© MICHELLE NICHOLS
Andrew Town of Richmond NSW, led a short but very fascinating life.
His grandfather was John Town who was a convict, tried in Warwick in 1796 and convicted for Life. He arrived in Sydney onboard the Royal Admiral in 1800.[1] He married at Windsor Mary Pickett in 1813, also a convict who arrived on the Aeolus in 1809. John and Mary had three children, they were John born 1806, William born 1812 and Maria born 1817. Town received a conditional pardon in 1815.[2] The 1828 Census records Town as a substantial landowner with 1,156 acres, 37 horses, 221 cattle and 200 sheep. His occupation is listed as a Miller and between 1830 and 1841 he was running two water mills at Kurrajong.[3] The Towns were also involved with the running of several Hawkesbury hotels. John ran the "King's Head" in 1830 and the "George IV" both at Richmond, Mary had the "Victoria" in 1847. Their eldest son John had the "Woolpack Inn" at Richmond from 1833 to 1848. (Great-grandson John also ran the "Travellers Rest" at North Richmond from 1897) William married Mary Ann Durham in 1840 at St. Matthew's Church, Windsor and they produced four children. Andrew born 1840, William James born 1841, Maria Amelia Kate born 1842 and Mary Hale born 1845.
Andrew Town was born on the 7th March 1840 at Richmond and christened at St. Peter's Church Richmond on the 16th May. He was educated locally and by his late teens held four runs on the Liverpool Plains and in the Bligh district.[4] He married local girl Emma Susannah Onus on the 8th July 1863 at St. Peter's Church and lived on the site of his father's residence on the corner of Windsor & Paget Streets in Richmond. The two storey house was built in the 1860s and a single storey section was added later. This was Town's main residence and he also housed some of his horses in the stables at the rear. (These stables belonged to the Inn of an earlier period)[5] His father died in 1868 and Andrew inherited his sire Tarragon, the winner of the 1866 Australasian Champion Stakes at Flemington. Andrew was involved in many community groups, he was Windsor's Sheep Director 1873-1889, Director of Richmond Bridge Company, Trustee for St. Peter's Church and he was a Magistrate in the district from 1866.
As his horse breeding business expanded, Town purchased the Hobartville Estate in 1877 from the Cox estate. Sloper Cox (grandson of William Cox) died bankrupt on 24th September 1877 at Hobartville, aged 53 years and was at buried St. Peter's Cemetery Richmond.
Hobartville was purchased by William Cox junior in 1816 after leasing the estate from Lt. Atkins, son-in-law of Dr. Lutterell.[6] The adjoining property, James Blackman's 100 acre farm, was purchased from Blackman who was experiencing financial difficulties. The Blackman family later settled in Bathurst & Mudgee. By 1828 a Georgian two storey mansion was constructed at Hobartville, Richmond. Architect of Hobartville is unknown but it may have been William Cox senior who amongst other things built the road over the Blue Mtns, Windsor Court House & St. Matthew's Rectory or the famous architect Francis Greenway who designed St. Matthew's Church and the Court House in Windsor. The house was completed in 1828. Elizabeth Cox wrote the following in a letter dated 16th February 1828 :"...all the furniture required for the carpenters is to come from England and the paints. The carpenters are very busy. They have been working in the house these six weeks but it will take many months to finish off all as it should be done but I look forward to great comfort when it is completed if it pleases God to spare us to enjoy it...and a few months later...We are getting on rapidly with the new house. The carpenters are now finishing the cedar timber in the bedrooms; six are plaistered entirely and the rooms below are floored and the first coat of plaistering on them except the drawing room. [7]"
Town put a manager into the house at Hobartville. Colonel William H. Holborow MLC (Town's brother-in-law) occupied Hobartville house for a time. Holborow was a local shopkeeper and from 1874-1896 commanded 3rd Infantry Regiment.Town remained at his residence, "Town's House" corner Windsor & Paget Streets.[8] During the 1860-70s, Town's famous sires included Trenton, Grand Flaneur, Tarragon, Tim Whiffler, Sardonyx and Maribyrnong plus the famous mare Fawn. As well as breeding thoroughbred horses Town also imported some excellent horses which overall, improved Australian bred animals.
(Source : Hawkesbury City Council Library Service)
Yearly sales commenced under the oak trees at Hobartville. Special trains ran from Sydney. These events were extremely successful and were catered for with good food & drink. Ten yearlings between 1872 - 84 fetched nearly 13,000 guineas. 747 horses sold at Hobartville, valued at £95,000. Town also bred fine draught horses from about 1870 with stallions such as Matchless, General Clancy, Black Prince, Pride of Richmond and many others.[9] In 1880 Grand Flaneur won the Melbourne Cup, owned by Long MLC. Later purchased by Town for stud purposes. This champion is still the only undefeated cup winner. It sired other cup winners Bravo in 1889 & Patron in 1894. Town's racing colours were a red jacket and black cap and punters were very familiar with these colours during the 1860s to 1880s.
Andrew Town was a founding member of the Hawkesbury Race Club from 1872. From 1882 until 1889 he was Committee man for the Race Club and in 1888 to 1889 he was Chairman. He was also involved with the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association from its inception and President for a decade, 1879 to 1889. He was a Councillor of the Agricultural Society of NSW, Committee man and Judge for the Australian Jockey Club, Judge for Sydney Turf Club, Warwick Farm, Canterbury and Hawkesbury Race Clubs. Town was also instrumental in the introduction of trotting into Australia, and developed horse breeding and cattle methods. As well as breeding many types of horses and cattle, Town also bred Berkshire pigs and kept a dairy of one hundred and thirty five milking cows.
In 1879 the famous yearly sales commenced under the oak trees at Hobartville. Special trains ran from Sydney to Richmond. These were extremely successful and were catered for with good food and drink in a marquee set up in the grounds.The sports journalist "Milroy" who wrote for the Sydney Mail at the turn of the century, reported in 1905 that the only relics of that gorgeous era...was a collection of lunch crockery and glassware, enough to start a wholesale store.[10]
Legend has it that during the September 1879 flood, Andrew Town took the famous Tarragon upstairs for safety. Town imported Childe Harold in 1882 for £3935. This led to superior quality of early trotters and laid foundations for harness racing in Australia. Harold Park is named in honour of Childe Harold who was bred in Kentucky USA and raced all over the world. Town also had imported stallions Honesty and Van Cleve.Town would have had a trotting track set up at Hobartville to exercise the horses but there is no evidence of this today.[11]
During sales held at Hobartville throughout 1886, pedigreed thoroughbreds, trotters and draught stock realised over 13,000 guineas at sales during 1886. Town's final Thoroughbred Stock Sale took place at Hobartville on Wednesday 23rd January 1889 and approximately 100 thoroughbreds, trotting and draught stock were sold fetching 11,325 guineas.[12]
Unfortunately, Andrew Town became insolvent in 1889, although he is not listed in the Bankruptcy records for the Supreme Court. His final Thoroughbred Stock Sale took place at Hobartville on Wednesday 23rd January 1889. A special train left Redfern at 7.50am bringing about 500 visitors plus 300 local Hawkesbury residents, total attendance of 800, including Governor Rupert Carrington and Hon. James White. A large ring was pitched under the oaks...first class luncheon provided in a large marquee on the grounds adjacent, and refreshments of all kinds were freely distributed during the day. Mr T. S. Clibborn was the auctioneer and approximately 100 thoroughbreds, trotting and draught stock were sold fetching 11,325 guineas. It was not enough to get Town out of difficulty, and a notice was placed in the local newspaper stating:
All effects in and upon the properties at Hobartville, Clarendon, and Richmond and elsewhere ... belonging to Andrew Town Esquire have been seized and are now in the possession of the Hon. William Alexander Long and George Hill Esquires under or by virtue of certain mortgage and securities given by the said Andrew Town.[13]
The bad drought of 1888 which affected the whole pastoral industry and the beginning of the 1890s depression played a major role in Town's unfortunate downfall. Another article reported Town's financial misfortunes through drought and losses in squatting pursuits overtook him and he was stripped of everything, retiring from Richmond to Lady Robinsons Beach....[14] A Complimentary Race Meeting was held in his honour at Randwick on 4th January 1890, his friend, Lord Carrington the Governor of NSW, attended. A total of £1830 was given to Mrs Town.[15]
Andrew Town died 10th February 1890 from typhoid fever, aged 49 years at Lady Robinson's Beach where he was residing and was buried the following day at St. Peter's Cemetery, Richmond. At the time of his death his total assets were worth £91,233 whilst his debts amounted to £106,369. Of these debts £84,718 were owed upon the security of mortgages on various land, stock and property and £8,000 to the Station Manager Alexander Benson.[16] Due to the loss of this money Benson entered the Public Service in 1891 and was a postman in Richmond until his early death in 1906, aged 46 years.[17]
He was a renowned judge and breeder of racehorses, and stockhorses. His obituary states:
...he died of broken hearted...Mr Town was one of those men for whom everybody had something good to say...fine fellow, whose heart was too big for his body.
He apparently died of typhoid but it is said he was devastated by his failure and died of a broken heart. An obituary in the Bulletin stated if all men connected with horse racing were as straight and true as was Andrew Town the turf would indeed be the sport of Kings and not a mere spider's web.[18] The founder of the Windsor and Richmond Gazette newspaper wrote about Town, the Uncrowned King, in his reminiscences. He recorded Town was a fine breeder as well as a large scale farmer and advisor-in-chief and banker to a large clientele...a man of generous proportions, his heart was in the right place and as big as his frame. Later he paid the penalty, as many good men do, and when the crash came, many of his former friends, and many who had eaten of his salt and enjoyed his bounty, freely reviled him, quite forgetful of the good features which had marked his long and useful public and private career.[19]
Hobartville stud was disbanded at a Sale held on Thursday 29th May 1890. The sires fetched a total of 4360 guineas and the total sale realised 18,935 guineas. Mr W. R. Wilson paid 3000 guineas for Trenton; Mr H. Hill purchased Monmouth for 500 guineas; Hon. J. White bought White & Blue for 1070 guineas and Blue & White for 710 guineas. Penitent was purchased by J. Eales for 600 guineas.[20]
As a result of Town's insolvency, Hobartville other properties were seized by Hon. William Alexander Long and George Hill Esquires due mortgages and securities given by Town. Long also suffered financial difficulties in the 1890s depression and lost most of his considerable fortune.[21]
| [1] | Baxter (1987) General Musters of NSW, Norfolk Island & VDL p. 126 |
| [2] | Hardy (1985) Early Hawkesbury Settlers p.58; St. Matthew's Church of England, Windsor Marriage Register. |
| [3] | Returns of Manufactories, mills, machinery, mines & quarries in the District of Hawkesbury. AONSW Loc. 4/7267 |
| [4] | Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol. 6 p. 294 |
| [5] | Jack (1986) Exploring the Hawkesbury p. 146 |
| [6] | Primary Application no. 895/Lands Titles Office, Sydney |
| [7] | Piper Papers Vol. 2/Mitchell Library |
| [8] | BOWD 1973 p.125, Windsor & Richmond Gazette 20 June 1917 | [9] | Back to Richmond 1822-1922 pp. 19, 22; STEELE (1916,1975) Early Days of Windsor. p.202 |
| [10] | Back to Richmond 1822-1922 p. 19; Sydney Mail 1 February 1905 |
| [11] | AGNEW 1983 p. 27, JENKINS p.54 ; Back to Richmond 1822-1922 p. 2292 |
| [12] | BOWD 1973 p.125; Windsor & Richmond Gazette 19 January 1889 |
| [13] | Windsor & Richmond Gazette 19 January 1889, 19 October 1889 p.5 |
| [14] | Windsor & Richmond Gazette 19 October 1889 p.5 & 22 February 1890 |
| [15] | Windsor & Richmond Gazette 26 October 1889, 4 January 1890 |
| [16] | Deceased Estate Files no. 346. AONSW 20/17 |
| [17] | Windsor and Richmond Gazette 19 May 1906 |
| [18] | Bulletin 15 February 1890, Windsor & Richmond Gazette 22 February 1890 |
| [19] | Fitzpatrick (1923) Those were the days p.49 |
| [20] | Windsor & Richmond Gazette 31 May 1890 |
| [21] | Windsor & Richmond Gazette 19 October 1889 p.5 & ADB vol. 6 p. 100 |
This article was prepared as part of a
Conservation Plan on Hobartville
as an assignment for UWS-Nepean
by Michelle Nichols
No part of this can be reproduced without
permission from author 2002
Clipart is used with permission from J. O'Donovan' Old Fashioned ClipArt site
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