 228 Lock-up: Keating 1996:61, Letter Colonial Secretary to Bench of Magistrates Bringelly, 15 April 1827, SRNSW Ser. 2844, Item 2/8097-2; School: Sydney Morning Herald 5 December 1873, p 5a (date of construction), NLA MAP Folder 154, LFSP 2506 (1892) (location). Casey & Lowe Lowes Creek Maryland (Precinct), Rezoning Historical Archaeological Assessment 88 The earliest known image of Birling is a watercolour dated 1843 (Figure 3.87). It was painted by a woman named Anne Dadswell, who appears to have been a governess prior to marrying at Narellan in 1846.229 Figure 3.87: ‘Birling’ – watercolour by Anne Dadswell, 1843. Annotated with probable building identifications (see text).