Glenworth Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenworth Valley |
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| Popran Valley | |
 Glenworth Valley
Location in New South Wales
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| Geography | |
| Topo map | 91313S_Gunderman |
| Rivers | Popran Creek |
Glenworth Valley is a beautiful area in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It's located north of the Hawkesbury River, about 50 km (31 mi) north of Sydney. A creek called Popran Creek flows through the valley. The valley includes parts of the suburbs of Glenworth Valley and Mount White.
In 1994, Popran National Park was created in this area. The park is mostly made up of sandstone cliffs and deep valleys. This park was created because the area is very special. It has a unique history from both Aboriginal people and early European settlers. It also has amazing plants, animals, and interesting rock formations. Popran Creek, which gives the park its name, starts in Central Mangrove. It then flows for about 24 km (15 mi) south until it reaches Mangrove Creek.
After Europeans first explored the area, people started working there. They cut down timber, farmed small plots of land, raised dairy cows, and fished. Some families lived in the Mangrove and Glenworth Valley area for more than five generations.
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Discovering Glenworth Valley's Past
The history of Popran Creek and Glenworth Valley goes back a long time. It includes the lives of Aboriginal people before Europeans arrived and the time after European settlement.
Aboriginal History in the Valley
Aboriginal people lived in the lower Hawkesbury region for thousands of years. The Dharug and Darkinyung peoples were among those who lived here. They moved between valleys, hunting and fishing for food. These groups, especially the Dharug and Guringai Aboriginal peoples, were well-known in this area.
Early European Settlers Arrive
European settlers began to arrive in the mid-1820s. These settlers included people who had been prisoners but were now free, as well as people who had always been free. Records show that land was first claimed around this time.
The way land was sold in New South Wales changed over time. In 1825, land began to be sold through private offers. Six years later, in 1831, land was sold at public auctions. Many land sales in the Popran area were recorded in old newspapers like the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser.
One of the first recorded sales happened in December 1835. James Watkins bought 50 acres of land for five shillings an acre. Land was also promised to Stephen Macdonald and Edward Kelly in 1822. These promises became official land grants in December 1836. Both McDonald and Kelly had been living on their land in the upper parts of Popran Creek since the mid-1820s.
Sydney was an important market for products from the valley. People sold timber and farm goods there. However, most families living in the valley were able to grow or make almost everything they needed. They grew crops like corn, vegetables, and fruit. In the early days, it was hard to travel by land. So, people mostly used boats to connect with settlements on Mangrove Creek, the Hawkesbury River, and Sydney.
About two miles up Popran Creek, there is an island called Spurt Island. It was named by the famous poet Henry Kendall.
The Kelly Family's Story
Edward Kelly was one of the first European settlers in the upper parts of Popran Creek. He claimed land there in 1826. Edward had come to Australia from Cork, Ireland, in 1818. After arriving, he worked as a labourer. His first land grant was 50 acres. It was located about four miles from where Popran Creek flows into Mangrove Creek.
Edward Kelly had left his wife, Mary, and five children behind in Ireland. In 1842, twenty-two years after he arrived in Australia, his wife and two of his sons came to Sydney on a ship called the Royal Saxon. Edward Kelly's family continued to live on this original property until the mid-1900s.
One of Edward Kelly's grandsons was Joseph Bede Kelly (1855-1931). Joseph Bede Kelly became an important person in New South Wales. He was a Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, which is like being a politician, from 1894 to 1898. He also helped start and was the first chairman of a company called the North Coast Cooperative Company (NORCO).
Joseph Bede Kelly was the son of John Kelly, who was Edward Kelly's son. John Kelly, his brother Edward (Junior), and their mother arrived in Sydney in 1841. This was sixteen years after Edward (Senior) had arrived. John Kelly married Mary Bevan in 1844. Joseph Bede Kelly was born on May 1, 1855, in Popran. He was the sixth of eight children.
Joseph Kelly went to Fort Street High School. After school, he joined the NSW Surveyor-General's Department. He first worked in Orange, then became an assistant Government Surveyor in Grafton, NSW. From 1881 to 1919, Joseph Kelly played a big part in developing the Northern Rivers region. He worked as a surveyor, farmer, businessman, and politician.
