NORTH RICHMOND

A brief history

by

Michelle Nichols

North Richmond was originally known as the village of Enfield. It is marked on the Parish of Currency, County Cook maps. The name was changed at a later date during the 19^th century to avoid confusion with Enfield in Sydney's west. This interesting little township in the Hawkesbury has experienced many changes over the last 100 years.

The original inhabitants of the Hawkesbury district were known as the Darug tribe of aborigines, also known as the Dharug or Daruk. Their name for the Hawkesbury River was recorded as Deerubin and Venrubbin. Following European settlement of the eastern coast of Australia in 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip explored the Hawkesbury River by boat the following year. By the 6th July 1789, he travelled the length of the Hawkesbury River & climbed Richmond Hill. Phillip named the river Hawkesbury after the Lord Hawkesbury. Phillip reported in a despatch to England that: the soil of Richmond is good it lays well for cultivation...there is a flat of six or seven miles between Richmond Hill and a break in the mountains.^[1] By 1794 settlers were granted farms in Windsor along South Creek and the earliest grant in Richmond seems to be 1795, whilst the original grants at North Richmond along the river date from 1796. Some of the earlier grants are listed to Andrew Connelly, John Griffiths, Emanuel Perry, William Laine, John Ryan & George Mohun. In the early 1800s, larger grants were given to members of the Rouse, Bell & Bowman^[2] families.

Governor Lachlan Macquarie toured the settlement of NSW during 1810. On the 1st December Macquarie and his party travelled to Richmond Hill, the “Kurry Jung Brush"” and Richmond Terrace. They visited “Belmont” and he records in his journal: “…rode up the Hill to call on Mrs. Bell (the Wife of Lieut. Bell of the 102d Regt.) who resides on her Farm on the summit of this beautiful Hill, from which there is a very fine commanding Prospect of the River Hawkesbury and adjacent Country. We found Mrs. Bell and her Family at Home, and after sitting with them for about an hour, we again mounted our Horses to prosecute our Excursion, directing our course for the Kurry Jung Hill”. A few days later on the 6th December 1810, Macquarie named the townships of Windsor, Richmond, Castlereagh, Wilberforce & Pitt Town.^[3]

In 1804 George CALEY a plant collector for Joseph Banks travelled as far as Mount Banks and in 1813 Wentworth, Blaxland & Lawson successfully crossed the barrier of the Blue Mountains. In 1823 Archibald BELL (Junior) son of Archibald Bell of Belmont discovered an alternative route over the Blue Mountains^[4] which is known as Bells Line of Road. This launched an expansion of land holdings in the west and a constant flow of traffic through North Richmond to Sydney.

By 1813 a schoolhouse was constructed and was also used as a temporary chapel in Richmond and for the surrounding district. The church buildings in North Richmond included the Methodist Church which was established in 1857, although it seems there was an earlier building used for worship. It was known as the Enfield Chapel and Reverend Watkin took the opening service there on the 12 January 1857. He described the building as : "…a strong but plain structure large enough for the worshippers of the place and a great improvement on the former one". The land and building cost £259. Bishop Barker laid the foundation stone of St Philip's Church of England on the 23 May 1859. The land was donated by John Town. Services commenced in 21 July 1860 however it was not consecrated until the 12 November 1861. A schoolhouse was completed in 1861. The Burial ground was also consecrated in 1861. Services were held fortnightly . Other denominations in North Richmond (i.e. Catholic & Presbyterian) were serviced by churches in Richmond and Kurrajong districts. The Burial ground at St. Phillip's Church of England (Anglican) was consecrated in 1861. The cemetery in Bells Line of Road has a number of North Richmond pioneering families interred including the Clements, Douglass, Ezzy, Madden, Mitchell, Shepherd, Tierney & Wilson. The Bell family also have a vault on the site at Belmont Park on Grose Vale Road (private property) It records the death of Lt Archibald Bell who died in 1862, his wife and also granddaughter. A school was run by the Church of England in North Richmond in the 1860s. George Sanders was appointed there in 1867. He wrote that he put up with a miserable residence with a kind of Church for a School-house. Sanders & the community, agitated for a public school, and in 1871 the church school was abandoned and replace with the public school^[5]. There were other denominational and private schools at various times in Richmond & North Richmond including the school run by Thomas Williams who had been the constable for some years. It catered for small children. Thomas Sullivan was a shopkeeper and ran a school in both Richmond & Nth Richmond. Public education began in North Richmond with the opening of Richmond North Public School in June 1871.^[6]

The Hawkesbury River was crossed at North Richmond by a punt close to the site of the bridge today. Archibald Bell recommended a punt to ply over the river in 1821. Mrs Faithfull and George Matcham Pitt ran the ferry during the 19th century. Cattle swam across the river but the sheep were put on the punt. The punt held about 180 sheep and Alfred Smith recalls taking as many as 5000 across in one day.^[7]

During the 1850s various routes were considered for the proposed railway between Sydney and Bathurst, over the Blue Mountains. Two of the proposals considered routes via Richmond, i.e. the Grose River Valley & Kurrajong along Bells Line of Road to Mount Wilson. They were abandoned due to the high costs and the Penrith route was chosen. The railway line was extended from Blacktown to Richmond in 1864. During the 1880s the community proposed that the rail service be extended to Kurrajong. In 1924 the first sod was turned and the line was officially opened to Kurrajong on the 8th November 1926^[8]. There were several stations on the line including the unattended station located at North Richmond. There were also sidings where passengers could catch the train. The line ran at a loss and following flood damage and land slides the line was officially closed in 1952.

North Richmond Bridge in the 1930s
(Courtesy Hawkesbury City Council Library Service - 2256)

In 1857 the Richmond Bridge Company was formed to replace the current ferry over the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond with a bridge. A wooden bridge was built, the first over the Hawkesbury River and opened in 1860. The first toll charges were 1/4d for each sheep, lamb, pig or goat; 6d per horse and 2d per person. No tolls were charged on Sundays or for funeral parties. Continual floods weakened the bridge and a new bridge was planned in the early 1900s. Sir John See, the Premier of NSW turned the first sod in January 1904 and the new bridge opened to much pomp and ceremony. Construction costs were £18,663 and it was designed to attach a railway line^[9]. In 1926 additions took place to the bridge to allow the Richmond Kurrajong railway line access across the river.

Prior to the official appointment of Isaac Nichols as postmaster in 1810 the settlers made their own arrangements regarding the circulation of mail. A post office was established in Windsor in 1828 and mails were delivered three times per week from Windsor to Richmond. The mail also was delivered to John Town who had the Post Office. Charlie Eather ran the post office at his hotel during the 1850s. The mailman usually left his horse on the Richmond side, caught the ferry across. Mr Thompson and also Tom Cambridge both of Windsor delivered the mail in the mid 19^th century^[10].

Richmond's water supply was established in 1892 when a reservoir was built at North Richmond. Since 1892 North Richmond has had water reticulated.

Traveller's Rest, North Richmond
(Courtesy Hawkesbury City Council Library - 2671)

A hotel was established at North Richmond by the early 1830s. North Richmond was ideal for travellers and drovers with stock, waiting for the punt. The “Pack Horse” was established in the early 1830s and John Town built the “Woolpack” on the same site holding the license from 1830s to 1840s, the license later went to Richmond. (Town was the son of a convict and his son was the famous horse breeder, Andrew Town) The Enfield Inn was around in the 1840s and licensed to Daniel Dickens. Dickens is also recorded as having the Beehive Inn. In 1853 three licenses were held at North Richmond. The Traveller's Rest, (pictured below) on Bells Line of Road, licensed to Jane Cribb in 1874 and later to John T. Town 1897-9, member of the Town family. The Exchange is listed with Alexander Matheson in 1894. Laura Phipps was the last licensee when it closed in 1913. The Riverview was established in the late 1920s — early 1930s.^[11]

During the 19^th century there have been numerous stores established in North Richmond. Alfred Smith recalls many of the local identities and storekeepers of the past. A Mr Low had a store on the site of the Police Station. Mr Ducker and later his son John, also kept a store in North Richmond. Mr Winter established a shop. The post office was situated there for many years. Mr Winter also butchered and provided meat at the store. Thomas Sullivan also ran a store and school in Nth Richmond & Richmond.^[12]

It was recommended following a parliamentary enquiry that mounted military police be stationed at North Richmond in 1847. The magistrates in Windsor had previously given constables living in the North Richmond district certain responsibilities. Some of these early constables included Edward Merrick, Fred Williams & William Grainger. In 1891 a police station was established in an old cottage on Bells Line of Road. In 1910 a new police station building including a lock up, was approved and constructed at North Richmond. The station was closed in 1933 and the building was rented out as accommodation to various policemen.^[13]

Several significant heritage items have survived in North Richmond including Sunnyside, the home of George Matcham Pitt & family, the Former Police Station, St. Phillip's Anglican Church & Cemetery as well as a number of cottages. Belmont originally the site of Archibald Bell's property had various owners including Henry Newcomen. It was purchased by Philip Charley in 1889 and he built the extravagant mansion also known as Belmont. It cost £56,000 to build. The Duke of Windsor stayed there as a guest in 1927. In 1951 Belmont was purchased as a hospital and is now known as St. John of God. For a full list see Hawkesbury City Council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP) Heritage listings.

Reprinted with permission from the author from the Hawkesbury Historical Society Newsletter ~ October 2003 (No.56)pp.3-4

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