Figtree - History

Land grants

Gregory Blaxland

Gregory Blaxland, of Blue Mountains fame, had a property of 1280 acres promised to him in 1830. The property was known as "Keelogues" and later as "Gundarun". John Hubert Plunkett (who was appointed as Solicitor General for the Colony in 1832) secured this grant in 1837 for £1300. Plunkett subdivided and sold Keelogues estate for £13,000 in 1840. (Cousins, 1994)

James Stares Spearing and 'Paulsgrove' (later known as 'Mount Keira Estate')

Spearing received promises of two grants totalling 2000 acres. The south west corner of his second grant fell within the current borders of Figtree as it extended from the Cross Roads to Mount Keira township and south almost to Figtree Hotel. (McDonald, 1988)

An area of land at Figtree and Cobblers Hill was sold in small grants to the following people:

Matthew Ryan (1833) 40 acres
Malachi Ryan (1833) 30 acres
John George Richardson (1835) 80 acres
Matthew Ryan (1835) 100 acres
John Darragh (1836) 50 acres
John Plunkett (1838) 60 acres
Benjamin Rixon (1839) 40 acres

(Lindsay, 1934 and 'Parish of Wollongong' maps 2nd, 4th and 12th editions)

Early residents

John Plunkett of 'Keelogues'

Gregory Blaxland had a property of 1280 acres promised to him in 1830. John Hubert Plunkett secured this grant, and the deed was issued to him on 12th March, 1837. Mr Plunkett was a member of a distinguished family of Irish patriots and had been the Solicitor General for the Colony.

John Plunkett took a prominent part in local affairs, particularly in issues involving the aborigines, education and navigation. He was the Superintendent of National Education in New South Wales and he was a member of the Committee of Management of the Illawarra Steam Packet Company. (Cousins, 1994)

He sold the estate for 13,000 pounds four years after its purchase to a Mr Wood who was the first chairman of the Illawarra Agricultural Society.

Benjamin Rixon

Benjamin Rixon was a native of Parramatta and a well known tracker. He settled at American Creek in 1839 on a farm later owned by Deighton Taylor (husband of Rachel Henning). In 1847 Ben Rixon discovered a route over the escarpment which now bears his name 'Rixon's Pass'. Subscription was used to provide funds for making a road along Rixon's line … it was reported in December 1848 that Rixon had opened a road to the top of the mountain and along twelve miles of bush to Appin for the sum of £35. The line was used by the mailman. (Marshall, 1963)

The presentation of the Rixon Testimonial with a purse of one hundred sovereigns was made on 31 August 1857 at a public meeting. 'In testimony of the respect in which he is universally held by the inhabitants of the Illawarra and neighboring districts. (Illawarra Mercury, 7.9.1857)

Rixon died aged 80 in 1886. (Illawarra Mercury 22.7.1886)

Rachel Henning

Rachel Henning (1826-1914) lived with her husband, Deighton Taylor, at Springfield, on American Creek near [the] fig tree, from 1872 until 1896. Rachel's descriptive letters, mainly addressed to her sister in England, provide a detailed account of nearly 30 years of pioneering life, including glimpses of the early Illawarra.

Rachel's letters were first published by The Bulletin in 1951 and 1952. They were collected in book form and published by Angus and Robertson in 1963, with a foreword and illustrations by Norman Lindsay.

Rachel's house and garden have gone, but Springfield Avenue in Figtree is named for the property today. (Gibbs, 1995)

Early industry

In the 1880's Figtree was described as 'a thinly populated farming community dominated socially by such pastoralists as the Jenkins of Berkeley, and the Gibsons, Taylors and Lindsays.' (Piggin, 1983)

Early transport

In the 1850's Central Illawarra contained one main road (passing through Figtree) and a number of branch roads, none of the roads were metalled. One of the earliest roads over the escarpment was O'Brien's Road which went from the 'Fig Tree' to Appin. It was discovered by Cornelius O'Brien from Bulli who proposed to develop it 'to make a cattle road from the Illawarra to the District of Appin'. This was achieved in 1821 by subscription i.e. each proprietor (land holder) along the road was required to pay £10. 'It was primitive for many years, the track being only a bridle track. It was almost impossible for vehicles to go down the mountain. However some vehicles did go down with the aid of ropes passed around trees.' (Marshall, 1963) O'Briens Road in Figtree today is the beginning of the original track.

Following the proclamation of Central Illawarra Municipality and the election of council member's in1859 money was put towards improving travel in the Illawarra. This included construction of Figtree Bridge in 1861 by Messrs. Moore and Vaughan. (Cousins, 1994)