Prospect Hill (New South Wales) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prospect Hill |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 117 m (384 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 3 km (1.9 mi) North/South |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Error {{native name}}: an IETF language tag as parameter {{{1}}} is required (help) |
| Geography | |
 Prospect Hill
Location in Sydney
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| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Greater Western Sydney |
| Local government areas |
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| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Triassic (Wianamatta Shale) Early Jurassic (igneous rock) |
| Type of rock | Igneous rock Intrusive rock Laccolith Shale |
| Official name | Prospect Hill; Bellevue (Hill); Mar-Rong Reserve |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 17 October 2003 |
| Reference no. | 1662 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape – Cultural |
Prospect Hill, also known as Marrong Reserve, is a special hill in Greater Western Sydney, Australia. It's located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of central Sydney. This hill is Sydney's biggest area of igneous rock, which is rock formed from cooled lava.
Prospect Hill is taller than the flat lands around it. Today, its highest point is 117 metres (384 feet) above sea level. Before parts of it were dug away, it was even taller, at 131 metres (430 feet).
This area has been used for many things over time. It was once farms and quarries. Now, it has industrial buildings, houses, and public parks. The hill is owned by companies like Boral Limited and CSIRO. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2003 because of its importance.
Prospect Hill is like a central point in the Cumberland Plain. From its top, you can see the Blue Mountains to the west. You can also see Sydney's city buildings to the east. People have walked on and around Prospect Hill for 30,000 years. It was a famous landmark, a meeting spot, and a boundary for local Aboriginal people. They called it Mar-rong.
The hill is shaped like an oval. It's important because it was one of the first places where freed convicts were given land to farm in the early Colony of New South Wales. Also, there were conflicts between Aboriginal people and European settlers here in the 1790s. For over 180 years, people have dug up the rock from the hill to use for roads and buildings. The hill itself started forming about 200 million years ago. This happened when hot, melted rock from deep inside the Earth pushed upwards into layers of shale rock.
Contents
A Journey Through Time: Prospect Hill's History
Ancient Aboriginal Connections
The area around Prospect Hill has been home to Aboriginal people for a very long time. They had good camping spots along the creeks and on the higher lands to the south. Even after Europeans arrived, Aboriginal people continued to live here. This is shown by old tools and glass pieces found together. Europeans started settling here by 1789.
European Explorers and Early Settlers
Soon after the first European settlement, on April 26, 1788, Governor Phillip and his team explored west and climbed Prospect Hill. From the top, they saw the Blue Mountains for the first time. Prospect Hill became a very important landmark for the new settlers. It helped them figure out distances and was a key reference point for other explorers.
In 1789, Captain-Lieutenant Watkin Tench also explored the west. He started his journey from Prospect Hill, which offered great views of the mountains. A runaway convict named George Bruce even hid on Prospect Hill in the mid-1790s. Tench and his group were the first colonists recorded climbing the hill on June 26, 1789. It's believed Tench named it "Prospect Hill" because the view reminded him of a "goodly prospect" from a famous poem.
The name "Prospect Hill" was already well-known by April 1790. This is shown in a written account by Governor Phillip and Lieutenant Philip Gidley King after a walk to the hill.
In 1791, Governor Phillip began giving land to convicts who had finished their sentences. These farms, mostly 30 acres (12 hectares), were set up on the eastern and southern slopes of Prospect Hill. The soil there was richer than in other areas.
Conflicts and Peace
When the first settlers arrived, Aboriginal people began to resist. There were violent conflicts, especially led by Pemulwuy and his Bidjigal clan. In February 1798, many settlers were killed. Europeans often responded quickly and harshly, killing many Aboriginal people, even those not involved in attacks.
Eventually, Aboriginal women and a settler named John Kennedy helped start peace talks. On May 1, 1801, Governor King ordered that Aboriginal people around Parramatta and Prospect Hill be "driven back" by firing at them. This led to a "shoot-on-sight" attitude.
After Pemulwuy, a main resistance leader, died in 1802, Aboriginal resistance near Parramatta lessened. However, fighting continued in outer areas. In 1805, a meeting was held near Prospect Hill to discuss peace. This meeting, on May 3, 1805, was very important for Aboriginal and European relations. It helped end the conflict for the Aboriginal clans in the area.
How the Land Was Used
From 1791, land on Prospect Hill was used for farming. By the 1820s, much of the land was cleared for animals to graze. Governor Macquarie visited in 1810 and was impressed by the farms.
In 1808, William Lawson was given 550 acres (220 hectares) on the western side of the hill. He built his home, Veteran Hall, there. His son, Nelson Lawson, later built a grand house called Grey Stanes on top of Prospect Hill. This house was known for its beautiful gardens and parties. It was torn down in the 1940s.
Quarrying, which is digging up rock, started in the 1820s. Famous naturalist Charles Darwin even visited in 1836 to study the rocks. By the late 1800s, valuable rocks were being dug from Lawson's estate. Veteran Hall and its land were taken over when Prospect Reservoir was built in the 1880s to supply Sydney with water.
The land was farmed until 1888 when the reservoir was finished. This reservoir was Sydney's fourth water supply system.
Modern Times and Development
Quarrying at Prospect Hill became very active by the mid-1800s. In the early 1900s, quarrying companies bought more land on the hill. The CSIRO (a science research organization) bought most of its current site in 1946. In the 1950s, the CSIRO began using the site for sheep research. Prospect Hill was the main source of road-building stone for Sydney for many years.
In 1998, Boral, a quarrying company, planned to redevelop its land as the quarry was nearing its end. Parts of the hill were rezoned for businesses and housing. In 2002, Delfin Lend Lease partnered with Boral to build houses. This area is now called Nelson's Ridge.
The former CSIRO site was sold in 2002 to Stockland for more housing and business development.
From 2008 to 2010, the land inside the oval-shaped hill was flattened. It is now being filled with large industrial buildings. A new road, Reconciliation Road, was built through the middle of the hill.
On December 31, 2019, during the severe 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, a grass fire started on the hill. It burned about 10 hectares (25 acres) of pine trees and threatened many buildings before being controlled.
As of 2021, Boral is preparing more land at the base of the hill for new housing in Pemulwuy.
Geography: Where the Water Goes
Rain that falls on the southern side of Prospect Hill flows into Prospect Creek. This water then goes into the Georges River and finally into Botany Bay. Rain from the northern side flows into Girraween Creek. This water eventually reaches the Parramatta River and Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour).
To the west of the hill is Prospect Reservoir. Beyond that, Eastern Creek flows north-west into the Nepean-Hawkesbury River. This large river circles Sydney and flows into the sea at Broken Bay.
Prospect Hill is in the middle of the Cumberland Plain. It's Sydney's largest area of igneous rock, rising 117 metres (384 feet) above sea level. The hill is located between the CSIRO site and the Boral Resources site. The CSIRO part of the hill is mostly open grassland for animals. The Boral part still has some trees and has been used for brickworks.
The first settlements in 1791 were on the eastern and southern slopes. However, no buildings from the 1700s or 1800s remain above ground. You can still see some of the original farm boundaries from the CSIRO site. There's also an old quarry from the late 1800s on the north side of the hilltop.
Geology: How the Hill Was Formed
About 210 million years ago, during the Early Jurassic period, hot melted rock pushed up from deep inside the Earth. This created the Prospect dolerite intrusion, which means Prospect Hill was formed by volcanic activity. When Australia started to break away from Antarctica and Zealandia 80 million years ago, this might have caused more volcanic activity.
Over millions of years, the top layers of rock wore away, leaving the hard volcanic rock of Prospect Hill. This dome-shaped rock is called a doleritic laccolith. The hill is mostly made of strong, dark rocks like picrite and dolerite. In the 1960s, a tiny bit of gold was found in a rock sample, but no more has been discovered since.
Exploring the Summits
Prospect Hill is shaped like an incomplete oval, or a "J" shape. It's about one kilometre (0.6 miles) wide and two kilometres (1.2 miles) long. Let's explore its different peaks, starting from the top of the "J" and moving around.
- Prospect Hill (Northern Summit): This is the northernmost and main peak. It's a separate small hill visible from major roads. In the 1920s, it was a popular spot for picnics. A quarry road, now Butu Wargun Drive, cuts through the ridge. You can access this summit from Clunies Ross Street or Durawi Street, but the gates have been closed since 2017. This hill is 112 metres (367 feet) above sea level. It's an important place for the Aboriginal community during NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Day. Schools also visit it for excursions.
- Marrong Reserve North: Located just south of Butu Wargun Drive, this is now the highest point of Prospect Hill, at 117 metres (384 feet) high. It has a lookout area with amazing views of the Sydney CBD, walking paths, and places to sit. You might see Red-bellied black snakes here, so watch out for warning signs. From the top, you can see the Blue Mountains to the west. To the east, you can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Olympic Park, Parramatta, and the forested North Shore. The eastern side of the hill goes down steeply to Daruga Avenue in Pemulwuy. To the west, you can see the restored face of Prospect Quarry. Before quarrying, this spot was 122 metres (400 feet) high. This hill is sometimes called Pemulwuy Lookout.
- Marrong Reserve 'Saddle Bund: This area has a long walking track that leads to the summit above. It also has a lookout that shows views of the industrial area and Prospect Quarry to the west.
- One-Tree Hill: This hill is famous for a large Moreton Bay fig tree, which is over 150 years old. This tree was part of Nelson Lawson's old home, Grey Stanes. You can't access this hill directly, but you can see it from Prospect Highway or Daruga Avenue in Pemulwuy.
- Marrong Reserve South: The top of this hill is fairly flat but has steep sides. Its highest point is 100 metres (328 feet) above sea level. A walking and cycling path runs along the bottom of its southeast slopes. The lower parts of the hill have plants like Pampas grass and Lantana. The upper parts have a plantation of Monterey pine trees, along with some Grey Box and Casuarina trees. You might spot Kangaroos and blind snakes on the grassy slopes. From the top, you get wide views of southern Greater Western Sydney. You can see this summit from suburbs like Smithfield and Wetherill Park. You can reach it by car from Hyland Road or Prospect Highway, as the walkway crosses the highway.
Why Prospect Hill is Special: Heritage Listing
Prospect Hill is very important because it combines a unique landscape, potential old archaeological sites, and links to major historical events. As a large rock outcrop rising 117 metres (384 feet), it's a rare geological feature. It offers wide views across the Cumberland Plain.
The hill is significant for several reasons:
- It was a key reference point for early European explorers starting in 1788.
- It was the site of some of the first farms in New South Wales, established in 1791.
- It was involved in early conflicts between Aboriginal people and Europeans.
- It was the location of one of the first reconciliation meetings between Aboriginal groups and Europeans in 1805.
Because the land has been used for farming for so long, it might hold archaeological clues about early settlement and farming methods. The rural look of Prospect Hill is rare in this developed area.
The CSIRO research centre at the foot of the hill is also important. Many scientists have worked there, contributing to Australia's history of research.
Prospect Hill is unique because it shows links to early European exploration, settlement, Aboriginal conflict, and reconciliation. Its landscape has kept its farming character since the early days of the colony.
Images for kids
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Entrance to Marrong Reserve (north)
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Lookout from the northern summit at Marrong Reserve, with a view of Parramatta, Chatswood and the Hills District (2017).
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A walking and cycling track in Marrong Reserve South, which meanders around the southern summit (2018)
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Marrong Reserve South, as viewed from a neighbourhood in Smithfield (2007)
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View of Prospect Hill, the northernmost summit (2019)
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The quarried hill, with dolerite intrusion on sandstone and shale
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