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First Allotments sold in Muswellbrook 1834 - 35

NAME DATE ALLOT. SECT AREA
George Forbes 26 August 1834 1 1 2 roods
Henry Nowlan 8 April 1835 2 1 2 roods
Henry Nowlan 8 April 1835 3 1 2 roods
Henry Nowlan 8 April 1835 4 1 2 roods
George Forbes 8 April 1835 5 1 2 roods
J.W. Evans 8 April 1835 6 1 2 roods
Henry Nowland 8 April 1835 7 1 2 roods
Henry Nowland 8 April 1835 8 1 2 roods
J.T. Hughes 13 December 1835 9 1 2 roods
J.T. Hughes 13 December 1835 10 1 2 roods
Francis Mitchell 13 December 1835 11 1 2 roods
Francis Mitchell 13 December 1835 12 1 2 roods
E.D. Lee 31 August 1835 13 1 2 roods
J.R. Hatfield 31 August 1835 14 1 2 roods
E.D. Lee 31 August 1835 15 1 2 roods
J.R. Hatfield 31 August 1835 16 1 2 roods
Samuel Wright 18 june 1835 17 1 2 roods
Samuel Wright 18 June 1835 18 1 2 roods
George Forbes 7 February 1835 19 1 2 roods
Samuel Wright 26 August 1834*(first two blocks sold in 1834) 20 1 2 roods
James Mudie 6 November 1835 1 2 2 roods
Ed. Davis & Joseph Spears 30 November 1835 5 2 2 roods
A.B. Spark 6 November 1835 6 2 2 roods
Richard Clarke 6 November 1835 1 5 2 roods
K.R. Reuben 3 October 1835 9 5 2 roods
K.R. Reuben 3 October 1835 10 5 2 roods
George Bowman 31 August 1835 11 5 2 roods
George Bowman 31 August 1835 12 5 2 roods
J.K. McDougall 8 May 1835 1 6 2 roods
J.K. McDougall 8 may 1835 2 6 2 roods
C.W. Roemer 6 November 1835 18 6 2 roods
J.J. Peacock 3 October 1835 10 6 2 roods
C.W. Roemer 8 May 1835 19 6 2 roods
Thomas Roper 20 April 1835 20 6 2 roods
H.R. Reuben 3 October 1835 11 6 2 roods
         

 

  Muswellbrook Year by Year  
1827 The earliest reference to the name Muscle Creek in The Australian 14 February 1827  
1831 Rev. Wilton, Chaplain of Newcastle made frequent visits to the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook area

 

 
1833 On 5th August Surveyor R. Dixon was instructed to prepare a field plan for the village reserve set up at the junction of Muscle Creek and the Hunter River

 

 
1834 The first town blocks were offered for sale on 26th August 1834

 

 
1835 Second auction in June

 

 
1836 - 1839 A great drought, leading up to the 1839 - 40 depression

 

 
1837

A coach began running between Darlington, Muswellbrook and Invermein  
  Rev. Rusden of Maitland visited Muswellbrook for services

 

 
  The first Post Office opened in a store in the main street, Bridge Street. Richard Dangar the first Postmaster  
 

1838

 

Court House established. Magistrate Edward Denny Day;

 

 
  Confusion over the spelling -  Muswell Brook or Muscle Brook »Online  
1839 Meeting held at the Post Office on 10th June to discuss building a Church of England and parsonage;  
  Henry Pierce established a saddler and harness maker business  
1839-40 The beginning of the Depression. Farmers began boiling down cattle and sheep and sale of tallow became important source of money  
1840 The first School House was built  
  The Benevolent Society established  
  A Court House was erected and Presbyterian services were held there prior to the building of St. John's Church  
  The Jewboy Gang passed through Muswellbrook  
  On 30th December Francis Allman was appointed Police Magistrate  
1841 A steam flour mill established by George Chivers  
  Death of  Sir Francis Forbes of Skellator  
1842 Township of Forbes town laid out on the south side of Muscle Creek by Sir Francis Forbes two sons Francis and David. This town did not eventuate;  
  Mr. Stanley completed building of a mansion house with shops for a butcher, chandler and barber;  
  A bridge across Stanley Creek (Possum Gully) gave rise to the name Bridge Street  
1843 Old St. Alban's Church of England was built on the banks of Possum Gully during the incumbency of  Rev. William Gore.  The church was built by  Captain Scott of Bengalla with his own convict labourer and workmen  
  A site for a Presbyterian church, manse and school selected and approved. Citizens associated with the building of the church were Messrs George Bowman,  John Hudson Keys, Thomas Simpson Hall, Ebenezer Hall and Donald Macintyre.  Rev. Irving Hetherington of Singleton was the minister in charge  
1844 George Chiver's steam flour mill converted to a clothing factory where colonial tweeds and woollen goods were for sale  
1845 A Temperance Society was established  
  The Church of England of St. Alban's consecrated by Bishop Broughton of Newcastle  
1847 The Mitchell Line was abandoned by coaches in favour of the new road to Singleton  
1848 Bishop Tyrrell visited the town on horseback; the first mail contract issued to  Thomas Dangar  
  Joseph Chivers established the Muswellbrook Woolwashing and Fellmonger business  
1849 Meeting of the Magistrates, Clergy and Gentry held at the Court House to establish Benevolent Society  
1850 Rev. John Dunmore Lang visited Muswellbrook and preached in the brick Presbyterian Church on 10th November. » Online  
  Calls for a new lockup - A new lock up was needed as all prisoners from the northern district on route to Maitland gaol had to be confined in the old wooden building used since police were first stationed in the district  
1851 Completion of the Court House - Designed by late Colonial Architect. 3 rooms, the middle one sufficiently large to hold Quarter Sessions; Ornamental stone at the front. Contractor Henry Nowland  
1851 Rev. Boodle provided a substantial feast for the children of the St. Alban's Episcopal school on the occasion of the annual exams. A pleasant day, the loud laughter and hearty calls ringing through the quiet parsonage grounds until sunset when all departed   »Online  
1852 Death of Captain Samuel Wright;  
  Muswellbrook Cloth Factory and Flour Mill sold - a brick building 93ft long x 23 ft wide.  
1853 Chiver's Flour Mill purchased by John Portus  
  Denman township established on the village reserved and gazetted as a town. Named for Judge Denman, grand uncle of lord Denman who was to become the fifth Governor General of Australia from 1911 - 1914  
1854 Chiver's Flour Mill purchased by Joseph and Alfred Denison  
1855 The Great Northern Railway line for the Hunter Valley commenced from Newcastle  
1856 Soap and candle manufacturers established in Lower Brook Street  
1857 The Great Northern Railway line reached Maitland;  
  A mechanics Institute established in Muswellbrook;  
  The first hospital set up in an old stone building which the Muswellbrook Benevolent Society purchased from Joseph Ashburn  
  A great flood occurred.  
- Excerpt from The History of Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook Shire Council; The Maitland Mercury; The Sydney Herald; The Sydney Gazette

 

Muswellbrook Residents 1830s - 1840s (search the database for more information)
Agnew, Edward Clerk of Petty Sessions
Allman, Francis Police Magistrate
Baxter, B
Beames, Robert Storekeeper, Postmaster
Blaxland, George Land owner
Boodle, Rev. Richard
Bowlan, Thomas Constable
Bradshaw, Lloyd Poundkeeper
Brown, James Constable
Burgall, George Eating house and store
Burley, George Constable
Butler, Henry C Magistrate
Campbell, John Chief Constable
Carpenter, John Innkeeper
Chivers, Joseph Store owner
Connor, Peter Constable
Cox, John Hobart Land owner
Dangar, Richard Postmaster
Dawe, Peter Emancipist
Day, Edward Denny Police Magistrate
Dwyer, John Constable
Evans, Tucker Magistrate
Everness, William Bailiff of the Court of Requests
Forbes, David Land owner
Forbes, Sir Francis Land Owner, Chief Justice
Fox, Charles Constable
Halkin, Charles Watchhouse keeper
Hall, Thomas Simpson Land owner
Hannell, John Constable
Hegarty, Pierce Store owner
Kerr, Thomas Agent for the Free Press. Storekeeper
Keys, John Hudson Land owner
Kingsmill, Henry Bailiff
Kirkwood, James Builder and Cabinetmaker
Lewis Lipman Auctioneer, Store owner
Logan, James Constable
Maher, Patrick Constable
Mahoney, Jeremiah Constable
McAlpin, Phoebe Confectioner, baker
McIntyre, Donald Land Owner
Murray, Hugh Bailiff of the Court of Requests
Nowland, Henry Land owner. Innkeeper
Pierce, Henry Saddler
Pringle, Robert Land owner
Ralfe, James Surveyor in 1839
Richardson, Edward Innkeeper
Ridgeway, Charles Poundkeeper
Scott, Captain David Land owner
Scovell, Edward Magistrate
Shinkwin, William Constable
Skinner, Francis Constable
Smith, George Sheriff's Bailiff
Stringall, Nathanial Tinman
Thornton, Sylvester Innkeeper
Ward, Richard Innkeeper
West, John Boucher Surgeon
White, James Magistrate
Williams, Carden Terry Clerk of Petty Sessions
Wright, Samuel Land owner

 

Muswellbrook Postal Directory 1867

 

 

 

 

Australian Almanac 1867

 

 

 

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