Stanwell Park - History

Land grants

Mathew Gibbons

In 1824 the Colonial Secretary's Office approved the granting of 1,000 acres to Matthew Gibbons. The grant was known as 'Little Bullie' and later Stanwell Park. The area Gibbons preferred was called 'Watermolley' (Wattamolla) but he was only given a certificate of occupation to this land.

The grant of 'Little Bullie' was actually made official in 1832. The deeds of the land were not actually issued to Gibbons by the Governor until August 1833. (Adams, 2005)

Early residents

Mathew John Gibbons

Gibbons was born in England in 1765. At the age of 22 he was sentenced for petty theft in England and in October 1789 he was transported to NSW on the 'Suprize l', part of the second fleet. Gibbons arrived in Sydney Cove in June 1790. He was a servant, clerk and steward to Major Francis Grose, the founder and commander of the New South Wales Corps. Gibbons was officially accepted into the NSW Corps in 1793. After twice returning to England Gibbons and the rest of his family returned to Australia in October 1822.

Around 1825 Gibbons established a stockyard at 'Little Bullie' in the care of John Paid. In 1828 Gibbons reported that 10 acres of land had been cleared and were under cultivation. The property at this time had 4 horses and 71 cattle. Matthew John Gibbons died on 22 July 1835. (Adams, 2005)

John Paid

John Paid was a convict transported to NSW for petty theft. He was assigned to Mathew Gibbons who sent him to Stanwell Park 'Little Bullie' to cultivate the land. John Paid soon decided that bushranging was a far more lucrative occupation. He became known as 'Wolloo Jack', leader of a bushranger gang that terrorised the Stanwell Park and Appin areas during 1827-28. He was caught and sentenced to death in June 1829. (Adams, 2005)

Major Sir Thomas Mitchell

Major Mitchell was Surveyor-General of Australia. He purchased Stanwell Park and "all the Coal Cliffs to Clifton in the 1840s". Major Mitchell built the first house at Stanwell Park. (Adams, 2005)

Lawrence Hargrave

Australia's greatest contributor to the early science of Aeronatics. He was born at Greenwich, England on 29 January, 1850. The family arrived in Sydney on 15 December, 1865. Lawrence was an apprentice engineer at the engineering shops of Australian Steam Navigation Company.

He lived at 'Hillcrest' at Stanwell Park for six years and died in 1915. In November 1894 Lawrence Hargrave succeeded in lifting himself to a height of sixteen feet above the ground using four box kites. His invention of curved surfaces to give lift was adopted by all future aeronautical designers. This work gave impetus to the development of the aeroplane. (Walker, 1984)

Early industry

Farming

Mathew Gibbons used the land at Stanwell Park to run small flocks of sheep and cattle. This small farm was run by the convict Jack Paid who had been assigned to Gibbons. (Adams, 2005)

Mining

Early residents worked on the construction of the railway or found work at the Helensburgh and Coalcliff coal mines.
Early transport

Roads

A road from Wollongong to the Coal Cliffs was opened in 1868 but it was of very poor quality and in some sections was hardly more than a track. (Adams, 1986?)

In the late 1880's a five horse coach use to bring visitors along the dustry road to Bald Hill, Stanwell Park and along the cliff road. On the return journey all the passengers had to walk up the long road to Bald Hill.

Railways

In 1888 the first railway line to Stanwell Park was opened and the direct Wollongong to Sydney connection was completed. (Illawarra Mercury, 22/3/1984)