Makers of History in Penrith and District - New South Wales

(Collated by William Freame in 1914).

First Pioneers.

• Captain Tench, discoverer of the Nepean River.
• Rev Henry Fulton, B.A., first Chaplain Nepean District, 1800 and first Incumbent, St Stephen's Church, Penrith.
• Rev James Vincent, second Anglican clergyman at Castlereagh and first Incumbent of Castlereagh after its separation from Penrith.
• Lieut William Cox, constructor of the first road over the Blue Mountains and practically the pioneer of Mulgoa.
• Samuel Terry, pioneer, Mt Pleasant, over 100 years ago.
• Rev Thos Hassell, first Anglican clergyman of Mulgoa district.
• Lieut Hobby (102nd Reg.) assistant Lieut Cox, constructor of Great Western Road over Blue Mountains; died 1833.
• Dr John Harris, Shane's Park, South Creek.
• Sir John Jamieson, founder of Regentville.
• Mr N Chapman, original grantee of Lambridge, 1806.
• Captain Woodriff, one of the original grantees of present site of Penrith.
• Rev T Makinson, first clergyman to officiate at St Marys, South Creek.

Exploration and Survey.

• Rear-Admiral Phillip Parker King, of South Creek, Royal Marine survey.
• Mr Gregory Blaxland, of South Creek, leader of Blue Mountain Exploration, 1812, previously crossed the Nepean River on tour of discovery; died 1853.
• Major Druitt, Mt Druitt and South Creek.

Two Notable Ladies.

• Mrs M Putland (daughter of Governor Bligh) original owner of part of the site of St Marys.
• Mrs Anna King (widow of Governor King), Kingswood, noted for her  piety and charity.

Notable Pioneers of Rural Industries, Commerce, etc.

• Mr John Single, farmer ' Cassola,' (died 1858).
• Mr John McHenry, farmer, 'Lambridge,' died 1832.
• Mr A Saddington, tanner, St Marys.
• Mr W D Matthews, general merchant, High Street, Penrith.
• Mr William Fulton, sen., merchant, Penrith.
• Mr W H Judges, merchant, High Street, Penrith.
• Mr W Aspinall, builder of Court House, 1882.
• Messrs A and J Rayner, Emu Tweed Factory.
• Mr J T F Cadden, manager Commercial Bank, 1882.
• Hon. G H Cox, Mulgoa.
• Mr John Colless, miller, Castlereagh.
• Mr J K Lethbridge, South Creek.
• Mr R C Lethbridge, Werrington.
• Mr Walter Lamb, Woodstock.

Scholastic & Ecclesiastical.

• Rev Henry Fulton, B.A.
• Rev Father Brennan.
• Very Rev Dean Mahoney.
• Rev Dr Cameron, pioneer Presbyterian Minister.
• Rev Dr T Clouston, Presbyterian

Minister during the eighties. (1880's)

• Rev T Schofield, pioneer Methodist Minister.
• Rev J D Brown, pioneer Baptist Minister, Rooty Hill.
• Mr D T Wiley (the doyen of schoolmasters), Penrith Superior Public school for over 20 years; left about 1884-5.
• Mr John Henry Smith, Schoolmaster.
• Rev Father Phelan, R C.
• Rev Geo Brown, C of E.
• Rev W Hill, Methodist (1882).
• Rev Father Sheridan, Rev Father
• Barlow, St. Nicholas', Penrith.
• Rev Canon Archdall, M. A., formerly St Stephen's C of E, 1908-13.
• Revs B Dinning, J Tarn, W H Hall, M.A., Methodist.
• Rev Elijah Smith, a worthy old Anglican clergyman of Penrith and South Creek, during the sixties.

Political & Administrative.

• Governor Macquarie officially founded Castlereagh, 1810.
• Sir Charles Cowper.
• Hon Sydney Smith, ex-M.L.A., exM.H.R., ex-Postmaster-General.
• Mr J K Cleeve, for many years P.M. at Penrith.
• Mr R T Jamison, M.L.A.
• Mr J T Ryan, M.L.A.
• Mr T M Shepherd, M.L.A.
• Mr S E Lees, ex-M.L.A. (elected 1887).
• Mr T R Smith, ex-M.L.A., and ex-Alderman of Penrith.
• Mr Brinsley Hall, M.L.A. for the Hawkesbury.
• Mr E K Bowden, first Federal Member for the Nepean.
• Mr Geo. Cann, second Federal Member for the Nepean.
• Hon J Frazer, Springwood.
• Mr Hugh Millar, Government Road Superintendent; afterwards Mayor of Prospect and Sherwood.

Philanthropy.

• Mr J J Riley, President first hospital in Penrith, 1866, and for several years after.
• Mr J K Lethbridge, vice-president first hospital in Penrith, 1866, and for several years after.
• Mr J K Cleeve, hon treasurer ditto, 1871.
• Dr Clark, hon secretary ditto, 1866, and several times after.
• Mr W Tindale, hon treasurer ditto, 1866- 1868.
• Drs Thomas, Willmott and Clark, hon surgeon, ditto.
• Revs Canon Vaughan, J Ross and T W Unwin, hospital committee, 1868,
• ditto. Messrs G Cox, E K Cox, J Single, W York, W D Matthews, John Price, P. Robbins, A. H. Cox, in 1868.
• Mr S E Lees, ex-M.L.A., President Nepean Cottage Hospital, 1914, and for over 22 years; the chief founder and the first president of the present institution.
• Rev J McKee, Messrs H J F Neale, and D McDonald, vice-presidents of Nepean Cottage Hospital, 1912.
• Mr E J Fufton, hon treasurer, ditto, for many years.
• Ald A W N Judges (ex-Mayor), hon secretary, ditto.
• Dr F C Higgins (ex-Mayor) senior medical officer, ditto.

Military.

• Lieut. Colonel Shadforth, a pioneer of Greendale district, noted Sydney philanthropist and educationalist.
• Lieut. Colonel Erskine, South Creek.
• Mr J J Riley, first captain, Penrith Volunteers.
• Col.-Sergt. Charles Andrews, 80th Regiment; died at St. Marys, 1883, aged 83 years.

Art and Literature

• Mr Joseph Kelly (poet), Mt. Pleasant.
• Miss Miles Franklin (author), Castlereagh.
• Mr A Colless, J.P., founder of the 'Nepean Times,' 3rd March, 1882; ex-Mayor.
• Mr John Salvana, artist.
• Mr J R Woodland ('Japonica'), Kingswood.
• Mr G C Johnson, old times recorder.
• Mr Robert Farlow, J.P. (ex-Mayor of Castlereagh), district histrographper Municipal.
• Ald J J Riley, first Mayor of Penrith.
• Ald James McCarthy, early Mayor of Penrith.
• Ald Donald Beatson, early Mayor of Penrith.
• Ald John Price, Mayor of Penrith, 1881-2.
• Ald Michael Long, J.P., born 76 years ago in the district; 9 times Mayor of Penrith.
• Ald Alfred Colless, Mayor of Penrith, 1882-3.
• Ald George Besley, Mayor of Penrith, 1883-4.
• Ald A W Stephens and W C Fulton, ex-Mayors.
• Ald A W N Judges, F M Vine, Dr Higgins, ex-Mayors of Penrith.
• Ald H J F Neale, Mayor of Penrith, 1909-10; born at Penrith, 1857; Captain of Rifle Club.
• Ex-Ald J Sainsbury (Mayor of St. Marys, 1907-8), contractor.

General.

• Mr Chas Randell, one of the first two railway men appointed to Penrith when that station was first opened.
• Mr Michael Kinshula, a pioneer farmer of Castlereagh; died 1868.
• Mr John Tait, celebrated horse owner (Mt. Druitt, 1860).
• Mr John Gilligan, Castlereagh; arrived in colony 1800; died about 1874; reputed to have been over 100 years old.
• Mr Archibald McLachlan; very old innkeeper of Penrith; oldest member of Royal Foresters; died 1912.
• Mr George Crossman, first chairman of committee Jamisontown S.S., and for years superintendent of same.
• Ald Joshua Field, several times champion prize-taker for best collection farm produce Nepean District A.H. and I. Society.
• Mr John Lees (ex-soldier), Methodist pioneer; died 1836.
• Mr George Walker, born in Enland, 1827; an old identity of Emu Plains from 1850; died 1910.
• Mr T R Smith, ex -M.L.A.; born Mt Druitt 1813; founded Emu Plains Gravel Co; first returned M.L.A. for Nepean 1874, defeated 1887, but returned again to Legislative Assembly 1896.
• Mr Thomas Salmon, Rose Inn, Penrith, 1838.
• Mr Edward Field, pioneer blacksmith, Castlereagh.
• Mr F Hahn, verger of St Thomas', Mulgoa, for about 25 years; arrived in district in the 50's.
• Mr Donald Beatson, a much respected old-time Penrith Innkeeper of 50 years ago; also an ex-Mayor of Penrith.

Source: Makers of History (1914, July 4). Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962), p. 2.