Hillsborough

If you have lived in the area long enough, you might remember a little slab cottage on the western side of and very close to Appin Road, a few kilometres out of Campbelltown. Long demolished, this cottage was known as 'Hillsborough' and was one of a number of properties owned by the famous Hume family. The 'Hillsborough' property has been the focus of recent archaeological investigation and the land and former homestead are now part of the new Figtree Hill development at Gilead.

Taken in 1977 (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

In 1823, 84 acres were granted to John Kennedy Hume and he named this grant 'Hillsborough'. John was the son of Andrew Hamilton Hume and brother of the explorer Hamilton Hume. The name 'Hillsborough' was probably named after the birthplace of Andrew Hamilton Hume in County Down, Ireland. John also acquired land in the vicinity of the town of Gunning between Goulburn and Yass. Evidence reveals that John only lived at 'Hillsborough' for around 10 years and raised cattle there during that time. John Kennedy Hume was killed by bushrangers near Gunning in 1840.

'Hillsborough' later passed to John Kennedy's son Andrew in 1859. It was later owned by Lucy Hassell in 1888, before passing to Jo and Francis Williams in 1917. The property continued to change hands until Stefan Dzwonnik owned it in 1981.

Taken in 1980 by Daphne Kingston (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

The remains of the homestead include foundations, concrete paving, stock fencing and an orchard. As part of Lendlease's rezoning proposal, the area around 'Hillsborough' will be protected for environmental conservation.  As part of this, the plan is to include some public walking trails and signage which is allowed within the conservation areas, around the historical remains. 

An interesting anecdote: Appin Road in the 1820s was often the location for raids on settler's homes by thieves. But the carpenter who built 'Hillsborough' had, knowingly or unknowingly, built in a safety factor. If thieves or bushrangers came crashing through the front door, they would soon come to a crunching full stop. Hillsborough's front door was just four feet eight inches high! The door is still held by the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society.

Taken in 1989 by Daphne Kingston (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Collection)

The 4ft 8in front door of 'Hillsborough' displayed at the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society's home at 'Glenalvon'

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

"History Corner" by Verlie Fowler

Hillsborough

913 Appin Road, Gilead

Heritage Assessment and Management Strategy

Tanner Kibble Denton Architects

June 2017

 

Those Golden Wattle Days

Beginning in 1917 the children of “Campbelltown Superior* Public School” gathered, boxed and sent thousands of golden sprigs of wattle to their “city cousins” in inner Sydney for Wattle Day.

Reported in 1920, the children spent a pleasant afternoon picking and packing the “rich glory of gold” after obtaining Mr Elletson and Mr Bocking's kind permission.” Quite why they sought the earlier town Mayor’s okay we can only speculate, perhaps they were collecting further afield than the school grounds? But whatever the source the sprays of vibrant yellow were certainly well received, with several appreciative replies from inner-city school children.

Young recipient, Charles Dobeson, of 4B Gardner’s Road Public, lamented there was very little growing around their area, being in the middle of the "factory district" and what there was, was of “inferior quality.”

Pupil, Leslie Levy proclaimed, “The fragrant smell was all over the place - all the boys were smelling it. OUR two trees had very little on them.” Another decried theirs were - “stunted with poor sandy soil.”

Among the 7th class "a good many already had wattle when they came to school but soon discarded theirs for yours." Many letters noted Campbelltown as being blessed being close to the bush.

Teacher, Mr Long even hoisted a bunch up the flagpole along with the flag and the school gave a cry of three cheers for the boys and girls of Campbelltown.

Wattle trees blooming in the Memorial Wattle Grove outside H.J. Daley Library.

Wattle has always held a prominent place in Australia’s consciousness, using it for display, symbolism and reminders of home during WWI. First nation peoples used the tree for thousands of years as food, fuel, medicine and objects like spears, bags and boomerangs. Though the first official Wattle Day was celebrated in 1910 the golden wattle was only officially proclaimed as Australia's national floral emblem 1988.

In 1923, the school children of Campbelltown had kept their promise to the "city kids" with the wattle seemingly harvested on an industrial scale! Mr Klein of Paddington S.P.S. reported that all 1500 of their children were, by 11 o'clock, wearing the Campbelltown wattle.

Charles Gardiner of Balmain wrote to say their sprigs were being sold for a penny/half penny a spray - to raise funds for books in the library.

The last word we’ll leave to Leslie who wrote, “Your kindness to us proves you do not easily forget your friends.”

 * Superior Public Schools were schools that were officially recognised as providing both primary and post-primary education.

**Postscript. 

The Teacher Librarian of Campbelltown Public School, Debbie Gilroy, has kindly contacted us to say that the school children had asked Mr Bocking's permission because they walked out to his property to collect the choicest wattle. 

Thank you very much Debbie for shedding some light on the story.

Written by Michael Sullivan

References:

Wattle Day Pleasantries: Campbelltown Pupils' Gifts to their City CTN news Fri 27 Aug 1920

Wattle for City Children. CTN IBN News Aug 1923 p1,8

National Museum of Australia