Why did they choose Port Macquarie as a settlement?
Macquarie favoured the site at Port Macquarie as he had been given a favourable report on the area from the Surveyor General, and its distance from Sydney made it ideal as a second place of punishment for convicts of the worst character (1). By October 1821 there were 92 convicts at Port Macquarie (5).
When was Port Macquarie established a settlement?
1821Discovered by John Oxley in 1818 and named after the Governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie, our first visitors were convicts sent to the Port Macquarie penal settlement in 1821 to serve time for secondary offences. The town was built by those convicts and overseen by military officers of the 48th Regiment.
What was Port Macquarie used for?
It was built in 1879 to warn ships of the rocks near the shore and was converted to automatic acetylene operation in 1919 and to mains electricity in 1974. Today it is automated and has a range of 16 nautical miles. By 1879 more than twenty ships had been wrecked off the coast near Port Macquarie.
What is an interesting fact about Port Macquarie?
One little known fact about Port Macquarie is that the organ in St. Thomas Church is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Built by convicts between 1824 and 1828, St. Thomas' Church houses a massive, ornate pipe organ built by legendary organ company Walker.
What were the reasons for settlement in Van Diemen's Land?
A British settlement was established in Van Diemen's Land in 1803 before it became a separate colony in 1825. Its penal colonies became notorious destinations for the transportation of convicts due to the harsh environment, isolation and reputation for being inescapable.
What is the Aboriginal name for Port Macquarie?
Guruk"Port Macquarie where I'm located has a traditional name, Guruk.
What was Port Macquarie named after?
Lachlan MacquariePort Macquarie was named by John Oxley after the governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie in 1818. The Hastings River was named after the Governor General of India at around the same time.
Who made Port Macquarie?
The site of Port Macquarie was first visited by Europeans in 1818 when John Oxley reached the Pacific Ocean from the interior, after his journey to explore inland New South Wales. He named the location after the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie.
Is Port Macquarie good to live?
The general feel of Port Macquarie is relaxed, laidback and safe, with a palpable community spirit. It's long been a favourite of retirees and now attracts families to its welcoming shores.
What is the coldest month in Port Macquarie?
JulyThe coldest month of the year in Port Macquarie is July, with an average low of 49°F and high of 64°F.
Where does Port Macquarie get its water from?
The main water storage reservoirs for our region are Port Macquarie Dam and Cowarra Dam. Wauchope, Comboyne, Long Flat and Telegraph Point have their own water supplies which are pumped directly from the Thone River, the Hastings River and the Wilson River.
Is there gold near Port Macquarie?
Cedar Creek Goldfield has a gold stream fed by their very unique wooden waterwheel you can spend as much time as you want panning for gold. Experience what it was like during the gold rush as a miner and lose yourself amongst the original old steam engines in the Cedar Creek Steam CO-OP!
When was Port Macquarie named?
1818Port Macquarie was named by John Oxley after the governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie in 1818.
What were the reasons for settlement in Swan River colony?
Stirling arrived back in England in July 1828, promoting in glowing terms the agricultural potential of the area. His lobbying was for the establishment of a "free" settlement – unlike penal colonies at New South Wales, Port Arthur and Norfolk Island – in the Swan River area with himself as its governor.
What were the reasons for settlement in Norfolk Island?
The island was settled by the British in March 1788, just five weeks after the First Fleet arrived in Sydney. It was chosen for a settlement because Captain Cook had identified the towering Norfolk Island pines as being useful for ships masts and the local flax as good for sails.
Who found Van Diemen's Land?
Abel Janszoon TasmanIn 1642 Abel Janszoon Tasman named his 'first sighted land' after his Dutch superior Anthony Van Diemen. While Tasman missed meeting any Aborigines, they knew their land as 'Trowunna', 'Trowenna' or 'Loetrouwitter'. Despite the official name of Van Diemen's Land, usage of the alternative 'Tasmania' gradually grew.