Rosa Chinesis

Rosa chinesis was introduced from China to the Western World between 1760 and 1790 resulting in horticulturalists and nurseries hybridising the plant. Many different species were created, including the China rose, tea roses, Noisette rose and other varieties. Rosa chinensis, a wild variety was found by an Irish doctor working for the Chinese Maritime Customs in Yichang in 1884.

Rosa chinensis known commonly as the China rose or Chinese rose. It is from the Rosaceae family. Rosa chinensis is a deciduous Shrub growing to 6 m. It is considered the Queen of the Tropics. Rose seed takes about two years to germinate. China rose can be cultivated in most soils. It is believed that garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease. China rose flowers are richly scented. The flowers have both male and female organs. China rose is used in traditional medicines and is very good for stomach problems. China rose is an edible flower – flower petals, fruit, leaves, seeds and stem are all edible. It has a layer of hairs around the seeds beneath the flesh of the fruit/flower. These hairs can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract if ingested. The young shoot tips, flower buds and flowers can be added to soups. Rose hips can be used in jams, jelly, marmalade, rose hip syrup and are brewed for tea. Rose is used to make rose oil and rose water. Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter. Young peeled shoots can be eaten raw. The seed is a good source of vitamin E, it can be ground and mixed with flour or added to other foods as a supplement

Seeds from this beautiful flower in various colours were distributed throughout England and passed through to different countries. The flowers of this plant are unusual as throughout their life, they darken with age. These plants were used heavily in traditional Chinese medicine; the roots and fruits for treating arthritis, boils and rheumatoid joint pains, fruit used on sprains and wounds and flower buds to alleviate pain.

The presence of the China rose in Parramatta can be attributed to the Macarthur family. In 1809, John Macarthur was exiled to England for his part in attempting to overthrow Governor Bligh in what is now known as the Rum Rebellion. Eight years later on his return to Parramatta on board the ‘Lord Eldon’, Macarthur and his sons brought a China rose to his homestead where his wife, Elizabeth managed the estate during his long absences. Elizabeth was a keen gardener and planted many China roses and often exchanged plants with other colonial families. Her son, William was a horticulturalist and planted many China roses near the vineyards as he believed them to have antifungal properties and would protect vinyards from fungal attack.  He also established a nursery on the property and was able to obtain plants from all over the world.

The arrival of the British in Australia coincided with the arrival of the roses in Europe however there was no recorded evidence of any roses on board any of the ships. According to the notes of Charles Fraser who was superintendent of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, Lady Brisbane introduced varieties of the Scots and China roses along with a number of decorative plants in 1827 – 1828.

China roses were also planted around the ‘Red Cow Inn’, adding a very personal and intimate touch. In 1889 ‘The Illustrated Sydney News’ quoted one visitor’s impressions of the residence and gardens:

“As to the ‘ Woolpack’s ‘ companion Inn, the ‘ Red Cow,’ the following notice occurs of it in its best days: ‘After passing a particularly pretty garden, in which stood a long, low house with a spacious piazza in front, I was surprised by my husband’s driving up to the door, and still more so on finding that this was our inn where we had engaged rooms. My belief, that it was a private residence was natural enough, for the sign of the “Red Cow” on the roof had escaped my notice; but we were most comfortably accommodated in every way.

The garden was full of beautiful flowers particularly the bright scarlet blossoms of the pomegranate, the soft and fragrant oleander, the quantities of pink and crimson China roses. An enormous prickly-pear (I think it “must be twenty feet high) grew near the house, and was full of yellow blossoms and dark red fruit, in picking up some of which to taste, I stuck my gloves so full of the fine, penetrating prickles that it was some days before I extracted them all from my hands. Two beautiful birds were living tame in the garden, they were called curlew, but I doubt if correctly; and several of the native parrots were caged in the verandah.”

 

History of Chinese Market Gardens

Three market gardens in La Perouse, among the oldest in the State, have been listed on the State heritage Registry for their significant heritage values, particularly to Sydney's Chinese community.
Working farms with links to the life of 19th century Sydney, they are the last surviving examples of the market gardens which were originally fairly widespread in the Randwick area. For over 150 years the land has been used for market gardens, firstly by European settlers and then by Chinese.

The gardens were nominated as part of a Heritage Office program established in 1997 to encourage ethnic communities to nominate sites of heritage value in NSW. This will mean that the State Heritage Register can provide a more accurate picture of Australia's culturally diverse heritage.

Market gardens played an important role in supplying the food needs of the growing settlements of NSW. By the end of the 19th century, these labour intensive farms had become almost synonymous with the Chinese and were part of the everyday life of many towns and cities.

The earliest farms in the La Perouse area were recorded in 1830. At first the gardens were tended by Europeans and supplied vegetables to some of the wealthiest homes in Randwick. But this changed after the gold rushes.

Karl Zhao, Chinese Heritage Officer at the NSW Heritage Office, explains:

"Chinese immigrants came to prospect for gold but soon realised not everyone could get rich from the gold fields and so started growing vegetables. At the end of the 1850s gold rushes, many Chinese came to the Sydney metropolitan area and became involved in market gardening."

Many of the gardens in the La Perouse area survived well into the 20th century. Older residents still recall the market gardeners who worked on the farms and lived in corrugated iron huts.

The La Perouse gardens have special significance for the Chinese community.

"For many people, especially those from the Yiu Ming district of Guangdong, market gardens were their starting point in Australia. They worked hard and saved and then opened restaurants, grocery shops, their own businesses" says Karl Zhao.

"This particular garden is important because it is so old. Many generations, many owners, many gardeners have connections with the La Perouse market gardens."

The gardens have been managed by members of the Chinese community for over 90 years, passing from one generation to another without a break. The still working gardens have maintained features of a traditional market garden and even today, most of the work is done by manual labour with simple tools. Nowhere else so close to the modern, busy centre of Sydney is land still worked in this way.

Gordan Ha's family have been involved with the La Perouse market gardens for over 40 years.

"My father came from overseas and worked on this farm with his cousin. He worked and studied English at the same time" said Mr Ha.

The market gardens continue to be a part of Sydney life. In fact, with the increasing number of Asian immigrants over the last 20 years, long forgotten Chinese vegetables have been reintroduced to the Australian diet. "When my Dad started on the farm 40 years ago, they grew mostly Australian vegetables such as celery" says Gordan Ha. "Now with the demand for new vegetables, we are growing Chinese vegetables like Bok Choy, Cho Sum and Chinese broccoli."

Source:  http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/Heritage/aboutheritage/chinesemktgarden.htm

 

Lancers Barracks Parramatta

Lancers Barracks was built by Lt. John Watts in 1818 under instructions from Governor Macquarie. It was finished and operational in 1820. This is one of the oldest still in use Barracks.

A Lancer is a soldier of a cavalry regiment armed with a lance. Lance is a weapon of war used by soldiers on horseback. It has a sharp metal point affixed to the end of the long. Wooden ( usually bamboo) pole. It is used to spear enemy soldiers.

Military presence in Parramatta traces back to 1788, when the first European settlement was established. The Regiment’s ties with Parramatta began in 1891, when the Regiment’s Parramatta Troop was founded.  Regiment’s Headquarters was established in 1897 and Lancers have called Parramatta their home since then. Lancers are Australia’s oldest and most decorated Regiments.

In the 1914-1918 war the Regiment, being militia, did not serve abroad. However most of its pre-war members joined the 1^st Light Horse Australian Imperial Force (AIF). They served at Gallipoli and as part of the ANZAC Mounted Division in Palestine, fighting in Sinai, Beersheba, Jerusalem, Jericho and Amman. By the end of the war, 224 men had died and 679 wounded.

At the end of the war and disbandment of the AIF, the 1^st Light Horse was effectively rolled back into its ‘parent’ militia Regiment, the NSW Lancers, which became known as the 1^st Light Horse (NSW Lancers). It was granted the title ‘Royal’ in 1935. It was a horsed regiment till 1936.

In 1956, the ‘1^st Light Horse Regiment’ was linked with ‘15^th Light Horse Regiment’ making the Regiment also the successor to the 15^th Light Horse Regiment AIF which had been formed in Palestine in 1918 from personnel from Imperial Camel Corps.

Darcy Dugan – Australia’s Most Notorious Escape Artist

Darcy Ezekiel Dugan was born on 29 August 1920 in Sydney. As per Ancestry he died in Glebe on 22 August 1991 at the age of almost 71 and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery.

Darcy committed numerous armed holdups, bank robbery and even robbing the hospital. He became famous for his daring escapes than for his initial crimes. Darcy gave evidence to an enquiry about the dreadful brutality regularly perpetrated against prisoners in Grafton Jail. In his evidence, he mentioned about daily brutal beatings and torture, and even throwing boiling water on prisoners. This prompted Bob Campbell to write a song about Darcy based on the evidence he gave.

Song can now be heard on You Tube

Dugan escaped from ‘escape-proof’ circumstances six times. He once went through a ceiling, the roof and sneaked over the outer wall at Sydney’s Long Bay Jail in daylight. He was located 30 metres away from an armed guard and this was the second incident in the same day 25 minutes after being imprisoned.

Darcy Dugan escaped from a prison tram on 4 March 1946, which was transporting him between Darlinghurst Courthouse and Long Bay jail. He used the kitchen knife to rip a hole and escaped as the tram passed the Sydney Cricket Ground. The tram is still kept at the Sydney Tramway Museum.

Darcy spent 43 years in jail and when he was out for a short time in the 1970s he became a social worker and began exposing police corruption involving crooked cops and gangsters. The crooked cops then framed him and put him back inside for a crime he did not commit. 

Dugan worked as a rehabilitation officer during his final years of freedom until his health declined. In 1980, Darcy married Jan Simmonds, who he had met in prison while she was researching a book about her brother Kevin Simmonds, famous for being an escapee and fugitive in the late 1950s. Although they separated not long after their marriage but they remained friends and Jan looked after Darcy during his last days.

 References:

https://www.geni.com/people/Darcy-Dugan/6000000021935970060

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-478950/darcy-dugan-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people?indId=externalindividual-1888ba111b04ca54c46e22375a50ffb8&trn=partner_Geni&trp=logged_out_matches_module

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10450-9217513/canberra-times-act?indId=externalindividual-1888ba111b04ca54c46e22375a50ffb8&mrid=606d2362a01471577ec58c3950740a17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRGKjvpPVUI        

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darcy_Dugan

Epping

Aboriginal people from the Wallumedegal group, whose lands stretch along the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers, were living in the region of Epping when the Europeans arrived. The first European settler in the district was freed convict David Kilpack who received grants of land in 1794 and 1795 totalling 80 acres (32.3 hectares). He died two years later and his widow Eleanor married Thomas Higgins. His son was one of the first settlers in the Hornsby district.

The western side of Epping spreads over two major land grants – Lieutenant William Kent had 170 acres (69.8 hectares) granted by Governor Hunter and his nephew William George Carlile Kent was granted 460 acres (186.1 hectares) in 1803. The western boundary of the Field of Mars bordered their land.

Many settlers struggled to clear the land and make a living from their farms so the government proclaimed town commons where they could graze their animals, leaving their own land available for food crops. One such common was the Field of Mars which covered between 5,050 and 6,253 acres (2,044 to 2,530 hectares). A convict timber camp was established in 1817 and because the trees were soon removed, the general area was known as Barren Ridges by 1825.

Epping had an important role in the early years of the colony, particularly during the time of Governor Macquarie when timber from the area mainly blue gum, blackbutt and some cedar, was in high demand. After the sawmilling finished the Epping area consisted mostly of orchards and bushland, with most people making a living from vegetable and fruit growing.

In the 1820s, the Mobbs family established citrus orchards in the Epping area, and other growers soon followed. Produce was carted to Ermington wharf on the Parramatta River and sent by boat to the Sydney markets.

Epping Railway Station was opened on 17 September 1886. First called the Field of Mars station, then renamed Carlingford the following year, this choice of name caused confusion as the post office was called East Carlingford. William Midson (1849-1924) suggested the name Epping after the town near Epping Forest, Essex where his father was born. It was accepted and officially adopted in 1899.
The coming of the railway resulted in an increase in land prices. The first subdivisions of land were made the same year as the railway lined opened, with a section of the Field of Mars subdivided into large blocks and sold by the government. This was the beginning of the development of the suburb of Epping.

The commons land was resumed by the government in 1874 and opened up for sale in 1889. By the turn of the twentieth century, there were twelve houses in the area bounded by Rawson to Midson Roads and Chesterfield Road to Devlins Creek, covering an area of about 450 acres (182.1 hectares). The first general store was built by Joseph Walker in 1892. After World War II, there was an increased demand for residential lots resulting in the subdivision and sale of small farms and orchards.

Compiled from the following sources:
Book of Sydney Suburbs. Pollon,Frances, LS994.41 BOO
http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/epping
http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/resources-and-research/local-history/researching-the-history-of-epping
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epping,_New_South_Wales

Eastwood

The indigenous history of Eastwood includes the period when the Wallumedegal people lived in the territory bounded by the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers. Part of the Dharug group, their country was called Wallumetta. [1]

The 1820s saw the building of Brush Farm House by Gregory Blaxland, following his purchase of the Brush Farm Estate in 1807. Located in what is now Eastwood, the house survives, representing a nationally important site where some of the colony's initial land grants were made.[2]

The suburb Eastwood gets its name from the Eastwood Estate and house, the original owner of which was William Rutledge who built a single storey house on the hill to the east of Brush Farm in 1840.[3] Edward Terry, later the first mayor of Ryde, purchased the estate around 1871 and after his death, it was subdivided to emerge as Eastwood Village.

In 1868, the tart green Granny Smith apple was developed in Eastwood by an English-born orchardist, Maria Ann Smith. She apparently found a seedling growing in her compost heap after throwing out the remains of some Tasmanian crab apples.[4] 

In the 1890s, during a severe economic depression, Harry Curzon-Smith built the stately Curzon Hall which is now located just beyond the borders of Eastwood, in Marsfield. Now considered one of Australia’s finest reception centres, it was built from local sandstone quarried from what is now a pond in the grounds of Macquarie University.[5]

Marsfield Municipality seceded from Ryde in 1894 and was renamed Eastwood in 1907. It was never an affluent council because of the small number of rate payers within its boundaries and it re-joined Ryde in 1948.[6]

Multiculturalism began taking root in the Eastwood by the 1920s when many of the orchards and market gardens in the region were beginning to be owned by Italians – who, with the Greeks, were the first outsiders to put down roots in the district.[7] In the Eastwood Municipality the first Chinese market gardens appear in the Sands Directory by 1921; by the end of that decade there were 14 such gardens listed.[8]

The end of the Second World War saw an influx of returned servicemen and post-war migrants that led to demand for homes and selling off of much vacant land for residential development. Commercially the suburb expanded as well and by the 1960s, Eastwood became the favoured shopping venue between Strathfield and Hornsby.[9]

The 1990s saw the arrival of many people from Asia, particularly Hong Kong, China, Korea and south-east Asia.[10] Over two decades later, Eastwood is now a multicultural centre, with - according to the 2011 census – just over 30% of residents claiming Chinese ancestry.[11]

Notable personalities

Some notables connected with Eastwood include:

•Geoffrey Robertson, QC who attended Eastwood Public School from 1954-1959[12]

•Maria Ann Smith, the ‘inventor’ of the Granny Smith apple, lived on a farm between the present North Road and Abuklea Road, Eastwood.[13]

Notable buildings

•Brush Farm

Built by one of the European explorers of the Blue Mountains Gregory Blaxland, Brush Farm is one the most substantial houses surviving from the Macquarie period. For many years the Brush Farm Estate, through its elevated position midway between Sydney and Parramatta, operated as a signal station, known as "One Tree Signal Station", to relay messages from vessels on the Parramatta River to the, then, township at Parramatta.[14] The House now hosts art shows and other community events.[15]

•Eastwood house

Built in 1840 by William Rutledge the house is now part of Marist College Eastwood.[16] A silk industry once flourished at Eastwood House[17]

•Eastwood Brickyards/brickworks

The Eastwood Brickyards commenced operation in 1912-3 and supplied bricks to the surrounding area[18]. Now decommissioned, it is a heritage site that has been re-adapted as a community park and housing estate.[19]

[1]http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/sydney_journal/article/download/2391/2590

[2] http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Buildings/Brush-Farm-House

[3] http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/History-of-Ryde

[4] https://griffithreview.com/articles/mixing-it-up-in-bennelong/

[5] McAndrew, Alex. Eastwood-Marsfield, p. 103 – LS 994.41 MCAN

[6] Shaw, Kevin. Historic Ryde, p.34-35 – LS994.41 HIS

[7] https://griffithreview.com/articles/mixing-it-up-in-bennelong/

[8] http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Places/Chinese-Market-Gardens

[9] McAndrew, Alex. Eastwood-Marsfield, p. 70 – LS 994.41 MCAN

[10] http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/eastwood

[11http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/SSC10787

[12] http://www.eastwood.nsw.edu.au/?page_id=9

[13] http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Figures/Granny-Smith

[14] http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Buildings/Brush-Farm-House

[15] ttp://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/sydney_journal/article/viewFile/2391/2590

[16] http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Buildings/Eastwood-House

[17] http://www.rotarynews.info/2/club/4207/680

[18]http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240395

[19] http://202020vision.com.au/project/?id=148

Eastwood – A Brief History

Eastwood became part of the local government area of City of Parramatta. The Wallumedegal Aboriginal people lived on the land bounded by the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers. The people were part of the Dharug group and they called their country Wallumetta.

European occupation of the area commenced in 1792 when Governor Arthur Phillip granted land along the Parramatta River to eight marines with two of the grants being  in the Ryde area. Phillip named the area ‘The Field of Mars’ and many other grants were subsequently made in the Ryde and Eastwood areas. The Lieutenant-Governor Francis Grose issued grants in 1794 to John Redman, Patrick Campbell, Thomas Bride and Zadoc Pettit which was later to become part of Gregory Blaxland’s estate, Brush Farm. Surgeon William Balmain also received 100 acres. Private John Love received a 90-acre (36.4-hectare) grant from the acting Governor, Lieutenant-Colonel William Paterson, in 1795 and the present shopping and station areas occupy some of this land.

Built by one of the European explorers of the Blue Mountains Gregory Blaxland, Brush Farm is one the most substantial houses surviving from the Macquarie period. For many years the Brush Farm Estate, through its elevated position midway between Sydney and Parramatta, operated as a signal station, known as "One Tree Signal Station", to relay messages from vessels on the Parramatta River to the, then, township at Parramatta.

Brush Farm was consolidated from smaller early farms by William Cox and purchased by Gregory Blaxland in 1807. Blaxland was a successful farmer, and apart from growing crops and keeping farm animals, he is known for introducing buffalo grass for cattle fodder, cultivating grapes and making wine that won two medals from the Royal Society in England. History records him successfully crossing the Blue Mountains in 1813 in company with William Lawson and William Wentworth, and so opening the way for settlement at Bathurst and beyond. He built Brush Farm House c1820, which still stands in Lawson Street.

Eastwood House, situated on part of John Love’s grant of 90 acres 1840, was thought to be constructed by William Rutledge. A silk industry once flourished at Eastwood House. The property was sold, and purchased by Edward Terry, in 1863. His land extended from Terry Road to Rowe Street and from Shaftsbury Road to Blaxland Road (east). It was adjacent to Brush Farm lands in the west. Later, he purchased more land to the north. The house is now part of the Marist College precinct. Edward Terry was the first mayor of Ryde and later became a member of the New South Wales Parliament.

Denistone house, a fine two-storey stone building sited on a hill with extensive views to the Parramatta River from the rear of the house. The front elevation had views to the north-east. Its history goes back to a 1795 land grant and various owners who farmed there, until it was bought in 1872 by Richard Rouse Terry, brother of Edward Terry of Eastwood House, who erected the present building in 1874. The building now forms part of the Ryde Hospital complex.

In 1886 the railway was extended across the Parramatta River and on to Hornsby. Initially the station was known as Dundas but this was changed to Eastwood in 1887 after Eastwood House. Following the railways large blocks were subdivided into allotments of residential land spacious enough for a tennis court, garden or pony. Many Federation style homes still survive from this period. Eastwood Brickworks supplied much of the building materials for the post-war building boom.

Known the world over the Granny Smith Apple was first grown in the 1860s on the Eastwood property of Thomas and Mary Ann Smith. Mary Ann recognised the cooking and eating qualities of this new variety which was then developed for commercial sale by the Government Experimental Station, Bathurst.

Eastwood Progress Association was formed in the early years of the 20th century and successfully lobbied for the provision of land for Eastwood Park (3.2 ha) in 1918. Many churches and schools were built prior to World War One and a war memorial was constructed on the corner of Eastwood Park. Electricity was connected in 1923.

Rowe Street, named after Thomas Rowe who owned nearby land, became the focus for commercial activity due to the proximity to Eastwood Station. The Eastwood Centre opened in 1976 on Rowe Street, on the site of the Duke of York Picture Theatre and other buildings. In 1983 a pedestrian mall was constructed from The Avenue, along Rowe Street to West Parade.

The 1990s saw the arrival of many people from Asia, particularly Hong Kong, China, Korea and south-east Asia bringing with them a diversity of culture and ethnicity. Eastwood is now a multicultural centre with over 30% residents claiming Chinese Ancestry according to 2011 census. Eastwood is thriving shopping precinct for Asian goods and services.

Compiled from the following sources:

http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/sydney_journal/article/download/2391/2590

http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Buildings/Brush-Farm-House

http://www.rotarynews.info/2/club/4207/680

http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/eastwood

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastwood,_New_South_Wales

Eastwood-Marsfield: partners in history. Alex McAndrew, Local Studies Library, LS 994.41 MCAN