Penrith City Local History - Places - Suburb profiles - Kemps Creek
Kemps Creek
Kemps Creek is located in the south east corner of the City of Penrith as well as the City of Liverpool. In the City of Penrith, Sydney Water’s supply pipeline is Kemps Creek’s northern boundary, while the suburb of Mt Vernon and the City of Fairfield run along its eastern side. Historic Elizabeth Drive divides Kemps Creek between Penrith and Liverpool Councils while South Creek forms its western boundary. Kemps Creek is an active rural and research area in Western Sydney with the University of Sydney and Western Sydney using the area for research purposes. The major creeks of South, Ropes and Kemps run through this suburb. It is a major thoroughfare between Penrith and Liverpool. The subdivision patterns of this area reflect the early land grants and it commands spectacular views of the Blue Mountains from its undulating hills.
Kemps Creek on Google Maps.
Bayly Park/Fleurs
Bayly Park was built around 1810, for its owner, Nicholas Bayly, having approximately 2,500 acres. The house has been altered over time by subsequent owners with a new roof and rendered external walls. At some point in the 1830’s the property changed its name to Fleurs. Various people have owned the property over time including Richard Jones, William Woodland, Alfred Bollenhagen & Mr Watters
Fleurs (photo by McGrath Estate Agents)
Fleurs (photo by McGrath Estate Agents)
| 1805 | 18 December | Richard Fitzgerald granted 300 acres which he named Restitution Farm |
| 1805 | 18 December | Nicholas Bayly granted 680 acres which he named Kings Down |
| 1809 | 8 June | Anthony Fenn Kemp granted 300 acres |
| 1810 | 1 January | Nicholas Bayly granted 1070 acres which he named Macquarie Place |
| 1810 | 1 January | Nicholas Bayly granted 550 acres which he named Bayly Park |
| 1815 | 10 June | George Johnson Jr granted 600 acres which he named Lochwood |
| 1815 | 10 June | Nicholas Bayly granted 330 acres |
| 1816 | George Chartres granted 200 acres | |
| 1817 | 11 September | Charles Gray granted 200 acres which he named Kings Down |
| 1820 | Anthony Fenn Kemp granted 500 acres which he named Mt Vernon | |
| 1821 | 9 January | James Scott granted 360 acres |
| 1822 | 4 July | Henry Bayly granted 360 acres which he named Redhill |
| 1823 | 13 June | Richard Driver granted 110 acres |
| 1823 | Nicholas Bayly died at Bayly Park | |
| 1825 | Edward King granted 300 acres which he named Kingswood | |
| 1826 | Richard Jones purchased Bayly Park and renamed it Fleurs | |
| 1883 | 6 March | Fleurs, a family mansion surrounded by grounds under cultivation was sold to land speculators |
| 1887 | May | Fleurs again sold to land speculators |
| 1888 | Fleurs was re-subdivided into 20 acre allotments | |
| 1894 | 7 September | Kemps Creek Public School removed from Liverpool’s jurisdiction to St Mary’s |
| 1908 | 28 March | Nepean Times correspondent reported the district ‘could not look better – grass everywhere and crops growing amazingly’ |
| 1908 | 28 March | A report in the Nepean Times stated that a ghost had haunted Kemps Creek Bridge for many years |
| 1908 | 29 April | Foundation stone laid by Mrs F. W. A. Downes for St Andrews Church at Kemps Creek |
| 1927 | Post office opened | |
| 1930 | 15 October | Fleurs auctioned. 2311 acres six miles south of St Marys. |
| 1942 | A diversionary airstrip was built at Fleurs and used by the RAAF at Richmond | |
| 1949 | Fleurs became a field laboratory for the CSIRO’s Division of Radiophysics | |
| 1950s | The Mills Cross, Shain Cross and Cris Cross radio telescopes were built | |
| 1963 | Orphan School Road changed name to Elizabeth Drive in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s visit |