Brownsville - Timeline


 1829  John McKelly received a 100 acre lot on Dapto Creek as a veteran grant. This was the first recorded use of the name of Dapto
 1833 George Brown received a grant of 300 acres covering the Brownsville area 
 1834 George Brown opened the Ship Inn at Mullet Creek
 1838 The Ship Inn burnt down and another inn was built and operated as the Illawarra Lake Hotel
 1839 A windmill was built and used by George Brown to grind flour 
 1841 A steam flour mill was established by George Brown near his hotel
 1841 An Anglican Church was planned for two acres of land offered by George Brown
 1845  The first services were performed in St Lukes Anglican Church Brownsville
 1846  The first ploughing match in the district was held on George Brown's farm
 1850  George Brown died on 5 August 1850
 1857  Dapto's first agricultural show was held at Brown's flour mill
 1859  John Brown, George Brown's son, served as an alderman on the new council after the incorporation of the Municipality of Central Illawarra
 1873  Brownsville was flourishing with a Hotel, Council Chambers, butcher shop Smith, Church of England, Weslyan Chapel, Police station and other buildings
 1878  Brown's mill became a cheese factory after the demise of wheat growing in the district
 1880  The Osborne Memorial Church was erected on the two acres held by the Church of England
 1884  William Beach became sculling world champion
 1887  Brown's mill became a butter factory
 1887  The railway opened and the station was built south of Brownsville away from Mullet Creek. Consequently the centre of the Dapto township moved south, leaving the original Dapto as a separate entity which became known as Brownsville
 1900  Central Illawarra Council Chambers  relocated to Unanderra
 1902-03  The smelting works at Kanahooka Point provided significant stimulus for population growth at Dapto and Brownsville
 1905  The Smelters closure led to a decrease in the population and Dapto returned to being a rural service centre
   
  


Last Modified: 30/07/2008
 

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