The history of European development in the Penrith district has been shaped by three important factors: the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and its surrounding waterways, the Great Western Road and the Great Western Railway. Without these three, the economic development of the area would have been very different indeed. Although intensely agricultural in its initial development, the Penrith and St. Marys districts eventually had direct access to major markets and traffic travelling along both the Great Western Road and Railway. This enabled the area to expand and develop into other industries besides agriculture, a few of which have been highlighted below.

Quarrying
Sand, gravel and metal are the major extractive industries in the Penrith City area, with clay/shale extra being a lesser, though equally important resource for brick making and the building industry. Gravel and sand extraction began at Emu Plains as early as the 1880’s, both of which are still extensively mined from the active and relict alluvial flats of the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers. These are essential for the construction of houses, commercial and public buildings, roads, railways, airports and water and sewage systems. Crushed stone is even used in medicines, plastics paint and cosmetics.

Old Emu Plains Crushing plant c1950

The area 3km north of Penrith, known now as the Penrith Lakes Scheme and operated by a conglomerate of companies that combined their landholdings and quarrying operations in 1979 (i.e. Boral, CSR, and Pioneer International), is by far the largest extractive site in the area. This site supplies around 75% of Sydney’s sand and crushed aggregate requirements, including about 85% of the materials for ready mixed concrete.

Quarrying at Emu Plains c1960

Tanneries
The St. Marys district supported up to nine local tanneries at different times throughout the mid nineteenth century to the early part of the twentieth century. This industry appears to have been the first industry to be established at St Marys, taking advantage of the ready supply of water (from both creek and nearby springs), the availability of hides through the local cattle industry and the local supply of suitable tanning bark. By far the largest of these was Andrew Thompson’s Tannery, which in 1907 employed 26 employees and treated an average of 520 hides per week. Thompson’s Tannery closed in 1915 with his retirement. By the beginning of the Second World War the only tanneries operating in the district were those at nearby Werrington and Kingswood.

Sketch of Andrew Thompson’s St. Marys Tannery 1906


Brick Works
Local brick works included the Penrith Brick Company at Copeland Street at Kingswood established in 1914 by Mr. Bert Jolley. The clay pits were on the adjoining Bringelly Road. Five kilns were built on the site, but two of these have been demolished and a third underwent demolition in July, 1986. No bricks have been made on the site since the mid 1970’s. Clay/shale extraction continues in the Mulgoa area today, which is used elsewhere for the production of bricks and ceramics.

Ruins of the Penrith Brick Company, which closed in 1976


Dairy Farming
Before the 1920’s, local dairy farmers (especially around the Castlereagh area) either shipped their milk to Sydney or delivered it to the Nestles Swiss Milk Company at Windsor. In 1922, a local factory called the Nepean Co-operative Dairy & Refrigerating Society Ltd. was formed at Penrith. By the 1950’s dairying was one of the major industries of the Penrith and surrounding districts. The company was eventually taken over by United Dairies and by 1995, one third of the milk consumed by Sydney residents was being homogenised, pasteurised and packaged at the factory in Penrith.


Nepean Co-operative Dairy and Refrigerating Company


Vineyards
The Penrith area has a history of fine vineyards, beginning as early as 1826 with the establishment of a vineyard on the property of Sir John Jamison at ‘Regentville’. Other vineyards followed, planted and managed by the Cox and Helleyer families in the Mulgoa area (both operating separately in the mid to latter parts of the nineteenth century). More recent twentieth century vineyards were run by the Michou family at St. Marys, the ‘Anschau’ and Vicary’s vineyards and wineries in the Luddenham area (the latter still operating) and ‘Leonay’ vineyard at Emu Plains, owned and managed by the well known Australian winemaker, Leo Buring, from 1923. The Orchard Hills area near Penrith, is another recent grape growing area still in operation.


Painting of terraced vineyards at Regentville, undated


Timber Industry
This industry was one of the major employers of local men during the second half of the nineteenth century. These were employed as timber cutters, carters and saw millers, and in the heyday of the wood trade some 200-300 men are believed to have gained their livelihood in the area ranging from Kingswood to Rooty Hill. As an indication of the scale of the operation in the period around the turn of the century it has been noted that in July 1900 1,352 tons of firewood was sent from St Marys by rail….However it was highly susceptible to fluctuating market prices and weather conditions and did not always provide a steady source of income….. Towards the end of the nineteenth century the areas closest to the village [of St.Marys] were gradually cleared of their timber and the distances travelled by the wood-carters increased accordingly, but the industry continued to survive until the Second World War.


Firewood Factory and workers, St. Marys. c1923


Mills
One of the earliest mills in the Penrith district was a water-driven flour mill built on the banks of the Nepean River at Castlereagh by Mr. John McHenry in 1834. The mill was operated by a Mr. Bell, then by the Allen family until it was demolished in 1872. Another important mill was built by Sir John Jamison on his property ‘Regentville’, just south of Penrith. This mill, built in 1835, manufactured cloth and tweed. The mill was operated by the Rayner brothers from 1841-1844. The Regentville factory was working on and off until about 1875. The four storied brick building was a landmark near the banks of the Nepean River for almost a century until it was demolished in the early 1930’s. The Rayner brothers went on to operate their own mill at Emu Plains, using the old Police barracks building that had been part of the Government Agricultural Establishment. The factory produced cloth until December 1879.


View of Regentville Tweed Factory from Nepean River. c1908

Orchards
The alluvial flats immediately flanking the Nepean River were often used for widespread orchard growing in the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century, especially at Emu Plains and Castlereagh. Smaller orchards also sprung up around Orchard Hills, Colyton, Mulgoa and South Creek. Excess fruit was often used by two local pulp and canning factories that were established on Ropers Road at Colyton at the turn of the century. One of these, the Balgay Pulp and Canning factory (started in 1901 by the Methven family), developed as an important local industry which continued to operate until the mid 1970s. The Balgay Company handled peaches, pears and apricots and corn at different times of its operation.

Aerial view of Nepean River and Victoria Bridge looking south, c1935
Note orchards on right hand side at Emu Plains


Coach and Wagon Works
St. Marys developed into a major area for wagon building in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. From the earliest times, the main form of heavy land transport consisted of locally made drays pulled by teams of six or more bullocks yoked in pairs. Later, the St. Marys built Bennett table-top wagons became famous for their quality as heavy transports, and were capable of carrying loads of 10-20 tonnes. Wagons, like those built by the Bennett and Beasley family businesses at St. Marys, conveyed wool and minerals across the Cumberland Plain to Sydney.

Bennett Wagon Works at St. Marys c1910


Cattle Sale Yards
Sale yards were first established in St. Marys by James Landers who started a cattle auctioneering business at the rear of his Oddfellows Arms Hotel on the Great Western Road near South creek in 1856. These and other small yards coped with the local sales of stock for the next thirty years, but in the 1880’s and 1890’s new yards were opened which were to become the focus for a major local industry. The first of these was located on the northern side of St. Marys railway Station and it was this site which was later enlarged as the railway cattle Sale yards. By 1888 the Jubilee Cattle Yards had been established on Mamre Road by William Fleming and in about 1890 John Perry established his Newmarket Sales Yard on the western side of Mamre Road…. The Jubilee Cattle Yards closed in about 1900, but auctions were held at the other two sites by various proprietors until the late 1940’s. The importance of the railway and Jubilee Yards ids reflected in the claim that for many years St Marys was the second largest stock mustering town in New South Wales, outside the metropolitan area (second only to Goulburn).


Railway Cattle Sale Yard, St Marys c1923


Munitions Factory
During World War Two St. Marys was chosen as the site for the manufacture of munitions. An industrial area, employing some 3,500 people was established north of the St. Marys railway line and west of Forrester Road. After the war, the buildings were leased and then sold to private industrial firms.


Cartridge filling and shell assembly at the Munitions Factory, circa 1956

Plan of St Marys showing the location of industrial sites predating 1914

x South Creek Park
: South Creek Corridor
1 Page’s Tannery
2 Brell’s Tannery
3 Webb’s Tannery
4 Thompson’s Tannery
4A Mimosa
5 Paskin’s Tannery
6 Samuel Thompson’s Tannery
7 Desborough’s Tannery
8 Sawmills
9 James Bennett’s Coach and Waggon Works
9A Bronte
10 George Bennett’s Coach and Waggon Works
11 Fleming’s Brickyard
12 William Thompson’s Brickyard
13 Mitchell’s Brickyard
14 Railway Cattle Saleyards
15 Newmarket Saleyards
* Workingmen’s Cottages

“Mamre” St Marys (no date)

While bricks are known to have been made in this area from an early date (ie Mamre was built of brick in c.1820) these would have been produced for specific buildings rather than as part of a local brick-making industry. As with many local industries there is little documentary evidence about the establishment or operation of St Marys brickyards and what little information we have is largely based on oral history.

The earliest reference which has been found for brickyards in the village area dates from August 1884 when the Nepean Times reported that “There’s nothing like bricks in South Creek just now; three new brick kilns starting, T.R. Smith’s, William Fleming’s and Hall and Turner’s”.

In 1886-7 Wise’s New South Wales Post Office Directory listed Charles Gilbert and James Royal as brickmakers of St Marys, but in a description of the town’s industries in 1890 no mention was made of these yards. Similarly, when Sands Directory began including country commercial listings in 1901 no brickmakers were included on that or any subsequent list. Other people who are locally believed to have been associated with the local brickmaking industry include William Thompson and a Mr. Mitchell, but no documentary evidence has been found to confirm this information.

In William Fleming’s obituary in 1897 it was stated that he had been a successful brickmaker with extensive establishments at both St Marys and Penrith. However, it was concluded that “Lately…through modern machinery, he could not keep up to other competition, and both establishments were closed down.”

From the available information it appears that brickmaking at St Marys reached its hey-day in the mid-1880s. This coincides with the rapid growth of the town during this period, but despite the continued growth and consolidation of the 1890s, it seems that economic forces and changing technology had led to the closure of the towns brickyards by that time.

Location

No documentary evidence has been found which would help to determine the location of St Marys’ brickyards. However, the oral history programme undertaken by Mr. Bert Evans has identified three sites which are locally believed to have been used for that purpose. These include William Fleming’s brickyard which is believed to have been located on the northern side of Gabriels Lane, between Charles Hackett Drive and Princess Mary Street; William Thompson’s brickyard on the south-eastern corner of Andrew Thompson’s tannery site, between Saddington and Vincent Streets ( see the image below); and Mr. Mitchell’s brickyard on the southern side of Wilson Street, between Pages Road and Barker Street.

Brick cottage at 102 Saddington Street -It is believed this cottage
was built as part ofthe development of Andrew Thompson’s Tannery,
the approximate location of William Thompson’s Brick Yard)


Little historical information has been found about the operation of St Marys’ brickyards. In 1884 it was reported that three new brick kilns were starting operation, but in a description of the town’s industries in 1890 no further mention is made of these yards.

No descriptions, photographs or plans of these sites have been located and no standing structures, brick pits or other archaeological remains have been identified which would have related to the operation of brickyards within St Marys.

Of the sites identified through oral history sources William Fleming’s has been modified by the extension of the St Marys Primary School and the construction of a car parking area on the western side of the school grounds; William Thompson’s has been redeveloped for housing along Vincent Street; and Mr. Mitchell’s is now an open paddock.

Little, if any, significant archaeological evidence is likely to exist in the areas locally believed to have been developed as William Fleming’s and William Thompson’s Brickyards. The site identified as Mr. Mitchell’s brickyard may contain significant archaeological remains, but will require professional testing to confirm or deny the existence of the potential resource.

Cottage at St Marys, owned by Mr Luxford

There are a number of small cottages within St Marys many of which are likely to have been built by the men employed in the various industries described in this report. Examples may be seen at 20-24 Princess Mary Street, 6-8 Sainsbury Street, 102 Saddington Street , 57 & 58 Saddington Street, 65 Pages Road, and 14, 16 & 37 Pages Road.

There is little historical information about the development of housing for the employees of the early industries of St Marys. It is likely that many lived in small slab or weather board houses which have long since disappeared, and no records have been kept of these modest dwellings.

The remaining cottages include examples built of slab (eg. 6 Sainsbury Street), weatherboard (eg. 20 & 22 Princess Mary Street and 14 & 16 Pages Road), brick (57, 58 & 102 Saddington Street, 24 Princess Mary Street and 65 Pages Road) and one believed to have been built of mud-brick (8 Sainsbury Road).

Of particular interest in the illustration of the early character of the town are the remnants of early post and rail fences associated with 8 Sainsbury Street, 16 Pages Road and 37 Pages Road.


Cottage at 37 Pages Road, St Marys

Houses

Most of the houses associated with the early development of St Marys are under private ownership. Their conservation is therefore largely dependent on the good intentions of the owners, and this should be encouraged by informing the owners and occupants about the importance of their house and by offering advice and/or assistance with regard to appropriate conservation measures.

The majority were also identified as part of the Penrith Heritage Study and have therefore been recommended for inclusion on the schedule of a heritage LEP. These include Bronte (Penrith Heritage Study, Inventory Item No. SM 11), Mimosa (SM 22 & 23), Four Winds (W 5), and a number of cottages (SM 20, 24 & 25). Immediate action should be taken to include the cottages at 102 Saddington Street and 65 Pages Road on the inventory of heritage items. The latter should be incorporated within listings for the sites of Thompson’s and Page’s Tanneries respectively.

Industrial Buildings & Tanning Pits

The only other standing buildings known to have been associated with the development of the early industrial sites of St Marys are the receiving shed on the site of Thompson’s Tannery and the stable or bootmaking factory on the site of Page’s Tannery. Both of these buildings are currently in private ownership.

While the general site of Thompson’s tannery was identified by the Penrith Heritage Study (Item No SM 8) no individual items were noted. Both Thompson’s receiving shed and the nearby cottage are being well maintained and no immediate threats to these buildings are apparent, but action needs to be taken to ensure their long-term conservation. Immediate action should therefore be taken to, include the receiving shed, cottage, tanning pits, and the area identified as having a high potential for significant archaeological remains as part of an individual listing for this site, and to include these items on the schedule to the proposed heritage LEP. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention of further rubbish deposition in the remaining pits at the rear of 92 Saddington Street.

Both Farrell’s house and the remaining tannery building, have been identified within the inventory listing for the site of Page’s Tannery in the Penrith Heritage Study (SM 26). The out-building is probably one earliest buildings within the town (c.1870) and is an important remnant of the industrial development of the site. It is currently in a poor condition and is in need of immediate maintenance.

A detailed analysis of the condition of the building has not been undertaken, but there are several areas which require immediate attention. Of particular concern is the severe cracking to the western gable end and over the right hand window to the main facade. Fine cracks are evident to a number of other areas and several bricks have fallen away. Part of the corrugated roof sheeting has been lost and the timber shingles exposed to this area are badly deteriorated. The area below this part of the roof has consequently been affected by falling damp and the attic floor is beginning to show signs of rot.

If the building is to survive it will require immediate maintenance. A detailed inspection would identify specific areas requiring attention, but particular care should be taken that no works are undertaken which would diminish its significance. Because of the importance of the building as one of the few remaining structures which are known to have been associated with the development of the area’s early industries it is recommended that the current owners be given some assistance in the preparation of a conservation plan for the building and in undertaking any conservation works arising out of this plan. If the site of Page’s Tannery is to be incorporated into the walking trail along the South Creek Corridor as an historic site consideration should be given to the possible acquisition of this building as part of the interpretation of the site.

Dan Brell’s cottage on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Gipps Street,
Quarry Hill (St Marys); ca 1920

A large cattle saleyard which was operated at St Marys between the late 1880s & 1945

Saleyards were first established in St Marys by James Landers who started a cattle auctioneering business at the rear of his Oddfellows Arms Hotel on the Great Western Road near South Creek in 1856.

These and other small yards coped with the local sales of stock for the next thirty years, but in the 1880s and 90s new yards were opened which were to become the focus for a major local industry. The first of these was located on the northern side of St Marys Railway Station and it was this site which was later enlarged as the Railway Cattle Saleyards. By 1888 the Jubilee Cattle Yards had been established on Mamre Road by William Fleming and in about 1890 John Perry established his Newmarket Salesyard on the western side of Mamre Road, between Edgar and Mitchell Streets. The Jubilee Cattle Yards closed in about 1900, but auctions were held at the other two sites by various proprietors until the 1940s.

The importance of the Railway and Jubilee Yards is reflected in the claim that for many years St Marys was the second largest stock mustering town in New South Wales, outside of the metropolitan area. (Second only to Goulburn).

The yards continued to operate from these sites until 1945, when the Newmarket Salesyards were closed and the Railway Cattle Saleyards tranferred to a 4-hectare site on the north eastern corner of Collins and Lonsdale Streets. This new yard closed down shortly after and the business moved to Camden.

Location

The main saleyards at St Marys were the Railway Cattle Saleyards, which were located on the northern side of the Railway Station near the intersection of Forrester Road and Harris Street, and the Newmarket Saleyards which were located on the western side of Mamre Road between Edgar and Mitchell Streets.

Historical Information Relating to the Development & Layout of the Site

Although local saleyards were operating in, as early as 1856 it was not until the end of the century that large, regional yards were established in the town. The Railway Cattle Saleyards were first established in the 1880s and the Newmarket Saleyards in c.1890. Both continued to be operated until 1945.

The extent and character of these yards in the period around the turn of the century is indicated in an undated photograph held by the Penrith City Library and titled ‘St Marys Sales Yards’ (see above).

Both of the above sites have been extensively redeveloped in the period since their closure in 1945 and there are no standing structure relating to their previous use. The site of the Railway Cattle Saleyards is now occupied by a large sealed car park while the site of the Newmarket yards has been redeveloped for housing.

The site inspection revealed no evidence of archaeological remains.

James William Bennett & Sons – Blacksmiths & Wheelwrights

Bennett’s Wagon, South Creek Historical Park, St Marys 1982

James William Bennett

James William Bennett was born in England in 1822. He arrived in Australia in March 1853 and after working in Sydney and Emu Plains moved to St Marys in 1857. Here he worked as blacksmith, wheelwright and publican, operating from various sites before settling on the corner of the Western Road, and Princess Mary Street in about 1866. On this site he built a new ‘Volunteer Hotel’ behind which he established a wheelwright and blacksmith’s shop.

In 1875 James Bennett senior, transferred his blacksmith and wheelwright business to his sons James, junior and George Thomas and they continued to work there for some years before moving to George Bennett’s new premises in Queen Street.

It was during this period that the brothers decided to combine their trades of wheelwrighting and blacksmithing and to specialise in the construction of sturdy wheat and wool wagons. Initially they worked in partnership, but at some stage prior to 1892 an argument led to the establishment of a separate works.

Few details are known about the establishment or management of these businesses, despite the fact that their wagons are reputed to have been renowned throughout Australia.

James Bennett, Junior (1852-1921)

It appears that James Bennett, junior, had established a successful business by the late 1880s, as in 1889 he built ‘Bronte’ a two storey villa which at that time was the most substantial house within the town.

By the beginning of 1892 he had established his own firm, which was advertised as a Coach and Waggon Works with general blacksmith, wheelwright and shoeing services etc. The location of these works was given as Station Street (now Queen Street), St Marys.

In 1899 James Bennett purchased a block of land on the south-western corner of the present-day Queen Street and Carson Lane from Rosanna Donnelly, and it is this site which is generally known as the location of his Coach and Waggon Works. No evidence has been found to confirm that he was working from here when he advertised his services in the early 1890s, but it is quite possible that he leased the site for a number of years before having the opportunity to buy.

Unlike his brother George, James did not advertise his wagons widely or enter them in many agricultural shows. He appears to have concentrated almost solely on the construction of sturdy wagons suited to heavy loads and rough conditions, and it was on his success in this field that his product became widely known.

One of the only references to his work which has been located is an unconfirmed local report that in about 1916 he built the largest wagon in the Commonwealth. This is reputed to have stood two metres high.

After his death on 15 June, 1921 James Bennett’s Coach and Waggon Works were taken over by his sons, Ernest (Pat) and Harold. They continued to produce high quality tabletop wagons and in 1921 were contracted to build a wagon suitable for a record attempt by Mr Con Hildebrand of Calleen. This wagon was loaded with 333 bags of wheat, weighing 32.6 tonnes, and drawn by a team of 15 horses.

On 4th December 1922, Hugh Lamont beat Hildebrand’s record with a load of 354 bags, weighing 33.3 tonnes and drawn by 14 horses. However, Con Hildebrand was determined to take his record back, and in January 1923, using the same James B. Bennett wagon, he beat Lamont’s record with a load of 407 bags weighing 35.9 tonnes, drawn by 15 horses.

Despite the high regard in which their wagons were held the introduction of motorised transport gradually reduced the demand for their product and the last Bennett wagon was built in 1934. Business continued with repair work and general blacksmithing until the death of Mr. Ernest (Pat) Bennett in 1956. Two years later the site was sold and the buildings have since been demolished.

George Thomas Bennett (1853-1944)

In December 1888 George Thomas Bennett purchased lots 4 & 5 of Section 2 of the subdivision of Webb’s Tannery site (10). It was this site, which is located on the north-western corner of the present-day Queen Street and Carson Lane, which was subsequently developed as G.T. Bennett’s Coach and Waggon Works.

In January 1892 he advertised the firm as builders of buggies, waggonettes, sulkies, spring carts, box and table-top wagons, farmers trolleys, vans, lorries, drays etc. General blacksmith and wheelwright services were also offered.

From this advertisement and from general oral history sources it appears that George produced a much wider range of vehicles than his brother. Unlike James he was also a regular exhibitor in the regional and Sydney agricultural shows and his name frequently appeared in the Nepean Times as the winner of various prizes for his wagons. The following examples give an indication of the quality and range of vehicles made at his works (13):

New South Wales Royal Agricultural Show
1892 : 4 silver medals 1901 : 9 gold medals
1904 : First prize for his collection of waggons, lorries and drays
First prize for his collection of vehicles exhibited and built in NSW
Gold medals for his table-top waggon, farm waggon, box waggon and lorry up to 80cwt
1906 : Gold medals for his table-top waggon, bakers cart and milk-cart

Wagga Wagga Show
1894: First prize for his farm dray
First and second prize for his table- top waggons Certificate of Merit
for the workman- ship of his table-top waggon

In 1920 George Bennett closed down his business and retired to Sydney where he died in August 1944.

The Construction of Bennett Wagons

No detailed records have been located which describe the layout of the two factories or their method of operation. However, from oral history sources it has been recorded that about 25 men would be employed for about a week in the construction of one wagon. These tradesmen were the body-builders, blacksmiths, wheelwrights and their labourers.

On completion the wagon would be handed over to the painter/signwriters. The standard colours of Bennett Wagons were a blue top with bright red under-carriage and wheels, unless otherwise specified by the purchaser. Most wagons were given names such as ‘The Invincible’, ‘The Pioneer’, ‘The King of the Road’ etc.

In all, it is believed that about 50 tradesmen were employed at the two works in their heyday.

Location

James Bennett’s Works were located on the south-western corner of Queen Street and Carson Lane, in the area now occupied by Nos 229-241 Queen Street.

George Bennett’s works were located on the north-western corner of Queen Street and Carson Lane, in the area now occupied by Nos 209-225 Queen Street.

James Bennett purchased the above site in 1899, but is known to have established his business in Queen Street in as early as 1892. It is quite possible that he was leasing this property prior to purchasing it. Although Bennett’s sons continued to operate this factory until the 1950s no plans or photographs have been located which would help to describe its layout or operation.

George Bennett purchased his Queen Street site in December 1888. The only documentary evidence which indicates the scale and form of these works is a photograph from 1910 which shows a large, single storey corrugated iron shed which would have covered most of the site . These works were closed down when George Bennett retired in 1920.

There are no standing structures which relate to the development of the two Coach and Waggon Works.

The establishment of the local timber industry

In the early 1860s the construction of the railway through the district provided new opportunities for local employment. Initially this was related to the construction of the railway itself, which provided employment not only for permanent gangs, but also for local farmers and labourers who secured short-term contracts for carrying, excavating, fencing or supplying timber. Following the completion of this line the industry continued to -develop with the hardwoods being cut out for railway sleepers, telegraph poles and building timber, and the softer woods for the ever expanding market provided by the fireplaces and stoves of Sydney.

There is little documentary evidence which refers to this important local industry, but an oral history programme suggests that it was the major employer of local men during the second half of the nineteenth century. These were employed as timber cutters, carters and saw millers, and in the hey-dey of the wood trade some 200-300 men are believed to have gained their livelihood in the area ranging from Kingswood to Rooty Hill. As an indication of the scale of the operation in the period around the turn of the century it has been noted that in July 1900 1,352 tons of firewood was sent from St Marys by rail.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century the areas closest to the village were gradually cleared of their timber and the distances traveled by the wood-carters increased accordingly, but the -Industry continued to survive until the Second World War.

Photograph of one of St Marys sawmills around the turn of the century

Sawmills

After the timber was cut it was carted to the sawmills near St Marys Railway Station, sawn and then loaded directly into railway trucks. From St Marys it was then taken by rail to be auctioned at the Alexandria Goods Sheds.

In 1890 three steam sawmills were in operation at St Marys and by 1895 a fourth had been opened by a Mr. Anderton. Various families were associated with the industry, but perhaps the most important were Turner & Garner and William Fleming. On his death in 1897 the latter was described as having carried on a timber business at St Marys for “many years”. He had had extensive contracts with the Postal and Telegraph Departments as well as with the Roads and Bridges Department, and “hundreds” of local men had been employed by him.

The number of tills fluctuated according to the season and market, and in 1901 George Turner, junior, was apparently the only saw mill operator working in St Marys. In 1910 there were three mills being operated by Mrs. Turner, George W. McCrea and Frederick Andrews and in 1930 two yards were being operated by Frederick Andrews and Mrs. G.H. Luke.

According to local sources there were five sites which were occupied by sawmills at various times, three on the northern embankment of the railway and two on the southern embankment. The occupation of each of these has not been traced.

The role of the timber industry as a local source of employment

As outlined above the timber industry was the major source of employment in the late nineteenth century, providing work for hundreds of local men. However, it was highly susceptible to fluctuating market prices and weather conditions and did not always provide a steady source of income.

During periods of heavy rain the rough dirt roads leading to the timbered areas rapidly became impassible for the heavily laden timber waggons, and the timber carters regularly had to cease operations while the roads dried out. However, when wet weather was protracted and widespread the high prices offered for timber encouraged the carters to at least attempt to bring wood into the mills. For example, in July 1898 the incessant wet weather right through the country had caused the price of wood to rise and despite the bad roads teamsters daily brought loads to the station yards, where the mill hands were “pretty busy”. The high prices at this time were in contrast to the “real starvation prices lately obtained” and were obviously welcomed by the carters who had previously had barely enough to subsist on.

The other problem which progressively eroded the local timber industry was the dwindling supply of timber. While this was denied to be a major problem in 1906 and while the industry obviously survived until well into the twentieth century, the hey-day of the industry was over, by about 1900.

Location of saw mills in the St Marys district

Shelly’s Slaughter House at St Marys 1920sH.D. Walken Slaughter House at St Marys, 1920s

Shelly’s Slaughter House at St Marys 1920s

The Establishment of the Tanning Industry in the St Marys District

Little information is available about the development of St Marys’ tanning and bootmaking industries prior to the commencement of the local paper, the Nepean Times (NT), in the early 1880s. However, from the available documentary evidence it appears that tanning was the first industry to be established in St Marys, taking advantage of the ready supply of water (from both the creek and nearby springs), the availability of hides through the local cattle industry and the local supply of suitable tanning bark.

While it was claimed in 1884 that “at one time” there were no less than twelve tanneries, large and small, in full swing, no documentary evidence has been found to identify or locate most of these, the majority of which would have been small, one-man or family operations.

However, local sources, which are largely based on oral history, have identified at least four sites which are believed to have been operating as tanneries by the 1850s.

In reminiscences relating to the village in the 1850s two of these were described as follows :

“Next to Spratbrow” (who had a small slab shop on the south-western corner of the Western Road and Mamre Road) “was the residence of Tom Pasking (sic), who had a saddlers shop and tan yard”. From the present site of Victoria Park “right back to Mamre, stretched the ‘Fattening Paddock’ … (which)… belonged to Mr Page, who had the first tannery here, which was situated on the bank of the creek”.

Of the above, Paskin’s tannery is reputed to have been established in the early 1840s, while the Land Titles Office (LTO) records show that Page purchased his tannery site in January 1856.

The other tanneries believed to have been established by this time were those of Samuel Thompson and Thomas Harford. The former was located on the eastern bank of South Creek, facing the Western Road, and according to family history it started in 1850 with only six pits and seven hides.

In 1853 land was purchased a little further to the west by Thomas Harford. This site was developed as Harford’s Tannery and Boot Making Factory and in 1887 was described as the oldest tannery in the district. As Paskin’s tannery was still operating at this time, but under different ownership, this may mean that Harford’s had remained under the one ownership for the longest time; that Harford was leasing his tannery site prior to purchasing it in 1853; or that Paskin’s tannery was not established as early as suggested in some local records.

Despite the apparent suitability of the area to the establishment of tanneries their ‘success was by no means guaranteed, and by the beginning of 1866 John Page’s Saylhurst Tannery had been sold to Robert Saddington following the closure of the mortgage.

However, the fortunes of the tannery improved greatly under the new ownership and in 1870 the tannery of ‘Saddington and Sons at South Creek’ was described as one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the Colony. It employed 48 hands and produced an average of about 350 hides per week. Saddington’s works were named the ‘Colonial Tannery’, but within the town they were commonly referred to as ‘the big tannery’.

The Growth of the Industry

In 1872 Saddington was one of only five tanners listed for St Marys in the Post Office Directory. The others were Thomas Harford, Daniel Lord, Thomas Paskin and Matthew Webb & Sons. However, over the next few years there was considerable activity which was reflected in changes in ownership and in the establishment of new works. The purchase of a small tannery by Martin Brell in 1879 and the establishment of new works by Andrew Thompson (the son of Samuel Thompson) in 1881 were of particular note as these were to become the two largest tanneries in the district. Within one year of opening his new works in Saddington Street Andrew Thompson had increased the number of pits on his site from 10 to 128 and was employing 25 men.

In addition to the above the ‘Parkhill Tannery’ was opened in the vicinity of the present day Desborough Road by Mr. R. Hamilton (c.1874); a large, new site was purchased on the western side of the Windsor Road (Queen Street) by Matthew Webb (1876); Saddington’s tannery was sold to Thomas Henry Alcock and Joseph Davenport (1879); and Thomas Paskin’s tannery was sold to John Herford (c.1882). 

Variable Fortunes

From the 1880s the major events in the history of the tanneries of St Marys were well documented in the Nepean Times and it is possible to gain a clearer understanding of their role within the town.

The insecurity of employment associated with the tanning industry during this period must have been a major factor in the development of St Marys. Frequent references were made in the Nepean Times to the difficulties associated with drought (insufficient water), wet weather (inability to dry the hides), the destruction of the tanneries by fire, and the vagaries of the market (ie. the periodic conjunction of a high price for bark and/or hides and a low price for leather). Mismanagement was cited as a problem on at least one occasion.

Despite the excellent supply of water from the creek and underground springs drought was still a major problem in the operation of the tanneries, large amounts of fresh water being required for the various stages of the tanning process . In May 1882 this was reported as being a major factor in the closure of St Marys “centre piece of industry”, Mr Alcock’s tanyard. A “considerable number” of people lost their jobs and most of these were forced to go elsewhere to seek work. In October of that year the tannery was sold to Ebenezer John White, but despite (or perhaps because of) the ” great improvements” which he made to the tannery, White became insolvent in just over a year and was forced to sell. From this time the tannery appears to have remained largely idle until the beginning of 1887.

The mid-1880s appear to have been difficult times and at least two other tanneries changed hands during this period – both apparently due to financial difficulties. In 1886 Webb’s tannery was offered for sale as Section I of a subdivision of the site, but was not sold until 1891. The management of the tannery was taken over by a Mr Forsyth, but by 1888 various other allotments with4Ln the subdivision were being sold by W.C. Hill and W. Clark, as mortgagees exercising the right of sale.

At the same time Thomas Harford sold his tannery site to John Harris of Shane Park for- 1000 pounds, but he obviously had no intention of leaving the town or changing his line of business, because he continued to manage the works as a family concern until the mid-1890s. However, despite these ‘bad times’ many of the tanners of St Marys managed to survive and some seem to have thrived.

In February 1887 it was reported that the “… tanning industries at St Marys are now looking up immense. There are now seven yards doing a fair amount of work. Altogether these employ between 50 and 60 hands, and will very soon increase this number”. The seven tanneries noted in that article where those run by W. Carberry (the manager of Harford’s Tannery and Boot Making Factory and the largest employer at that time), Martin Brell (Brell’s tannery), Mr Farrell (the manager of Wilson’s tannery – originally Page’s), Mr Forsyth (the manager of Webb’s tannery), Robert Hamilton (Parkhill Tannery), John Herford (Herford s tannery – originally Paskin’s) and Andrew Thompson (St Marys Tannery).

Consolidation of the Tanning Industry

By 1890 there were eight tanneries operating at St Marys, but in the following year Mr. Herford’s business had grown to such an extent that he took up new premises on Eastern Creek. Some of his equipment was transferred to another local tannery and his St Marys yard ceased to operate. One of the only new tanneries to be established during the last few years of the century was that of Robert Desborough who had opened his yard on Phillip Street (near the south-western corner of the present-day Desborough and Bega Streets) by April 1895.

However, this did not mean that the tanning industry was entering a period of decline, but rather a period of consolidation. During the 1890s the established tanners spent considerable money on upgrading and expanding their works and on adopting new technology.

In 1891 Webb’s yard was sold to Andrew Thompson who subsequently developed it as his ‘No 2 Tannery’, and by 1895 Thompson was reported as making “great additions to both of his tannery yards”. New buildings were being erected under the supervision of an architect, 25 additional pits were put down in the old yard and 9 or 10 in the new yard. At the same time Desborough and Hamilton were reported as having introduced steam to their works. Later in the same year Harford’s tannery was sold by the administrators of John Harris’ Estate to Martin Brell, who had owned the adjoining tannery since 1879. He subsequently upgraded and combined the two works and in 1897 purchased additional land to the rear of his property to further enlarge the yard.

Despite the great improvements to St Marys tanneries the weather and fire were still major threats to the industry and in April 1897 it was reported that some of the local tanneries were again being threatened with closure because of another extended drought. Later in the same month six thousand pounds worth of property was destroyed by a fire at the Colonial Tannery (the site originally established by Page in the 1850s), and two years later eight thousand pounds worth of damage was done by a fire at Thompson’s No. 1 tannery. However, the response to these disasters was immediate and both fires were followed by major rebuilding programmes.

By 1906 the industries of St Marys included four tanneries which were operated by Messrs Andrew Thompson, Martin Brell, Robert Desborough, and J. L. Anschau & Sons. The latter were the only new tanners to move to St Marys in the early 1900s, having taken over the Colonial Tannery in 1902 and re-established it as the Colonial Tannery of Anschau and Sons, Tanners and Blucher Manufacturer. During the first decade of the twentieth century these four yards appear to have provided steady employment for about 60 men.

In 1907 the three major tanneries were Thompson’s (which employed 26 hands and treated an average of 520 hides per week), Brell’s (which employed 15 hands and treated an average of 450 hides per week)and Anschau’s (which employed 14 hands and treated 100 hides per week as well as producing a large quantity of bluchers – ie. 2,589 pairs in the first quarter of 1905).

The main drawback connected with leather manufacturing at St Marys at this time was attributed to the heavy charges which tanneries had to pay in railage and cartage, both in obtaining tanning supplies from Sydney, and forwarding the finished article to the capital. The railway rate on bark railed from Sydney to St Marys was 3s 5p per ton for large quantities and 4s 8p for smaller consignments. To that had to be added the cost of cartage (2s 6p per ton) from the stores in Sydney to the railway station.

The Closure of the Major Tanneries

The first of the major tanneries to close down was Anschau’s Colonial Tannery which was sold in 1911 and apparently no longer used (33). In about 1915 this was followed by St Marys Tannery which closed with the retirement of Andrew Thompson.

Both Desborough and Brell were still operating their yards in 1930, but Brell’s tannery closed after his death on 17 January 1934, and Desborough’s followed sometime during that decade. By the beginning of the Second World War the only tanneries operating in the district were those at nearby Werrington and Kingswood.

The Major Tanneries of the St Marys District

Page’s Tannery
The three standing structures which are believed to be related to the development of Page’s Tannery include a cottage dating from pre 1883, stables dating from pre 1883, and a house dating from c.1887. Remains of the dam which served the tannery are still visible.

Significant archaeological remains are likely to be found on the site. This evidence may include pits, structural remains and evidence of workings. These features are most likely to relate to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century development of the site. In addition, evidence of the 1897 fire may be defined in the stratigraphic record

Brell’s Tannery
The only standing structure which is known to remain from the development of this site as a tannery is the house built by Brell in 1922.

Significant archaeological remains are likely to be found on the site. This evidence may include pits, structural remains and evidence of workings. These features are likely to relate to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century development of the site, although some potential for earlier evidence does exist.

Webb’s Tannery
There are no standing structures related to the development of this site as a tannery and little, if any, archaeological evidence is likely to remain.

Andrew Thompson’s Tannery
The receiving shed shown in the 1906 sketch of Thompson’s ‘St Marys Tannery’ is still largely intact. Some of the brick-lined pits are still visible near the centre of the site, and a small brick cottage is located towards the north-western corner.

Significant archaeological remains of the central portion of the tannery are likely to remain intact. These probably date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and may take the form of pits, structural relics and evidence of workings. Some potential exists for evidence of earlier phases of the tannery. Furthermore evidence of the 1899 fire may be revealed as part of the stratigraphic record. It is probable that, recent development at the edges of the old tannery site has disturbed some of the archaeological record.

Paskin’s Tannery
There are no standing structures related to the development of this site as a tannery and little, if any, archaeological evidence is likely to be found intact.

Samuel Thompson’s Tannery
There are no standing structures related to the development of this site as a tannery and little, if any, archaeological evidence is likely to be found intact.

Hamilton’s Tannery
No standing structures are known to remain from this tannery and the potential archaeological resource cannot be determined until the exact location of the site is established.

Desborough’s Tannery
There are no standing structures related to the development of this site as a tannery and little, if any, archaeological evidence is likely to remain.

Worthington’s Bootmaking Factory
No Standing structure related to the development of this site as a tannery and little, if any, archaeological evidence is likely to remain.

1850s 

At least four tanneries had been established at St Marys by the 1850s

• Thomas Paskin, Saddlers Shop and Tannery. (Located on the south-western corner of the Western Road and Mamre Road).
• John Page, Saylhurst Tannery. Located on the eastern bank of South Creek at the end of the present day Pages Road).
• Samuel Thompson, Thompson’s Tannery. (Located on the eastern bank of South Creek, on the southern side of the Western Road).
• Thomas Harford, Tannery and Boot Making Factory. (Located on the southern side of the Western Road and the eastern side of Market Street).

1870s

The tanners of St Marys listed in the Post Office Directory of 1872 (as collated in Stapleton, E., Other Days, Other Ways) were:

• Thomas Paskin
• Thomas Harford
• Saddinqton & Sons, Colonial Tannery. (Page’s former tannery. Purchased by Saddington in 1866 and subsequently sold to Thomas Henry Alcock and Joseph Davenport in 1879).
• Matthew Webb & Sons, Webb’s tannery. Located on the northern side of the Western Road between South Creek and Windsor Road (Queen Street). Matthew Webb, junior, purchased a new, three hectare tannery site on the eastern side of Windsor Road in 1876.
• Daniel Lord (site not identified)

Other tanners operating during that decade included

• Andrew Thompson, Thompson’s Tannery.Established on the site which had been developed by his father, Samuel Thompson, during the 1850s. Later closed.
• R. Hamilton, Parkhill Tannery. Established in the vicinity of the present-day Desborough Road in about 1874.
• Martin Brell, Brell’s Tannery. Brell purchased a small tannery owned by Alexander Simpson of Wilberforce, storekeeper, in October 1879. This was located on the southern side of the Western Road and the western side of Market Street.

1880s

The tanners operating at St Marys in 1887 were

• W. Carberry, manager of Harford s Tannery and Boot Making Factory. Martin Brell, Brell’s Tannery.
• Mr Forsyth, manager of Webb’s Tannery.
• Robert Hamilton, Parkhill Tannery.
• Andrew Thompson, St Marys Tannery. Established on a new site on the southern side of Saddington Street in 1881.
• John Herford, Herford’s Tannery. Purchased from Thomas Paskin in about 1882.
• Ebenezer John White, Colonial Tannery. Purchased from Alcock and Davenport in 1882. In 1882 this site was purchased by Frederick Alfred Adolphus Wilson of Sydney, but was largely idle until the management was taken over by Mr Farrell in 1887. In 1888 the site was sold to Frederick Clissold, but the tannery continued to be managed by Farrell.

1890s

In 1890 there were eight tanneries, including one large boot manufactury and tannery combined, operating at St Marys, but in 1891 Mr Herford’s business had extended to such an extent that he took up new premises on Eastern Creek and the tannery originally established by Thomas Paskin ceased to operate.  In the same year Webb’s tannery was sold to Andrew Thompson, and was subsequently developed as his ‘No 2 tannery’. Similarly, Harford’s Tannery was purchased by Martin Brell and incorporated into his adjoining works in 1895.

New works opened in St Marys during this decade included the boot-making factory of Mr. Worthington, and Robert Desborough’s Tannery which was opened on the present-day corner of Desborough and Bega Streets in 1894.

1900s

The tanners listed at St Marys in Sands Country Commercial Directory for 1901 were:

• Andrew Thompson & Company, St Marys Tannery
• Martin Brell, Brell’s Tannery
• William Armstrong, manager of Clissold’s Colonial Tannery. This site was sold to Joseph Francis and Lewis Joseph Aushau in 1902.
• Robert Desborough, Desborough’s Tannery
• R. Hamilton, Parkhill,Tannery. (Hamilton closed these works in 1901 and Atoved ‘to Botany)
• F.J. Harford, Jnr (Site not identified)
• Two other tanneries were being operated in nearby Werrington by Fred Jones (Jones’ Tannery) and the Paskin Brothers (Nepean Tannery).

1910s

The tanners listed for St Marys in Sands Directory of 1910 were :

• Andrew Thompson Co., St Marys Tannery. This tannery closed after Andrew Thompson’s retirement in c.1915.
• Martin Brell, Brell’s Tannery
• Anschau & sons, Colonial Tannery. In 1911 the Anschau family closed their St Marys works and moved to Windsor.
• Robert Desborough, Desborough’s Tannery
• Fred Jones, Jones’ Tannery, Werrington
• Paskin Brothers, Paskin Bros Tannery, Werrington

• Martin Brell, St Marys
• R.W. Desborough, St Marys
• Fred C. Jones, Werrington
• William Millen, Kingswood
• Paskin Brothers, Kingswood

1940s

In 1942 four tanners were listed for St. Marys in Wises NSW Post Office Directory. All of these were located away from the town in Werrington and Kingswood

Harry Giles, Werrington
Jones’ Tannery, Werrington
William Millen, Kingswood
Paskin Brothers, Kingswood
The last tannery to close down was Millen’s, which ceased to operate in 1956.

Wool-washing, or scouring was an important part of the wool processing industry. Scouring cleaned the wool and clean wool was far preferable to greasy raw fleece for both export and home manufacture. The removal of the grease also reduced the weight of the bales. It was an integral part of the industry from its earliest times.

Wool washing pond at the Winbourne Estate, Mulgoa

Wool-Washing Establishment in St Marys

Wool Teams, Great Western Highway, Penrith

One of the only other industries known to have been started in St Marys was a wool-washing establishment which opened in about 1882. However, this closed within only a few months because of the effects of a severe drought .


The location of this factory has not been identified and no physical evidence has been found for these works.. The only reference which has been found for this site is a brief article in the Nepean Times which reports on its closure in May 1882. At this time the factory had only been in operation for a few months.


Pulp and Canning Factories

Balgay Fruit Cannery, St Marys

Pulp and Cannery Factories in St Marys

In about 1903 two pulp and canning factories were started in Roper Street in nearby Colyton and in January 1904 these were turning out large quantities of pulp for Sydney firms and canned fruit for local consumption. Each factory was employing about 8 hands.

One of these factories had been established by Peter Methven as the Balgay Cannery and this continued to operate until the mid-1970s. In the early years all cans were made by hand on the premises and the fruit was locally grown produce. Later the range of fruit expanded to include peaches, pears, apricots, blackberries etc, and a variety of vegetables were also included.

Balgay canned fruit and vegetables eventually became well known throughout Australia and during the fruit season the factory was a major employer of local women. 

The pulp and canning factories referred to in this web page were located on the eastern edge of St Marys in the suburb of Colyton. Both were located on the eastern side of Roper Road between Hewitt and Creek Streets.

From a report in the Nepean Times it is known that two pulp and canning factories were established in Roper Road in about 1903. One of these, the Balgay Pulp and Canning factory, developed as an important local industry which continued to operate until the mid-1970s.

No detailed descriptions, photographs or plans have been located which would help to describe the layout or operation of the Balgay factory. However, it has been noted that a large floor slab remains on the site of the Balgay factory. There are no standing structures related to the development of the pulp and canning factories.