I I I I LINDEN TO WOOD FORD SURVEY ITEMS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE I I I I I I I I I I I I I

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1 LNDEN TO WOOD FORD SURVEY TEMS OF HSTORCAL SGNFCANCE

2 CONTENTS OF THE REPORT 1.0 ntroduction to the Report 1.1 Parameters of the Survey 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Methodology 1.4 Constraints 2.0 Historical Context 3.0 The Survey 3.1 Existing Listings 3.2 Survey tems 4.0 Recommendations

3 NTRODUCTON Parameters of Survey The survey was carried out on the land between the Great Western Highway and the railway line between Linden and Woodford in the Blue Mountains, encompassing those areas effected by the proposed road works. Objectives The primary objective of the work was to locate, by survey, any items or sites of historical importance which would be impacted on by the proposed development. As a secondary objective sites highlighted by a limited documentary search were investigated for archaeological evidence. This was a preliminary investigation only. Methodology Enquiries were made to the major heritage organisations, the National Trust and Department of Planning, to seek existing listings or registers of sites in the survey area. n addition, some secondary documentary research was carried out to highlight areas of potential sensitivity. The survey was carried out by means of a traverse of the entire route with special attention to the site of Cox's Road and the water tank at Linden highlighted by the Client to be of primary concern. Constraints The documentary search was preliminary and based only on secondary sources. t is possible that additional sites existed along the survey route in the past that have left no visible physical evidence and have not been highlighted by secondary sources. Additional documentary research and consultation with local sources is necessary.

4 2.0 HSTORCAL CONTEXT The Great Western Highway to the newly discovered Western Plains was surveyed in 1813 and construction began in the following year by William Cox and thirty men. t was completed in Convict workers supplied most of the labour for the road building and camps were established along the route; Bulls Camp reserve is the site of one of these camps. Construction on the railway line is said to have removed traces of the earlier stockade occupation. As more people travelled west a need for accommodation and regulation of traffic arose; inns were built and small villages established. A licence for an inn was sought for Linden in 1830 but for most of the first half of the nineteenth century Woodford and Linden were little more than convict camps, Twenty and Seventeen Mile Hollows respectively. The road at Linden caused particular trouble for the road builders. t was both rugged and very narrow. The ridge at Linden Station where the water tank is located was particularly troublesome; a large timber and stone bridge had to be constructed here which took three weeks of solid labour to complete. The narrowness of the pass, however, later caused it to be selected as an ideal site for a toll bar. This was erected by the Colonial Architect in The money from the tolls was to pay for more road establishment and improvements. Between 1863 and 1865 the toll house and gates were demolished; the site is now under the western end of the railway embankment that commences immediately west of Linden Station. The middle and later years of the nineteenth century brought great changes to the area. The discovery of gold in the Western Plains greatly increased the traffic over the mountain road and large camps of itinerant travellers were established, often aro~nd inns. An inn was established at Linden in direct response to this exodus. t was located immediately east of the toll bar. t was demolished at the same time as the toll bar and its site lies under the railway embankment. The Blue Mountains became a desirable place to live; many prominent people came to live in the mountains including William Henderson, one of the earliest settlers, who built Linden Lodge. The house subsequently gave its name to the area. Other

5 houses, including the Rockcorry cottages on the Old Bathurst Road between Linden and Woodford, were built during the later years of the century. As more people came to the mountains a greater desire for accessibility arose. The railway came to Wentworth Falls in 1867 and in 1874 a station was established at Linden. The gangers established camps as the track was built and then abandoned them. During additions were made to the station at Linden in the shape of an extension to the platform, a sand bin, officer's room and a porters residence. A water tank was added in The latter was a 20,000 gallon water tank supplied from a dam and pumping station on Wood ford Creek. The tank was located on a knoll on the western side of the station and it was used for watering locomotives. n 1896 the whole station was reorganised with a new timber platform built, a booking office and waiting room. This was all changed again in An island platform with brick buildings connected to the cutting approach by a footbridge, a night officer's residence (since destroyed) and a siding were added. Later re-location work has left behind a number of abandoned cuttings around Linden. The station at Linden was closed in 1974.

6 3.0 THE SURVEY 3.1 Existing Listings The Department of Planning has no sites along this route listed in its register. However, the National Trust has listed that section of Cox's Road near the Appian Way precinct at Woodford which falls within the survey area. t also has, pending classification, Linden Lodge. The latter is also contained on the draft schedule of Heritage items for the City of Blue Mountains Draft LEP (EMP 1). 3.2 Survey tems A number of items identified from historical sources were located during the survey although some sites, such as the toll house and toll bar, have left no visible evidence following their destruction. Other sites of historical significance such as the true site of Calley's Repulse (a stone cairn erected by an early explorer), the Rockcorry Cottages, and the site of the commandant's cottage for Bulls Camp are outside the current survey area. A number of items were located which are of obvious historical value but for which, at this time, no archival data is available Numantia 11 Located on the highway at its intersection with Martin Place, Chapman Avenue and Numantia Road, 11 Numantia 11 is the house of Sir James Martin. t began construction in 1877 and the property was subsequently extensively developed with gardens, orchards, wells, outbuildings, yards etc. A large stone wall surrounds the site, part of which is located immediately on the highway as well as one outbuilding Railway Water Tank, Linden and Associated Features The late nineteenth century water tank built to service steam locomotives is located on the knoll adjacent to Linden Station. A series of channels, running down the hill, appear to be associated with this structure and possibly some foundations are to be located at the bottom of the knoll, though the evidence is very unclear. A disused cutting, probably associated with the railway, is found nearby. Linden Station, on further investigation, may also prove to be of heritage significance.

7 3.2.3 "Linden Lodge" This house, immediately adjacent to the highway at Linden, was built by William Henderson soon after he received a grant of 40 acres in t gave its name to the surrounding area. Subdivision and road widening have reduced the property from its original size and the house has passed through a number of owners. t has served as a boarding house during the early years of the twentieth century. n 1979 it was purchased and restored by the owners. t is pending classification by the National Trust~ Bulls Camp Relics Bulls Camp Reserve is on the site of a stockade associated with the early convict road building parties. The name commemorates the last commander of the stockade, Captain John Bull, who assumed command in After the departure of the road gangs the site was used by civilian workers. t was first notified as a reserve in There are few visible relics of the road gang occupancy, most beyond the limits of the current survey. These include the stone "cell", probably a storage chamber, and so-called "flogging stone". A fenced waterhole in the reserve and adjacent to the highway is of uncertain historic significance. Historians have noted the local belief that it was an early water supply for railway purposes but the response from the railway, in 1949, was that it was an unused quarry and not part of railway property. f this was the case its origins may lie with the road camp. Additional research is required to aid in its identification. A feature said to be part of the camp is located south-west of the reserve, under a rock overhang and on the creek. t is a shallow rectangular depression cut into the rock directly under the waterfall. t is not easily accessible today and is unlikely to have been so in the past. ts purpose is not apparent. t is known as "Bulls Bath". Direct relatives of Bull have denied any knowledge of this feature. The location of <the feature may have inspired it to be attached to the Bulls Camp "mythology". Further research may aid in its identification Cox's Road n 1814, Surveyor at the orders Cox and a party of Governor Macquarie, of thirty men commenced

8 work at Emu Ford on a road that was to take traffic to Bathurst. Work through the mountains was extremely difficult but the project was concluded at a depot on the Macquarie River in There is clear evidence of this road at Woodford in the Appian Way precinct. There is a flat paved area, retaining walls and two features which may be the remains of huts associated with the road building. Adjacent to this site is a disused railway cutting. Less clear are indications of roads and cuttings adjacent to and further north of Bulls Camp on the other side of the highway. Some rock terracing, similar to that found at Woodford, is visible as well as clear rock cut areas and tracks through the scrub. Not all may relate to the Cox's Road, some may belong to the railway construction, but local historical opinion, as well as the similarity in evidence to that found at Woodford, suggests that sections of Cox's Road survive here.

9 RECOMMENDATONS That the sites of Linden Lodge and Numantia including all ancillary buildings and features be preserved intact. Both sites are of high architectural, historical and aesthetic significance. That the site of the water tank at Linden and any features associated with it, after further investigation to define these, should be preserved. This appears to be the only intact tank of this type remaining in the mountains and is of high historical significance. That the features identified at Bulls Camp, the "bath" and waterhole should be further investigated to attempt to more closely identify their origin. f positive identification with the convict period of occupation can be made these should then be preserved because of their high historical significance. f positive identification with later periods of use is made a re-evaluation of the recommendations for action should be made based on the significance of the items. That the identified sections of Cox's Road should be preserved because of the high historical and technological significance. That a short map search should be initiated before the development takes place to identify and locate any additional sites which were not identified during this preliminary work. f additional sites are located by this means, a watching brief should be initiated during the work to identify, investigate and record any evidence which may be located during the course of the work. A watching brief should definitely be undertaken in the vicinity of Bulls Camp Reserve to record any evidence of this historically important stockade site which might be revealed during the work.

10 31 May, 1989 MEMORANDUM OF PROFESSONAL FEES Linden to Woodford Survey, Historical Archaeology Principal: Research, Survey, Report 2 days Assistant: Survey 1 day TOTAL BALANCE OWNG: (Ms) W. Thorp $840 $140 $980