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On the 26th of January, 1788, the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove and the new British Colony was established.
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In March, 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip explored the Hawkesbury River, of which Berowra Creek and Cowan Creek are tributaries. At this time, the river was not named
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The County Of Cumberland, in which the area of Berowra was situated, was proclaimed a county on this day.
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Exact date unknown
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Hunter appears to have entered Berowra Creek on July 9, but he reached the area earlier.
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The first definite mention of the Berowra area, then called 'Perarra', appears on this day in the Sydney Gazette. Eight 'pheasants', probably Lyre Birds, had been shot at Perrara.
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On this day the Sydney Gazette describes the Hawkesbury River Flood. The article mentions large quantities of stock, grain, hay etc floating from Windsor down the River to Broken Bay and Pittwater. The refuse must have also floated past Berowra Creek.
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By 1816 timber getters were active in the Pennant Hills area. These timber getters accessed the upper reaches of Berowra Creek for water, and to cut timber. Shingle cutters were particularly active in the Berowra Creek area.
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In 1821 Joseph Craft Senior took up 20 acres of land at what is now Joe Crafts Creek. The name of his farm is ‘Primrose Hill’
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Thomas Edwards settles at Kangaroo Point. Others are also beginning to settle in Broken Bay and Pittwater
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The road was rough, windy and did not have many places to water stock. This would ultimately lead to the need for another road North - Peats Road, which ran past what was to become the Village of Berowra
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In May and June 1829, William Romaine Govett surveyed the area of Berowra Creek. He noted two ridges which could be explored, one of which now houses the village of Berowra, and also traced Berowra Creek to its source in the Castle Hill Area.
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On or before November 11, George Peat was promised land in the Berowra area, on the river, by Sir Ralph Darling
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The offer is for 50 acres on the East side of Berowra Creek. James Bellamy had applied for the grant, but there is no evidence he received it. It seems likely that George Murphy, who reputedly answered an advertisement on March 12, received this grant, and the advertisement which he answered was actually this one.
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Sarah Mathew, wife of surveyor Felton Mathew, becomes the first ‘tourist’ to the area. Her journal, “Her Majesty's Trees” The Journal of Sarah Mathew, is possibly the first time the area is called ‘Berowra Creek’. The exact date of her exploration is unknown, but it is likely to have occurred in March or April.
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George Murphy settles in Parish of Cowan. His property (50 acres) is bounded by Berowra Creek. He payed 15 pound, 12 shillings and sixpence for the property
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The Parish of Berowra is actually on other side of Berowra Creek to what would become the Village of Berowra. The Village of Berowra falls within the Parish of Cowan
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All four grants were on Mother Mars Creek and the rent on each was 1 peppercorn per year John Grace was granted 10 acres, purchased for 2 pounds, 10 shilling
Sarah Ferdinand (Granny Lewis) was the last full blood aboriginal land grant in the area. Her grant was 3 acres and cost 15 shillings.
John Hunter purchased 4 acres for 1 pound
James Byrne secured 5 acres for a purchase price of 1 pound -
On September 10 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser records that George Peat has applied for 50 acres at 5 shillings per acre
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George Peat secures a grant of 60 acres opposite Spectacle Island. His farm is to be called ‘Fairview Point’. This was the land promised to him on or before 11 November 1830 by Sir Ralph Darling
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Francis John King and Richard Wilkinson Robinson purchased 2 areas of land on this date. They secured 100 acres at Flatrock Point Hawkesbury River, Cowan for 150 pounds plus 1 farthing yearly rent and 35 acres at Fishermans Point on the Hawkesbury River, Cowan for 42 pound plus 1 farthing yearly rent
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George Sullivan secures a grant of 30 acres at Cowan. The purchase price is 43 pounds, 10 shillings and the yearly rent is 1 farthing.
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Edward Wilde's land grant is on Colo Creek, part of the Berowra Creek area. His grant is 50 acres and the purchase price is 77 pounds, 10 shillings. The yearly rent is 1 farthing.
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According to the advertisement of sale, boats will moor alongside your property and take your produce to Sydney for a 'mere trifle'.
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George Peat commences operating a punt at Kangaroo Point to carry people using the road North across the Hawkesbury River.
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The Sydney Morning Herald's column “Lower Hawkesbury” – shows that people were moving through the Berowra area, and mentions a first request by George Peat to construct a road to the punt he is preparing, for use in crossing the Hawkesbury River
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Peats Road was under construction between 1847 -1852 and caused great excitement. The road was to join Pearces Corner in Hornsby to Peats punt, operating on the Hawkesbury. The road was to offer an alternative, and better, route to Great North Road.
There was a report about the road in The Sydney Chronicle on November 25, 1847 -
The marriage took place 'behind the alter' at St Mary’s Cathedral, meaning Mary, a Catholic, was marrying a non-Catholic, the Protestant Nathaniel Wall. Mary became Mary Wall (Senior) and later settled in Berowra
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This land grant was on the Eastern side of Berowra Creek and Burton Crossland was the caretaker of this land.
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The advertisement was placed in The Empire
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This act also prohibited burning live oysters for lime. This act was to foster the establishment of commercial oyster cultivation practices during the 1870s, including on the Hawkesbury and Berowra Creek.
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The cricket match was held at Peats Bight on Mr Boulder’s land
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Nathaniel James was the son of Nathaniel John and Mary Wall (senior). Mary McCann became Mary Wall (junior)
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His grant is for 93 acres
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Mary Wall, wife of Nathaniel Wall who had taken up a grant in Asquith, attempted to secure a grant in Berowra. According to her 7th of June Rent Certificate the purchase was at first denied because she was a married woman separated from her husband. Later in the same year, the Married Woman’s Property Act allowed her to make a conditional purchase for the land.
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George Collingridge took up a land grant on Berowra Creek in this year, at the place now known as Collingridge Point. He was to later call himself 'The Hermit Of Berowra' and played an important role in the establishment of the region
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George Collingridge petitions Post Master General Department for postal service to Berowra via Hornsby
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George Collingridge submits petition to Department of Railways for railway platform at Berowra. His petition was successful.
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Edward Windybanks was working on the railway in the area when he saw Cowan Creek. He loved the area, and decided to 'move in'. He named the bay in which he settled Waratah Bay
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Click here to read an article about the opening The Railway Station had a timber waiting shed.
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In 1888 Collingridge submited a proposal to the Department of Public Works for a road from Berowra railway platform to what is now Berowra Waters. His petition was successful, but it would be years before the road was completed.
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