Macdonald River (St Albans) facts for kids

The Macdonald River is a river in New South Wales, Australia. It flows through the Hunter Region and Outer Metropolitan Sydney areas. This river is part of the larger Hawkesbury-Nepean river system.

River's Journey and Landscape

The Macdonald River starts high up in the Mellong Range, which is part of the Great Dividing Range. It begins near Kindarun Mountain, northwest of a town called Putty. From there, it flows for about 150-kilometre (93 mi), heading generally east, then south.

Along its journey, the river is joined by sixteen smaller streams, called tributaries. Finally, it meets the Hawkesbury River at a place called Butlers Crossing, close to Wisemans Ferry. The river drops about 481 metres (1,578 ft) from its source to where it joins the Hawkesbury.

The upper part of the river flows through a deep, narrow canyon in the Yengo National Park. The lower part of the valley is also quite narrow. However, it has small areas of good land along its banks. These areas were very important for farming when Europeans first settled in New South Wales. This was because it was easy to reach these farms from Sydney by boat. The old village of St Albans is located in this lower Macdonald Valley.

A Look at History

First Peoples of the River

The original inhabitants of the Macdonald River area were the Dharug and Barkinung Aboriginal peoples. They had a deep connection to the land and cared for it, but they did not believe in 'owning' it in the same way European settlers did.

When European settlers arrived, the Aboriginal people often shared their knowledge of the land. They helped the newcomers learn about bush skills and planting crops. However, the settlers intended to stay and claim the land as their own. This was a new idea for the Aboriginal people.

There are stories that the local Aboriginal groups became worried about their survival. The new farms took up land near the river, which reduced the areas where they could gather traditional foods like yams. They asked the settlers for help and were sometimes promised a share of the harvest if they helped with the work.

European Settlement Begins

Most of the Macdonald River's path is very rugged, meaning it's rough and hard to travel. Away from the narrow flat areas near the river, the soil is poor and sandy. The only land that could be farmed was cleared in the early 1800s.

About 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of St Albans, the valley becomes so narrow that there isn't much room for farms. Because families were often large, farmers had to use every bit of land, even cultivating up the slopes.

The first good record of settlers in the Macdonald Valley comes from a survey done in 1833-34 by Felton Matthew. His map showed about 86 landowners. By the mid-1840s, over 1000 people lived on about 100 small farms in the valley.

Early maps show original farm areas called "Branch" grants in places named Benton, Macdonald, and Howick. The village of Macdonald, which is now St Albans, started as a place where cattle drovers stopped, called "Bullock Wharf." From here, cattle were sent to the Colony by boat because the river was wide enough for boats back then.

Historic Inns and Meeting Places

The Settlers Inn in St Albans is a very old building that still works as an inn today. Several other old inns in the valley have been fixed up and are now private homes. One of the oldest licensed inns was The Industrious Settler, built in 1833. Another early inn was The Victoria Inn, built in 1842. These inns were important gathering spots for the early settlers.

Old Churches and Cemeteries

In the past, the valley had seven small churches and four schools. Many of these are now in ruins. You can also find the remains of several small cemeteries throughout the valley. Some of the very first settlers, especially in the upper valley, buried their family members on their own land.

St Albans Common Land

Since 1824, an area of about 10.4 square kilometres (4.0 sq mi) north of St Albans, along Mogo Creek, has been used as "common land." This idea comes from England, where common land was used by villagers who had small farms. It was meant to give them extra space.

In 1853, the St Albans Common was officially given to five trustees. They were meant to manage the land for the "Settlers, Cultivators and other Inhabitants of the District." This land is private property, but it's reserved for the use of the "Commoners," who are the local residents. The Commoners still manage it through their trustees.

Besides being a place for livestock, the Common has a large lagoon. This lagoon is a safe home for many water birds and other wildlife. The entire area is now protected as a conservation area. This helps make sure it will be preserved for future generations of St Albans Commoners.