with Michelle Nichols & Jonathan Auld
Historic Hobartville
Travelling along the Kurrajong Road on the outskirts of Richmond , the stately Hobartville estate can be glimpsed , a significant part of the Hawkesbury ’ s cultural landscape . Described as one of the ‘ finest properties ’ in the Hawkesbury with a house of ‘ outstanding beauty and importance ’, Hobartville was established and continues as a working property .
Bordering Ham Common , the property was originally two portions , 100 acres belonging to James Blackman granted in 1802 plus 400 acres granted to Edward Luttrell in 1804 . Edward Luttrell was a surgeon , a settler who arrived in the colonies in 1804 with his wife and eight children .
James Blackman , also a free settler , arrived in 1801 with his wife and family .
In 1814 , Luttrell ’ s Farm was advertised for lease by Lt . Atkins , Luttrell ’ s son-in-law . Thomas Atkins married Bertha Luttrell in 1813 . The property included a farm and premises and it is believed William Cox leased the farm from Atkins . Sixty acres of the Blackman Farm were offered for sale in 1817 by James Blackman .
Cox senior purchased Luttrell ’ s farm in 1816 and it was transferred to his son the following year . William was born in Wiltshire , son of William Cox senior , an army officer who arrived in Sydney in 1800 with his wife and family . After resigning his commission , Cox senior settled in the Hawkesbury and constructed a number of local public buildings but is best known for building the road over the Blue Mountains .
William junior stayed in England and completed his studies before joining his family in 1804 . He purchased a commission with the NSW Corps , and
Entrance to Hobartville Chapel Street Richmond NSW , 1932 . Photograph : Alexander John Petrie 1905- 1988 . Courtesy State Library of Victoria . returned to England where he served in the Peninsular Wars . While in England he met Elizabeth Piper and the couple married in 1813 , then returned to the colony the following year .
The property was first known as Hobartville in 1815 , before the Cox family owned it . Thomas Atkins advertised a cautionary notice in the newspaper warning any cattle found trespassing at Hobartville , would be impounded . The following year Atkins advertised the 400 acre farm named Hobart Bill ( sic ) with a “ neat and commodious dwelling , excellent garden , out offices ” for lease .
The kitchen block which stands next to the current big house , has an attic and rear skillion . This building dates from when Luttrell owned the property , and was later converted to a kitchen block .
The architect of the Georgian structure , known as Hobartville , is unidentified but it may have been William Cox senior who amongst other things built the Windsor Court House and St Matthew ’ s Rectory . There is a possibility that the emancipated architect Francis Greenway , who designed St Matthew ’ s Anglican Church , was responsible .
The two-storey house was finished sometime in 1828 and fits exquisitely within the landscape , with views towards the Blue Mountains . Elizabeth Cox wrote a letter to her cousin in 1828 :
‘ We are getting on rapidly with the new house . The carpenters are now finishing the cedar timber in the bedrooms ; six are plaistered ( sic ) entirely and the rooms below are floored and the first coat of plaistering on them , except the drawing room ... all the furniture required for the carpenters is to come from England and the Paints ... The Carpenters are very busy . They have been working in the house these six weeks but it will take many months to finish off all as it should be done …’
William and Elizabeth lived at Hobartville until William ’ s death in 1850 . The house was left to Elizabeth and on her death , to son William . Younger son , Sloper , took over the management of the
View of Hobartville Richmond NSW , 1932 . Photograph : Alexander John Petrie 1905-1988 . Courtesy State Library of Victoria .
property in 1863 .
In 1856 , Sloper married Adelaide , the daughter of solicitor , Frederick Garling . Sloper was leasing Hobartville from his older brother , William , but the property was conveyed to Sloper in 1865 . The couple had seven children but he died bankrupt in 1877 , aged 53 .
With his horse breeding business expanding , Andrew Town found the perfect property and purchased the Hobartville estate from the Cox estate in 1877 . Andrew Town was born in Richmond and was a prominent horse breeder who helped shaped the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia .
While Town remained at his residence in Windsor Street , his brotherin-law , was appointed as manager . Hobartville became renowned during Town ’ s ownership , with a distinguished thoroughbred stud , and yearly sales established under the oak trees at Hobartville plus special trains operating from Sydney .
These events were extremely successful and were catered for with fine food and beverages in a marquee set up in the grounds .
Town faced financial difficulties in the 1880s and in 1889 went bankrupt with Hobartville passing to William Long and George Hill . In 1900 , the property was sold to Percy Reynolds who also used the site as a stud , then sold again in the 1950s .
There have been several other owners since . Some of the land was sold from the property and subdivided in the 1960s and the locality called Hobartville .
The property contains many other fine buildings including a coach house , barns , stables and cottages and still functions as a working farm . The house is set in beautiful mature gardens including the original entrance with its row of trees from Chapel Street . A century old bamboo grove sheltered the house and large Moreton Bay figs , oaks , plus several fruit trees and rose bushes are situated in the established garden .
Hobartville has been fortunate in having dedicated owners and is an outstanding example of “ a substantially intact early colonial homestead group ”. It is a unique place with considerable heritage importance , not only to the Hawkesbury , but nationally .
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10 ISSUE 138 // NOVEMBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT