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FIRST ALLOTMENTS SOLD IN MUSWELLBROOK 1834 - 35....... George Forbes 26 August 1834 12 roods Henry Nowlan 8 April 1835 22 roods Henry Nowlan 8 April 1835 32 roods Henry Nowlan; 8 April 1835 42 roods George Forbes; 8 April 1835 52 roods J.W. Evans 8 April 1835 62 roods Henry Nowland 8 April 1835 72 roods Henry Nowland 8 April 1835 82 roods J.T. Hughes 13 December 1835 92 roods J.T. Hughes; 13 December 1835 102 roods Francis Mitchell 13 December 1835 112 roods Francis Mitchell 13 December 1835 122 roods E.D. Lee 31 August 18351 32 roods J.R. Hatfield 31 August 18351 42 roods E.D. Lee 31 August 18351 52 roods J.R. Hatfield 31 August 18351 62 roods Samuel Wright 18 June 18351 72 roods Samuel Wright 18 June 18351 82 roods George Forbes 7 February 1835 192 roods Samuel Wright 26 August 1834*(first two blocks sold in 1834)202 roods James Mudie 6 November 1835 12 roods Ed. Davis & Joseph Spears 30 November 1835 52 roods A.B. Spark 6 November 1835 62 roods Richard Clarke; 6 November 1835 12 roods K.R. Reuben 3 October 1835 92 roods K.R. Reuben; 3 October 18351 02 roods George Bowman; 31 August 1835 112 roods George Bowman 31 August 1835 122 roods J.K. McDougall; 8 May 1835 12 roods J.K. McDougall 8 may 1835 22 roods C.W. Roemer 6 November 1835 182 roods J.J. Peacock 3 October 1835 102 roods C.W. Roemer; 8 May 1835 192 roods Thomas Roper 20 April 1835 202 roods H.R. Reuben 3 October 1835 112 roods; MUSWELLBROOK YEAR BY YEAR 1827 - The earliest reference to the name Muscle Creek in The Australian 14 February 1827 1831 - Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell's expedition passed through Muswellbrook in November 1831 1831 - Rev. Wilton, Chaplain of Newcastle made frequent visits to the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook area 1833 - On 5th August Surveyor Robert Dixon was instructed to prepare a field plan for the village reserve set up at the junction of Muscle Creek and the Hunter River 1834 - The first town blocks were offered for sale on 26th August 1834 1835 - Second auction in June 1836 - 1839 - A great drought, leading up to the 1839 - 40 depression 1837 - A coach began running between Darlington, Muswellbrook and Invermein Rev. Rusden of Maitland visited Muswellbrook for services The first Post Office opened in a store in the main street, Bridge Street. Richard Dangar the first Postmaster 1838 - Court House established. Magistrate Edward Denny Day; 1839 - Meeting held at the Post Office on 10th June to discuss building a Church of England and parsonage; Henry Pierce established a saddler and harness maker business 1839-40 The beginning of the Depression. Farmers began boiling down cattle and sheep and sale of tallow became important source of money 1840 - The first School House was built The Benevolent Society established A Court House was erected and Presbyterian services were held there prior to the building of St. John's Church The Jewboy Gang passed through Muswellbrook On 30th December Francis Allman was appointed Police Magistrate 1841 A steam flour mill established by George Chivers Death of Sir Francis Forbes of Skellator 1842 Township of Forbes town laid out on the south side of Muscle Creek by Sir Francis Forbes two sons Francis and David. This town did not eventuate; Mr. Stanley completed building of a mansion house with shops for a butcher, chandler and barber; A bridge across Stanley Creek (Possum Gully) gave rise to the name Bridge Street 1843 Old St. Alban's Church of England was built on the banks of Possum Gully during the incumbency of Rev. William Gore. The church was built by Captain Scott of Bengalla with his own convict labourer and workmen A site for a Presbyterian church, manse and school selected and approved. Citizens associated with the building of the church were Messrs George Bowman, John Hudson Keys, Thomas Simpson Hall, Ebenezer Hall and Donald Macintyre. Rev. Irving Hetherington of Singleton was the minister in charge 1844 George Chiver's steam flour mill converted to a clothing factory where colonial tweeds and woollen goods were for sale 1845 A Temperance Society was established The Church of England of St. Alban's consecrated by Bishop Broughton of Newcastle 1847 The Mitchell Line was abandoned by coaches in favour of the new road to Singleton 1848 Bishop Tyrrell visited the town on horseback; the first mail contract issued to Thomas Dangar Rev. Richard George Boodle arrived in MuswellbrookJoseph Chivers established the Muswellbrook Woolwashing and Fellmonger business 1849 Meeting of the Magistrates, Clergy and Gentry held at the Court House to establish Benevolent Society 1850 Rev. John Dunmore Lang visited Muswellbrook and preached in the brick Presbyterian Church on 10th November. » Online Calls for a new lockup - A new lock up was needed as all prisoners from the northern district on route to Maitland gaol had to be confined in the old wooden building used since police were first stationed in the district. 1851 Completion of the Court House - Designed by late Colonial Architect. 3 rooms, the middle one sufficiently large to hold Quarter Sessions; Ornamental stone at the front. Contractor Henry Nowland Rev. Boodle provided a substantial feast for the children of the St. Alban's Episcopal school on the occasion of the annual exams. A pleasant day, the loud laughter and hearty calls ringing through the quiet parsonage grounds until sunset when all departed 1852 Death of Captain Samuel Wright; Muswellbrook Cloth Factory and Flour Mill sold - a brick building 93ft long x 23 ft wide. 1853 Chiver's Flour Mill purchased by John Portus Denman township established on the village reserved and gazetted as a town. Named for Judge Denman, grand uncle of Lord Denman who was to become the fifth Governor General of Australia from 1911 - 1914 1854 Chiver's Flour Mill purchased by Joseph and Alfred Denison 1855 The Great Northern Railway line for the Hunter Valley commenced from Newcastle 1856 Soap and candle manufacturers established in Lower Brook Street 1857 The Great Northern Railway line reached Maitland; A mechanics Institute established in Muswellbrook; The first hospital set up in an old stone building which the Muswellbrook Benevolent Society purchased from Joseph Ashburn A great flood occurred. Excerpt from The History of Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook Shire Council; The Maitland Mercury; The Sydney Herald; The Sydney Gazette MUSWELLBROOK RESIDENTS 1830's - 1840's Agnew, Edward, Clerk of Petty Sessions Allman, Francis, Police Magistrate Baxter, B Beames, Robert, Storekeeper, Postmaster Blaxland, George, Land owner Boodle, Rev. Richard Bowlan, Thomas, Constable Bradshaw, Lloyd, Poundkeeper Brown, James, Constable Burgall, George, Eating house and store Burley, George, Constable Butler, Henry C, Magistrate Campbell, John, Chief Constable Carpenter, John Innkeeper Chivers, Joseph Store owner Connor, Peter Constable Cox, John Hobart Land owner Dangar, Richard Postmaster Dawe, Peter Emancipist Day, Edward Denny Police Magistrate Dwyer, John Constable Evans, Tucker Magistrate Everness, William Bailiff of the Court of Requests Forbes, David Land owner Forbes, Sir Francis Land Owner, Chief Justice Fox, Charles Constable Halkin, Charles Watchhouse keeper Hall, Thomas Simpson Land owner Hannell, John Constable Hegarty, Pierce Store owner Kerr, Thomas Agent for the Free Press. Storekeeper Keys, John Hudson Land owner Kingsmill, Henry Bailiff Kirkwood, James Builder and Cabinetmaker Lewis Lipman Auctioneer, Store owner Logan, James Constable Maher, Patrick Constable Mahoney, Jeremiah Constable McAlpin, Phoebe Confectioner, baker McIntyre, Donald Land Owner Murray, Hugh Bailiff of the Court of Requests Nowland, Henry Land owner. Innkeeper Pierce, Henry Saddler Pringle, Robert Land owner Ralfe, James Surveyor in 1839 Richardson, Edward Innkeeper Ridgeway, Charles Poundkeeper Scott, Captain David Land owner Scovell, Edward Magistrate Shinkwin, William, Constable Skinner, Francis, Constable Smith, George, Sheriff's Bailiff Stringall, Nathanial, Tinman Thornton, Sylvester, Innkeeper Ward, Richard, Innkeeper NOTES AND LINKS 1). Muswellbrook Postal Directory 1867 2). Australian Almanac 1867 3). Muswellbrook in the Early Days - People and Buildings in 1856 by G.W. Phillips who resided in Muswellbrook as a boy 4). The Muswellbrook Chronicle (NSW : 1898 - 1955) Fri 21 Feb 1930 Page 4 5). The Muswellbrook Chronicle (NSW : 1898 - 1955) Fri 28 Feb 1930 Page 8 |
