Cedar Getters

DESCRIPTION

NameCedar GettersDescriptionRed Cedar (Toona Australis) a forest tree discovered in the Illawarra in the early 1800s, was to become an important industry in the Colony. With the felling of the cedar, ‘the sawyers were put to work, a hundred or so, “slaughtering in all directions”, and sawing the huge logs into planks. Conditions were difficult with no tracks through the ‘brush’ to link working parties or to travel.

Free occupation permits were given to cattlemen, to bring cattle to the Illawarra, namely Major George Johnston, Captain Brooks, Charles Throsby, D’Arcy Wentworth, Robert Jenkins, William Browne and Samuel Terry.

From the early years of the 19th century, James Badgery is said to have ‘had the use of all the clear land from the southern shores of Lake Illawarra to the Minnamurra River’.

The country between the rivers consisted of almost impenetrable vegetation. In 1821, David Smythe, a cedar-getter ‘found the face of the country except for some small open patches, covered with timber and almost impenetrable’. In 1827 Peter Cunningham described it as ‘fern, cedar, cabbage trees and creeping vines’.

Major George Johnston sent the first cattle from Liverpool down the steep mountain tracks. Bullock teams were used to haul cedar to the edge of the lake for shipment to Sydney and shipment to England. Bark and slab homes were built on the cattle runs of properties stocked with cattle, that later laid the foundation of the dairying industry. (excerpts Green Meadows-William A. Bayley)

In 1830 William Charles Wentworth, son of D’Arcy Wentworth had obtained the right from the Governor to cut the timber off 5,268 acres between the north bank of the Minnamurra River near Jamberoo, and the top of Mount Terry at Albion Park.

John Pugh Nichols, son of the First Fleeter John Nichols, was Wentworth’s manager, and the timber was delivered from the forests to the port at Shellharbour.

Cedar planks were built into rafts at the beach and floated to the small sailing craft waiting to take the timber to Sydney. (John Nichols First Fleeter-John Nichols Family Society).

William Charles Wentworth, explored and crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813 with Blaxland and Lawson. In 1829 he married Sarah Cox. He died in 1872 and was buried at his home Vaucluse House, where a chapel was built over his tomb.

Clearing the forest at Tongarra, c.1860.

CONNECTIONS

PersonWentworth, D'ArcyPlacePeterborough EstateLocalityShellharbour City LGAFamilyJohnston (George)Nichols

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Cedar Getters