HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. MAY - JUNE 2012 ISSUE No. 21 Little Wheeny Creek mill race survives ravages of floods by Frank Holland - former president, Kurrajong - Comleroy Historical Society Inc. SETTLEMENT around Kurrajong can be documented through various land grants the first being 500 acres to William Lawson and then in 1809 a series of grants were made. However, it is likely that people were in the area prior to that time. It is known that Matthew Everingham carried out exploration in 1795 which took him through the Wheeny Gap and possibly as far as present day Mount Tomah. In 1810 Governor Macquarie passed through the area, which by then had a number of people living on the land. Shortly after its incorporation in 2001, Kurrajong - Comleroy Historical Society Inc (KCHS) researched the Singleton mills site Two grinding stones from Singleton’s mill being examined by Dr Martin on Little Wheeny Creek. Gibbs (taking notes) and local historian Les Dolan a member of Kurrajong - Comleroy Historical Society. These mill stones which were recovered from Most of the research focused on the Little Wheeny Creek when council was constructing a new bridge over the location of the mills and attempts to creek are now located in Memorial Park, Kurrajong Village understand the type of construction and plan of the mill. Based on this on the Hawkesbury near This sale did not proceed. It is also research a working model of the mill Wilberforce. unclear as to who held the title to was constructed. the land on which the mill had been In 1809 Benjamin’s elder brother, erected. Over the past 11 years a number of James, joined the family as a free tours of the site have been settler and he and Benjamin were What is clear is that between 1810 undertaken. granted 50 acres each at what is and 1816 Benjamin and James built present day Grose Vale in the or had built two water mills, for Benjamin Singleton with his mother Richmond district. grinding grain, on the banks of Little and younger brother Joseph Wheeny Creek at Kurrajong. accompanied his father William, No evidence has been located who had been convicted in England proving that they actually lived on This creek, although small provided of the theft of some cloth, to Port these grants and it is not until 1816 a safe, permanent water supply Jackson. that documentary evidence can be (and still does). found that at least one mill was in William gained his ticket of leave existence, as it was offered for sale Continued page 3 and later obtained a grant of land that year. HERITAGE 1 May - June 2012 Contents......... An opinion from the editor....... HERITAGE May - June Local historians and 2012 *P1 Little Wheeny Ck historical societies of mill race survives ravages of floods immense value to heritage *P2 Opinion - Local THE eminent historian and former this site, but so too must be every historians and president of the Royal Australian decent thinking person around historical societies Historical Society, Professor R Ian Australia. of immense value Jack has often expressed a view, to heritage which this writer shares, to the effect If the state government is to have any *P5 Conference that local historical societies and credibility in the area of history and keynote speaker, historians are an extremely valuable heritage it must instruct the Road and professor of public and vital resource in researching and Maritime Services to rethink the history recording our heritage and history. proposal for a new river crossing taking *P6 Rare views of Much of the preservation and into account the formal recognition of Blue Mountains recording of history and heritage in heritage sites listed in the New South on show for first Australia probably would not have Wales Heritage Register. time occurred had it not been for the quiet *P7 Survival and achievers associated with historical And in yet another area of the region at civilisation in a and heritage groups around Australia. Lawson the apparently cavalier actions strange land of the Road and Maritime Services have *P7 Govt moves to In this edition there are several buried a piece of rail heritage dating preserve digital examples that Dr Jack’s views are very back to the laying of the first rail line heritage valid. across the Blue Mountains. With the *P9 Roadworks bury roadwork construction of the Great heritage rail On page one of this edition of Western Highway beside Sydney Rock cutting near HERITAGE is a story of the exemplary near Lawson is a new rerouted railway Sydney Rock, tenacity and perseverance of members cutting. *P10 Grant for Norman of the Kurrajong – Comleroy Historical Lindsay’s studio Society whose research hopefully will The now abandoned original cutting of *P14 Crash of Wirraway lead to having the early industrial site the 1866-67 rail line is in its own right of near Hazelbrook of Singleton’s mills recognised as a some significance as rail heritage but *P13 Plane crash at significant heritage site. apart from the built heritage, there are Glenbrook items of geological and botanical *P15 Managing your As is often the case, this research has interest which need to be recognised. collection/State been supported by academics, in this For many years Father Eugene Records work- case Dr Martin Gibbs and his students Stockton has stressed the importance of shop from Sydney University. this rail cutting and the nearby Sydney *P17 Dave Evans - the Rock as having heritage value. Felixman of Echo This mill was away from the ravages of Point the frequent floods that destroyed There is a school of thought among *P18 Thompson more prominent mills and property many well qualified archaeologists that Square, Windsor: along the banks of the Hawkesbury. some of our heritage is best protected the oldest civic Remnants of the race, stone work and by it being “left in the ground” and this square in Austral- the mill pond are visible today and it is may well be one of those sites. ia under threat possible that up to 30 people may *P20 Management have been housed in the area. However, HERITAGE understands committee following an “11th hour community changes at AGM Elsewhere, in this publication is a protest” at the burying of parts of this *P22 Walking with piece about the untiring efforts of cutting, a compromise has been women heritage enthusiasts to save from suggested by the Road and Maritime *P21 Last chance for oblivion the historic Thompson’s Services. The ham-fisted manner in 150 years to see Square heritage building sightlines at which this compromise appears to have Transit of Venus Windsor. been negotiated leaves a great deal to *P22 Scots Church, Pitt be desired. Town celebrates In this case the proponents seeking to its 150th save this unique heritage precinct Road and Maritime Services must not anniversary have mounted compelling arguments be allowed to tread roughshod over our *P23 History Week against what is an ill conceived heritage as its predecessors have tried *P24 Western crossing bureaucratic solution which flies in the to do in the past. commemoration face of the NSW Heritage Register. *P25 Historic clipper John Leary, OAM - Past president, retires to sun after Not only are locals outraged, by this Blue Mountains Association of 150 years proposal for a new river crossing at Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc. HERITAGE 2 May - June 2012 Singleton’s mills supplied flour to young colony Continued from page 1 These mills were away from the ravages of the frequent floods that destroyed more prominent mills and property along the banks of the Hawkesbury. The mills supplied flour to the fledging colonies on the Hawkesbury and at Port Jackson as evidenced by government contracts. Based on photographs of later mills built by the Singletons they would have been of two levels of slab or weatherboard, constructed on a sandstone base. A mill pond would have been constructed from which a steady flow of water could be conveyed to the mills by way of a water race. Remnants of the race, stone work and the mill pond are visible today. Remnants of the race, stone work and the mill pond are visible today. James Singleton continued on with scavenged for any useful material his younger brother Joseph but later and the site became overgrown Based on other constructions and a moved on to build tidal mills beside although eye witness accounts state study of the area local artist, Fay the Hawkesbury River near that remnants of buildings were still Edwards, painted an impression of Wiseman’s Ferry. visible in the early 1900’s. the Little Wheeny Creek mill This shortened the travelling time to Today some stone work at the site Benjamin left the area circa 1822 Port Jackson. can be seen with approximately 180 for Patrick Plains, moving his family metres of a water race clearly along the route he played a part in The Singletons built at least one defined (see photograph at top of opening up through his own other mill at the site to later be this page). explorations and in partnership with named Singleton. William Parr and later with John Considerable labour would have Howe. The mills on Little Wheeny Creek been required to build the stone passed through a number of owners wall of the race and it is known that This route was the first European and were operational up to circa convicts were assigned to Benjamin track north to the Hunter River but 1858 before falling into disrepair. Singleton. was soon superseded by the construction of the Great North As the Kurrajong area became It is possible that up to 30 people Road.