Fairview Homestead - Mangrove Creek

Location: Mangrove Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Surnames/tags: Park Andrews Pemberton

Contents 1 Fairview Homestead 1.1 Aboriginal History at Mangrove Creek 1.2 Mangrove Creek Settlement History 1.3 Regional Crossroads (1830s to 1930) 1.4 History of Fairview 1.4.1 John Jenkins Peacock (1836-1840) 1.4.2 Frederick Park (1840-1851) 1.4.3 John Ferguson (1851-1873) 1.4.4 Thomas Pemberton (1873-1899) 1.4.5 Alfred John Andrews (1899-1951) 1.4.6 Stanley Andrews (1951-1964) 1.4.7 Donald & Annelies Crone (1964-1973) 1.4.8 Gosford Shire Council (since 1973) 1.5 Heritage lost forever 2 Saving Fairview 2.1 Preventing demolition (2006-2013) 2.2 Heritage Studies 2.3 Heritage Listing (2014) 2.4 Development Application (2016) 2.5 The Miracle (2019) 3 Fairview today (2024) 4 Fairview in the Media 5 Research Notes 6 Red Herrings 7 Sources

Fairview Homestead

Fairview Homestead ca. 1928

Fairview is a heritage-listed traditional Australian homestead located on Ten Mile Hollow Road in Upper Mangrove, Central Coast Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It is a historically significant landmark, being the last remaining example of the settlements and farms along Mangrove Creek. Fairview is located at 33.323172"S — 151.126307"E.

Fairview lies on the route of Simpson's Track, close to the site of the former St. Thomas' Anglican Church and its heritage-listed St. Thomas' Cemetery.

If you are interested and want to help preserve the history of Fairview and Mangrove Creek, join the Fairview Homestead Association.    It is a registered charity and new members are always welcome.    Apply now !

Aboriginal History at Mangrove Creek

Darkinjung Territory - early 1800's

The traditional boundaries of Darkinjung^[1] territory extended roughly from the Hawkesbury, Colo and Grose Rivers in the south, along the watershed parallel to the Pacific coastline and along the Hunter River to the North. The Darkinjung were a comparatively small mob, surrounded by the Kamilaroi in the North and the much more numerous Dharug and Wiradjuri peoples in the South and East, although the exact boundaries are unclear and have been the subject of much scholarly debate.^[2]

Archeological fieldwork in the Mangrove Creek valley in the 1970's and 80's found evidence of aboriginal settlements and field camps dating from as early as 11,000 years ago. Decorated rock shelters, grinding areas and camp sites attest to habitation and ceremonial activities in the valley. The work identified fluctuating periods of high settlement as well as millennia during which there was little permanent habitation and the majority of sites in the valley were transit camps.^[3] The ridgelines of Mangrove Mountain were used by the Darkinjung as long-distance trade and traveling routes. These reached from Gosford via Wollombi as far north as Singleton.^[4]

The Darkinjung specialised in trading between different mobs and their first contacts with the British colonists were typically open and friendly, unlike other mobs who were more guarded or openly hostile. Both the British and the Darkinjung derived benefit in cooperating and a number of Darkinjung greatly assisted the British in communicating with other mobs, acting as guides, trackers and interpreters.^[5]

However, even friendly contact with colonists would prove fatal. In 1789, Sydney was struck by an outbreak of pox, often assumed to be smallpox, but most likely chicken pox. This caused minor illness amongst some of the colonists, but was devastating to the aboriginal communities who had no immunity. Governor Phillip estimated that about half of the Eora in the Sydney district had died. Many fled the district, inadvertently causing the disease to spread up the coast and into the Hawkesbury-Hunter Ranges.^[6] This and later small pox outbreaks and other exotic diseases devastated indigenous family groups including the Darkinjung.^[7] Over the following 100 years, disease, the loss of traditional foraging grounds to settlers (especially the jam beds in fertile areas alongside the river's edge), inter-marriage and high infant mortality took their toll.

In the Lower Hawkesbury, unlike in other parts of the colony, there were no massacres of indigenous peoples. Relations between settlers and the Darkinjung appear to have been generally friendly.^[8]

Some of the early convict settlers are also said to have raised families with indigenous women, but whether these were Darkinjung women or women from neighbouring mobs is hard to say today. Either way, their descendants will have been brought up as settlers without being initiated into the ancestral customs and stories of the Darkinjung.

By the late 1890's, the Darkinjung were much reduced in number and the last remaining members lived on a Government Reserve near Windsor. The group was comprised of about 60 men, women and children, mostly of mixed ancestry. Of these, only two very old men had been initiated.^[9] With the Darkinjung no longer occupying their ancestral lands, it is likely that some of the more numerous neighbouring Kamilaroi, Dharug and/or Wiradjuri mobs expanded into the ancestral lands of the Darkinjung. As a result, none of the traditional custodians of the Darkinjung lands survive today and their stories and local knowledge are sadly lost to us, save for small fragments recorded by scholars and keen amateurs in the 1800's.^[10][11]

Mangrove Creek Settlement History

When the First Fleet arrived and settled in Sydney in 1788, they found the soil poorly suited to agriculture and fresh water was scarce. Search parties soon discovered that the Hawkesbury river and its tributaries, including Mangrove Creek, provided pristine locations for agriculture, due to their fertile soil and a ready supply of fresh water. As a result, the area was settled in the early 1800's to supply much needed produce to support and feed the Sydney settlement.

Peter Hibbs and his son George were one of the first settlers. They each received a grant of 100 acres at the mouth of Mangrove Creek on 11 August 1804. The best parts of Mangrove Creek were settled in the 1820s. By 1841, 280 people were living in the valley. Produce included stone fruit, maize, citrus, timber and cattle.^[12]

Lilywhite at Pemberton's Wharf, Mangrove Creek

Many of the families who worked and later settled in Mangrove Creek area have direct bloodlines to those who arrived on the First Fleet, the most well known being Matthew Everingham (ca.1768-1817).^[13] Richard Woodbury was another of the early settlers in the upper valley in the area of Fairview. Records show that he sold produce to the convict gangs building the Great North Road in the 1830's.^[14]. Richard's brother William built a schooner to carry produce to Sydney in the early 1850's. At that time, the only connection between Mangrove Creek and Sydney was via the Hawkesbury river. Boats carried supplies in and exported produce from the creek to Brooklyn and thence to Sydney.

Other notable surnames in the area include Andrews, Chaseling, Douglass, Ferguson, Green, Gould, Mooney, Pemberton, Starkey, Watkins and others.

Mangrove and Upper Mangrove grew into thriving community with wharves, (unlicensed) inns, timber mills, schools, a post office, community hall, church and cemeteries. St. Thomas' Anglican Church and cemetery were consecrated in the late 1840s a few hundred metres north of Fairview and the Mead's Bridge across Mangrove Creek was just to the south.

Regional Crossroads (1830s to 1930)

1929 map: the road to Gosford via Mangrove Ck.

Fairview is located about 250 metres north of where the first road from Sydney to Gosford branched off Simpson's Track. Simpson's track was named in 1829 by Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell, but the route from Ten Mile Hollow to Mangrove Creek had been in use by European settlers as early as 1828. Convicts from No. 25 Road Party under the charge of Thomas Lawler from No. 4 Iron Gang were sent to Mangrove to work on the track.^[15] Stonework and bridge remains along the creek are testament to this early history.^[16]

When the first road to Gosford was built, it crossed the Hawkesbury at Wiseman's Ferry, then picked-up the Great North Road before heading towards Mangrove Creek via Ten Mile Hollow. Once at Mangrove Creek, the road ran north up the creek for 1¼ miles (2km) before crossing the Creek over a series of two bridges at Mead's Gully. The Mead's Gully bridges, about 22km upstream of the junction with the Hawkesbury. were the first opportunity to cross Mangrove Creek by bridge. All other traffic across the creek was by boat. That critical river crossing was located just 250 metres south of Fairview. Back in the day, a horse and rider could comfortably ride underneath the bridge. Today, the creek has dramatically silted up.

Crossing Mangrove Creek at Mead's Gully, the road then ran 2½ miles (4km) back downriver to Pemberton's Post Office in the settlement of Mangrove before turning left up Pemberton's Hill and on to Blood Tree Hill (5¾ miles, 10.3km). From there, Gosford was reached via Bald Hill and Lackersteens Corner. The road from Ten Mile Hollow to Gosford was eventually gazetted in 1871, but even in the 1910 Pearson's Road Map to the Sydney area, much of the road from Wiseman's Ferry was still labelled as "rough" (for details, see^[17]).

Keith Paull's father completed the trip from Bankstown to Mangrove Mountain in the early 1930's, bringing home a horse and tip dray. It was a slow and laborious trip, taking three days to complete. Pemberton's Hill in particular was often challenging, especially in bad light or weather when cars and drays regularly got bogged on the ascent.

Fairview was one of the first places of respite after the 'challenging' traverse from Ten Mile Hollow. Located not far from the bridge and before having to tackle Pemberton's hill on the other side of the creek, weary travellers would often stay at the Andrews' home overnight to break the journey.

The road past Fairview was the main road to Gosford until 1930, when Peat's Ferry Bridge and the Pacific Highway were finally opened. After 1930, the challenging road via Ten Mile Hollow and Mangrove creek soon fell into disuse.^[18][19]

History of Fairview

Fairview Homestead stands on a 50 acre lot in the heart of Mangrove Creek valley. The land was first offered for sale by the Crown as lot 32 on 5 Jan 1835 and sold to John Dakin at auction on 8 April 1835, but the purchase was never completed.^[20][21] In his stead, John Lowe applied for the block at a price of 5s per acre.^[22] He was granted the land, but never took-up the grant and instead offered his rights to the land for sale directly from the Crown as Lot 48 on 8 Sep 1835. It was auctioned on 14 Oct 1835 where it was knocked-down to John Jenkins Peacock.^[23]

John Jenkins Peacock (1836-1840)

John Jenkins Peacock (ca.1798-1868), a wealthy Sydney merchant, acquired extensive landholdings at Mangrove Creek between 1828 and 1839. Peacock acquired the block on 18 Jan 1836 for £12.10 shillings.^[24][25] Given that he was not a farmer, but an absentee landowner, it is unclear if the land was cleared for agriculture and tenanted at that time. John Peacock sold the block less than four years later as he liquidated his investments in New South Wales to purchase extensive landholdings in what was to become Canterbury, New Zealand.

Frederick Park (1840-1851)

On 3 Jun 1840, Frederick Park, a dairyman and farmer from Mangrove Creek, purchased that same 50 acre block from John Jenkins Peacock for £50.^[26][27] Frederick Park constructed a small slab hut for himself, his wife Esther and their adopted daughter Harriet Forner. At that time, the property was known simply as Parks. In August 1844, Harriett married John Ferguson to start her own family. Frederick's wife Esther died on 4 May 1851. She is the first person known to be buried in St. Thomas' Church Cemetery. It's a curious twist of fate that the first person to be interred at the newly consecrated Anglican cemetery in Upper Mangrove should be a catholic woman from County Donegal in Ireland. Later in 1851, Frederick sold his land to his son-in-law and moved away from Mangrove Creek.

John Ferguson (1851-1873)

On 13 Oct 1851, Mangrove Creek farmer John Ferguson (1802-1853) purchased the 50-acre property from his father-in-law Frederick Park for only £36.^[28] John and Harriet (1828-1915) raised their four young children at Mangrove Creek. John owned several parcels of land and it is not yet known on which block they made their home.

John died on 10 May 1853 at Mangrove Creek. The inquest into his death recorded the cause of death as "excessive drinking".^[29] John was buried at St. Thomas' Church Cemetery only a few 100 metres from his new block of land.

The executors of John's will sold one of his blocks of land soon after his death, but did not sell the remainder of his landholdings for another 20 years. Harriett re-married on 16 Mar 1858 (to William Douglass (1834-1892)), but it appears that her property remained in trust for her.

Thomas Pemberton (1873-1899)

On 24 Oct 1873, Thomas Pemberton (1815-1874) purchased John Ferguson's remaining four blocks of land from the trustees appointed in John's will. Thomas paid £250 for a total of 200 acres at Mangrove Creek, including the 50 acre Fairview block (Mangrove No.38), the adjacent 40 acre block (Mangrove No.37) originally granted to William Jones, a 60 acre block first granted to George Everingham (Popran No. 28) and the 50 acres originally granted to John Ferguson in 1835.^[30]

However, Thomas Pemberton was not to enjoy his purchase for long. He passed away on 23 Sep 1874. In 1899, some 26 years later, his trustees finally auctioned off the property portfolio. Bidding must have been slow, as the highest bidder was Pemberton's daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Stackman, née Pemberton from Yarramalong, who paid the bargain price of £200.^[31] However, before the land could be formally conveyed to her, Alfred John Andrews offered to purchase the land for an additional £100 to extend his existing landholdings at Mangrove Creek.^[32]

Alfred John Andrews (1899-1951)

To add to his existing 50 acre block at Warre Warren Creek in Upper Mangrove^[33], Alfred John Andrews (1860-1943) purchased John Ferguson's former landholdings from Mrs Stackman and the trustees of Thomas' Pemberton's land: Matthew Pemberton and John Goldsmith for £300 on 27 Dec 1899.^[34]

At that stage, the Fairview block featured a small wooden house where the Park family had lived and several outbuildings. The Andrews family proceeded to built a new house and a number of outbuildings. The property was originally operated as a dairy, but expanded over the years to include beef, pigs, horse breeding, fruit, corn and vegetables.^[35]

It is unclear when Alfred and his wife Amanda (née Green, 1862-1944) moved from Warre Warren Creek to Fairview. Between 1884 and 1907, Alfred and Amanda had 11 children. In 1921, Alfred engaged a Roseville builder, David White, to assist with the build of a new family home on the 50 acre block originally granted by the Crown to J.J.Peacock. Alfred named the house Fairview.

Fairview ca. 1930

The timber, all local hardwood, came from the Northern Hardwoods mill at the base of nearby Kooree Gully. Fairview was built alongside an older home, possibly built by one of the sons of Thomas Pemberton.

Family lore suggests that the older properties on site were built by John Andrews, Alfred John's father, and that Alfred was born on the site in 1860. However, John Andrews was never the owner of the Fairview block and had his own property at Native Dog Gully (See Research Notes below).

After Fairview was completed in 1922, the old building was used as the main kitchen for the homestead.^[36]

Emergency Twin Births on the Road (1928)

Winifred Woodbury and her husband Leo lived at the mouth of Mangrove Creek in Spencer. In 1928, Winifred was pregnant with twins and went into labour early. She set-off in the family's famous Cadillac hoping to reach Gosford hospital in time, but the road up and down Mangrove Creek is long, windy and bumpy. By the time Winifred reached Fairview, it was time. Naturally, the Andrews family looked after Winifred. Her twins Leo Gordon and Kathleen Della Woodbury were born at Fairview on 10 Feb 1928. A comfortable bed was made-up for the babies on the back seat of the Cadillac for the long and bumpy drive back down the creek to Spencer.^[37]

Teachers' Accommodation

Alfred Andrews was keen to ensure that the local children were well educated and employed a series of private teachers to staff the local school at Mangrove Creek Church and later at the schoolhouse on Dave Andrews' property at Lower Mangrove. These were often billeted at Fairview and three are reported to have married into the family.^[38][39] Pam Atkins tells the story that when she was about six years old, she lived during teh week with Stan and Hannah Andrews at Fairview. Her teacher Fae Cone was also living at Fairview. They would walk to school together in the morning along the old road that ran beside the creek to St. Thomas. There were only about seven or eight children in the class. Once class was finished on Friday afternoon, Pam would start to walk home and her father would come up from Mangrove Creek to meet her on the way. Her mother had the Post Office at that time. On day, she remembers Walter Starkey coming along on his horse as she was walking home on her own. Walter was 'rough' and known to be a 'pretty wild fellow', but Pam remembers him picking her up and putting her on his horse to give her a ride home - a courtesy she has not forgotten for 80 years.^[40]

Horse racing & Dancing

Gordon Andrews, son of Alfred and Amanda, married Helen Paterson in Kurri Kurri in Mar 1937, but had big reception and party at Fairview afterwards. This even involved horse racing on the flats near Fairview (which are now forested). The other popular past-time was to organise dances. It's central location and generous layout made Fairview the natural venue. Local musicians, as well as musicians engaged by Alfred from further afield, came to play and couples would dance in circles all around the entire verandah of the homestead.^[41]

Alfred Andrews passed away in 1943. In his will dated 17 Sep 1940, he had left his entire estate - landholdings and mortgages alike - to his youngest son Stanley Andrews, which caused some strain among the family. It took until 19 Mar 1951 before the extensive properties could be formally conveyed to him.^[42]

Stanley Andrews (1951-1964)

Stanley Andrews (1907-1989) had grown up working on his father's farm and driving bullock teams to haul logs for sawmills. He married Hannah Thompson (1916-1998) in 1938 and the couple raised five children at Fairview. The property was used to graze cattle as well as growing vegetables, watermelons, pumpkins and fruit. In 1956, Stanley took a job with Gosford Shire Council and moved up to Mangrove Mountain, but the family continued to grow some vegetables for their own use and to sell at market.^[43]

Stan and Hannah had no male descendants ready to take-over Fairview and so, aged 57 and ready for retirement, Stan sold the family farm and extensive landholdings acquired by his father.

Donald & Annelies Crone (1964-1973)

On 25 Sep 1964, Sydney architect Donald John CRONE (1923-1994)^[44] and his wife Annelies née ARBENZ (1924-2019).^[45] purchased the landholdings of Stanley Andrews at Mangrove Creek for £7368. These comprised 10 blocks of land, a total of 419 acres 2 roods, including the 50 acre Fairview property.^[46]

Dennis Clements and June Hilton-Clements were appointed as managers of the estate and lived at Fairview, as well as undertaking the renovations of the property under the direction of Don and Annelies, who initiated several alterations to the interior.^[47]

In 1969, the Electricity Commission of NSW acquired several easements for the construction and maintenance of the high voltage power line that cuts across the valley. This included a track to provide the required access, labelled (4) on the map below.

Donny's Track where it joins Ten Mile Hollow Rd, Mangrove Creek

The final section of what became known as Donny's Track (purple on the map) does not appear on early maps. It's course appears to have been settled only late in 1970. The track cuts through part of the northern edge of the Fairview block. On 7 Apr 1971, for a token fee of $20, Donald and Annelies Crone granted an easement to the Electricity Commission for the construction and use of the short but vital hairpin section of Donny's Track.^[48]

In 1970/71, properties in Mangrove Creek were starting to be resumed by the Electricity Commission in preparation for the construction of Mangrove Creek Dam. Fairview and the other Crone landholdings in the valley were also on the list.

Reflecting on the loss of her home as well as the destruction of heritage planned by Council, June Hilton penned a short poem about Fairview^[49]:

---

FAIRVIEW

There's a spot down in the valley, on which no body frowned,

A genuine old homestead, with verandahs all around.

Its a place called Lower Mangrove, or Upper Mangrove Creek,

And I heard a sad, sad story about it the other week.

Taken over by a council down the hill in the big town,

They have no thought for heritage and want to tear it down.^[50]

I lived in the beautiful homestead with my family years ago,

And would buy it and live there again, if only I had the dough.

Yes it even had it's ghosts there - a dog and it's master lame.

You'd hear the step clunk of his wooden leg as 'round the verandah he came,

And the scratchy scramble of his loved and faithful hound,

I doubt that anyone ever saw them, though we knew they were around.

An Architect from Hunters Hill had bought the farm you see,

And put management in the care of my hubby Dennis and me.

We lived and loved and restored there, until that dreadful day -

When the Council in its wisdom took the farm away.

'We'll make a massive dam' they said 'with water for the whole domain',

But they never listened to the old timers, or even to the rain.

Built on hundreds of tons of sand, the dam was like a sieve.

They'd been better to leave the place alone and let the families live.

Gosford Shire Council (since 1973)

Between 1972 and 1974, all bar one property in the Valley was compulsorily acquired by the Council of the Shire of Gosford. This was not popular and posed a few entertaining conveyancing issues in the upper reaches of the Valley. For details, see the Post-Script in Philip Gould's Bio.

Gosford Council formally acquired the Crone family properties on 27 Feb 1973 for the sum of $186,350.^[51] Since then, the property has been owned by various local government organisations as they have been renamed, amalgamated, split apart and restructured. Ownership has vested in the Water Board, Gosford Shire Council, Gosford City Council and most recently Central Coast Council.

Fairview Homestead in 1982

Tenants: Taylor (1979–1995)

Until the late 1990's, Council rented out Fairview to tenants. One of the first was landscape artist Neil Taylor and his wife Susie. As part of his obligations, Neil acted as a 'Ranger-in-Residence', patrolling the area, shooting feral dogs and otherwise keeping an eye on the valley. Their two children Crystal and Simon were both born at Fairview. Whilst the property had been connected to the electricity grid decades ago, at that time, the property was fully 'off the grid' with only a solar-powered phone for emergencies. There was no running water and electricity was provided by a generator. Neil converted the old building next to Fairview into his painting studio.^[52][53]

In early 1980, Lewis and Jan Rassaby and their children joined the Taylors at Fairview. For about a year, two families with small children lived together at Fairview. Jacob Rassaby was born at Fairview in 1980. The last child born at Fairview was Simon Taylor. After their time at Fairview, the Rassaby family moved back to 'civilisation', but returned regularly to Fairview during the holidays where the children would play together, swim in the creek and catch tortoises in the swamp.^[54]

Tenants: Chapman (1995–2002)

Landscape painter Peter Chapman leased Fairview after Neil Taylor moved out.^[55] In the 2002 bushfires, the tenant reportedly risked his life to defend the property against the advice of the Rural Fire Service to leave. The 2002 fires destroyed the last remnants of St. Thomas' Church nearby. Fairview escaped unscathed, but "Since this experience, the tenant has vacated the property" and Council elected not to lease it again.^[56][57] At that stage, the property was still in very good condition. Pictures taken in 2005 show the property still very much as it was left, with furniture and items of daily life in situ. However, left to the elements and open to visitors and vandals alike, Fairview soon fell into disrepair.^[58]

Heritage lost forever

Unfortunately, the historic slab huts said to have been built by Frederick and Esther Park on the Fairview block have already been lost to fire and demolition.^[59] Over the past 50 years, all other historic buildings in the Valley have gradually disappeared either by demolition, vandalism, arson or bushfire.

The historic St. Thomas' church lost its battle against time, weather and termites in the early 1990's. The small church had been a central part of Mangrove life as the local school-house, for social gatherings and for worship. After a windstorm ripped away one side of the roof, the building became unstable and collapsed soon afterwards into a ragged pile of timber and metal sheeting.^[60] All traces of the building were obliterated by a bushfire in 2002, leaving only St. Thomas' cemetery as a silent reminder of what was once a vibrant community.

In 2022, Fairview was 100 years old. It is now the only remaining structure that speaks to the over 200 years of agricultural history in the Mangrove Creek area. Fairview has miraculously withstood bushfires and the elements for the last 100 years and suffered abandonment, vandalism and neglect by its current owners for the last 30 years.

Fairview, its history and its unique position in the beautiful Mangrove Creek valley should be preserved for future generations.

Saving Fairview

If you are interested and want to help preserve the history of Fairview and Mangrove Creek, join the Fairview Homestead Association.    It is a registered charity and new members are always welcome.    Apply now !

Preventing demolition (2006-2013)

Fairview Homestead in 2005

Gosford City Council considered a proposal to demolish Fairview Homestead in November 2006. With St. Thomas' Church already lost forever, the cemetery and Fairview were the last remaining substantial landmarks of Mangrove Creek's rich agricultural heritage. The decision sparked the formation of the Central Coast Heritage Committee and Friends of Fairview organisations who began to lobby actively for the preservation of the homestead. As a result of public pressure, demolition was deferred pending consultation but re-submitted to Council in April, 2007. Again, active lobbying, media attention and representations at council meetings achieved a deferral, allowing Council more time for consultation and to consider a proposal put forward by Workwise to provide a workforce to assist in the restoration of Fairview Homestead.

In December 2011, council again deferred a management proposal to demolish Fairview.^[61]

Heritage Studies

As part of the consultation process and subsequently, several expert studies were commissioned to assess the fabric of the building and its heritage value (see below). All have recommended the preservation of Fairview as a historically significant landmark, being the last remaining example of the settlements and farms along Mangrove Creek.

Major heritage assessments include:

• Gosford Heritage Review - Stage 2 (2001) by Suters Architects
• Fairview Heritage Assessment (2006) by Elizabeth Evans, Heritage Consultant
• Gosford Community Based Heritage Study (2013) by David Scobie Architects Pty Ltd
• Statement of Heritage Impact - Conservation and Adaptation of Fairview (2014) by carste STUDIO Architects and Heritage Consultants

Heritage Listing (2014)

Council approved the heritage listing of Fairview in February 2014 and Fairview Homestead was formally gazetted on the NSW Heritage Inventory on 8 Apr 2017, Local Environment Plan No. 201.^[62] This listing requires the owner of the property, in this case the local Council, to prevent serious or irreparable damage or deterioration of a heritage item by ensuring waterproofing, fire protection, security and essential maintenance.^[63] Whilst a barbed wire fence now protects Fairview from vandalism and a clearing is being maintained to reduce the bushfire risk, the integrity of the roof and the building as a whole has not been maintained by its responsible owner, the Council, for decades.

Development Application (2016)

In parallel with the heritage listing, the Fairview Homestead Association, a registered charity, was fundraising, securing sponsors, securing access to recycled aged timbers and soliciting in-kind donations of materials and labour. The objective was to restore Fairview and some of its original outbuildings to create a heritage precinct akin to an open air museum. Widely supported in its efforts, the Association proceeded to file a Development Application with Council in 2015, but approval of the DA was chronically slow. To that aim, the Association invested years in discussions with Council and the Water Authority, funded expensive expert reports, environmental assessments, assembled builder's quotes and addressed every conceivable objection. Unfortunately, at that time, the creation of a heritage precinct in Dubbo Gully to preserve and interpret the history of the area for future generations was not supported by key areas of Council administration. A DA was finally granted on 11 Oct 2016, but only after significant public pressure and lobbying by individuals and the media.^[64] However, the terms of that DA specified clearly that "visitation of the site shall be restricted to members of the Fairview Homestead Association ... [and] the site shall not be used for tourist purposes or as an information and education facility." It further mandated that "No toilet facilites are to be installed on the site." These and other restrictions very effectively frustrated any attempt at fundraising to preserve and restore Fairview. How does one go about raising funds for a heritage project when virtually no-one is allowed to visit the site and there are no amenities when you get there?

The Miracle (2019)

Fairview surrounded by bushfires

The homestead today is fenced off to prevent vandalism and to prevent occasional visitors from falling through the slowly decaying floorboards of the veranda. When the 2019 bushfires swept through Mangrove Creek valley, Fairview was in the path of the flames. However, as if by miracle, the forests around it burnt, but Fairview itself survived. The miracle is explained by its position on the ridge, the clearing around the home, the favourable wind currents around Fairview and – critically – the efforts of the volunteer fire fighters of the Rural Fire Service and the SES in battling the flames up and down the valley. It was a close escape. Fairview Homestead has already had many close escapes, avoiding demolition, vandalism and bushfires. It may not be so lucky next time.

If you value heritage and want to help preserve the history of Fairview and Mangrove Creek for future generations, join the Friends of Fairview.    The Association is a registered charity and new members are always welcome.    Apply now !

Fairview today (2024)

Sadly, decades of effort to save Fairview from demolition by neglect have so far proved fruitless. Whilst Council has been proactive in clearing and protecting the site, more needs to be done to preserve this heritage-listed building and all it stands for for future generations. Locals, family members, volunteers and the Friends of Fairview remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached with Council to save this unique heritage building in its landmark setting overlooking Mangrove Creek.

During a visit in July 2023 the building showed significant deterioration. The veranda beams on the left hand side of the home have sagged and the back right corner, the former laundry, has collapsed completely. The roof is no longer waterproof and if the building is to be saved and restored, it needs to happen very soon.

Fairview Homestead in 2023

Fairview (left)

Fairview (back right)

During the COVID years 2020-22 and following the bankruptcy of Central Coast Council in 2022, little was able to be achieved in support of Fairview. In 2023, the Fairview Homestead Association has again re-engaged with Council in order to explore alternative futures for Fairview that respect the importance of protecting the region's water supply as well as its important heritage for future generations. Hopefully, an appropriate balance can be negotiated.

Fairview in the Media

• July 2014 – https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2014/07/golf-day-raises-12000-for-da-application/
• Oct 2014 – https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2014/10/multi-award-winning-blues-band-at-mangrove/
• Mar 2015 – https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2015/03/mangrove-district-markets-now-twice-a-month/
• Aug 2015 – https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2015/08/fairview-cottage-at-risk-if-not-heritage-listed/
• Aug 2016 – https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/plans-to-restore-historic-fairview-homestead-run-aground/news-story/6431a7c975d88957b15964c27b4ce48e
• Oct 2020 – https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2020/10/mangrove-mountain-markets-moves/

Research Notes

None so far.

Red Herrings

As is common with family traditions, some stories turn out to be just that... stories. Here are a few I've been able to debunk.

Fairview was not the home of John Andrews

Many secondary sources report that John Andrews (1834-1902), the son of Jane Andrews (1814-1889) lived at Fairview. John grew up in the Valley and married Sarah Craft (1838-1924), the daughter of William and Rebecca Craft (née Woodbury), at St. Thomas' church in 1858. John is widely said to have purchased the Fairview block in 1872 to add to his 130 acres at Native Dog Gully at Mangrove Creek.^[65] Around 1885, the Fairview block is then supposed to have passed to his son Alfred John Andrews.

What actually happened: Research to discover the original property deeds failed for locate any relevant Andrews land purchases in Mangrove Creek between 1863 and 1900. As it turns out, Alfred John Andrews did not inherit the Fairview block at all (see above). He purchased it together with several other parcels of land on 27 Dec 1899, the deed being registered on 31 Jan 1900. At that stage, John Andrews was living with his son, horsebreeder Herb Andrews, in Ashfield.

Ryan Howard was not the last tenant at Fairview

Earlier documents on the history of Fairview state that a Mr Ryan Howard was the last resident at Fairview. A recent interview with Mr Howard revealed that he knew and visited the Taylor family when they lived at Fairview, but that between 1982 and 1992, he and his family lived "over the ridge" at Frog Hollow and not at Fairview. In fact, his father recalls that he applied to Council to lease Fairview for his family, but that the offer was rejected in favour of another tenant.^[66]

Sources

1. ↑ The name has been variously spelled Darkinyung, Darkinjung, Darkiñung, Darkinung, Darkin-yûng, Darkinyoong, Darkinjang, etc.)
2. ↑ The hard reality of “truth‐telling” - A report to the Guringai people on the ancestral language of the Central Coast (2021) by Jim Wafer - research report, a copy is in the posession of M.Lohmeyer (thank you Kay!).
3. ↑ Habitation and Land Use Patterns in the Upper Mangrove Creek Catchment, New South Wales Central Coast, Australia by Val Attenbrow, Australian Archaeology (2003) No. 57, pp. 20-31 as accessed at https://www.jstor.org/stable/40287711 (subscription required) by M.Lohmeyer on 24 Jul 2023.
4. ↑ "Upper Mangrove Creek catchment: fieldwork and analysis: aims and methods" in What's Changing: Population Size or Land-Use Patterns? — The archaeology of Upper Mangrove Creek, Sydney Basin by Val Attenbrow, published by ANU Press, Canberra, 2006 as accessed at https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/What_s_Changing_Population_Size_Or_Land/RSSWUlXj8QEC by M.Lohmeyer on 5 Oct 2023.
5. ↑ People of the River - Lost worlds of early Australia by Grace Karskens, published by Allen & Unwin (2020) ISBN: 9781760292232.
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox_in_Australia - researched by M.Lohmeyer on 12 Nov 2024.
7. ↑ Ford, Geoffrey Eric (2012). "Darkiñung Brief: extracted from 'Darkiñung Recognition' 2010 thesis" (PDF). University of Sydney. 5pp.
8. ↑ Research into Colonial Frontier Massacres in Australia, 1788-1930 conducted by Prof Lyndall Ryan and her team at Newcastle University - see https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres/introduction.php for details - active as at 20Dec2024.
9. ↑ Mathews, Robert Hamilton (1897). "The Burbung of the Darkinung Tribes" (PDF) in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 10 (1): 1–12.
10. ↑ Ford, Geoffrey Eric (2012). Darkiñung Recognition, 2010 thesis (PDF). University of Sydney.
11. ↑ Mathews, Robert Hamilton (1897). "The Burbung of the Darkinung Tribes" (PDF) in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 10 (1): 1–12.
12. ↑ Statement of Heritage Impact - Conservation and Adaptation of Fairview (2014) by carste STUDIO Architects and Heritage Consultants, page 4 - a copy of which is in the posession of M.Lohmeyer.
13. ↑ The life of Matthew Everingham has been detailed in three books by Valerie Ross: Matthew Everingham: A First Fleeter and His Times (1980), A Hawkesbury Story (1981) and Cornstalks 1988 : a genealogy (1980 & 1987).
14. ↑ Heritage Listing for Fairview Homestead in Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014, Listing No. 201, gazetted on 2/11/2014, available on Central Coast Council Website and https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/heritage/
15. ↑ Fairview circa 1922, a dossier prepared by historian Keith Paull in 2003, a copy of which is held in the Fairview Homestead Association Archives.
16. ↑ Items of Heritage Interest - Mangrove Creek Area: Stage I by Keith Paull and Graham Nelson, published 2006 by Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society, a copy of which is held in the Fairview Homestead Association Archives.
17. ↑

    Extract from Pearson's Road Map (1910)

    At ten and a half miles from Wiseman's, Ten Mile Hollow is reached, where there is a road to Wollombi (the telegraph line follows this road) but proceed straight on, and 2 miles beyond, a culvert is crossed, and about one mile further, a gate is passed through, and shortly after, turn sharp to the left (road straight on goes down Mangrove Creek to Spencer, late Fernleigh). Be careful at this turn-off, as the road you have to follow is hardly discernible on account of being covered by grass. The finger-board, however, will direct you correctly. Now proceed up Mangrove Creek, and with the creek on your right for one and a half miles, when a road goes off on the left to Wollombi, but proceed straight on, and cross two small culverts over Mangrove Creek, where you swerve around to the right and proceed down Mangrove Creek, with the creek again to your right, passing through two gates en route to Pemberton's store (Mangrove Post Office), where there is also a wharf on Mangrove Creek. Proceeding, be careful to turn sharp left, and up the hill, because straight on (from Pemberton's) leads to Lower Mangrove. — in Pearson's Road Guide to 50 miles around Sydney (1910), page 74, available at State Library of NSW, cited in Items of Heritage Interest - Mangrove Creek Area, 2006, Keith Paull & Graham Nelson, Dharug & Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society - copy in the Archives of the Fairview Homestead Association
18. ↑ The Ferry, the Branch, the Creek: Aspects of Hawkesbury History (2002) Dharug & Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society, Self-published, Wisemans Ferry, NSW.
19. ↑ Pearson's Road Guide to 50 miles around Sydney (1910), available at State Library of NSW - copy in possession of M.Lohmeyer
20. ↑ trove.nla.gov.au — NSW Government Gazette, 30 Sep 1835, page 694, Sale of Land - researched by M.Lohmeyer on 31 Oct 2024.
21. ↑ trove.nla.gov.au — NSW Government Gazette, 1 Apr 1835, page 171, Sale of Land - researched by M.Lohmeyer on 31 Oct 2024.
22. ↑ trove.nla.gov.au — NSW Government Gazette, 9 Sep 1835, page 637, Sale of Land - researched by M.Lohmeyer on 31 Oct 2024.
23. ↑ trove.nla.gov.au — The Sydney Monitor, 3 Oct 1835, page 4, Sale of Crown Lands - researched by M.Lohmeyer on 31 Oct 2024.
24. ↑ Land Records: New South Wales, Australia, Land Grants, 1788-1963 for Frederick Park in the Registrar General, Deeds Registration Branch, Registers of Memorials, 1827-1840, scanpage 410 of 605 accessed via Ancestry.com by M.Lohmeyer on 9 Oct 2023.
25. ↑ NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Serial 44 No. 83.
26. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Land Grants, 1788-1963 for Frederick Park in the Registrar General, Deeds Registration Branch Registers of Memorials, 1827-1840, scanpage 410 of 605 accessed via Ancestry.com by M.Lohmeyer on 9 Oct 2023.
27. ↑ Research at NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Book S No. 123, p.1 as researched by M.Lohmeyer on 15 Nov 2023.
28. ↑ Land Deed: NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Book 21 No. 843, p.1-2 researched by M.Lohmeyer on 17 Nov 2023.
29. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1796-1942 1834-1859 Citing: Name: John Ferguson Death Year: Abt 1853 Inquest Date: 14 May 1853 Inquest Place: Gosford Cause of death: Excessive drinking
30. ↑ Land Deed: NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Book 146 No. 919 researched by M.Lohmeyer on 17 Nov 2023.
31. ↑ Wyong and District Pioneer Register, Wyong Family History Group Inc., p.455 for Wilhelm Stackman, as accessed via Ancestry.com : Wyong, New South Wales, Australia, Headstone Images, 1800-2020, scanpage 567 of 958 – researched by M.Lohmeyer on 2 Apr 2024.
32. ↑ Land Deed: NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Book 659 No. 489 – researched by M.Lohmeyer on 17 Nov 2023.
33. ↑ Transcript of the Parliamentary Return of Landholders 1885 (District: Windsor): Town [Mangrove Creek], from the NSW Legislative Assembly, Votes & Proceedings 1885 (2nd Session) Vol. 3 - Appendix 2. pp. 435 - 457 as accessed via http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/lists/1885Landholders_A.html by M.Lohmeyer on 4 Oct 2023.
34. ↑ Land Deed: NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Book 659 No. 489 researched by M.Lohmeyer on 17 Nov 2023.
35. ↑ Rebuilding History: History of Fairview and Mangrove Creek, information sheet published by the Fairview Homestead Association Inc. (date ca. 2010), copy in the possession of M.Lohmeyer.
36. ↑ Rebuilding History: History of Fairview and Mangrove Creek, information sheet published by the Fairview Homestead Association Inc. (date ca. 2010), copy in the possession of M.Lohmeyer.
37. ↑ Personal Communication, Bernadette Flynn of Heritage Ventures to M.Lohmeyer, 4 Aug 2024, supported by additional research.
38. ↑ Rebuilding History: History of Fairview and Mangrove Creek, information sheet published by the Fairview Homestead Association Inc. (date ca. 2010), copy in the possession of M.Lohmeyer.
39. ↑ Reflections — The Andrews family from Alfred & Amanda (1980) by Beris F. MacPherson, Breton Press, Gosford, ISBN 0-9594056-0-7, page 10 and page 54, copy in the possession of M.Lohmeyer.
40. ↑ Recorded interview with Pam Atkins, Matt & Donna Lohmeyer, 9 Nov 2024.
41. ↑ Recorded interview with Pam Atkins, Matt & Donna Lohmeyer, 9 Nov 2024.
42. ↑ NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds, Book 2201 No. 299.
43. ↑ Obituary of Stanley Andrews, Nov 1989, clipping preserved in the book "Remembrances" owned by Laurel Abbot, copy in the possession of M.Lohmeyer.
44. ↑ Ryerson Index for Donald John CRONE, Death Notice: 12 Mar 1994, Age: 70, late of Hunters Hill and Funeral Notice: 16 Mar 1994, both in Sydney Morning Herald of 14 Mar 1994 as accessed by [Lohmeyer-24|M.Lohmeyer]] on 20 Oct 2023.
45. ↑ Entry in the Ryerson Index for Annelies CRONE, Probate Notice: 05 Oct 2019 - Death, late of Rose Bay, in NSW Probate Index of 25 Feb 2020 as accessed by [Lohmeyer-24|M.Lohmeyer]] on 20 Oct 2023.
46. ↑ Research at NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Book 2719 No. 486, p.1-6 as researched by [Lohmeyer-24|M.Lohmeyer]] on 16 Nov 2023.
47. ↑ Fairview a poem written by June Hilton, a copy of which is in the archives of the Fairview Homestead Association.
48. ↑ Research at NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds (Old System), Book 3006 No. 220, p.1-2 as researched by [Lohmeyer-24|M.Lohmeyer]] on 16 Nov 2023.
49. ↑ Fairview a poem written by June Hilton and read out by her at the Mangrove Picnic Day at Mangrove Mountain Memorial Hall on Sunday 15 Jul 2007. The poem was read just before the handover of a petition to Councillor Terri Latella to save Fairview. A copy of the poem is preserved in the archives of the Fairview Homestead Association.
50. ↑ The original version of this stanza was: They've let the local council be run by a senseless clown, Who has no thought for heritage and wants to tear it down. but a 'retyped' copy of the poem features the less inflammatory version shown here.
51. ↑ Research at NSW Land Registry Services (https://nswlrs.com.au/), General Register of Deeds, Book 3088 No. 995, as researched by [Lohmeyer-24|M.Lohmeyer]].
52. ↑ Joe Rassaby in conversation with M.Lohmeyer on 19 Oct 2023.
53. ↑ Neil Taylor & Lewis Rassaby, FaceBook messenger exchange with M.Lohmeyer on 20 Oct 2023.
54. ↑ Joe Rassaby - comment on the Facebook page of Fairview Homestead Association on 20 July 2021, as accessed on 19 Oct 2023.
55. ↑ Joe Rassaby, personal comminication, Fairview Homestead Association Meeting 27 Aug 24
56. ↑ ENV.12 Report to Gosford Council entitled "Supplementary Information - Late Submissions - Heritage Study on Fairview at 550 Ten Mile Hollow Road Mangrove Creek (IR2608116) Apr(?) 2007 from the Directorate of Environment & Planning, copy in the archives of the Fairview Homestead Association Inc.
57. ↑ Dubbo Gully to Upper Mangrove Cemetery Walking Map, WildWalks.com, available online.
58. ↑ Fairview Homestead Association, personal communication Oct 2023.
59. ↑ Rebuilding History: History of Fairview and Mangrove Creek, information sheet published by the Fairview Homestead Association Inc. (date ca. 2010), copy in the possession of M.Lohmeyer.
60. ↑ St. Thomas' Church of England Cemetery, Upper Mangrove Creek by Keith Paull, published 1997 by the Central Coast Family History Group Inc, ISBN 0-9586822-8-3, a copy is in the possession of M.Lohmeyer.
61. ↑ Fight for Fairview Homestead, post on the Fairview Homestead Facebook page by Warren Andrews on 8 Feb 2012 as accessed by M.Lohmeyer on 13 Oct 2023.
62. ↑ Search of NSW State Heritage database at [1] for Fairview Homestead, accessed by M.Lohmeyer on 14 Nov 2023.
63. ↑ Sect. 8.8, Minimum Standards for Maintenance and Repair in Local Government Heritage Guidelines (2002) published by the NSW Heritage Council under the NSW Heritage Act 1977, available online at NSW Heritage.
64. ↑ Central Coast Council Development Application 47894/2015, granted on 11 Oct 2016
65. ↑ Transcript of the Parliamentary Return of Landholders 1885 (District: Windsor): Town [Mangrove Creek], from the NSW Legislative Assembly, Votes & Proceedings 1885 (2nd Session) Vol. 3 - Appendix 2. pp. 435 - 457 as accessed via http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/lists/1885Landholders_A.html by M.Lohmeyer on 4 Oct 2023.
66. ↑ Interview with Ryan Howard, M.Lohmeyer on 8 Oct 2024.