History And Highlights of Blacktown, NSW
History And Highlights of Blacktown, NSW
History And Highlights of Blacktown, NSW
As with other older Australian towns, the history of the suburb Blacktown, near Sydney, is closely connected to the colonial period and early European settlers. Government grants of land helped attract people to the area, where settlers and convicts came into conflict with the aborigines, many of whom were driven away by European settlers and small pox.
There is of course more to the story of Blacktown than that, including a fierce battle fought in the name of liberty and equality, and a school for aboriginal children that caused local upset.
Aborigines of the Darug tribe used to inhabit the Blacktown area. The suburb Dharruk is named after this tribe. (The tribe's name has various spellings). Though European settlement severely decreased the numbers of Aboriginal people living in and around Blacktown, in this location, the original locals were not driven to extinction.
The first settlement of Blacktown began in 1791 when Governor Phillip granted land at Prospect Hill to 13 people. In 1800, the population rose to 16.
In 1804, near Blacktown, the battle of Vinegar Hill took place. It was named after the Irish Vinegar Hill rebellion. A couple of hundred escaped convicts, mostly from Castle Hill Convict Farm, fought with the infamous Sydney "Rum Corps", Government soldiers and British military men, in a battle for liberty and equality. The convicts were defeated, but the event left an indelible stain on the psyche of locals. Many convicts died either in battle or soon afterwards.
Though the exact location of the battle was not clear, a memorial for the battle victims was constructed on a spot in the Castlebrook Lawn Cemetery to commemorate the battle as well as the indigenous spirit of the non-native settlers.
The history of Blacktown took another turn when the Native Institute, a school for aboriginal children, was built in Plumpton in Parramatta region in 1820. Its purpose was to teach aborigines, the few who were brave enough to remain, the ways of the Europeans. The school was colloquially called Black Town'.
Many European residents in the area near the Institute complained about the proximity of aborigines. This resulted in the school's transfer from Parramatta to the area at the corner of Richmond Road and Rooty Hill, in 1823. The school, the surrounding area, and the land granted to aborigines nearby, came to be known as "Black's Town". Distilling the story right down - Blacktown got its name from this Native Institute.
For the use of the residents of the time a church was built at Prospect. It was named St. Bartholomew's Church. Bishop Broughton dedicated it in 1841.
In the 1850's local land owners decided to divide the original land grants. The railway came to Blacktown in 1860, and the colloquial name for the area was starting to stick: the station was named Black Town Road Station. Both these factors contributed to an increase in population for Blacktown.
The name of the area officially became Blacktown in 1862 and a post office opened at the railway station.
From then on, as facilities improved, the town grew. A public school opened at Prospect in 1867. Edward Palmer opened a butcher's shop in 1872. More public schools opened in the area, and Blacktown proper got a public school in 1877.
In 1878, Riverstone Meatworks started operating in Blacktown. Residential lots were released in thousands in Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill and Marsden Park.
After the 1905, Shires Act, in 1906, the area, 104 square miles, became the Shire of Blacktown. At the time a provisional council was also established. The council got its very own chambers in 1912. The first meeting was held at Rooty Hill School of Arts.
The Blacktown became a City in 1979 and in 1981 the council was granted permission to use a Coat of Arms.
Blacktown's population now exceeds 290,000. It has everything that a city needs: libraries, art centres, radio stations and hospitals. It also has the Blacktown Olympic Park with AFL and Cricket Precincts. But, Blacktown has never fully relinquished its history. St. Bartholomew's Church was restored. The Vinegar Hill bi-centenary was celebrated, and the city now boasts of the largest aboriginal population in New South Wales.
The History of Human Resources The Story of Some Golf Clubs Sandals - A Basic, Comfy Shoe Having a Lengthy History Grape Growing History Some bull shitters denounce the old divine Scripture in favor of the New: What knowledge do they have of this? Cabinet Knobs – Basic Knowledge Medieval Armour Relive the Glorious Medieval History Find People On Facebook Rik Mayall- Story of successful Carrier KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ONLY IF APPLIED ACCURATELY History Books: A Fascinating Read What is Article Spinning? My P90x Transformation Story