Tom Gamble

Tom Gamble was one of the more interesting personalities from Campbelltown's past. Born in Ireland in 1844, Gamble was a devout Irish Protestant who migrated to Australia and arrived at Campbelltown about 1872. He established himself as a prominent shopkeeper and auctioneer and was elected to Council in 1894. A year later he became mayor.

Tom Gamble is standing in front of his shop (second from right) ca 1882.

According to Jeff McGill's research Tom Gamble hated critics. When correspondents in the local newspaper attacked him, Alderman Gamble responded by claiming they "warranted a kicking"- and publicly threatened to do just that! He was a radical conservative who believed cut backs were the way to go and that public works should be contracted out and not done by council labourers.

He was very patriotic and pro Empire which was evident in his rousing speeches. When the Boer War broke out he arranged recruitment rallies. He attracted criticism for his arrogance however and lost his seat on council in 1900. Still, he continued his war rallies, became a busy worker for St Peter's Anglican Church and was appointed a magistrate. He also occupied the position of librarian for the Campbelltown School of Arts.

We get some feel however for the softer side of Tom's personality in a letter he wrote to his father in Ireland while he was mayor. In it he writes to his "dada" about how he is anxious to find out about the health of his "mama" and how fond he is of his 20 month old baby. He describes the tough times he is experiencing with his business and the long hours he and his wife work just to make ends meet. He laments that he is getting old and grey and much stouter than he used to be. There is no hint of the hot headed man that he is reputedly known to be.

Thomas Gamble died in 1923. His obituary is glowing so perhaps the town forgave him for his bad tempered ways. His son Roy became mayor the year after he died.

This image was taken in 1895- the year Thomas Gamble became mayor of Campbelltown.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 August 1923 p10

McGill, Jeff 1996
First Citizen: Mayors of Campbelltown Since 1882
Campbelltown: Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

Letter in Local Studies Collection of Campbelltown Library 22.4.1896

Epping Forest

In 1810, Governor Macquarie granted two adjoining 100 acre parcels of land to Matthew and John Kearns. It was on this grant that the property of Epping Forest was established. By the early 1820s the land had passed into the hands of William Kearns who was recorded as having lived there in 1823. A house was built shortly after in 1825. The property had improved to include orchards, grain crops and general dairy farming. This house still stands today and is known as Epping Forest.

Epping Forest is highly valuable in terms of heritage significance due to its early date and architectural quality. It is a rare example of a Georgian bungalow from the early colonial period, dating from the 1820s and built by Colonel Parker who had served in the East India Company. Its design reflects the influence of the Indian bungalow on the houses of this era.

The house is made of sand stock brick. It has a symmetrical facade, semi-circular fanlight above the front door, windows with fifteen small panes and solid shutters. The unusual hipped roof verandah is stone flagged, with turned wooden columns and a patterned balance board. There is a detached kitchen at the back of the house.

The property developed into a successful dairy farm and in 1896 a pure bred Ayrshire cattle stud was established by the Clark family. This stud continued until 1960 when it became a mixed herd dairying business.

Today Epping Forest is surrounded by the development of the suburb of Kearns. Attempts were made in 1975 by the Clark family to have the suburb of Kearns named Epping Forest. It was originally suggested that it should be called "Bunbury". 'Epping' means 'people of the lookout place', which possibly refers to an ancient hill fort on a ridge in Epping Forest, England. It was decided by the Geographical Names Board however that this name was too similar to the Sydney suburb of Epping and so the name of Kearns was settled on.

The house is today located in Mississippi Crescent, Kearns.

A sad accident occurred on the property in 1857. A four year old girl named Mary Cullen was struck and killed by a fallen branch from a tree that was being cut down by two farm workers. She was playing with another four year old who was hit by the same branch but not killed. Dr Bell from Campbelltown was called but was unsuccessful in saving Mary's life.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

McGill, Jeff et al 1995
Campbelltown's Streets Suburbs: how and why they get their names
Campbelltown: Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

'Epping Forest' 1999
Heritage Impact Assessment Proposed Subdivision

This photograph of Epping Forest homestead was taken in 1993 (Courtesy Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Wild Waters

Anyone who lived in Campbelltown in the 1980s would remember 'Wild Waters' located behind Macarthur Square. 'Wild Waters' was an ambitious entertainment park costing $2 million that had an amusement arcade and kiosk, three huge water slides, a double water toboggan aquaskoot and water playgrounds.

Work started on the park in 1982 but was delayed as a change of investors led to a halt in construction. The next year work resumed  and the park was opened with much fanfare on October 22, 1983. Amongst many attractions on the opening day was a special appearance made by actors Grant Dodwell and Penny Cook from the television show A Country Practice.

The project initially provided employment for 70 local people. A further two stages were planned and due to be completed by the 1985-1986 swimming season. The project developers were a company called Jenwell Pty Ltd.

There were hopes that the park would become a major drawcard for the area and attract up to 200,000 visitors each summer. The park had the capacity to handle 1000 visitors a day. It was also to be a place where the youth of the area could spend their time as amusement venues at that time were limited.

However, the park however never really succeeded. In February 1985 an accident involving a young girl falling over the side was negative publicity. The six year old received seven stitches after falling six metres. There was also a story that people were placing razor blades on the slides using chewing gum. However, the main factor was probably the lack of use during the cooler months as the park mainly catered for water activities. Instead of the expected 1000 visitors a day, there was only ever an average of 300 per day and the busiest day in its existence was a crowd of 700.

'Wild Waters' closed on Sunday April 10, 1988. There were plans to relocate it to a block on the Menangle Road but this was axed. The caretaker manager demonstrated his frustration when he said "There is a lot of talk about the lack of facilities in the Campbelltown area but when there are good facilities the kids just don't want to use them. Nowadays kids want entertainment dumped in their laps."

The park was located on the hill above where the service station is now located at the southern entrance to the car park.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Macarthur Advertiser: 31.8.1982, 18.10.1983, 19.2.1985, 30.3.1988

 

 

 

Photos showing 'Wild Waters' (Macarthur Development Board Collection)