University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+ University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2019 The Dapto Road: 1815-1844 Annette Williams University of Wollongong Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses1 University of Wollongong Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorise you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author. Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. 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For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] THE DAPTO ROAD: 1815-1844 Annette Williams Supervisors: Dr Glenn Mitchell and Dr Henry Lee A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree: Masters of Arts (Research) The University of Wollongong School of Humanities and Social Inquiry Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts April 2019 Abstract Roads systems are frequently identified as a measure of society’s economic and social progress. The planning, financing and construction of roads is a central feature of urban spaces. Roads as religious and political artefacts date from a time of the Egyptian Pharaohs, while roads as transport and trade routes can be found along the Silk Route and Roman roads throughout Europe. European settlement in Illawarra dates from 1816 when colonial government made the first land grants. Land was used mainly for grazing, timber-cutting, agriculture and later dairy farming. Gradual settlement took place between 1820 - 1840, with the Township of Wollongong laid out in 1834. Coal mining was established in 1848, with ten mines along the Illawarra Escarpment by 1890. Significant economic and population changes from 1830 brought increasing demands for roads, especially roads that might survive floods and increasing levels of traffic. While it satisfied an economic imperatives of a colonial government keen to see a district develop its economy as well as plans of local business owners and developers, it did not please everyone. Some land owners saw it as an inconvenient intrusion. This convict-built road, however, not only satisfied a government keen to promote its convict policy in punishment and reform but to also exploit cheap convict labour as it also became an important part of a district’s push to economic development. Figure 1: Mullet Creek, Dapto Archaeological Sites (Comp) 2013 1 Acknowledgements I express gratitude to my primary supervisor, Dr Glenn Mitchell for inspiration, guidance and patience. I thank my secondary supervisor, Dr Henry Lee for his advice. Without Wollongong City Council’s opportunity for research development, this research might not have happened. My appreciations go to family and friends for their emotional support, numerous archivists, librarians and Carol Herben who gave me an idea for this thesis. I also thank Mr William Thomas and his family for sharing Mr Thomas’s research on road construction and Dr Tony Ball of the Illawarra Historical Society, who arranged for me to look at his information. 2 Certification I, A nnette Will ia ms, declare that this thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the conferral of the degree Masters of Arts (Research), from the University of Wollongong, is wholly my own work unless otherwise referenced or acknowledged. This document has not been submitted for qualifications at any other academic institution and the word length is 43,235. Annette Williams Date 23rd April 2019 3 List of Names or Abbreviations ADB Australian Dictionary of Biography AS Assistant Surveyor ACS Assistant Colonial Secretary CS Colonial Secretary DS-G Deputy Surveyor-General DMR Department of Main Roads HO Home Office HRA Historical Records of Australia NRS New South Wales Record Series MEM. Registered Memorandum of the Governor PM Police Magistrate POT Parliament of Tasmania PSC Principal Superintendent of Convicts RMS Roads and Maritime Services RTA Road Traffic Authority S-G Surveyor-General SL NSW State Library of New South Wales SR NSW State Record of New South Wales TSA Tasmania State Archive UOW University of Wollongong WCL Wollongong City Libraries & Illawarra Historical Society Collection WLRC Wollongong Library Reference Collection 4 Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................... 2 Certification ................................................................................................................................................ 3 List of Names or Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. 4 Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 5 List of Figures and Tables .......................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Scope and Questions .............................................................................................................................. 14 Overview of Thesis ................................................................................................................................ 16 Literature Review .................................................................................................................................. 17 Wollongong ....................................................................................................................................... 17 Road Works....................................................................................................................................... 23 Convicts ............................................................................................................................................ 27 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 34 Chapter 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 36 The Road Concept: 1815-1832 ............................................................................................................. 36 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 36 Illawarra's Development ........................................................................................................................ 36 The Road ............................................................................................................................................... 42 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 51 Chapter 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 52 The Road is Built: 1833-1844................................................................................................................ 52 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 52 The Road Builders ................................................................................................................................. 53 The Road Construction .........................................................................................................................