Has History Missed James Smith?

Brooklyn: A Great Hawkesbury Town.

> Brooklyn is on Sydney’s northern edge, but is totally different to the rest of the city.It is a small isolated settlement on the Hawkesbury River. Arriving by train is like stepping back 100 years. > > The Hawkesbury itself is somewhat ignored by Sydney residents, but it was described by a British traveller in 1873 as having scenery superior to that of the Rhine!! > > Brooklyn was featured on the original 5 Pound note from 1913 to 1932. This was because of its connection with the Federation of the Australian Colonies. > > To top it all off , it has the grave of Robert Buie which records that as a Lewis Gunner he was responsible for shooting down the ‘Red Baron ‘ on the 21st April , 1918. Not too many places could top that.

The Greenway

An historic goods railway corridor becomes a link between the Parramatta and Cooks River. If I had to choose only two words to describe The Greenway, then they would be “accessible” and “history”. It is only a bit under 6kms long and is beside the light rail, so any level of capacity can be accommodated. There are also some playgrounds along the way. You can walk the lot, walk there and back, or 1km and then take the light rail. It also gives us access to parts of Sydney we may otherwise never visit. The rail line itself is an integral part of transport history as are the businesses which sprung up along it. It is pretty flat and an ideal spot for an amble.

Bloodworth and his bricks

James Bloodworth, like James Smith, was an early arrival in Sydney Town. The similarity ends there, however, as Smith's time was not successful, but Bloodworth was a stunning success. In many ways, he was critical to the survival of the infant settlement. Born on 7-3-1759, he was convicted in October 1785 of the dreadful crime of stealing a game cock and two hens! He left England on the “ Charlotte “ on 13-5-1787. Such was his worth to the colony that by 1-9-179,1 he was appointed Superintendent of Brick Makers and Layers. He died at the age of 45 on 21-3-1804 . Governor Philip Gidley King accorded him an early form of a State Funeral. Not a bad effort. Arrives as a convict and 16 years later has a State Funeral.

Has History Missed James Smith?

At 47 years of age , James Smith paid his fare for a passage to Botany Bay with the First Fleet. The arrangement was made with Captain Sever of the Lady Penrhyn. The Captain did not consult with Captain Arthur Philip about the arrangement. Philip found out about Smith when the Fleet were all together in Cape Town. He was furious as it was outside the instructions he had been given. In the end result, Smith was allowed to stay in the colony which he did until he left on HMS Gorgon in 1791. Smith was eccentric and elusive, but he was still either the first free settler or the first paying tourist. Either way he should be recognised as such.

Not a Convenient Drain - The Cooks River

Abused, Ignored and avoided were apt descriptions of the Cooks River over the years from 1788 to the mid 1970’s. It started as a Arcadian Wonderland, but industrial, chemical and plastic pollution, together with urbanisation, almost destroyed it. But the river won through and now has a delightful pathway following it for most of its course. A delightful spot to amble!