Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site facts for kids

The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is a special historical place in Winston Hills, Australia. It's where a large farm run by the government used to be. This farm was built by convicts between 1791 and 1813.

Today, parts of the old farm are known as Palestine Park, Oakes Reserve, and Settlers Walk. It's also called the Toongabbie Government Farm Convict Site. This important site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 11 December 2012.

History of Toongabbie Farm

First Peoples of the Land

Many years ago, different groups of Darug people lived along the Parramatta River. The Burramattagal people lived near Parramatta. To their west and north were the Bidjigal people. A famous Aboriginal warrior named Pemulwuy and his son Tedbury were from the Bidjigal clan.

The Darug people found food from nature. They caught fish, crayfish, and turtles from fresh water streams. Men hunted animals like lizards, snakes, birds, and possums. They also collected insects like witchetty grubs.

Toongabbie Creek was in a valley with many tall trees. Some parts had thick rainforest plants. Trees like turpentine and coachwood were common. Lillypilly and water gum also grew there.

Early European Settlement

Governor Phillip arrived in Australia in 1788. He was told to start farming right away using convict workers. This led to the first government farms. He started a settlement called Rose Hill (later Parramatta) in November 1788. This was to grow food and help the colony become self-sufficient.

The farm at Rose Hill did well. This helped free convicts get land for farming. When more convicts arrived in June 1790, Governor Phillip decided to expand. He looked north-west of Rose Hill, along the Parramatta River valley. This area had good land for farming.

The first new farm was about 2.4 kilometers north of Rose Hill. It was on the south side of Toongabbie Creek. Today, this area includes Westmead Children's Hospital. In August 1791, 500 convicts cleared 54 hectares of land. They planted maize. These convicts worked very hard with only water to drink.

Toongabbie: A Major Farm and Stockyard

In 1791, Governor Phillip chose a spot further up Toongabbie Creek. This was about 4 kilometers north-west of the first new farm. He wanted a bigger "second settlement." Five hundred convicts, many from the Third Fleet, cleared 300 acres of forest in just 30 days. They burned the timber and planted turnips.

A year later, in October 1792, Phillip reported on the success. He said: "One thousand acres of ground are in cultivation... and a new settlement formed... to which I have given the name of Toon-gab-be." This was an Aboriginal name for the spot. Toongabbie was one of the first colonial towns to get an Aboriginal name.

Governor Phillip planned the town of Toongabbie. It was similar to his plan for Rose Hill. Convicts lived in huts on small plots of land along a main street.

By December 1792, Toongabbie was the main farm for the colony. It had over 281 hectares of wheat, barley, and maize. Most of the government's cattle, horses, and sheep were also kept there. The settlement had its own barber, shoemaker, tailor, and other workers.

Toongabbie was built for 700 convicts. But sometimes over a thousand lived there. This included 260 women, many boys, and some older men. Convicts worked from 5 am to 10 am, rested, then worked until sunset. Their jobs included cutting down trees, digging out stumps, and turning the soil.

Convicts grew grain and looked after government animals. They built a new stockyard in 1796. A large shed for cattle was built in 1797. By 1800, there were many cattle, horses, and sheep at Toongabbie. These animals helped fertilize the land for crops.

Hard Times and Resistance

In 1792, Toongabbie became a place for "secondary punishment." Convicts who broke rules in Parramatta were sent here. The work was very hard, and the place felt far away. This idea grew, and by 1794, "bad characters" were sent to Toongabbie to work in chains.

The superintendent, Thomas Daveney, was a very strict boss. He used tough overseers, often chosen from the strongest convicts. New male convicts were sent straight to Toongabbie. They had to work hard even if they were weak from their long journey. Many convicts died at Toongabbie because of the hard work and little food.

Many Irish convicts arrived after the Irish Rebellion of 1798. They were sent to Toongabbie. They were seen as troublemakers. Some planned uprisings were stopped. Their leaders were punished and sent to faraway places like Norfolk Island or the Hunter River coal mines. After 1801, Irish convicts moved to a new government farm at Castle Hill.

Toongabbie became known as a very harsh place. Even though it wasn't built just for punishment, it was seen as a place of great difficulty. It was even mentioned by anti-slavery groups. Years later, Ned Kelly wrote about Toongabbie as a place of Irish suffering.

There were also many conflicts between Aboriginal people and the settlers. In 1792, Aboriginal people raided the Toongabbie Government Farm for maize during harvest time. Soldiers and armed guards were placed at the farm from 1794. These attacks were likely a response to their land being taken.

In March 1797, the Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy led a raid on Toongabbie Farm. He then attacked other farms nearby. Pemulwuy was injured in a fight called the "Battle of Parramatta." He escaped from the hospital. From 1797 to 1802, Pemulwuy was a strong Aboriginal leader. He fought against British settlement. He led raids on farms, burning huts and taking crops and animals. He was later captured and died in 1802.

Toongabbie's Decline

Toongabbie's importance faded quickly. After Governor Phillip left in December 1792, Lieutenant Governor Grose changed the farming policy. He stopped large government farms. Instead, he gave land to officers and settlers. He also gave them most of the convict workers. This encouraged private farming.

Toongabbie's land became tired from growing too many crops. This gave Grose a reason to give away land and move convicts.

In 1793, John Macarthur became Inspector of Public Works at Toongabbie. Richard Fitzgerald, a very skilled ex-convict, helped manage the convicts' work.

Later, Governor Hunter arrived in 1795. He wanted to restart government farming. This was not popular with settlers. In December 1797, a large threshing barn was built at Toongabbie. It was 27.4 meters long. Many cattle were also brought to the farm to help fertilize the soil.

However, in August 1801, Governor King decided to close Toongabbie for crops. Its land was worn out. He started a new farm at Castle Hill. By 1803, Toongabbie Government Farm stopped growing crops. But government animals stayed there until 1807.

When Governor Bligh arrived, he rebuilt the dairy and barn in 1807. There were still many cattle at Toongabbie. Governor Macquarie arrived in 1810. He looked at all the government farms.

Macquarie closed most convict-run farms. But he still wanted the government to own many cattle and sheep. These animals would be kept in new stockyards away from towns. All animals were moved from Toongabbie by 1813. In 1817, Macquarie confirmed that Toongabbie was permanently closed.

After the Government Farm

Governor Macquarie wanted the Toongabbie site as a land grant when he retired. He liked its beauty and closeness to Sydney. But his request was not approved. The 700 hectares at Toongabbie remained empty for a while.

In 1857, a law allowed the land to be divided and sold. In 1861, George Oakes bought 240 hectares. This included the entire old Government Farm. He used it for grazing animals.

Before 1860, stone was dug from the north and south banks of Toongabbie Creek.

George Oakes was an important person in New South Wales. He was a politician. He lived in Parramatta but used his Toongabbie land for horses, cattle, fruit, and vegetables. He built a stone wall across Toongabbie Creek to make a swimming pool. He also likely built some stone steps near the creek.

After Oakes died in 1881, his land was divided. From 1887, Chinese market gardeners leased the old convict settlement site. Up to 50 Chinese men worked together on these gardens.

Later, the land was divided again. Orchards and new streets appeared. The land next to Toongabbie Creek often flooded. So, it became public parks from the 1920s. In the 1960s and 1970s, the land became controlled by local councils. The land north of the creek became Palestine Park. It was named after nearby streets like Goliath and Gideon. The old market gardens on the south side became Oakes Reserve. Both parks are used for public recreation today.

In 1973, a large part of the old farm site was bought by Baxter Australia (now Baxter Healthcare). They built a pharmaceutical company there. The western end of the farm site was used for an electricity substation. These developed areas are not part of the heritage site today.

What the Site Looks Like Today

Toongabbie Farm Layout

An old map from 1792 shows "The Town of Toongabby." It was on a bend in Toongabbie Creek. The main street of the convict settlement ran east to west. Two cross streets ran north to south. One cross street led to a bridge over the creek. The superintendent's huts, military, and stores were on the north side of the creek.

The main street had 35 convict huts on both sides. Each hut was about 9.1 by 4.6 meters. They could hold 20 convicts. An old drawing from 1798 shows about 20 huts with a shared kitchen. The huts were made of mud and sticks with thatched roofs. They had brick chimneys.

A stockyard was built in 1792. A new one was built in 1796. In 1797, a large shed for cattle was built. A big threshing barn, 27.4 meters long, was also finished. The site had an oven for the baker and a hand-powered mill for flour. There was also a dairy and a church. We don't know exactly where these buildings were.

The 1792 map also shows a square building near the creek. It had a high thatched roof and a large boiler. It might have been a shared laundry.

The 1798 drawing shows terraces on the slope down to the creek. There was also a wooden fence. These might have been for grapevines planted in 1792.

The Old Windsor Road, from Parramatta to the Hawkesbury, went through the Government Farm lands.

The Site Now

You won't see any old convict buildings above ground today.

There are seven sandstone steps cut into the rock of the creek. The bottom four steps are shallow. They look like they were made by convicts. The three steps above them are different. These steps are not on old maps. It's likely George Oakes built the top three steps in the 1860s. He built a stone wall across the creek to make a swimming pool.

Oakes' stone wall is now a small concrete dam. There are broken rocks nearby, likely from Oakes' old wall. The dam makes the water in the creek deeper upstream.

Today, the old Government Farm site is mostly parkland. This includes Palestine Park and Oakes Reserve. They are located along Toongabbie Creek. A small part of the site is owned by the electricity substation.

The land slopes steeply down to the creek on both sides. The lower parts have always flooded. The water in the creek is quite deep. Most of the north bank in Palestine Park is steep and rocky.

Most of the land south and west of Toongabbie Creek has been clear for 200 years. This is Oakes Reserve, which has mown grass.

On the north side, in Palestine Park, there are some remaining trees. These are part of a special type of woodland that is now endangered. There are also clearings, including a children's playground.

The plants along the south bank of the creek are less disturbed. They are part of another endangered forest type.

There is a sign about the convict farm on the east bank of the creek. It shows an old painting of "Western View of Toongabbie."

What Archaeology Can Tell Us

There are no visible convict buildings above ground. But old maps and aerial photos show where they might have been. The site has not been disturbed much since the farm closed in 1813. This means there's a good chance to find things underground.

On the north side of Toongabbie Creek, parts of the convict granary and superintendent's quarters might be in Palestine Park. This area has good potential for archaeological finds.

The stone steps on the east bank of Toongabbie Creek are in good condition. This area might also have archaeological potential.

We need more archaeological digs to know for sure what is preserved underground. But the location of the farm near Toongabbie Creek and the old road is still clear.

In 1998, archaeologists found ceramic pieces in the north-east part of the site. These pieces are from the 1790s to early 1800s. They include platters, plates, and bowls. They likely belonged to a convict overseer.

Archaeologists might find old post holes, rubbish pits, and wells. The site also has potential to teach us about Aboriginal life before and after European settlement.

Heritage Importance

The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is very important to New South Wales history. It shows how Governor Phillip managed convict workers outside of towns. His plans for convicts were very important for the colony's growth. Toongabbie helped us understand these early solutions. It was also a key step in creating new settlements just for secondary punishment, like Newcastle.

Because it grew so much wheat, maize, and barley, Toongabbie Government Farm was vital for feeding the struggling early colony. Its historical importance from 1791 to 1794 is very high.

The site is linked to early Governors like Phillip, Hunter, King, and Macquarie. It also shows how government policy changed over time. Sometimes they supported government farms, and sometimes private farming.

Toongabbie was the second successful government farm in the colony. The first was at Rose Hill (Parramatta Park). Both sites show Governor Phillip's town planning. He housed convicts in huts on planned streets, like English villages. This style of housing was not continued at the third government farm at Castle Hill.

The site is also linked to convict managers like John Macarthur and Richard Fitzgerald. Later, George Oakes, a politician and landowner, owned the site from 1861 to 1881.

The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is very special because it's so old. It shows how policies for convicts developed. It also has great potential for archaeological discoveries.

Using an Aboriginal name for the settlement is very important. Parramatta and Toongabbie are the earliest places given an Indigenous name by the European government. Governor Phillip chose both names himself.

The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 11 December 2012. It met the following important reasons:

The site shows how New South Wales's history unfolded. The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is historically important. It was the first government farm outside of Sydney and Parramatta. It shows how convict labor was used early on. It also shows how the government was organized outside the main towns.

The farm was started in 1791 because the new colony needed food. Government farms were key to feeding the colony. Toongabbie was quite successful in its early years. It produced a lot of maize, wheat, and barley for the whole colony.

Toongabbie Farm also taught unskilled convicts farming skills. This helped them find jobs or run their own farms after their sentences. This helped the colony grow. Two successful ex-convicts from Toongabbie were Andrew Thompson and Richard Fitzgerald.

Toongabbie Farm is also important as the first place in NSW to try a system for "secondary punishment." This was for convicts who broke rules again. It was a model for later penal stations like Newcastle and Port Macquarie.

The site is strongly connected to important people or groups in New South Wales history. The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is strongly linked to important people. This includes all five early colonial Governors and the Lieutenant-Governor. It is also connected to the famous Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy.

Governor Phillip planned and created the farm in 1791. Lieutenant-Governor Grose reduced public farming there. Governor Hunter brought back public farming and built the large threshing barn. Governor King closed the farm for crops but kept it for animals. Governor Bligh rebuilt farm buildings. Governor Macquarie formally closed the farm.

Toongabbie Government Farm is linked to Pemulwuy. He was a legendary Aboriginal warrior. He led a raid on the farm in 1797.

It is also strongly linked to Thomas Daveney. He was the first convict superintendent at Toongabbie. He ran a very strict establishment from 1791 to 1795.

Later, important men like Richard Fitzgerald and John Macarthur managed the farm.

The first private owner, George Oakes, was also a very important local figure. He was a politician and businessman.

The site has a special meaning for a community or cultural group in New South Wales. The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site has social value for past communities. For Irish people in Australia, it was a place of hardship under British rule. For people fighting against convict transportation and slavery, it was a symbol of harshness.

The site can provide information that helps us understand New South Wales's history. The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is important for research. It offers great chances to find physical evidence of convict life. This is especially true for convicts who arrived on the Third Fleet.

The parkland part of the site has only had a quick archaeological survey. But it shows high potential for findings. Much of the site was filled in and leveled before landscaping. This likely protected the archaeological remains.

The northern part of the site, across Toongabbie Creek, has not been fully surveyed. But early assessments suggest there are remains of Government Farm buildings there.

The site can likely show us evidence of old post holes, toilet pits, rubbish pits, and wells. It also has potential to teach us about Aboriginal life before and after European contact.

The site has rare or unique aspects of New South Wales's history. The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is rare. Besides Rose Hill at Parramatta, there is no other site from this early period. It shows the early policies towards convicts. It also has great potential for archaeological study.

The site shows the main features of a type of historical place in New South Wales. The Toongabbie Government Farm Archaeological Site is important as an example. It shows the earliest ways the colony set up convict workplaces and punishment centers outside of towns. It also helped ex-convicts gain skills to become useful citizens in New South Wales.