A History in Three Rivers

A History in Three Rivers Dungog Shire Heritage Study Thematic History April 2012 Michael Williams Gresford Crossing source: Dungog Shire Heritage Study, Karskens, 1986 Ships at Clarence Town source: Dungog Shire Heritage Study Karskens, 1986 Mill on the Allyn River source: Dungog Shire Heritage Study, Karskens, 1986 carste STUDIO Pty Ltd Architects and Heritage Consultants Dungog Shire Thematic History A History in Three Rivers Dungog Shire Heritage Study – Thematic History Introduction p.4 Historical Overview & Chronology p.5 1. Natural evolution/environment p.10 2. Peopling Australia 2.1 Aboriginal p.15 2.2 Convict p.32 2.3 Ethnic influences p.39 3. Developing economies 3.1 Exploration p.42 3.2 Agriculture p.44 3.3 Dairying p.51 3.4 Pastoralism p.58 3.5 Forestry p.63 3.6 Commerce p.68 3.7 Industry p.75 3.8 Mining p.80 3.9 Transport p.83 3.10 Communication p.91 3.11 Health p.95 3.12 Events p.102 3.13 Environment Cultural landscape p.106 3.14 Technology p.109 3.15 Science p.114 4. Building settlements 4.1 Land Tenure p.115 4.2 Accommodation p.121 4.3 Towns and villages p.125 4.4 Utilities p.133 5. Working/labour p.135 6. Education p.140 2 Dungog Shire Thematic History 7. Governing 7.1 Administration p.155 7.2 Law & Order p.159 7.3 Defence p.163 7.4 Welfare p.167 8. Cultural life 8.1 Social Institutions p.172 8.2 Religion p.178 8.3 Domestic p.187 8.4 Leisure p.191 8.5 Sport p.198 8.6 Creative Endeavour p.202 9. Phases of life 9.1 Birth & Death p.204 9.2 Persons p.208 Appendices 1. Settlements p.212 2. Schools p.213 3. Social Institutions p.215 4. Churches p.217 5. Cemeteries p.218 Acknowledgments p.219 Bibliography p.220 3 Dungog Shire Thematic History Introduction This thematic history of Dungog Shire is based upon the themes produced by the Office of NSW Heritage and is part of a wider Dungog Shire Heritage Study. Such a thematic approach is intended to bring out a range of factors and features in a regional history that might otherwise go unnoticed in a more standard chronological or narrative historical approach. In addition, while not providing a listing of heritage items in itself, the thematic history is designed to enable the heritage of Dungog Shire to be placed within context more readily than might otherwise be the case. These numerous themes provide an excellent opportunity to highlight the role of many institutions, groups, families and individuals in the history of the Dungog Shire district. As well, they assist in focusing on often forgotten details, whether of domestic life, working life or technology, details of changes and influences that, while often small in themselves, can have a great impact, especially over time. A shire by the name of Dungog has only existed since 1958 when the Dungog Municipal Council merged with Wallarobba Shire (itself having only just added the Paterson and Vacy districts to its area), to create a new area of local government. Despite the relatively recent re-drawing of boundaries, the historical connections along the river valleys of the Paterson, Allyn and Williams, flowing from the Barringtons to join with the Hunter River, have a validity reaching back before the first European settlers. The title of this study - A History in Three Rivers - is deliberately chosen to highlight the significant role of the three main rivers of the area: the Williams, Paterson and Allyn Rivers.1 These rivers provide a unity to the history of the district that the term ‘Dungog Shire’ does not. While Dungog as a settlement appeared early, it was only one among many such settlements.2 The rivers and their valleys, on the other hand (including of course their many tributaries), have always played a significant role, providing divisions and boundaries, unities and separations which find a natural place in this history. As with any history, and particularly so with one that has been commissioned and written to a deadline, much more has been left out than can possibly be included. In the past, once the printing was done, a work such as this remained largely unmodified. However, modern technology now allows for easy alteration and continual improvement, and it is hoped that the community whose history this is will continue to contribute and help to refine this work. 1 The Williams River was originally named the William River or River William and was gradually transformed into the Williams. It is referred to here always as the Williams River. 2 Where ‘Dungog’ appears alone it refers to the town itself. 4 Dungog Shire Thematic History Historical Overview & Chronology 1800 – 1830: Early contact & Settlement 1801 First explorations The valleys of the Paterson, Allyn and Williams Rivers, to give of Hunter, them their recently bestowed European names, were home to many Williams & generations of the Gringai people. From the early 1800s, and with Paterson Rivers increasing intensity after the late 1820s, large portions of land were 1804 Convict timber granted to various individuals who moved up the valleys cutters 1812 Small grants begin establishing farms and attempting to transform the landscape. (Paterson) 1821 Major land grants At the beginning of this period, exploration up the Hunter River begin (Paterson from Newcastle saw Europeans go as far as the navigation on the River) Williams River. By 1812, a number of small grants were made 1825 Small grants begin (Clarence Town) around what became Clarence Town and Paterson. It was not until 1828 Court House & the 1820s that large grants began, at first along the navigable section Lockup (Old of the Paterson and Williams Rivers. By 1828, a lockup was Banks) established on the Paterson River and the first land grants began to 1829 Major land grants begin (Williams be made higher up both the Williams and Allyn Rivers. In 1830, the River) ‘Limits of settlement’ for the Colony of NSW were defined and Durham County was one of the original nineteen counties within these limits. 1830 – 1860: Churches & Schools Grantees employing convict labour began to establish farms for 1831 William IV built sheep, cattle and crops such as wheat and corn. The heads of 1833 Court at Dungog navigation on the Williams and the Paterson Rivers became the 1834 School at Lowe’s transshipment points for the produce of these farms. The William IV shipyard was built on the Williams River at Clarence Town - the first (Clarence Town) steamship built in Australia. In 1832, 90 acres were purchased on 1835 Charley hanged at the Paterson River for a town site (Paterson) and in the same year Dungog 1837 Blanket the settlement of Erringhi changed its name to Clarence Town. distribution to Dungog and Paterson received Courts of Petty Sessions in 1833 and Gringai people postal services were established by 1834. 1838 Barracks for troopers (Dungog) The hanging of a Gringai man at Dungog in 1835 marked a period of conflict. A few years later, a barracks for mounted troopers was built at Dungog and blankets distributed to the Gringai. By the 1840 Bishop Polding 1840s, four settlements of note – Paterson, Clarence Town, Dungog, visits Dungog and Gresford – were developing with a mix of government services 1840 Summer Hill (courts & lockups) and private businesses (inns & stores). Catholic Chapel 1842 St Ann’s Church (Presbyterian) In the generation following the initial grants, a mixed farm economy 1844 Horse race developed in the three valleys based on a combination of convict (Clarence Town) labour and free settlers, with the convict element quickly dwindling 1846 Oddfellows after 1840 with the ending of transportation. The main crops were (Paterson) wheat, corn, and tobacco, along with sheep and cattle, while timber 1848 Troopers withdrawn was also cut. The pattern for both Dungog and Gresford was set 1849 First National from this early time, with these towns positioned at the centre of School (Clarence prosperous agricultural districts supporting their existence and Town ) gradual growth. Their relative isolation from larger centres and the 5 Dungog Shire Thematic History coast also kept them from developing faster, while the size of the 1851 National School Paterson/Allyn Valley relative to the Williams Valley is reflected in (Dungog ) the relative size of these two service centres. Clarence Town and 1852 German Paterson also acted as service centres for their districts, but thrived vinedressers in Allyn Valley largely as river ports transshipping goods between settlements 1855 Two Presbyterian further up their respective valleys and the wider world. Churches at Dungog National Schools (later Public Schools) were early established at 1858 Rev Vanderkiste Clarence Town, Glen William, Brookfield and Dungog. In 1852, the lost in Allyn Valley Hunter River New Steam Navigation Company was formed by 1860 Reading Room mainly Dungog and Clarence Town based merchants, and a reading (Dungog) room was established in Dungog. 1860 – 1890: Selection & Commerce As population grew, local communities built their own churches and 1861 First saw mill began to think in terms of wider culture and entertainment. Horse (steam driven) in races, cricket and other activities were more frequently organised, Dungog and by the 1860s and 1870s so too were Mutual Improvement 1863 Kendall writes poem Dungog Societies, and later Schools of Arts, Masonic and Oddfellows 1864 Mutual societies. Outside government intervention was limited, with its Improvement main impact through the establishment of schools and education. Society (Dungog) 1865 Three schools open (Alison, Throughout this first generation after European settlement, as the Croom Park, Gringai people themselves declined in numbers due to murders, Fosterton) disease and intermarriage, the European population was largely 1869 Court House divided between relatively few large landowners and many tenants, (Clarence Town) along with some smaller landowners and those living in the towns.

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