Overseers' Cottages Remains, Port Macquarie facts for kids

The Overseers' Cottages Remains are an important historical site in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. This site holds the hidden remains of old cottages where "overseers" lived. These overseers were people who supervised the work of convicts long ago.

The cottages were built between 1823 and 1830 by convict workers. Today, these remains are part of the modern Glasshouse entertainment center at 30-44 Clarence Street. The Port Macquarie-Hastings Council owns this special property. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 13, 2010, because of its historical importance.

Discovering the Past: An Archaeological Dig

In 2006, before the Glasshouse was built, archaeologists dug up parts of this site. They knew from old records that buildings from a penal settlement (a place where people who broke the law were sent) once stood here. The dig focused on the area where the new theatre's basement would be.

They found the remains of the Deputy Superintendent of Convicts' quarters and two cottages. These cottages were for the Free Overseers. Finding these old structures helped us learn a lot about what life was like back then.

The exact date the cottages were built isn't known. But they first appeared on a map in 1824. Since the overseers started their jobs in 1823, it's very likely the cottages were built that same year for them to live in.

What Was a Penal Settlement?

Port Macquarie was one of several "penal settlements" in New South Wales. These were places for people who had committed crimes. From 1788 to 1840, many people were sent to New South Wales from other countries as convicts. If they committed more crimes in New South Wales, they were sent to tougher places like Port Macquarie.

Other penal settlements on the coast included Newcastle (1804-1824) and Moreton Bay (1829-1838). The main goal of these places was to keep people who broke the law isolated. They were also made to work hard. This was meant to stop others from committing crimes. Even after 1840, Cockatoo Island in Sydney was used for this purpose until 1869.

Port Macquarie was set up like many other penal settlements. It had different areas for the military, the government staff, and the convicts. The Deputy Superintendent of Convicts and the Free Overseers were part of the government staff. They were in charge of checking on the convicts daily and making sure they did their work.

Amazing Finds from the Dig

The archaeological dig at the Glasshouse site taught us a lot about the Port Macquarie Penal Settlement. Old maps showed the cottages with their gardens. But the dig revealed how complex the buildings were. There were extensions and extra buildings added to the cottages, showing a busy time in the 1820s.

The living space in these buildings was actually twice as big, or even more, than what the old maps suggested! For example, between Cottages 2 and 3, a road to the gardens was replaced by a fence. Then, extensions were added, and finally, it became a paved yard in the 1830s.

The land for the Deputy Superintendent and Free Overseers was quite large. It was about 1,451 square meters. The houses faced Henrietta Street (now Elizabeth Street), and behind them were kitchen gardens. The cottages were numbered 1 to 5 from east to west.

Cottage 2 was built with wooden slabs, and Cottage 3 was made of brick. Both were fairly large, about 7.6 by 9.1 meters. Each had a central hallway with two rooms at the front and two at the back. The dig showed that extensions and extra buildings on Allotments 1, 2, and 3 more than doubled the living space.

This meant the Deputy Superintendent and Free Overseers had very good housing. It was built by convict workers under the supervision of military engineers. In fact, their homes were better than what many others in similar jobs had at the time. The items found during the dig showed that the Free Overseers lived comfortably, similar to people who rented homes.

The dig also uncovered a surprising find: a brick drain running behind the houses. This drain was part of a larger system. It helped archaeologists understand how these old drains worked and how they connected to the buildings.

Other unexpected discoveries included two shallow wells lined with timber. These wells used timber that seemed to be reused from even older buildings, possibly from 1821 to 1823. The timbers were saved after the dig and will be preserved.

At the back of the properties, the dig revealed old fence lines and divisions for the kitchen gardens. There was clear evidence that convicts had used hoes or spades to cultivate the land. There were also uncultivated areas used as paths or roads.

What Happened Next?

In 1832, the penal settlement's control was handed over to the Police Magistrate. This was after the area was opened up for free settlers. However, the settlement didn't close completely. It continued to house "convict specials" – people who were unwell or had mental health issues – from 1833 until 1847.

The overseers' cottages were used for other things in the 1830s. Only Cottage 3 remained after the penal settlement officially ended.

• Cottage 1 was used by the Deputy Superintendent until 1830. By 1831, the Superintendent of Convicts lived there. Later, it became the Survey Office before being taken down.
• Cottage 2 was an Overseer's Cottage, likely built in 1823. In 1831, William Branch, an overseer, lived there. Later, it became the Police Clerk's Quarters before being demolished.
• Cottage 3 became the Post Office by 1831. It was later also the Police Clerk's Quarters and then the home of the Clerk of the Court, possibly until the 1850s or 1860s.

Cottage 2 was demolished in the 1830s, and Cottage 3 survived until the 1850s or 1860s. Later, a School of Arts was built in the 1880s, and a Town Hall in the 1890s. In the 1970s, the site became the Civic Centre. The Glasshouse development, which led to the archaeological dig, started in 2006 and finished in 2008.

The items found at the site also tell a story about Port Macquarie's economy. They show a tough economic period from the 1840s to the 1870s. This was partly because the penal settlement and military left in 1847. But then, the items from the School of Arts and Town Hall show a big improvement in the town's wealth from the 1880s onwards.

What Can You See Today?

The Overseers' Cottages Remains are an archaeological site. This means you can see the preserved parts of Cottages 2 and 3, along with sections of the brick drain.

After the 2006 archaeological dig, parts of the brick walls, cobble floors, and foundation trenches of the cottages were kept. Sections of the brick drain were also preserved right where they were found. These historical remains are now on display within the Glasshouse development, allowing visitors to connect with Port Macquarie's past.

Why Are These Remains Important?

The Overseers' Cottages Remains are very important for understanding the history of New South Wales and Australia.

A Window into Early Settlements

Port Macquarie was set up in 1821 as a penal settlement. It was similar to the very first settlements in Sydney, Parramatta, and Norfolk Island, which started in 1788. It shares many features with these early places.

When it comes to "secondary punishment" settlements, Port Macquarie can be compared to Newcastle and Moreton Bay. These places were chosen to keep people who broke the law isolated from the growing free population.

The town's development in the early 1800s had many things in common with other towns in New South Wales. What makes Port Macquarie a bit unusual is that some of the penal settlement's activities continued until the mid-1840s.

The cottages on this site were directly linked to how the penal settlement worked from 1821 to 1830. As Port Macquarie changed from a penal settlement to a free town, these buildings continued to be used. They were part of the ongoing convict institutions until the 1840s or the town's development until the 1860s.

The site also continued to be important for the town's cultural life and administration. The School of Arts was built here in 1884, and the Town Hall in 1891. These buildings were later taken down in the 1970s to make way for a new civic center.

Connecting with Key Historical Figures

This site has strong connections to the people who managed the penal settlement from 1821 to 1830. It was also linked to the later convict establishment (1831-1846) and the town's development from 1831 onwards.

Important people associated with the site include:

• Captain Francis Allman: The Commandant (leader) from 1821-1824.
• Lieutenant William E. B. Wilson: Engineer and Inspector of Public Works from 1821-1824.
• Stephen Partridge: Superintendent of Convicts from 1821-1830.
• William Branch: An Overseer from 1823-1832.

Showing Old Building Skills

The site shows how the original penal settlement was planned. It reveals the old street layouts, which were changed in 1830-1831 for the new town. The layout of the penal settlement highlighted the important roles of the military, the governor, the church, and other institutions by placing them in key locations.

The archaeological remains of Cottages 2 and 3 show traditional building methods. These include using bricks and wooden slabs. Timbers were even reused and found in two old wells. The brick drain also shows how people used traditional brick technology to build drainage systems.

Important to the Community

The site's connection to the penal settlement is very important to groups who want to preserve Port Macquarie's history. For example, the Hastings and District Historical Society is very keen to see the site protected. Larger groups like the National Trust, who care about convict history, also support its preservation.

The site's link to the first Town Hall and School of Arts is also important to the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and the local community.

Learning from the Past

The archaeological remains of the overseers' cottages help us understand how the penal settlement was managed (1821-1830) and how the town developed later (from 1831).

The dig showed that the actual living space in these buildings was much larger than old maps suggested. The items found also revealed how people lived in the 1820s. They showed a decline in living standards from the 1840s to the 1870s, reflecting tough economic times for the early town. Finally, the items show an increase in wealth from the 1880s onwards, linked to the School of Arts and the Town Hall.

A Rare Glimpse into History

Port Macquarie is special because it continued to house and employ "convict specials" (people who were older, unwell, or educated convicts) until 1847. The former overseers' cottages played a role in managing and housing these people.

Timbers found in the wells date back to 1821-1823. These are from some of the earliest slab buildings in Port Macquarie. Finding such old organic materials and traditional building materials in New South Wales is very rare.

The historical and archaeological evidence together show the main building techniques used in the Port Macquarie Penal Settlement, including both brick and slab construction. This information can be compared with practices at other similar sites.

The evidence also reveals how spacious the accommodation was for the Free Overseers and other government officials. This can be compared to other similar institutions. The items found suggest a comfortable, though not luxurious, standard of living, which can also be compared with findings from other historical sites.