Castle Hill, New South Wales: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:18, 11 February 2005

Revision as of 14:27, 14 March 2005

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==History==

It is believed that the first European visitors to the district were [[Governor Phillip]] and a party of 21 from [[Parramatta]] who reached the Hills in April 1791. Their aim was to find new country for settlement and farming to feed the struggling [[Sydney]] colony.

Castle Hill was the site of a convict station in the early years of the colony of [[New South Wales]]. The majority of the convicts there were Irish, many having been transported for agitation against British rule. In 1804, the convicts rebelled in the [[Castle Hill Rebellion]] (also known as the 'Battle of Vinegar Hill'), overpowering their guards and marching on towards [[Parramatta]]. However, they were vastly outgunned and outnumbered by British troops, who massacred about twenty of them and then hanged several others.

Castle[[Governor HillKing]] wasbegan thea sitegovernment offarm athere convicton stationJuly in8 the1801, earlyreferring yearsto ofit theas colonyCastle ofHill [[Newon 1 SouthMarch Wales]]1802. The majority of the convicts therewho worked the farm were Irish, many having been transported for agitation against British rule. In 1804, the convicts rebelled in the [[Castle Hill Rebellion]] (also known as the 'Battle of Vinegar Hill'), overpowering their guards and marching on towards [[Parramatta]]. However, they were vastly outgunned and outnumbered by British troops, who massacred about twenty of them and then hanged several others.

In later years the area became filled with market gardens and especially orchards which supplied Sydney with fresh produce. However, as Sydney has expanded, the orchards have disappeared and been replaced with a sprawl of suburban dwellings, retail and commercial establishments and light industry. However, [[Baulkham Hills Shire]] Council commemorates the shire's former status as an orange-growing area with the Orange Blossom Festival each year.

In the past Castle Hill was serviced by a rail line to [[Parramatta]], to take the rural area's produce to the city. However, it was removed in the [[1950s]], due to competition with trucks and cars. This is now widely viewed as a mistake, and the NSW State Government has promised to construct a new subway line there from Epping. However, this must wait until the [[Parramatta Rail Link]] is completed, and the railway line is unlikely to be built until 2010-2015.

Although a precise explanation on why Castle Hill is named so may never be known, there are some possible suggestions.

*Some believe it have been named because of the fine views from the hills in the district.

*The first free settler in Castle Hill was Frenchman, [[Baron Verincourt de Clambe]], who received a grant of 200 acres in 1802. It has been suggested that de Clambe's house " The Hermitage" was commonly called 'The Castle' by locals, because of the Baron's noble status.

==Geography==