Colonel Patersons Narrative of the Coal Harbour & Rivers',14 June-17 July, 1801 (Series 39.065) - No. 0002

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commonly call'd the White Honeysuckle - but grows much larger than that found in the neighbourhood of Sydney. -- Those hills are so much alike to what I have seen sheep feeding on in England, that I have named them Sheep Pasture Hills. -- The soil is a light black mould about a foot and half deep after which is the stratum of stone and clay above the coal, as it appears in the accompanying sketch. --

16th
Went up a Creek that opens from the Southward into a Bay about two miles above Colliers Point, where it divides into several arms. The ground is low and apparently subject to Floods  -- the Soil blackish mix'd with sand. The Trees are very lofty mostly Blue Gum (Eucalyptus) and Swampoak (Casurina). -- from the great quantity of drift wood all over this place, and the country for many miles being low and intersected with Creeks, I am convinced that the Floods here are much higher at times, than what has ever been known at the Hawkesbury. --​​​​​​

17th  
Went in company with Lt. Grant to examine the above creek -- which we call'd  Mangrove Creek. -- but did not reach the end of it -- the higher we got up the wider it became and divided into many branches. -- from there being no drift wood here it is evident that no River falls into it, nor is there any high land nearer than the Sea Coast. -- Some of the people were employed to day hauling the seine -- found quantities of Fish and great variety. --

17th Went up the River about five miles to the N. West