Castle Hill Heritage Park is one of Australia's most celebrated sites, with its origin in 1801 as a convict settlement. Its rich and eventful history is a story of struggle and survival, torment and tragedy. The Irish inspired Castle Hill Rebellion of March 4th, 1804, and the subsequent battle with troopers, forever changed the fledgling colony's way of life and confirmed the site as one of the nation's most significant heritage treasures. It ranks high in the annals of Australia's founding years - from the era of Governor Phillip who visited the area, through the construction by convicts, from the 1820's to the 1830's, of the Great North Road in the immediate vicinity, to the pioneering development of a district noted for its highly productive orchards and general farming activities. While cultural heritage is the reason for and the dominent value of the park, now in the custodial care of Baulkham Hills Shire Council for permanent preservation, its location on this 20 hectares of the third government farm's wooded slopes, gullies and fertile land is an added feature of environmental importance and recreational opportunity.
[Castle Hill Heritage Park Management Committee, 2002]

The Castle Hill Heritage Park was officially opened by Her Excellency Prof. Marie Bashir AC, Governor of New South Wales, on the 200th Anniversary of the Castle Hill Rebellion, 4th March 2004

Pre 1801: Darug Occupation

For tens of thousands of years this land was used and traversed by the Darug People, the traditional owners of the western Sydney region. Known as 'woods people', their life and identity, spirituality and economies drew from the land and they exploited the rich diversity of animal, plant and bird life in the hill, valleys and plains of the Hawkesbury. Recent estimates suggest that Aboriginal people have lived in the western Sydney area for at least 47,000 years. White farmers entered Darug land in the 1790's, at a time when the colony was facing famine and many earlier crops had failed in the poor sandy coastal soils. But the impact of European settlement had been felt well before then - within 18 months of the First Fleet's arrival, smallpox had killed at least two-thirds of the local indigenous population and many Darug died before they ever saw a European. Over the following decades disease, violence and competition for land shattered Darug economies and social structures. By the mid 1800's the indigenous presence in the area was minimal. But the survivors banded together, sometimes with other Aboriginal groups, and established communities in the less-settled areas or government reserves, or worked as farm or domestic labourers. Over the years Darug identity and community have strengthened again and the Darug people have re-claimed their place in the history of western Sydney as custodians of the region's Aboriginal heritage

1801-1811: Government Farm

In 1801, Governor King established a government farm on this site to provide grain for the fledgling colony. Convicts cleared the land, planted the fields and erected many buildings, including a stone barracks .

"I have begun a new settlement eight miles to the northward of Parramatta , which is doing extremely well. The country and the soil is well adapted for cultivation and grazing and extends equally good as far as the Hawkesbury" [Governor King to Sir Joseph Banks, 1802]

[National Library of Australia]

Major George Johnston to Captain John Piper, Annandale , April 12th 1804

"Dear Piper,

I received yours of the 20th February on Sunday 4th ultimo, and that very night at twelve o'clock I was awoke out of my sleep and inform'd that a trooper wanted to speak to me, when I got up he inform'd me the Governor was just behind and wanted to see me ... He aquainted me the Cropy's were in Arms to the number of 5 or 600 and that before he left Sydney he had given directions for a Detachment of 2 Sergeants and 52 rank and file under the command of Lieutenant Davies and Quarter Master Laycock to proceed to my House where I was to take them under my order and proceed directly to Parramatta, about half past one in the Morng of the 5th the Detachment arriv'd and having ascertained that they were all loaded and good flints in their Pieces, I form'd an advanced guard, and march'd the rest in four subdivisions or rather sections (which just filled the road) to Parramatta, where we arriv'd at the dawn of day ... The Governor gave me his Orders in writing how to proceed, and seeing I could not make it out, he said he supposed I cou'd not read it, I told him no, he might as well have given me Greek, he then read it himself, which was that with half the Detachment I was to go in quest of the Rebels who had lately been at the Park Gate to the number of 5 or 600 and if I did not meet them there to proceed to Toongabbe, and then wheel in to the right and go to Castle Hill, where I was to wait for further orders but in one part of them he desir'd me to fire upon any person that attempted to run away when call'd to, which I told him was all I wanted. I directly divided the Detachment giving Lt. Davies the Command of the left Division (and who had different instructions) and taking Mr. Laycock and the other half with me I march'd as quick as possible to Toongabbe, on our arrival I was inform'd there were four hundred of the Rebels laying on the top of Sugar loaf Hill, all well arm'd, I instantly detached the Corpl with the advanced Guard (5 in all) with about 6 or 8 inhabitants (arm'd with Musquets) by the Hawkesbury Road to take them in the flank, whilst Laycock and myself with the rest of the soldiers and about 12 arm'd Inhabitants ascended the face of the Hill behind Dr. Masons, and when we gain'd the summit we found they had push'd on for the Hawkesbury and by every account we could learn there were at least 400 of them, I immediately advanced as rapidly as possible (the day being intensly hot) and having heard before we arrived at the Governt Stock fence that they were not above a mile before us I desired Handlesack [Anlezark] (the only Trooper I had with me) to take my Handkerchief and wave to them a flag of truce and acquaint them the Governor was coming, as I thought that might delay them whilst we were gaining ground upon them. He went to them and spoke to them but they wou'd hear no terms, however they took the flints out of his Pistols and allowed him to return. I then sent Dixon the priest to them (still with a view of detaining them) but they wou'd not listen to him; shortly after having taken one prisoner arm'd with a fusee that was separated from them, and understanding from him they were not above half a mile before us I asked the trooper if he was afraid to ride up along with me to speak with them, he replied he wou'd go to hell with me (I desired Laycock to push on with the soldiers), and we immediately gallop'd after them; when we came up with them I call'd to them to stop that I wanted to speak to them, they desir'd me to come into the middle of them as their Captains were there, I told them their Captains must have very little spirit if they wou'd not come and speak to me as I was within Pistol shot of them (and I do assure you expected to be completely riddled every minute) at length the two men of the names Johnston and Cunningham came from amongst them, when I reason'd with them upon the impropriety of their conduct they wou'd not hear it, I told them I only wish'd to stop the effusion of blood and that I wou'd even bring their Priest up to convince them they were wrong and desir'd them to persuade the People to surrender whilst I returned to bring up the Priest. I soon join'd the Detachment and desiring Laycock to push forward with the soldiers (10 file our only front) I rode again within Pistol shot of the Rebels and call'd to speak with the two People I had before seen. With some reluctance they again came to me (whilst their Main Body form'd line on the Second Hill on this side the last half-way Pond) the Priest as well as myself spoke to them wishing them to surrender to prevent Bloodshed, which they would not listen to, at last I asked Cunningham what he wanted ? his reply was Death or Liberty, I instantly cock'd a Pistol I had stuck in my Sash, and clapping it to his head order'd him instantly to join the Detachment (that just then appear'd in sight) else I wou'd blow his soul to Hell, the Trooper did the same by the other and in this Manner we drove them forcibly into the Detachment which I order'd to advance and fire and instantly charge, the firing immediately commenced on both sides and the Rebels soon fled in all directions, when we join'd (after the pursuit at the last Pond we found 9 kill'd) and since that there has been six more found, 6 or 7 wounded, and when we arrived at the Hawkesbury we had 26 Prisoners, 27 stand of arms that we took from the Rebels besides Pistols, Cutlasses, Bayonets, Pikes and Pitchforks - I never in my life saw men behave better than those under my command and the only fault I had to find with them was their being too fond of Blood ... I have troubled you with this long detail which I thought might be agreeable to you, as it is the first dust we have had of the kind, since the Colony has been form'd".
[The Life and Times of Captain John Piper : M. Barnard Eldershaw, 1973]

Over the following days most of the rebel groups either surrendered or were recaptured, and order was restored at Castle Hill.

THE CROPPIES

Philip Cunningham
As the undisputed leader of the rebels, Cunningham with his strong personality was able to rally his men. He was a veteran of the 1798 battle in Ireland where he continued to co-ordinate district insurgency in 1799. He was sentenced to transportation for life and arrived in 1801 on the Anne, having been involved in a mutiny during the voyage. Brought back from Norfolk Island in 1802 because of a shortage of skilled labour in the colony, he was made overseer of the stonemasons at Castle Hill but immediately tried to escape and was given 100 lashes. With his deputy, William Johnston, he was taken prisoner by Major George Johnston and his trooper during attempted truce negotiations at Rouse Hill and was hanged without trial on the evening of March 5th, 1804, at Windsor.
William Johnston
A participant in the 1798 battle of Vinegar Hill in Ireland, he arrived in the colony on the Rolla in 1803. Johnston was described as Cunningham's co-leader in the rebellion. He was an overseer of the carpenters at Castle Hill, but little else is known of his background. He remained with Cunningham's forces during the rebellion and was captured at Rouse Hill with Cunningham where their dash for freedom failed. He was sentenced to death by court martial on March 8th, 1804 , and was hanged at Castle Hill the following day. His body was hung in chains across Parramatta Road (at today's Westmead) as a deterrent to others.

THE RED COATS

Governor Philip Gidley King (1758-1808)
As the third Governor of the colony (1800-1806), King became embroiled in the rebellion and acted decisively against the rebels by declaring martial law from the 5th-10th March, 1804 . He rode from Sydney to Parramatta during the night and personally gave Major Johnston his orders to put the rebellion down, but appears to have played down the significance of the rebellion in his subsequent dispatches to London . He spared two of the condemned men from the gallows. King did much to generate better agriculture and improved wool growing, and encouraged experiments in the growing of vines and other plants. He permitted the establishment of the Sydney Gazette; allowed the proprietor to use the Government press and type; and listed among his achievements the construction of the double storied stone barracks at Castle Hill.
Major George Johnston (1764-1823)
As leader of the NSW Corps and the volunteer Loyalists, Major Johnston succeeded in defeating the rebels when the confrontation occurred at Rouse Hill on the 5th March, 1804 . He first took the two leaders into custody during truce negotiations, leaving the rebels without leadership, and in the melee that followed their resistance was soon broken. With Captain John Macarthur he usurped power in 1808 in a coup that ousted Governor Bligh. He governed illegally for about six months and was later cashiered from the Army, but was allowed to return to NSW where he continued life as a farmer and grazier.  

THE FREE SETTLERS

Michael Nowland (1761-1828)
As the Superintendent of the Castle Hill Government Farm from 1802 to 1806, he appears from the records to have played no part in quelling the 1804 rebellion and none of his family was molested. Nowland was born in Ireland and arrived as a convict on the Second Fleet in 1790. He had been sentenced to transportation for life for robbery on a London highway. Returning emancipated from Norfolk Island in 1798, he received a land grant of 130 acres at Seven Hills in 1799 and later became a farmer at Wilberforce, as well as establishing the first ferry service over the Hawkesbury River between Wilberforce and Pitt Town in 1812. He is buried in St. John's Anglican Church Cemetery at Wilberforce.

George Suttor (1774-1859)
With his wife and son, Suttor arrived on the Porpoise in 1800 and in 1802 received a grant of 186 acres in Baulkham Hills, known as Chelsea Farm. He later received a land grant in the Bathurst area. In March 1804, he and his wife narrowly escaped being shot by Castle Hill rebels who broke into his house searching for arms and ammunitions. He was an outspoken supporter of Governor Bligh when overthrown by the Macarthur/Johnston faction in 1808, and was later sentenced by an illegal court to six months imprisonment. He gave evidence against Major Johnston at his trial in London. Suttor was the principal orchardist in the colony and the first to produce fruit on a commercial scale. He spent five years as Superintendent of the Castle Hill Lunatic Asylum, where he continued with his horticultural pursuits.
William Joyce
Joyce became notable as the first recipient of a land grant in the Parish of Castle Hill in 1794, when he received 105 acres on Old Windsor Road (in then Toongabbie). He had arrived on the Albermarle in 1791. He worked for himself and the Macarthur's and it was he who rode to Parramatta to warn the authorities that the convicts had rebelled at Castle Hill. In 1804, he received another land grant of 75 acres as a reward for his actions. In the same year his house was destroyed by fire but in his rebuilt home in 1811 he became one of the earliest innkeepers on the Hawkesbury Road . Joyce and his wife both died in 1826 and are buried in St. John's Anglican Church Cemetery, Parramatta

Michael Nowland’s Headstone
St. John’s Cemetery, Wilberforce

"Of all the establishments in New South Wales, Castle Hill is the most recent; at the time I was there it was scarcely three years old. The infant town then only consisted of a dozen houses; but already there were to be distinguished on the neighbouring hills vast tracts of cultivated land, while several handsome farms were settled in the valleys. Six hundred convicts were continually employed in felling the trees to open roads through the forests, and in twenty quarters might be seen rising immense volumes of flames and smoke produced by the burning of new concessions"
[French naturalist M.F. Peron, "Voyage to the Southern Hemisphere", 1809]

Within five years of the Castle Hill Rebellion and Battle of Vinegar Hill, rust and blight had decimated the crops at the Government Farm and in December 1810 Governor Macquarie closed the farm, with time granted to harvest the 1811 crop.

1811-1826 : Asylum

In 1811, the old barracks building was converted into a lunatic asylum. Before then, those branded as insane by the colonial authorities were confined in horrendous conditions at Parramatta Goal. The new asylum offered the promise of more suitable and humane care. Under Governor Macquarie's explicit instructions for "the proper humane treatment of the unhappy persons placed under Your Charge" , the asylum was to adopt many of the innovative and enlightened approaches to the shelter and treatment of the mentally ill then gaining ground in Britain . It would also include a garden for "the unfortunate Persons to occasionally walk and take exercise in" .

But the reality proved otherwise. Patients languished in shocking conditions due at times to bitter rivalries between the superintendent and medical officers. Corruption, lack of trained staff and chronic lack of supplies and building maintenance added to the administrative turmoil. Treatments amounted to little more than head shaving, bleeding, flogging and confinement.

"You are not to allow the Keepers or other persons attending them to exercise any uneccessary Severity towards the Lunatics, but see that they are at all times treated with mildness, kindness and humanity ... You must also be very careful that no person shall defraud the Lunaticks [sic] of any part of the Rations provided by the Government ... and you are on no account to make any of the Lunatics work in the Garden or elsewhere, without the approbation and Sanction of the Surgeon, as he alone is Capable of judging whether such Labour be good for their health or not"
[Governor Macquarie, Instructions to the Asylum Superintendant, 1814]

Following an escape in 1818, the medical officer reported, "I am not surprised that more do not make their escape from so shattered a Building. As the Winter advances I expect to lose several of my patients, as in fact the filth, and dampness of the Asylum and the manner in which they are compelled to sleep &c, &c, must completely injure their already emaciated frames". After continued public criticism, the Castle Hill Asylum was closed. The remaining patients were transferred to the converted court House at Liverpool in November, 1826.

After the Asylum closed in 1826, its buildings and remaining lands were transferred to the Church and School Corporation. A makeshift school was established in the Asylum Superintendant's cottage, with an enrolment of 20 children.

Left : Plan for the conversion of a cottage in the Asylum grounds to a church school c.1829 [State Records NSW]

A chapel was planned for the old barracks building but little was done to make it a suitable place for worship. Despite repeated requests for repairs - and even the withdrawal of the chaplain - the building remained in a dilapidated condition.

In a letter to the Governor in 1832, Bishop Broughton wrote, "The building at Castle Hill in which alone Divine Service has been or could be conveniently performed is in so dilapidated a condition that, without a thorough repair, it could not be so occupied; I have therefore been compelled to dispense with the attendance of a Chaplain at that Station".

Steps to restore the asylum building were finally taken in 1839. In December 1840, the Rev. W.B. Clarke announced that marriages could be celebrated in the church, which became known as St. Simon's. It continued to serve the local community as a place of worship and a school until the 1860's, when a new church and a school opened in the Castle Hill village. St. Paul 's Church [right] was built c.1860 on a portion of land donated by the Greenup family and served the local community up until to 1980's when a larger and more modern church was built at nearby Rogans Hill. The old church was extensively damaged by fire in January 1985, but later restored and it now forms part of the Allan Drew Funeral Home.

from 1870 onwards

Between 1870 and 1900, the remaining land associated with St. Simon's was subdivided and sold at auction - mostly to district settlers who continued to use the land for farms and orchards. Citrus, stone fruits and vegetables were grown commercially to supply Sydney 's bustling markets. Most of the land remained covered by fruit trees until 1960, when rising land values for housing made the orchards no longer viable. During the 1960's and 1970's, the Commonwealth Government began buying land in this area to house returned service men and women but the land was never used.

After many years of lobbying by the Hills District Historical Society and local community groups, the site was acquired by the State Government and later transferred to Baulkham Hills Shire Council as a National Heritage Reserve. Following another community campaign led by the Rotary Club of Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills Shire Council acquired a further 2.2 hectares which included the most significant historical precinct - the original colonial entrance to the penal settlement. With the creation of this heritage park, the site's extraordinary history comes almost full circle - from bushland, to government farm, asylum, church and school and back to bush reserve again.

Castle Hill Heritage Park (2005), showing interperative signage displays. Most of the above information
was obtained from these displays, which can be found at various points throughout the park