Diaries from a Bygone Era

One of the treasures we proudly hold at Campbelltown Library are the Payten Diaries. Penned by James Payten of "Woodbine" homestead in the 1880s, the frail old books give a fascinating glimpse of rural life in Campbelltown which has long disappeared. They cover everything from seeds sown and calves born, to family holidays in Gosford.

The "Woodbine" property, once located off Campbelltown Road near the suburb now named in its honour, was a productive farm with a variety of crops and stock. James Payten was not only a well-known farmer and community leader, but also an all-round cricketer and successful pony breeder. His daughter Rose became a champion tennis player and had a nearby road named after her.

James Payten photographed in the 1880s

The diaries were donated to the library in 1994 by Mrs Dariel Larkins, whose family had retained the diaries for many years. The fragile pages have been microfilmed for public viewing.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Macarthur Advertiser, November 23, 1994

The Payten Ponies.

The Payten brothers Alf, Percy and Jim, and their sister Rose, of “Woodbine”, Campbelltown, had been breeding ponies for a number of years prior to the establishment of the Australian Pony Stud Book Society. They actively selected sires and used foundation mares of different strains and breeds, the result being fine quality ponies. One of their most influential stallions was the cream stallion Arcus. The story of his background is quite fascinating. He was apparently left with the proprietor of the Royal Hotel in Cooma in the 1880s, as payment for an unpaid bill. Going through a number of owners, he was eventually purchased by the Payten brothers who used him as the cornerstone of their breeding program. His lineage was an interesting mix of Thoroughbred, (through his grandsire Smuggler, a first generation Australian Thoroughbred), pony, through his granddam Minette, who was a champion pony mare, and surprisingly, brumby, through his dam, who was apparently a creamy brumby mare. Arcus sired a number of daughters and sons whose lines still exist in the Australian Pony Stud Book today. Of all his sons, a colt called Marcus, out of a Welsh pony mare named Olive would go on to become highly influential. He was a beautiful type of pony that produced many fine progeny. 

"Marcus" by Arcus, bred by the Paytens.

The Paytens did not just breed beautiful ponies, they exhibited them at shows, in hand, in harness and under saddle. Rose Payten, (more famous for her tennis), was a proficient harness driver, taking out many awards, not only at local shows but also at the Sydney Royal Show, mainly throughout the 1920s.

Rose Payten driving her pony "Picture". 

The contribution of the Payten family to the establishment of the Australian Pony is invaluable, as they were hugely instrumental in breeding foundation stock. 

Written by Claire Lynch

 Sources:

The Pony by Lorna Howlett

Pony Magazine Australia V.1 Iss.3.

Pony Magazine Australia Facebook page

Keighran's Mill

Just south of the original Woodbine homestead, and adjacent to the old Sydney Road (since renamed Hollylea Road) there once stood an imposing landmark named Keighran's Mill. John Keighran purchased the site in 1844 and in 1855 built the mill on the banks of Bow Bowing Creek. The mill was a relic of colonial days when wheat was harvested on surrounding farms. It was built of sandstone and had a shingled roof.

During the 1870s the mill fell into disuse when rust ruined local wheat crops. An 1875 entry in James Payten's diary, now held by Campbelltown Library, reads "Harris and I nailed up doors and windows in old mill". This suggests the mill was by then deserted. In 1879, Kidd and Fieldhouse acquired the mill but probably did not use it for gristing wheat.

Most Campbelltown residents who remember the picturesque landmark knew it as Payten's Mill. Percy Payten was the last member of the Payten family to own the mill. In 1954 he offered the mill to the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society.

In later years, the mill became a favourite haunt of children's games. Young Rose Payten and her brothers loved to climb its secluded heights. In a recent interview I did with Leumeah local Noeline Jury (nee Hawkes) she describes how the mill entertained them as children and later as teenagers. On one occasion she was exploring the mill with a friend when they noticed a noose hanging from the rafters! This, combined with the constant croaking of frogs in the nearby creek, added to the creepiness of the place.

A large sign advertising 'Wolfe's Schnapps' was painted on the side of the mill. This can be seen in the photograph below taken by Steve Roach in 1959.

By the 1960s, Council considered the mill to be in a 'ruinous and dangerous state' and the Department of Main Roads indicated the Campbelltown Road was about to be widened. The historical society also didn't have enough funds at the time for its restoration and the Heritage Council of NSW had not yet come into being. So, in 1962 the mill was dismantled and the stone was used in the building of the RAE Memorial Chapel at the School of Military Engineering at Moorebank, which opened in 1968.

The old mill was one of the all-time favourite landmarks of our district. It even features as the logo for Campbelltown North Primary School.

Where is the site of the mill today? The re-alignment of Campbelltown Road makes it difficult to pinpoint its exact location using old photographs. After talking to a number of local residents who remember the mill, the general consensus is that it was located somewhere in the area bounded by the overhead railway bridge on Campbelltown Road, Bow Bowing Creek and Campbelltown City Ten Pin Bowl.

                   This undated photograph shows the mill adjacent to Campbelltown Road.

Written by Andrew Allen