Introduction

This blog is designed to support the Stage 3 History school excursion program to Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre. It will contain entries on the fascinating people and events that make up the early colonial history of the area around Castlereagh in Sydney's west.

In the period 1789 to 1840 this area stretching along the Nepean River at the foot of the Blue Mountains was the frontier of the English penal settlement. The local Aboriginal people of the Darug nation found themselves in conflict with increasing numbers of settlers. These settlers were a mix of men and women who came as convicts, free settlers and soldiers.

Their stories cover most of the important events of the early colonial period around Sydney. The posts on this blog will allow students and teachers to gather background to meet the learning outcomes of the Australian Curriculum and to better appreciate the excursion program that goes with it.

Hadley Park Colonial Homestead Circa 1812

I have used multiple sources for the entries within this blog. Most entries are in my own words unless acknowledged as a quote. This blog is for educational purposes only and is specifically aimed at students in Stage 3 (Years5-6). Older photos and paintings are borrowed from multiple websites and are subject to copyright in may cases.

References.

1. "Pioneers of the Castlereagh Anglican Cemetery" 1995 - published by The Friends of Castlereagh Cemetery.

2." Castlereagh Cultural Landscape Study" 1999 Briton and Morris for PLDC
3. 'Darug to Dungaree - A history of Penrith and St Marys" White and Murray

4. Australian Dictionary of Biography - http://adb.anu.edu.au
5. A History of Aboriginal Sydney - http://www.historyofaboriginalsydney.edu.au
6. A History of Penrith Lakes - http://penrithlakes.com.au/history-of-penrith-lakes