Moxham’s Road Bridge - Parramatta

Thomas Moxham was a contractor and had livery stables and resting paddocks for his horse teams in the vicinity of Moxham’s Road Northmead.

 He was also Mayor of Parramatta 1897-1901 and represented Parramatta in the Legislative Assembly from 1901 – 1916.

 Moxham’s Road Bridge acquired its name from the well-known Parramatta pioneer family of Moxham who bred stud horses on their Toongabbie Farm.

 The original Moxham’s Road Bridge was built in late 1890s and demolished in early 1999 due to termite infestation.

 The new bridge was built by Fleetwood Engineering. It is designed to keep the character of the old structure by building it in timber.

Historic Parramatta - Foundations Day - Parramatta

 

On November 2 1788 Governor Phillip selected the site of present-day Parramatta for settlement, naming it Rose Hill.  Governor Phillip ordered the area to be cleared for the first habitations and a small redoubt was built and a captain’s detachment posted in it to protect the convicts who were employed to cultivate the ground.

On June 1791 Phillip renamed Rose Hill ‘Parramatta’, the aboriginal name for the area, meaning “the place where the eels lie down.”

Each year on this day, November 2, Parramatta celebrates its European Settlement. It was the first settlement in Australia after Sydney and the first land grants was made to James Ruse, the first settler, in the area now known as Harris Park.    

In November 1861 the Municipality of Parramatta was incorporated and in December the first Council was elected. These newly elected aldermen set about laying the foundations of Civic Government that has played a significant role in the early development of Parramatta to become now, the largest CBD area outside of Sydney.

The newly elected representatives of council was devoted principally to the attention and provision of the essential services.

With the changing of time and population growth, Parramatta achieved City status on the 27th of October 1938, and the position of Mayor was elevated to Lord Mayor on December 12 1988.

In the past, the people of Parramatta organised festivities, events and functions that bought the community together in celebrating its ‘birthday,’ Foundation Day, November 2. 
In 1963 the first Foundation Week celebration was held and the organising committee consisted of representatives from various groups of organisations led by the Parramatta and Districts Chamber of Commerce.

Previously Foundation Day was celebrated with an Annual Dinner held year-about by PCC & Parramatta Chamber of Commerce with various active and civic minded organisations eg. Rose Society, Art Society and others each held their own individual activities celebrating the event.

First Foundation Day Inaugural Address given in 1964 on the 176 anniversary of Foundation Day by the then Governor De L’isle at a function held in Oatlands House.
(Parramatta Advertiser – 6th December 2000, p.39)

Foundations Day is celebrated on 2nd November every year.

Samuel Gilbert

Samuel Gilbert was born in London in1788. Gilbert was a French name, and it is really pronounced "Jillbear". Samuel Gilbert and his wife Mary, both were of French descent, and their ancestors were over in England three hundred years ago. Samuel and Mary came out here to New South Wales with three of their five children nearly 200 years ago.

Samuel had a "brush with the law" when he was 27. He was found guilty at the Old Bailey of having possession of forged bank notes. Samuel was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment and transported to Australia, where he arrived in Sydney aboard the "Mariner" on the 11th October 1816 as a convict. Samuel’s wife Mary arrived in Sydney on 24th February, 1817 with her children as free woman.

On 2^nd June 1817 he was granted Ticket of Leave. By 1823, Samuel owned 86 George Street, 14 Phillip Street, and 32 Phillip Street, and he had a block of land on Allotment 21 on the north side of the Parramatta River. In 1825 he was granted a conditional pardon. At this time he became a Baker at Parramatta.

Governor Darling granted him 140 acres of land at Castle Hill on the 19th October 1831. This Grant borders the land on which Samuel Gilbert Public School stands. Samuel and his wife Mary lived in Parramatta and had 12 children.

WW1 - William Gregory Fargie

Private William Gregory Fargie was born in Gosford. He served in France in 54th Battalion and was killed in action May 15, 1917. Private Fargie, prior to enlisting on 20^th May 1916, was employed at the Clyde Works as Brass dresser. He was the youngest son of lira. Bnrrett, of Moroe, and resided with his brother, Mr. Norman Fargie, of Trongate street, Granville, who is also in camp. William Gregory Fargie died in action in France at the age of 31. He is buried in Villers Bretenneux Memorial. MR. 26, Part 11, C-F.

Parramatta - Convict and Convict Labour

On 24^th April 1788 Governor Phillip chose the site of Rose Hill.  First wheat crop harvested at Rose Hill in 1789. 1st burial in St John’s Cemetery Parramatta was in 1970. Rose Hill renamed Parramatta in 1791.

Convict is a person found guilty of an offence against the law and is sentenced to imprisonment.

Majority of the convicts to Australia were English and Welsh (70%), Irish (24%) or Scottish (5%), the convict population had a multicultural flavour (1%) - some convicts sent from various British outposts such as India and Canada.

Good behaviour - convicts rarely served their full term and could qualify for a Ticket of Leave. This allowed convicts to earn their own living and live independently. However, for the period of their sentence they were still subject to surveillance and the ticket could be withdrawn for misbehaviour.

Governor Philip (1788-1792) founded a system of labour in which people, whatever their crime, were employed according to their skills - as brick makers, carpenters, nurses, servants, cattlemen, shepherds and farmers.

Educated convicts were set to the relatively easy work of record-keeping for the convict administration. Women convicts were assumed to be most useful as wives and mothers.

James Ruse was one of the convicts settled in Parramatta in 1789. He was given 30 acres of land for farming.

Samuel Gilbert was also a convict from England lived in Parramatta with his wife Mary and 12 children.

Elizabeth Farm was built using the convict labour in 1793 by John Macarthur

Parramatta Gaol and Parramatta Road was built by convicts.

 

WW1 - Leslie John Readett

 

Leslie John Readett was born in 1897 in Durham, NSW. He was the youngest son of William D & Lucy Readett of Mays Hill, Parramatta. Leslie Readett was Sergeant in the 18 Battalion. He served in Gallipoli, Egypt & France and was wounded in action on 3 May 1917. He returned to Australia on 10 November 1917. He got married at St. Patrick’s Church, Governor Street, Sydney on Monday, 29^th December 1919. His bride Margaret Miller was a daughter of Mr and Mrs F Miller of Concord Road, Strathfield. Leslie died on 6th April 1948.