The City of Campbelltown is located in the Macarthur
region of south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 42 kilometres (26 miles) south-west of the Sydney central business district.
Dharawal People
The Dharawal people moved about a wide area of land which included Campbelltown, before the arrival of the British. Living in family clans and surviving as
hunter–fisher–gatherers, the Dharawal people expressed themselves with rock engravings, charcoal and ochre paintings and hand stencils on many sandstone rock surfaces. One of the historic national treasures left by an unknown Dharawal artist is a picture of a bull, which can be found at
Bull Cave near Campbelltown.
Dharawal men often had two or more wives, an older wife and later, a younger one, with wives chosen as babies following a kinship system.
In 1770, Joseph Banks observed the Aboriginal shelters at Botany Bay were "small, rounded and domed huts made with a framework of bent saplings
set in the ground and covered with cabbage leaves and pieces of bark."
Both Dharawal men and women decorated their bodies, with scars on their back, abdomen and upper arms. A kangaroo leg bone pierced the nasal septum and women would have most of their little finger of their left hand removed. Read about the Dharawal people
here
 |
| Photo 1. Aboriginal man making a canoe Photo 2. Using the canoe, Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 24 October 1924 |
 |
| Aboriginal woman, photo cropped. Circa 1872 |
Bull Cave
This painting below by an unknown Dharawal
artist is very relevant to the story of the British settlement of the
Campbelltown region and the encounters between the Aboriginal people and the
newly introduced livestock, belonging to the British, which were the
first European inhabitants of the Campbelltown area.
Four
cows and two bulls had come out to the colony with the convict ships in
1788, but they had wandered away and although search parties were sent
out, not a trace of the animals were found.
 |
| The Bull Cave at Kentlyn, NSW. An unknown Dharawal artist used charcoal to draw a picture of a bull on a bush cave wall near Campbelltown, sometime after 1788 |
Some years later in 1795, John Hunter was leading an expedition near the area, which would later become Menangle and Camden and came upon a large herd of "wild cattle" contentedly grazing. The escaped cattle had multiplied their numbers, and as a result, this area of land became known as the "Cow Pastures". The Dharawal people had never seen any animal resembling these beasts before and this motivated the drawing on the wall of the cave. Sadly, vandals have tried to destroy this important relic of Australian history.
Corroborees were still held at Camden Park and Denham Court even after the 1850s.
John Warby
In 1803, John Warby was appointed Government Herdsman at cow pastures to protect the cattle. He built Leumeah House, called "Cowpasture hut", and a barn and stables on his 105ha land grant in June 1816. The
house was demolished in 1963, but the barn and stables remain.
 |
| John Warby, Government Stockman. The cottage was built in 1816, near Campbelltown, NSW, Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 7 June 1941 |
 |
| Warby's Barn; before conversion to flats, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Warbys Barn, built about 1816, Campbelltown, NSW, Heritage Office |
John Macarthur
John Macarthur was granted 5000 acres of land in 1805 and he chose the Cowpastures site, the best land in the Colony, which he named "Camden". And so, began the merino wool industry. The sheep station and
experimental farm were highly acclaimed. However, the house which commenced construction in 1832, was completed in 1835, a year after John Macarthur's death.
 |
| Portrait of John Macarthur, wool pioneer in Australia |
St Johns Anglican Church Precinct, which includes the church and church
grounds, the cemetery, the Rectory and Stables, and church hall, was built from 1840-1850, at the direction of the Macarthur family.
In 1826, 14 female convicts were sent to Camden Park to become dairymaids at Number 1 dairy.
 |
| Built in 1835, Camden Park, Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955), Friday 27 November 1953 |
Governor Macquarie
In 1810 Governor Macquarie visited the Cowpastures and observed that the number of cattle was around four to five thousand.
 |
| Governor Macquarie from original painting Court House Windsor, NSW |
Settlers and Convicts
From the 1790s, much to the horror of the local Aboriginal people, settlers moved into the Campbelltown area, leading to land feuds between the Aboriginal people and the settlers. In response, Governor Lachlan Macquarie dispatched three regiments, led by Captain James Wallis, to “rid the land of troublesome blacks.” The
Appin massacre occurred in the early hours of the morning of 17 April 1816, when about 14 men, women and children, were forced over a cliff, to their deaths.
 |
| Appin Massacre Memorial Plaque |
Along the Road
The Road from Sydney through Liverpool to Campbelltown, in 1818, was poor with many hills. The Southern Road and the old Cowpasture Road, were alternatives routes, however.
The main road that ran through Campbelltown was named High Street and later renamed Queen Street. Interestingly, one side of the street was not within the town boundary, while the other was.
Joseph Phelps received a grant for land surrounding Queen St in 1816. However, Phelps was in debt, and his land was seized by the Provost Marshal, William Gore, and auctioned off to William Bradbury, for £100, along with the twelve cattle and the grain from the crop growing on the land.
James Meehan
Sent to Australia at the age of 25, as a convict, for joining the Society of United Irishmen, James Meehan, was a school teacher and surveyor. He arrived in Sydney in February 1800 on the convict ship "Friendship", but due to his surveying skills, was soon assigned to the Surveyor-General of the colony, where he proved himself to be competent and diligent.
By 1806, Meehan had been conditionally pardoned and in October 1816, Governor Macquarie issued a grant for "Macquariefield". In 1820 Governor Macquarie required Meehan to live in Sydney and carry out his surveying role. Meehan then leased his house and garden to the governor for use by the Rev. Thomas Reddall, which was used as a private school for 18 months.
Meehan accompanied Dr Charles Throsby and Hamilton Hume on explorations in 1818, to Paddy's River, in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
Three well known colonial personages are associated with Macquarie Field House. The first, James Meehan, who
received the original land grant. After this, the property was owned by Samuel Terry, ex-convict, "Botany Bay millionaire", bought for his daughter and her husband John Hosking, the first elected Mayor of Sydney.
Meehan's farmhouse was demolished in 1958.
 |
| "Meehan's Castle", Macquarie Fields, NSW, Catholic Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1942 - 1954), Thursday 13 November 1952 |
 |
| The sandstone Regency dwelling, Macquarie Field House, built circa1838-40 by Samuel Terry |
A Macquarie Town
In 1820, Governor Lachlan Macquarie named the area "The District of Campbelltown and Airds", naming it after his wife's family and estates in Scotland. Agriculture was thriving in the area, particularly sheep farming, for wool and mutton; however, to advance the town's prospects further, land was allocated for a church and a school. For the Dharawal people, however, their reality was one of dispossession and the loss of food sources.
Hamilton Hume
In 1821, Hamilton Hume explored the
Yass Plains. Then in 1822, accompanied by Alexander Berry, Hume investigated the upper reaches of the Clyde River, as far as
Braidwood. Hume received a grant of 300 acres, located near his father's property, not far from Appin, which he called "Brookdale".
The Hume and Hovell Monument is situated approximately 5 minutes drive along Appin Road towards Campbelltown. It utilises stonework from the demolished house of "Brookdale".
 |
| Hamilton Hume, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Saturday 3 August 1901 |
Bradbury Park House
In 1822 Governor Macquarie ate a "hearty" breakfast at "Bradbury's", which may have been the inn later known as the Royal Oak. Macquarie declared that the inn was a "very pretty eminence immediately adjoining Campbelltown". In 1826, Bradbury Park House was considered by William Dumaresq, inspector of roads and bridges, as the best building in Campbelltown.
 |
| Camden News (NSW : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 21 March 1918 |
St Peter's Anglican Church
St Peter's Anglican Church is believed to be the oldest building in Campbelltown. It was designed and built by Francis Lawless and opened in 1823.
In 1823, Campbelltown hadn't progressed much. It had the church, a school, and a few bark huts. It wasn't until 1827 that Robert Hoddle, the Government Surveyor would draw up a plan for the town. However, later, when growth exploded,
much of the plan was ignored.
In 1824, 216 people were recorded as living at Campbelltown. About half were unskilled labourers and a quarter were tradespeople like painters, stonemasons and bookmakers. There was a baker, two butchers, two publicans and a storekeeper.
 |
| St Peter's Church Campbelltown, NSW, in 1907, built 1823 |
St John's Roman Catholic Church
The foundation stone of St John's Roman Catholic Church at Campbelltown was laid 12 December 1824, completed in 1841. Earliest grave in cemetery 1827. With James Bourke providing the gift of two hectares (five acres) of land for a chapel, schoolhouse and burial ground. Unfortunately, the church has suffered from unsympathetic extensions.
 |
| St John's Catholic Church and Cemetery, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia. Church commenced 1824, finished 1841. Earliest grave in cemetery 1827. An unused coloured postcard of of a church. Josef Lebovic Gallery collection no. 1 Apply Josef Lebovic Gallery collection no. 1 filter, NMA |
A Haunting Tale
The murder of Frederick Fisher is a sinister story of the area, one that involves Australia's most famous ghost. On 17 June 1826, a settler, Frederick Fisher disappeared and his friend and neighbour, George Worrall, claimed that Fisher had returned to England, but giving Worrall power of attorney over his property and general affairs.
Four months later a local man named John Farley ran into a hotel in the area and claimed, in great agitation that the ghost of Fred Fisher was sitting on the rail of a nearby bridge, and pointing his finger at the paddock, that lay beyond the creek. When the police searched the area, they found Frederick Fisher's body buried by the side of a creek. George Worrall was arrested and he confessed to the crime, for which he did hang. Each November since 1956 the Festival of Fisher's Ghost takes place in Campbelltown.
 |
| World's News (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 1955), Wednesday 9 December 1931 |
 |
| The famous ghost of Campbelltown, NSW, Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Saturday 21 January 1933 |
 |
| Emily Cottage, at 1 Old Menangle Rd, Campbelltown, NSW, built 1840s, is right next to the bridge where Fisher's ghost is said to have appeared. This building may have been built as early as the 1820, is believed to have been a toll-house. |
 |
| Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 23 September 1826 |
Moving Along
The first postmaster of Campbelltown was John Scarr appointed in 1828. A police superintendent and doctor also commenced in the same year.
The Wingecarribee district post office opened at Bong Bong in 1829 and a mail coach began travelling the Southern Road to and from Campbelltown.
 |
| An authentic Cobb and Co. coach, Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Sunday 2 July 1933 |
 |
| Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1839 - 1843), Saturday 2 January 1841 |
St. David's Presbyterian Church
The St. David's Presbyterian Church, was built about 1840, to a design by James Hume. The land for the Presbyterian Cemetery was given to St. David's Presbyterian Church by Alexander McDonald, most likely in the 1830s. McDonald's two children, Jane and William, are the earliest deaths shown on a monument in the cemetery.
 |
| St. David's Presbyterian Church, Campbelltown, NSW, built about 1840 |
Windmills
By 1830 three windmills operating in the area. One at Denham Court estate, owed by Richard Brooks, which had ceased operation by the end of the decade. John Coghill at Kirkham grew wheat and maize, which was processed on-site in a mill erected in 1828. The other windmill and a horse mill were operated by William Mannix. A numbers of windmills were built on Mount Giliad near Campbelltown. The first, a flour mill, was built by Thomas Rose in 1834.
 |
| Mont Gilead, near Campbelltown, NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 15 December 1920 |
 |
| The first cottage at Gilead, NSW, may date from 1812 when Reuben Uther received the land grant. Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 5 March 1919 |
The Campbelltown Court of Petty Sessions was established on 30 September 1832.
Campbelltown Gaol
Thomas Hammond was awarded a contract to convert Cooper's public house into a courthouse and gaol, in November 1826. However, by 1833, the gaol was very overcrowded but no improvements were made and the gaol closed at the end of 1843. The basement of the courthouse continued to serve as the local police lock-up.
The Forbes Hotel was then erected in 1827 by Daniel Cooper.
Mad Dog Morgan
 |
| Bushranger Mad Dog Morgan |
Dan Morgan, born with the name John Fuller, was an Australian bushranger. He was regarded as "the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush in Australia" and was nicknamed "Mad Dog". He was born at Appin, in the Campbelltown district, on 30 April 1830.
Beulah
"Beulah" is a heritage-listed farm, which was built around 1835-1836, by an emancipated Irish convict named Boland. The farmhouse was built on land promised to another emancipated Irish convict, named Bryan, who was pardoned. Bryan returned to Ireland leaving the property in the control of Boland and Thomas Connell, one of Bryan’s shipmates on the
Atlas 2, on which he was transported.
 |
| Beulah, is located on Appin Road south of Campbelltown |
James Ruse
James Ruse died at Campbelltown on 5 September 1837. Ruse, a Cornish farmer, was transported to Australia, sentenced to seven years', at the age of 23, on the First Fleet. Ruse became the first person in NSW to receive a land grant, at Ruse Hill (now Rose Hill near Parramatta), in an attempt by the colony to
become self-sufficient, from farming.
 |
| James Ruse's grave at St. John's Roman Catholic Cemetery at Campbelltown, NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 24 February 1932 |
St Patrick's Catholic College
St Patrick's Catholic College, established in 1840, was the first school built by private enterprise in the colony of New South Wales. The Catholic Church acquired the land from Mary Shiels on which the building was built. "Quondong" was the first Catholic school building.
 |
| Quondong started out as St Patrick's Catholic School, Campbelltown, NSW, built 1840 |
Glenalvon House
Glenalvon House and farm belonged to Michael Byrne, a publican. The homestead in the Victorian Georgian style was built in 1840.
 |
| Glenalvon House, Campbelltown, NSW, circa 1840 |
The Alpha Hotel
Originally the Patrick's Hotel, later called Alpha House, was built in 1842 by Anne Byrne.
 |
| Alpha House built as an inn in 1842, Campbelltown, NSW, Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Sunday 28 April 1935 |
Old Kendal Mill House
The Old Kendal Mill house on Queen Street, built In 1843, is located on land which was granted to James Phelps in 1816. Lawrence Kendall and William Orr purchased this land and built the mill next-to the creek. Interestingly, Kendall was the uncle of poet Henry Kendall.
 |
| Kendall's Mill later to become Bocking's Mill and Fisher's Ghost Restaurant, Queens St, Campbelltown, NSW, Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 7 September 1940 |
 |
| Former Kendall’s Mill House, at the southern end of Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW and a street in Campbelltown, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 24 February 1923, page 62 |
Historic Inn
The Old Farrier’s Arms Inn was built about 1850 and is located in Queen Street.
Fieldhouse Store
Edwin and William Hallett opened the Fieldhouse Store in 1853, which still stands in Queen Street.
Their father, George Fieldhouse, followed his father, a convict, to NSW in 1828 and he opened the Jolly Miller Inn, opposite Kendall’s Mill, in Queen Street.
Railway Arrives
Campbelltown Railway Station opened on 17 May 1858. People could now travel by rail to Sydney CBD.
 |
| Campbelltown Railway Station, no date, NSW State Archives |
Temperance Hall and Town Hall
Temperance Hall in Queen Street was built by James Bocking and his "Sons of Temperance" in 1862. It was bought by the Council in 1884 for the sum of £800.
 |
| Sons of Temperance buildings 1862 and later became Campbelltown, NSW, Town Hall |
First Bank
The Commercial Banking Company (CBC) of Sydney opened its first Campbelltown office in McGuannes House at 286 Queen Street in 1874, Campbelltown's first bank.
 |
| McGuannes House at 286 Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW, former CBC Bank |
Mt Gilead
Not far from Campbelltown, the historic windmill at the Mt Gilead property on Appin Road was built by convict labour for Thomas Rose in 1836. The mill tower, which is
built from sandstone quarried on the property, is 60 feet in height, with four stories.
The mill tower is located at the top of Mount Gilead, with the homestead and associated buildings located a short way down the slope in the Loudon model of colonial estate planning. The homestead, outbuildings, former stable/store, granary and mill tower, are all constructed of sandstone. The land was originally granted to Reuben Uther in 1812. He sold the land to Thomas Rose in 1818 and Rose sold Mount Gilead in 1864; eventually, it was owned by Edward Hume Woodhouse.
Rust disease in the wheat was to seriously impact wheat growing in Campbelltown in 1877.
 |
| Historic windmill at the Mt Gilead , NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 15 December 1920 |
2nd Courthouse
Campbelltown's second court house was built on the same site as the first courthouse in 1888.
 |
| Campbelltown Courthouse, NSW, built 1888, Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 27 November 1953 |
1890s
 |
| Queen St, Campbelltown, NSW, 1893, wikipedia.org |
The Campbelltown Agricultural Show began in 1899.
On The Phone
 |
| South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 - 1954), Saturday 11 February 1905 |
|
| Queen Street, Campbelltown in 1910. National Library of Australia |
War and Patriotism
 |
| Campbelltown patriot Carnival, NSW, Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 1 December 1917 |
 |
| A successful Patriotic Garnival, in aid of the Soldiers' Fund and the Red Cross Fund, juvenile nurses, Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 1 December 1917 |
 |
| Christmas gifts from Campbelltown, For the boys at the front. Campbelltown has a good record of war work, .Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 31 October 1917 |
 |
| Mirror of Australia (Sydney, NSW : 1915 - 1917), Saturday 24 February 1917 |
Soldiers Settlement
After WWI, the government instituted the Soldier Settlement Scheme to settle returned soldiers on the land. Shamefully, land was awarded to white servicemen, but not to Indigenous Australians.
The dairy farm “Cransley”, owned by Mr Thomas Houghton was purchased by the government for the purpose.
 |
| Campbelltown Soldiers' Settlement Estate -main street of the settlement, circa 1921, NSW State Archives |
1920s
 |
| Campbelltown celebrates its centenary, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 8 December 1920 |
 |
| Campbelltown celebrates its centenary, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 8 December 1920 |
1930s
 |
| NSW Scottish Regiment of the 30th Battalion and the Eighth Infantry Brigade of the First Division preparing for battle manoeuvres near Campbelltown, circa 1936, NSW State Archives |
 |
| The family home of Mr and Mrs J Yates, called "Beverley Park" (opposite Campbelltown High School) was donated to the Crippled Children's Society in 1938. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 31 October 1938 |
 |
| Troops of the I8lh and 30th battalions, in camp at Campbelllown, suspended their manoeuvres this afternoon to fight bush and grass firesSun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Thursday 5 November 1936 |
1940s
 |
| 10,000 Trainees In Camp BIGGEST CALL-UP About 10,000 men called up for compulsory military training in New South Wales (At Ingleburn) went into camp yesterday — in the rain.Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Thursday 2 October 1941 |
 |
| Campbelltown procession railway float, Campbelltown, Dated: 22/04/1949, NSW State Archives |
 |
| Camden News (NSW : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 4 September 1941 |
1950s
 |
| Queen St, Campbelltown, NSW. Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 27 November 1953 |
 |
| WELCOME break for tea in the hot jobof loading oaten hay sheaves on theproperty of Mr. Norman Percival (holding mug of tea), at Appin, near Campbelltown. Mr. Percival's oat-crop was the best in the district, although grown on land cultivated twice a year for 40 years. Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 11 December 1953 |
 |
| Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), Wednesday 2 April 1958 |
 |
| Suburban nation, Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), Sunday 7 September 1952 |
1960s
 |
| Opening of the electric railway at Campbelltown Railway Station. Dated: 04/05/1968, NSW State Archives |
 |
| Campbelltown Railway Station in 1962. State Library of NSW |
1970s
In 2011 the population of Campbelltown was 145,967.
Around Campbelltown
 |
| Coaching House, dating to the 1840s, a pair of two-storey townhouses, separated by a wide coach drive off Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| The Stables and Store is believed to be designed by convict architect Francis Greenway in the 1830s, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| The Windmill Hill Group, including Ruins, comprises of early to mid nineteenth century farm buildings, mostly in ruins, built on John Trotter's original grant. Edward Larkin, arrived in Sydney in 1837. He built his windmill on the property in 1846, operating it for close to 25 years. Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Campbelltown Court House. Circa 1886, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Mount Gilead Farm and Homestead. The windmill was built by Thomas Rose in 1836 so that grain could be milled locally, Campbelltown, NSW |
Dredges_Cottage_Campbelltown.jpg) |
| Dredges Cottage. 303 Queen Street Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| St Peter's Church Parsonage (1887), Cordeaux Street |
 |
| Glenalvon (1840), Lithgow Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Richmond Villa (1840), Lithgow Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Campbelltown Post Office, NSW. Circa 1881 |
 |
| Former Fieldhouse's General Store (1850s), Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Old St John's Church (1825-41) and Cemetery, George Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| McGuanne House (1840s), Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Legacy House (circa 1845), Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Heritage building, former bank, Circa 1874-1881, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Farrier's Arms (circa 1826), Queen Street, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Quondong Cottage (Formerly St Patrick’s School ) Campbeltown, NSW |
 |
| Coaching House. Circa 1840s, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| Lochend House. Circa 1842, the home of Charles James Fox Campbell, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| James Ruse and his wife Elizabeth are buried in St John's Catholic Cemetery. The suburb of Ruse, located in the city of Campbelltown, is named in the honour of "Australia’s first farmer", James Ruse. Ruse is also known as the Father of Australia's wheat industry, Campbelltown, NSW |
 |
| St Davids Church manse, Campbelltown, NSW |
Things To Do and Places To Go
Books To Read
In Her Own Words: The Writings of Elizabeth Macquarie, by Robin Walsh
Elizabeth Henrietta Macquarie, the Scottish-born second wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, during the years from 1810 and 1821. The love and devotion of this couple allowed them to survive loss and the harsh sphere as they worked to build the foundation of early colonial Australia.
Kate Gadsby's book Convicts, Capitalists and Corruption (2021)
