This week, Roy and I decided to head back to the Sydney area. Earlier this month, 11 of Australias covict sites were added to the World Heritage List, including the Hyde Park Barracks, Old Government House, Cockatoo Island in Sydney and the Old Great North Road in NSW. These sites have become well known and popular tourist destinations, but there are other sites which are less well known but also have a significant convict history in the area. This week, Roy decided he wanted to visit one of these sites and tell you the story of its use. So this week, Roy visits Heritage Park in Castle Hill.
Heritage Park in Castle Hill, Sydney, has a long and fascinating history, though much of it is violent. Before European settlement, a group belonging to the Darug Aboriginals lived in the area. They were called the Bidjigal people and would have known the area intimately. Their name for Castle Hill was Mogoaillee, which many believe meant 'place of stone hatchets'. There was a very famous Aboriginal who belonged to the Bidjigal people, who fought against the Europeans. His name was Pemulwuy and in 1790 he speared and killed Governor Phillips game keeper, John McIntyre. Pemulwuy also led the sacking of the Lane Cove settlement and capture of Parramatta. He was outlawed by Governor King and in 1802 was shot and killed.
When Governor King arrived, the area now covered by Heritage Park became a government farm. He thought the soil in the area was 'of the best and most productive kind' and he had at least 50 men clearing the area by 1801. Soon, a lot of Irish political prisoners were sent to the area as convicts, overseen by a man named James Blackman. In February 1803, 13 convicts fled the farm and ransacked nearby farms. They were a nasty bunch and committed many crimes, but were recaptured only a few days after they escaped. Two of the men involved in the escape were hung. It was hoped that this would show other convicts that running away was not a good idea. Another measure taken to try to control the convicts was to build a permant, two storey, stone barracks to house the convicts. This would provide better security and the building was the first convict built barracks in Australia!
Apparently these measures to try to control the convicts weren't enough and in March 1804 the Irish convicts rioted. They set fire to one of the houses at the Castle Hill farm before attacking and robbing settlers in surrounding districts. The rioting convicts set off towards the Hawkesbury. The government reacted very quickly though and they called a state of rebellion in several districts and Marshal Law was enacted, from Parramatta to the Nepean. The convicts were publically asked to either give themselves up or face the ultimate punishment. This uprising was Australia's first major rebellion and led to what is called The Battle Of Vinegar Hill which took place at Rouse Hill, not far from Castle Hill. The aftermath of the Battle of Vinegar Hill was that 15 had been killed, seven wounded, nine were subsequently hanged, others were flogged and 30 were put in chains.
The Government Farm at the site only lasted for about 10 years, and in 1811 it was suggested that the convict barracks be converted for use as the colony's first lunatic asylum. Things were pretty grim at the asylum though and in 1825 the inmates were transferred to other places. From 1825 the farm site was again used to house convicts, this time working on the construction of the Great North Road while the convict barracks themselves were converted in 1826 into a place of worship. A school was also established in the former surgeons cottage. In 1832 the condition of the barracks was so bad that Bishop Broughton said it was not fit to be used. Despite this, it was not until 1866 that the building was abandoned and demolished. Today, Heritage Park is a quiet park where you can have a picnic or BBQ, ride your bikes or play on the fantastic play equipment. There is also an interpretive walk around the park. If you would like to learn more about Castle Hill Heritage Park click here.