Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907)(about) |
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Saturday 26 February 1876
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TOWN OF PARRAMATTA
Parramatta.
PARRAMATTA, meaning in the aboriginal tongue, a place abounding in eels, is, next to Sydney, the oldest town in the colony ; and no other town in Australia is so rich in historical incident and as- sociations. The first settlement was formed here
in the latter part of 1788, the year in which the colony was founded. History explains that Gover- nor Phillip being by no means satisfied that the soil in the vicinity of Sydney was suitable for the growth of cereals, made frequent excursions in various directions in search of a more eligible place. After a short time, it was determined to remove most of the men employed in clearing
land for cultivation to a spot 15 miles distant, at the head of the navigation of the harbour. The new farm was named the Crescent, and afterwards Rose Hill by the Governor, but the native name of Parramatta was retained by the people and was at last officially adopted.* And at Parramatta in December of the following year (1789) the first Australian harvest was reaped. The foundation-stone of the first church (St. John's) ever erected in the Southern hemi- sphere for a Protestant congregation was laid on April 5th, 1797, at Parramatta. The first bale of wool over produced in Australia was grown in the vicinity of Parramatta; and when Major-General Sir Edward Macarthur, C.B. (then a youth), left Sydney for England in 1808, he took from his father's merino flocks at Elizabeth Farm this bale of wool with him to London. The Rev. Samuel Marsden, one of the first clergymen that settled in this colony, took up his residence in Parramatta, and preached his first sermon there. Among other associations it is pointed out that Parramatta has frequently been the residence of the Governor; for a long time was the principal seat of Education ; the head quarers of the regiments formerly stationed in the colony ; and the birth place and burial place of many of the old leading families, as a visit to the old Church of England burial ground will
prove.
In this venerable old cemetery, side by side, are the tombs of the wives of two Governors - Lady Elizabeth Jane Bourke, wife of Sir Richard Bourke, who died on the 7th May, 1832, aged 66 ; and Lady Mary Fitzroy, who was thrown from her carriage and killed in the Parramatta Domain on the 7th December, 1847. Tho name of Lieutenant Charles Chester Masters, aged 27 years, 68th Regiment, and aid-de-Camp to tho Governor, who was also thrown out of the carriage and killed at the same time, ap- pears on a stone at the side. A weeping willow stands at the head of the grave of Lady Mary Fitzroy. The vaults or graves of Darcy Went-
worth, the Macarthur's, the Campbell's the Blax- land's, the Cox's, the Rev. Samuel Marsden, " died 12th May, 1838,aged73;" and of his wife,aged63; of the Revs. Messrs. Shelly and Hassall, early clergy men, and of John Palmer, Esq., Assistant Com- missory-Goneral, aged 73, who came to the colony with the " first fleet," are among those noticed. In
I the Roman Catholic cemetery there are also many remarkably interesting monuments and vaults. Amongst the most picturesque is one constructed
by Sir James Martin; the father of the Chief Justice is buried here, and it is said that he him- self has chosen this for his last resting place.
The Parramatta Domain and old Government House, where nearly all the Governors, up to the time of Sir William Denison, resided during some portion of their time in the colony, is also well worthy of a visit.
Parramatta is said - proudly by some and sneeringly by others - to be a good old-fashioned place. The general expression is that the town has not advanced, that it is a dull sleepy place. But the visitor will see that there are many signs of improvement to be observed. For instance, - well paved, clean streets, nice private residences, a new bank building, the town lit up with gas, the old King's School revived, and boasting a roll of over 100 boys. Here, too, are eight or nine churches, an excellent public, and several denominational be- sides private schools.
Here is a flourishing municipality with 25 miles of streets, and a population, exclusive of the in mates of government and charitable establish ments, of 5000. The annual value of the rateable property is about £25,000. There are no less than three tweed manufactories in the neighbourhood of Parramatta; there are many fine shops, two banks, and about 25 inns and hotels. The two Orphan Schools, Protestant and Roman Catholic, the Lunatic Asylum, and the gaol are most in- teresting and well conducted institutions. The visitor who desires to remain in Parramatta for a few days, cannot do better than put up at host Payten's of the Woolpack, and visit the justly celebrated orange groves in tho district - a sight worth making a journey from the remotest part of
Australia to see.
To reach Parramatta from Sydney, the road,
rail, and river, is at the convenience of the visitor, but the greatest enjoyment for strangers is to go by river, for there may be seen the many beautiful
bays, inlets, peninsulas, and romantic retreats,
and fine residences which abound on its shores.
* Australian Discovery and Colonization.
Tho Hongkong Times of December 9th informs us that a discovery has been made in England, and the new idea appears to be nothing else than that of reship ping tea to China. As a writer observes this decidedly beats the sending of the proverbial cool to Newcastle, but unfortunately there can bo no doubt whatever that these teas will form part of tho new season's cargo next spring, and be bought at the ridiculously high , range of prices that is usually paid when the annual ! rush for teas takes place. ... If tea is to bo im
ported from London into China, it ought to become a | valuable addition to the manufactured goods of Eng- j land, where, no doubt, considering the plentiful growth | . of willow trees to be found in all parts of the kingdom, I it would be easy to manufacture nn article which might
perhaps compare favourably even with Maloo mixture. I