James Robertson - Jeweller, Watchmaker and Gentleman farmer

James Robertson

James Robertson arrived in Australia in January 1822, with his wife, Anna Maria (nee Ripley) and their six children.  The family sailed from England aboard the ‘Providence.’[1] He was a native of Renfrew Scotland and trained as a clockmaker and silversmith before working for the firm Grimaldi and Johnson located in The Strand, London. Long-time friend, Sir Thomas Brisbane, who was later the Colonial Governor, is said to have influenced the decision to emigrate.[2] Soon after the arrival of the Robertson family to the colony, Brisbane appointed James keeper of Government clocks and watches when James Oatley, his predecessor, was ousted from that position.[3]

Success followed success, and in 1822, James Robertson was granted 500 acres from a redistribution of Crown land that had been the Seven Hills farm previously held by John and Elizabeth Macarthur.  However, the transaction was not registered until 1837.[4]  Others who benefited from the redistribution were McDougall, Acres and Mrs. Ward.  James ran cattle on his Seven Hills property that became known as Robertson’s Farm, however, in 1838, he sold the land to Isabella Maria Acres.[5]

In July 1822, James Robertson hosted the inaugural meeting of the first Agricultural Society of New South Wales at his residence located at 96 George Street Sydney.[6]  Tasmania formed the first society until landowners, pastoralists and merchants, and the colonial elite of New South Wales, formed the second.[7] The Red Cow Inn hosted an official function, shortly after the first meeting, whereby Governor Brisbane granted ten acres of land at Westmead (current site of the railway station and hospital) for a showground.  The Sydney Gazette reported that the rules and regulations of the society were drafted by the first rank over a splendid dinner and evening that went on into the early hours of the next day.[8]

Prior to becoming part of the landed gentry, James Robertson operated a jewellry and watchmaking business in the ‘Underwood Building’ adjacent to Kings Wharf in Sydney.  Several editions of the Sydney Gazette reported his retirement from that occupation in 1830.  The tome related that stocks of precious stones, items of jewellry, gold chains, and watches would be sold.[9]  

The family resided variously in Sydney, then Robertson’s Point, Port Jackson/Cremorne and then in the homestead ‘Plashett’ (which still exists) built on 1000 acres of land granted to him at Jerry’s Plains/Hunter Valley.[10] The Hunter Valley property was sold around 1854 and James died at Aberglasslyn, near Maitland, in 1868.[11] 

It is of interest to note that the most famous of James Robertson’s children was politician and land reformer, Sir John Robertson KCMG (1816-1891). Educated by Dr. J.D. Lang and W.T.Cape, John Robertson rubbed shoulders with politicians like Sir Henry Parkes, Geoffrey Eager and Sir James Martin.[12]

 

Sir John Robertson

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[1] State Records of NSW, Colonial Secretary Index 1788-1825, James Robertson, http://colsec.records.nsw.gov.au, accessed 27.3.2015.

[2] Bede Nairn, Robertson, Sir John (1816-1891), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol.6, 1976.

[3] Powerhouse Museum, www.powerhouse.com, accessed 11.11.2015.

[4] Jack Brook, The Seven Hills A Village Divided, A Suburb United, self-published, 2004, p.31.

[5] Baulkham Hills Council, Bella Vista Farm Park, Fact sheet, www.thehills,nsw.gov.au, accessed 11..11.2015.

[6] Parramatta Research Services, Parramatta Agricultural Societies and Shows, 6.12.2013, https://sites.google.com/site/parracommunityheritage, accessed 27.3.2015.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Sydney Gazette, 11.9.1830, p. 4; 18.9.1830, p. 1; 4.11.1830, p.1s.

[10] James Robertson family tree, http://belindacohen.tripod.com/robertsonfamilyjamesofrenfrew, accessed 27.3.2015.

[11] Sydney Morning Herald, 11.1.1868, p. 8.

[12] Bede Nairn.

Early Cottages of Seven Hills and owners                                               

Amisfield- Pearce.  Horace Hartley living there 1963.

Bella Vista-Parklea, Clara Hedges 1930.

Belmont- Old Windsor Road (Joyce Farm Valeria Avenue Baulkham Hills) leased by John W. Hedges from Mr Howard

Brendamor-Vardys Road, David Robert Howard lived there after he sold Nebo in 1930s

Buckinghams-Allen Hartley, Meurant’s Lane Seven Hills (c1890s)         

Drumtochy-William Chadwick, 1890s, Seven Hills Road, Seven Hills (now Grantham)

Eastborne-Pearce

Killara-Thelma Kate Hartley (1912)

Lauriston-Minnie (nee Hedges) & Ernest Hartley 1912.

Leslieview-Near Hartley’s store (owner W. Davis 1921)

Melrose-William Chadwick 1890s, Seven Hills Road, Seven Hills (now Grantham)

Nebo-Seven Hills Road opposite Church of England church and school. D.R. Howard & wife Sara Ann (nee staff) lots 4-10 & 17

Orange Grove-Matthew Woodward Pearce 1830s

Orchardleigh-Vardys Road, William James Johnson & Mary Ann (nee Howard) Johnson 1890s

Pineleigh Estate- Mr Morton? 1912. Subdivision 1912

Quamby/i - (Now Four Oaks) Vardys Road, Sidney Howard 1920s

Sorrento- J. Cocks

Stanhope- Pearce

Wooragee-Pearce

John Macarthur and the Seven Hills farm

An advertisement in the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser on Sunday 29th January 1809 stated that 'flocks of choice ewes and weathers of the Spanish race; a number of fine cows, bulls and oxen, of the English breed as well as some valuable brood mares, stallions and saddle horses were to be disposed of at Mr Macarthur's farm Parramatta.' The livestock was to be sold at low prices but only for ready money. Also mentioned was the sale of a 'most desirable estate,' located at Seven Hills, which comprised of some two thousand acres adjacent to Hawkesbury Road (present day Old Windsor Road).

John Macarthur had purchased the Seven Hills property from Major Joseph Foveaux in 1801. However, records indicate that the Seven Hills property did not find a buyer in 1809 and remained in the hands of Macarthur until it was returned to Crown ownership in 1821.  In return, the Macarthur's secured property at Camden. In the redistribution of the Seven Hills farm George Acres received 500 acres in 1823; Susannah Maria Ward received a grant of 500 acres in 1831; Matthew Woodward (son of Matthew Pearce) received 170 acres in 1835 and James Robertson, watchmaker, received a grant of 500 acres in 1837.

Robertson eventually sold his property to Isabella Maria Acres in 1838, and she sold the property to William Thomas (son of Matthew Pearce), in 1842.  This was developed and became 'Bella Vista.'

Ref: Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 29.1.1809, p. 2.
        Blacktown City Council, Seven Hills Timeline. 

Buzacott and jam making machinery

Buzacott

The Buzacott group of companies can be traced back to 1849 when the founder Mr A.B. Armstrong founded an engineering merchant business that later became known as Buzacott Co. Ltd. located at 9 Market Street Sydney. The business expanded but remained in the ownership of the Armstrong family – moving from father to sons - after the death of its founder. In 1889, Ernest Walter succeeded his father Thomas, who was the son of A.B. Armstrong.  In 1902, it became a limited liability company, trading as Buzacott and Company, with Ernest at the helm as Chairman of Director’s while his brother, Walter Verney was a director.

 

Buzacott entered the world of engine manufacturing at the turn of the century when the marine oil engine was introduced into Australia.  Instrumental in this move was Walter Verney Armstrong, an electrical engineer by trade, who gathered information about manufacturing engines from the USA. Eventually, the company expanded to become one of the respected manufacturers of fences and gates as well as pumps, wool presses, elevators, corn crushers and chaff cutters.  Today, engineering enthusiasts restore Buzacott engines and machinery while one of their Trademark products, Cyclone fencing, is still sold to this present day.

 

In later years, the company manufactured refrigerators under an agreement forged with Westinghouse and the name of the company was changed to Westinghouse Rosebery Ltd until it was taken over by the EMAIL group in the 1940s.

 

The company even produced motors and dynamos that went to the Antarctic with Douglas Mawson. Buzacott was responsible for producing farm and station accessories like the canning machinery used by Harry Smith at Seven Hills.



Harry Smith's canning outfit may have been similar to the one in this advertisement c1915

Two early advertisements

 

Ref: Buzacott engineering archive, article Peter Arfanis, 1992, Powerhouse Museum

        Various newspaper articles

Harry Smith's Jams and Preserves

Orchardists lived a precarious life because pests, disease, weather and fluctuating markets or gluts of fruit, often threatened their economic existence. Mr H.H. (Harry) Smith of Jerseyville Seven Hills was one orchardist that considered producing jams and preserves would return him a far better profit than just growing the fruit.

 

In 1916, a newspaper article told of a visit one of its correspondents paid to Harry's 'fine residence, orchard and jam factory.' The correspondent related that a one horse boiler supplied the steam necessary to run a 12 gallon jam-making copper capable of turning out 1cwt of jam at any one time.

It would seem that his set-up had the capacity to can the jam - when cooked - and a crimping machine attached the lids to avoid the use of solder. Originally, Smith used parchment paper on glass jars but screw lids were a welcome replacement. The plant had been  installed by Messrs. Buzacott and Co. Ltd. of Sydney and was located in a shed measuring 15 feet long and 10 feet wide.

Harry had already supplied one buyer with a 2 1/2 ton consignment - made from his own fruit - while another ton was waiting to be dispatched.  He had a standing order from one buyer to supply 100 ton. Harry used the peel and by products in the jam making process to augment pig fee thus nothing went to waste.

 

In February 1916, around 150 ladies and gentlemen attended a fruit canning and jam making demonstration at Jerseyville  given by Mr J.G.R. Bryant (Assistant Government Fruit Expert) from the Blacktown branch of the Agricultural Department.  Robert Lalor, hon. secretary of the branch, saw to the comfort of the visitors, as did Mr and Mrs Smith, who supplied afternoon tea as well as grapes and other fruit.  As well as locals, visitors came from as far afield as Cowan Creek, Hurstville, and Crows Nest.  Bryant turned out excellent samples of canned peaches and plum jam on the day. 

 

Harry Smith, apparently a self taught jam and fruit preserver, intended extending operations because he was convinced he would get a better return by treating his fruit on the premises and selling direct to retailers.  In 1917, a Mr Sharpe was putting in a pulping plant to can his own fruit.    

Orchards in Seven Hills c1914

Ref: Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 4.2.1916, p. 4
         Sydney Morning Herald, 4.2.1916, p. 7
         Farmer and Settler, 4.2.1916, p. 7
         Sydney Morning Herald, 25.12.1917, p. 5.     

Seven Hills Fruit Growers Association

Orchards in Seven Hills c1914 

First mentioned in 1895
1898 - J Pye, A. Howard, A. Hartley, H. Luke, R. Lalor, J. Howard, C. Watt.
1901 - T. Pye, H. Meurant, S. Howard, A. Brien, H. Luke, W. Buckley, J.F. Power, R. Brien.

Eventually became the Seven Hills Fruitgrowers and Progress Association
Work undertaken 1904:
* Successful improvement of Abbot Road and Model Farms Road
* Request for new railway station which, although unsuccessful, led to improvements being carried out to the existing
* Successful lobbying to Postmaster General for additional mail to Sydney
*Glass case with species of insects exhibited in railway waiting room
* Canvassing of local ladies for subscriptions for proposed soldier's memorial hall
* Unsuccessful attempt for reduction of charge made for fumigation of fruit for export
* Request for telephone communication to Postmaster General
* Money set aside and work carried out on road from railway station to the Meadows
* Mr. Davis put to the meeting that Mr. P.A. Pearce's paddock suitable for general cemetery because one had been established on the property already.  Up for further consideration


Ref: Local newspapers
Image: State Library of NSW

A teenagers view of Seven Hills as it was in 1902

Original North Seven Hills school building

Trove is a wonderful resource for social historians because newspaper articles often provide a wide variety of insights.  The Australian Town and Country Journal, for example, had a section called Dame Durden that encouraged the opinion and viewpoints of young readers. In October 1902, Jonquil penned her view of Seven Hills as seen through the eyes of a teenager then aged 15.  Jonquil described Seven Hills as a 'small country place situated about twenty miles from Sydney.'  She described the area north of the railway line as having 'acres and acres of orchards' while the south side was principally bushland.  The village had one store, one Anglican Church, a public school, post office, hall and two or three Sunday Schools.

Jonquil remarked on the hilly nature of the landscape, and that the large lake - in the location of the Prospect waterworks - was very pretty. Housing, at that time, comprised of 'some very nice large houses in Seven Hills' as well as a number of 'smaller ones scattered about in the midst of the orchards.'  Chinamen and a 'large number of poorer inhabitants' worked in the orchards which produced some of the 'choicest fruits' - citrus and other varieties - grown for the Sydney market.  Birds, as plentiful as they were, were a nuisance to the orchardists, and on moonlight nights 'young people' went about shooting hares.

She noted that convicts had been sent to the area in the earliest days of the colony with Toongabbie as one of the most favoured locations. Drought, it would seem, had been fairly severe around that time but Jonquil remarked that even though lack of rain had damaged some of the fruit, some of the orchards looked 'very well.'

This is just one small insight into the transformation of Seven Hills from a largely rural idyll.

Ref: Australian Town and Country Journal, 29.10.1902, p. 39.