Cattai Estate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cattai Estate
Dr. Arndell's cottage in the Cattai National Park, part of the Cattai Estate, in July 2006.
Location	Wisemans Ferry Road, Cattai, The Hills Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1804–1821
Owner	Office of Environment and Heritage
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Cattai Estate; Caddai Estate; Cattai National Park; Caddie estate
Type	State heritage (landscape)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	982
Type	Historic Landscape
Category	Landscape - Cultural
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The Cattai Estate is a special place in New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a large farm and is now part of a national park. You can find it on Wisemans Ferry Road in Cattai. This estate was built between 1804 and 1821. It's also known by other names like Caddai Estate or Caddie estate. Today, the Office of Environment and Heritage looks after this important site. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because of its historical value.

Exploring Cattai Estate's Past

Who Lived Here First?

Long before European settlers arrived, the Indigenous Darug people called this land home. They lived here for thousands of years, possibly as far back as 45,000 years ago. Their traditional lands covered much of northern Sydney, including the area around the Hawkesbury River. The Darug people had a deep connection to the land, using its resources and shaping the landscape.

European Settlement and Farming

The history of Cattai Estate changed when Europeans arrived. Here are some important dates:

• 1788: Dr. Thomas Arndell arrived in Australia with the First Fleet. He became the chief medical officer at Parramatta Hospital.
• 1789: Dr. Arndell explored the Hawkesbury River area with Governor Phillip.
• 1793: Early explorers noted Aboriginal settlements and farming along the Hawkesbury River.
• 1794: European settlement began in the area. Dr. Arndell retired and received his first land grant near Parramatta.
• 1795: Conflicts arose between the Darug people and settlers over land and hunting grounds. Sadly, many Aboriginal people were affected during this time.
• 1800: Dr. Arndell had acquired 330 acres (130 ha) of land. He grew wheat and maize and had convicts help him work the land.
• 1804: Dr. Arndell received another large land grant of 600 acres (240 ha) where Cattai Creek meets the Hawkesbury River. This is where Cattai National Park is today.
• 1804: Construction began on a mill and granary at Hope Farm, which was an early industrial building in Australia.
• 1806: Major floods hit the Hawkesbury area, causing a lot of damage. Dr. Arndell owned 630 acres (250 ha) by now, raising sheep and cattle.
• 1810: The Cattai area was very important for supplying grain to the colony. People called it "the granary of the colony."
• 1820: Dr. Arndell started building the Caddie homestead, which is now inside Cattai National Park.
• 1821: Dr. Arndell passed away at 69 years old.
• 1850s: The mill and granary at Hope Farm were no longer used and started to fall apart.
• 1863: A plant disease destroyed the entire crop for the year. This, along with new farming lands elsewhere, led to less grain farming in the area.
• 1930s: One of Dr. Arndell's descendants, Thomas Gordon Arndell, used the land for dairy farming. The original Caddie homestead was also updated during this time.
• 1952: The area began to be used for fun activities like camping and picnics.
• 1981: Caddie Park was bought by the Department of Planning and Environment for National Parks.
• 1983: The park officially opened to the public for recreation.
• 1992: Hope Farm was added to the park, and the whole area became known as Cattai National Park.

What You Can See at Cattai National Park

Cattai National Park covers about 424 hectares (1,050 acres). It's made up of three main areas:

Cattai Park

This is the biggest part of the park, covering 224 hectares (550 acres). It's located where Cattai Creek meets the Hawkesbury River.

• You can find places for camping, barbecues, and picnics here.
• This area also includes the historic Cattai Farm and the Caddie homestead, which Dr. Thomas Arndell started building.

Mitchell Park

About 2.5 km (1.6 miles) upstream from Cattai Park, Mitchell Park is 140 hectares (350 acres).

• It has picnic and barbecue spots.
• There are also about 4 km (2.5 miles) of walking tracks for you to explore.

Hope Farm

Hope Farm is 60 hectares (150 acres) and is not currently open to the public.

• It's home to the ruins of a stone windmill, which is thought to be the first industrial building built by Europeans in Australia.

Nature and Wildlife

Cattai National Park is a natural home for many plants and animals.

• It has unique plants, with some listed as important for conservation.
• You can see native trees like Ironbarks and Forest Red Gums.
• There are also small areas of untouched bushland.
• Parts of the park have wetlands, which are home to many water plants and birds.
• The park also has rare vegetation from the original Cumberland Plains.
• Evidence of the Darug people, like old campsites and tool-making sites, can be found throughout the park. There are twenty-seven important Aboriginal sites here.

Historic Farm Buildings and Gardens

• Industrial Sites: The Cattai Farm area has important old industrial sites, including grain silos and the ruins of the windmill.
• Arndell Homestead Garden: Around the historic Caddie homestead, there's a cottage-style garden. You can still see some fruit trees like peaches and plums. There are also many other trees and shrubs, including jacaranda, mulberry, and roses.
• Former Orchard Area: The flat land below the homestead, once an orchard, is now a grassy picnic area. It has scattered native and non-native trees like river oaks and poplars.

Why Cattai Estate is Special

Cattai National Park is important because it shows how the land has been used and changed over a very long time. It tells the story of Aboriginal life, early European settlement, and how the land has been managed up to today.

A Link to the Past

• Cattai and Mitchell Parks are important because they show continuous farming by one family since the early 1800s.
• Hope Farm also connects us to the Darug people, the original inhabitants.
• It's linked to Dr. Thomas Arndell, who was a surgeon with the First Fleet.
• The old farm buildings and landscape show what early colonial farms looked like. These types of places are becoming rare in Sydney.

Beautiful Scenery

The park's natural areas are important because they represent the ecosystems of the Hawkesbury River floodplain.

• It has rare plant communities that are vulnerable in New South Wales.
• The park is home to many different animals and provides important habitats for them.
• It also shows how the land changes from natural areas to farmland and then back to natural areas.

A Place for Everyone

Cattai National Park has become a popular place for people in western and northwestern Sydney to relax and enjoy nature.

• It's a great spot for families, offering history, recreation, education, and nature all in one place.
• The park is also very important to Aboriginal people.
• As Sydney grows, Cattai National Park will become even more valuable as a place for the community to enjoy.

Learning from the Land

The park holds many clues about the past.

• It has evidence of Aboriginal life, including ancient engravings, tool-making sites, and signs of food sources.
• One engraving of a sailing ship is rare because it shows how Aboriginal people saw the arrival of Europeans.
• These sites can help us understand the history and culture of New South Wales, both Aboriginal and European.