The Sydney Gazette 1 August 1815
THE
GOVERNOR'S VISIT
On
Monday last the 27th
ult. His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Macquarie and
Staff embarked on the Government Brig Elizabeth Henrietta
for the Settlement of Newcastle on the Hunter River.
The vessel got under weigh
between 2 and 3 o’clock with a fair wind which continuing
equally favourable during the night makes it probably that
she would reach the place of her destination by 9 the next
morning.
His Excellency visited
Newcastle in 1812 when in its infant state, and
comparatively of little importance, being chiefly
appropriated for the reception of convicts whose
delinquencies here had rendered them liable to extraordinary
punishments. It was also resorted to for supplies of lime,
coal, and timber, for the uses of Government.
With that solicitude for the
advancement of all the subordinate Settlements, which His
Excellency has uniformly manifested, we understand the
object of the present visit is to ascertain the general
resources and capabilities of the place, and to adopt such
improvements as will render Newcastle progressively valuable
to the parent Settlement. Mr. Meehan, the Deputy Surveyor of
Lands, attends His Excellency on this occasion
An arrangement, necessary for
the establishment of regular Religious Worship, is also an
object of the present expedition; for which purpose the
Reverend Mr. Cowper attends His Excellency; and we have no
doubt but in a little time the Settlement on Hunter’s river
will acquire considerable local importance.
