Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 55
You are here
Primary tabs
Transcription
49
1st
OCCUPATION OF THE WESTERN DISTRICTS
PASSAGE FOR STOCK ACROSS THE BLUE MOUNTAINS RANGE
In the year 1813 twenty five years after the foundation of the Colony a season of drought occurred which compelled the Colonists to search for new pasturage, during that year a passage was found across the Blue Miuntain range, and on the following year a road was formed across that portion of the great Northern Cordillera which devides the eastern and western waters, & the Western districts first occupied.
OCCUPATION OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS
PASSAGE ACROSS THE BULGA RANGE OF MOUNTAINS
OCCUPATION OF HUNTDER RIVER DISTRICT.
The great Valley of the Hunter may be termed the nursery of Sheep farming for the Northern interior. The early Settlers who had occupied farms on the rivers Hunter, William, and Patterson, devoted their attention to Sheep farming, & as early as 1820 were in possession of Small flocks of Sheep & Herds of Cattle. The Bulga range of Mountains which at that time divided the Unsettled from the Settled districts, were Crossed over that year ,& Patricks Plains were discovered on the 17th of March 1820 - this opened up & formed a Communication by land from the Townships of Windsor, & Richmond, also from the other Settlements on the Hawkesbury river, with the Hunter river district.
SEASONS IN HUNTER RIVER DISTRICT
The Seasons in this district interveening the years 1820 & 1840 may be termed drooping Seasons & were favourable for the grazier & the Agriculturalist, & with the exception of the year 1836 excellent Crops were produced. Since the year 1840 the Seasons have been reversed in this district, & dry & parched Seasons have Succeeded the drooping Seasons, extending into the interior as far as the table land of New England.
The landed proprietors of this district, Commenced to form Stations over the Liverpool range of Mountains in Country which was then termed beyond the boundary of Location, this