Top (L to R): Subiaco Cottage; Ellison's Hotel; and St. John's Parsonage
Bottom (L to R): The Sydney Road Toll-bar; The Market Buildings; and the Old Court House
Subiaco Cottage. - Just a glimpse of old Subiaco Cottage, the residence of the priest attached to the Convent in 1910. Formerly it was the residence of Hannibal Macarthur, and the home of the Rev. G. F. Macarther, and was known as the Vineyards. Dean Coffey is seen standing in front, in his clerical garb. He was a very popular priest, and it is said that he was once a famous horseman. He was a stern disciplinarian with his flock, but was beloved and revered by all sections of the community.
Ellison's Hotel. - This old hotel was situated in George-street, next door to the residence of the late Mr. William Haggitt. It belonged to the Ellison family for generations, and was kept by Mr. Harry Ellison. It was known as the "Jolly Sailor." Mr. George Caines was the proprietor once, and he, on receiving notice to quit, shifted opposite. He could not take his sign, the name of the hotel, with him, so he called his hostelry "The Jolly Sailor's return."
St. John's Parsonage. - The old parsonage was long the residence of Samuel Marsden, the Rev. R. L. King and Archdeacon Gunther. Afterwards it was leased by Mr. J. Y. Wills and renovated. It occupied a commanding position and stood out as one of the landmarks of the town. In later years it was known as "The Cedars."
The Sydney Road Toll-bar. - The Sydney Road Toll-bar was situated just beyond the southern end of the bridge at Church-street South, where the traveller branched off to the Liverpool Road or the Sydney Road. The lease of these toll-bars was purchased, and at night the toll-bar keeper had to be roused up to open the gates and let the traveller through. There was a similar toll-bar on the Western Road just beyond the Prospect and Sherwood Council Chambers, and another on the Windsor Road, so that a traveller with horse or vehicle could not get out of the town without paying toll.
The Market Buildings. - In 1910 this old building was still in existence and was occupied by Messrs. Webb and Co., Church-street South, as a hay and corn store. In the old days it stood on the site now occupied by the Town Hall buildings. At the rear was the public pound. All the produce of the district was once disposed of in this building, and horse sales took place at the rear. The group in front is Mr. John Moody and his family.
Old Court House. - The old Court House in days gone by not only served as the Hall of Justice, but also as a place in which important public meetings were held. It was here that the public met to hold an indignation meeting when the Fenian O'Farrell shot Prince Alfred. Mr. S. Burge was Mayor at the time. It was here that the public met to petition the Government to hand over the civil and military hospital to the public. At election times the hustings was erected just inside the railings, and from the platform there many fiery speeches have been delivered by such politicians as the Hon. James Byrnes, the Hon. Sir John Lackey, James Squire Farnell, Hugh Taylor and others. The gentleman sitting on the coping was an old identity, known by the euphonious sobriquet of "Long Bob."
Provenance: "The Jubilee History of Parramatta". In Commemoration of the First Half-Century of Municipal Government, 1861-1911. Edited by J. Cheyne Wharton.
Author: Edited by J. Cheyn Wharton
Date of Publication: 1911
Publisher: Thomas D. Little and Richard Stewart Richardson, The Cumberland Argus Printing Works
Place of Publishing: Parramatta, New South Wales
Copyright status: This work is out of copyright
Courtesy: University of California Libraries via the Archive Org.
No comments