Hadley Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hadley Park |
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Hadley Park, c. 1810
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| Location | 14-278 Old Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh, City of Penrith, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1803–1812 |
| Owner | Penrith Lakes Development Corporation |
| Official name: Hadley Park | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 20 April 2018 |
| Reference no. | 2009 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape - Cultural |
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Hadley Park is a special heritage site in Castlereagh, Australia. It was once Aboriginal land, then a farm, dairy, and even a gravel quarry. The main house and other buildings were built between 1803 and 1812. Today, it is a protected site listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register since 2018.
Contents
A Glimpse into Hadley Park's Past
Ancient History: Aboriginal Connections
The land around Hadley Park has been home to Aboriginal people for a very long time. The Mulgowie and Boorooberongal people lived here for thousands of years. Scientists have found tools and other signs of Aboriginal life dating back about 20,000 years.
The Nepean River and its rich land provided plenty of food and resources. This area was also a traditional meeting place for different Aboriginal groups. Even after European settlers arrived, Aboriginal people continued to fish and camp here. Today, this area is still very important to Darug groups.
European Settlers Arrive
European settlers first came to the Hawkesbury River area in the 1790s. In 1789, Governor Phillip explored the Nepean River, finding good soil for farming. However, it wasn't until the early 1800s that people started settling permanently in Castlereagh.
In 1803, Governor King gave out land grants, mostly to former soldiers. These grants were larger than earlier ones and were set up in an organised way. The Castlereagh area quickly became a major farming region.
The First Owners: Martin Mentz and Charles Hadley
The land where Hadley Park stands was first given to Martin Mentz in 1803. He was a former soldier who started clearing and farming the land. By 1805, he had planted wheat, maize, and barley.
In 1806, Mentz leased some of his land to Charles Hadley. Hadley had arrived in Australia as a convict but later received a full pardon. He returned to New South Wales in 1806 and settled in Castlereagh.
By 1810, there was already a house and other buildings on the property. Charles Hadley bought more land and his farm grew. He even supplied meat to government stores and opened an inn called the "First and Last." His house became a well-known spot in the area.
Charles Hadley died in 1828, leaving Hadley Park to his oldest son, Charles Hadley Jr.
The Hadley Family Continues
The Hadley family owned the property for over 150 years. During this time, Hadley Park faced challenges like big floods, especially in 1867. The farm changed over the years, from growing crops like maize and barley to becoming a dairy farm in the 1930s.
When Charles Hadley Jr. and his wife died in 1891, the property passed to their son-in-law, William Alvan Hadley Childs. Later, his son, William Charles Hadley Childs, reunited the farm to its original size. He built a dairy building and ran the property as a dairy farm.
The family continued to make changes, adding new sheds and planting orchards.
From Farm to Quarry
In 1972, after more than 150 years, the Hadley-Childs family sold parts of Hadley Park. The land was bought by a company for quarrying, which means digging up sand and gravel. This activity increased a lot in the 1970s.
By 1979, several quarrying companies joined together to form the Penrith Lakes Development Corporation (PLDC). PLDC has owned Hadley Park since 1998. Quarrying began on the property around 2001. The main house has been empty since 2008, but it has been looked after.
Hadley Park Today: Public Ownership
In 2019, the New South Wales government bought Hadley Park. This was done to protect this important heritage site for future generations. The government plans to restore the property and open it to the public.
The Department of Planning and Environment is working on a plan for the site's future. They are even looking into training programs for young apprentices to help with the restoration work.
What Hadley Park Looks Like
The Setting and Views
Hadley Park includes a farmhouse, farm buildings, and a garden. It's located on the Nepean River floodplain, with the Blue Mountains in the background. The house and buildings are in the middle of the original land grant.
Even though parts of the land have been quarried and turned into lakes, you can still see how the property connects to its past. Hadley Park is on a clear, open area, so you can see it from far away. The house was designed to be seen from the old Castlereagh Road.
Aboriginal Cultural Landscape
Hadley Park is part of a larger Aboriginal cultural landscape. The Penrith Lakes area was a traditional meeting place. The river and rich soil provided food and resources for Aboriginal people for many years. Over 500,000 Aboriginal tools and items have been found in the Penrith Lakes area.
This part of the Nepean River was also one of the first places where Aboriginal people and European settlers met. It was a place where they learned to live together.
Plants and Trees at Hadley Park
The landscape at Hadley Park still shows signs of its farming past. You can see old paddocks and fence lines. There are also special plants and trees around the house:
- Peppercorn trees: Some of these trees might be from the early 1800s. They are often found at old properties in western Sydney.
- Chinese windmill palms: These tall palms are found near the house.
- Other trees: You can also see conifers, jacaranda, and white cedar trees.
- Fruit trees: There are old lemon, orange, plum, loquat, and pecan trees.
- Ancient eucalypts: Including a large cabbage gum tree.
- Garden beds and paths: Made of brick and stone near the house.
- Native plants: Along Cranebrook Creek.
- Timber fencing: Old wooden fences.
The Buildings of Hadley Park
Hadley Park has several old buildings, each with its own story:
- Hadley Park House (built before 1810): This was a large house with two floors at the front and one at the back. It was built using a special method called "brick nogging," where bricks fill the spaces between timber frames. The roof was originally made of timber shingles, but now it's corrugated iron. It has a verandah (a covered porch) all around the front and sides.
- Slab Cottage (1806): This small, single-story cottage is made of timber slabs. It has two rooms and a corrugated iron roof. The walls are covered with metal sheets to protect them from the weather.
- Bathroom and Toilet Outbuildings (1930s-1960s): These are separate buildings for the bathroom and toilet, located outside the main house.
- Guest Bedroom (1930s): A small building made of concrete blocks, used as a guest room.
- Water Tank (19th century): An old corrugated iron water tank on a raised platform.
- Underground Well and Water Pump (1806-1828): A circular brick well that provided water. A shed was built over it later.
- Former Wash House (1806-1828): A timber slab building used for washing clothes.
- Chicken Shed: A simple shed for chickens.
- Former Stables Outbuilding (1806-1828): A building that was once used as stables for horses. It was extended later.
- Former Cream Shed (1900-1950): A small shed used for storing cream from the dairy.
- Former Dairy Head Stalls/Store (1900-1950): Several connected sheds where cows would have been milked.
- Dairy and Milk Storage Shed (1900-1950): Two connected sheds used for dairy operations.
- Hay Sheds (1947-1961 and Modern): Large sheds for storing hay.
Items from the Past
Inside the slab cottage and guest bedroom, there's a collection of old items. These include furniture, kitchen tools, dishes, children's toys, and things related to the farm's dairy days. These items help us understand what life was like at Hadley Park.
Condition and Changes
The buildings at Hadley Park are in fair to good condition. The main house and slab cottage have had recent work to protect them, like fixing floors and treating for termites. The slab cottage has even been covered with corrugated iron and clear plastic to keep it safe from the weather.
The landscape between Cranebrook Creek and the Nepean River has been rebuilt after the quarrying.
Why Hadley Park is Important
Hadley Park is very important to the history of New South Wales for many reasons:
- A Story of Time: It shows how the Castlereagh area changed over time. From ancient Aboriginal land to early European settlement, farming, and later, quarrying. It tells a story of over 200 years of continuous use.
- Rare Old Buildings: The main house and slab cottage are rare examples of very early Australian building styles. They show how people built homes in the colony's early days. These buildings are still mostly in their original state, which is very unusual.
- A Typical Colonial Farm: Hadley Park is a great example of an early colonial farm. It has the main house, the slab cottage, farm buildings, and old plantings. It shows what rural life was like in Sydney from the early colonial period to the mid-1900s.
- Learning from the Past: The buildings, gardens, and even things found underground can teach us a lot about how people lived, farmed, and built things long ago. It helps us understand early colonial life and farming methods.
- Part of a Bigger Picture: Hadley Park is one of several important historical properties in Castlereagh. Together, they show how the area developed as a food-producing region for the early colony.
Hadley Park was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 April 2018 because it meets these important criteria.
