St Marys South Creek History
copied from: St Marys/South Creek History (archive.org)
Before 1788 when Australia was being colonised by the British, the Dharug Tribe of Aborigines held the South Creek area. Up until the building of the St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, St Marys was called "South Creek" after the main water supply called the "South Creek". The name was changed to "St Marys" after the railway came in the 1860's. The first land grant in the South Creek area was to Reverend Samuel Marsden which he called "Mamre". The town didn't really open up until the land was sold from the O'Connell Estate - which the township formed part of the Sir Maurice and Mary O'Connell land. Mary was the daughter of Governor Bligh who granted the land to her. Further mention of how the land was sold off is in the "Family History" information Other early settlers at "South Creek" were the Governor Philip Gidley King and his "Dunheved" property and Mr Nicholas Bayly's "Bayly Park", "Shane Park" owned by Dr John Harris and Gregory Blaxland's farm "Lee Holm", the farm of Dr D'Arcy Wentworth, "Erskine Park" owned by Lieutenant Colonel James Erskine and Mr John Badgery's "Exeter Farm" who was a free settler. /Another large grant was "The Mountain View Estate" which was 1600 acres to John MacHenry which was bounded by the Great Western Highway, Mamre Road & Ropes Creek. MacHenry also had another large grant at Penrith called "Lemongrove" where he carried out a business there of blacksmith. He was also a magistrate at Penrith. /Other properties such as "Fleurs" which was the original land grant of 550 acres given to Nicholas Bayley and built in the early 1800's. It was originally known as Bayley Park. The painted sandstone block building once formed the front of a U-shaped building, around a courtyard where the cellars were - where Bayley kept his convicts there at night. Fleurs is situated on Elizabeth Drive, St Marys and "Tottenham" on Luddenham Road were used for services held by the "Galloping Parson" the Reverend Thomas Hassall of St Paul's Cobbitty before there was a local church./The area of (South Creek)St Marys was originally covered with thick bush of ironbark and box and many Sydney black wattle trees and because of this, there was a flourishing tanning industry.Some of the local tanners who made good were:- THE THOMPSON FAMILY HISTORY -Starts with Andrew Thompson (Snr) who took his family and left his native Scotland, due to religious persecution to settle in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It was here that his six sons grew up to be tanners and farmers like their father. In 1851, Samuel a son of Andrew, came to Australia with his wife Isabella Thompson (Nee Robinson) to settle on the west bank of South Creek, where Samuel saw the potential for tanning in that area, and he established a small tannery from where they took the finished product by horse and cart to Parrmatta and returned with household supplies and raw hides. Samuel was born at County Tyrone on 12/8/1827 - his parents and the rest of his brothers emigrated to America in 1857. Samuel and Isabella's first son, Andrew was born at South Creek on 11th April, 1852, his other children were:- William James (28/10/1854 - 27/12/1938). William James married Grace Difford Burgess, Mary Ann Hope (1857 - 23/11/1935). Mary Ann married George Hope, Leslie (28/10/1859 - 3/7/1938). Leslie married Ada Knighton, Matilda Barlow (1860 - ). Matilda married William Barlow, Isabella Blackmore (1861 - ). Isabella married John Blackmore. Samuel died of sunstroke on 18th February, 1863 at the age of 37 years, and Andrew who was 10 and his mother and brothers carried on the tannery. Isabella married William Mitchell in 1866 and Andrew at the age of 14 years went to work at the local tannery. Andrew started his first tannery with the help of an Irishman named John Briggs and he was the first Australian tanner to import the South African "Mimosa" bark which he found superior to the local product - this "Mimosa" emblem was used as his trade mark on his products and also called his family home in Pages Road, St Marys. Andrew was interested in local council matters, being the Mayor of St Marys on more than one occasion. /(St Marys' Council Minute Book - 7/8/1891} - Andrew Thompson was elected to council, moved by Alderman Hall and seconded by Alderman Cox to fill the place left vacant by Alderman Hall). He married his friend's daughter, Lydia Briggs and had eight children:- 1 - Lexina "Exley" (1874 - 1874) 2 - Herbert James Leslie (1875 - 1912). Herbert married Formosa Beatrice Farrell, 3 - Mary Theresa (1878 - 1953), 4 - Darcy (1888 - 1968), 5 - Gerald (1890 - 1966). Gerald married Emma Royal, 6 - Lindsay (1885 - 1968). Lindsay married Nellie Hackett, 7 - Isabelle "Bob" Mathews (1880 - 1919). Isabelle married H M Mathews, 8 - James Byrne (1892 - ). James married Ada Margaret Ura Beacroft -/(Nepean Times - 7/4/1917} Pte. Andrew J Thompson son of Mr Andrew Thompson J.P. enlisted for active service at the front and goes into camp on the 10th April, 1917, is following the example of his brother, Pte Darcy Thompson and other lads of St Marys. /(Nepean Times - 16/3/1918} While assisting Mr W Brangwin with his milk delivery in Queen Street last Sunday morning, a boy named L Thompson, slipped on a step and fell across the reins tied at the side of the cart. The jerk caused the animal to rear and sent him into a tree growin g on the side of the road, spilling the cart and contents. Thompson, was picked up and conveyed to Nurse Edward's Private Hospital nearby, but was found O.K. The shaft on the cart was broken. On the 10th March, 1899 Andrew took off on a world tour and left his son Herbert in charge and called at County Tyrone to meet his relatives and visit the old home, he also stopped off in America where he met up with his Uncles and Cousins for the first time. Andrew died at his residence "Tyrone" on 30/10/1918 at the age of 68 years, his wife Lydia died in 1939 at the age of 86 years - both are buried along with their family in St Marys General Cemetery. William James Thompson & Grace Difford Burgess were married at St Mary Magdalene Church on 7/2/1874 - their children were:- Samuel William Henry (30/10/1874 - 20/3/1928). Samuel William Henry married Sarah Maria Masters on 10/7/1895 at St Mary Magdalene - he died aged 52 (run over by car) at Parramatta and is buried at St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Elizabeth M (1875 - ), Ethel Grace (1876 - 1876). , George Oliver (1877 - 9/3/1954). George Oliver married Annie Elizabeth Woodlands - he died at 39 Byrnes St, Granville aged 76 years - he is buried at St Mary Magdalene churchyard, Joseph (1879 - 1880), Grace May (1881 - 14/5/1881), John Young (1882 - ), Stella (20/3/1884 - 20/10/1884), Grace May Anshau (1886 - 28/6/1968). Grace May married Vincent Daniel Anshau - she died aged 82 years and is buried at St Marys General cemetery, Isabella Robinson (1889 - 1890), Ida (1890 - ), William James (Jnr) 1891 - ), Elsie Isabel Thomson (1893 - ). Elsie married William Thomson , Jessie (1895 - 1895).
Andrew Thompson's No. 1 tannery in Saddington Street St Marys - demolished
BRELL FAMILY - Martin Brell was born at "Glenmore", Mulgoa Road in 1856. Martin's father, Daniel Brell did an extensive trade over the Mountains in the days before the coming of the railway. The Brell family lived for some time in Castlereagh Street, Penrith. On leaving school he was an apprentice to John Henry Paskin the tanner, at his tannery in Penrith, he also had a tannery in St Marys. When completing his apprenticeship with Paskin, he went to work in some of the Windsor tanneries. In 1880, at the age of 23, Martin bought Alexander Simpson' s tannery on the Great Western Road (Highway) which was situated just about opposite the Tennant Road turnoff at Werrington, because Alexander was leaving the district. The purchase of the tannery used up all Martin's savings, leaving little to commence operations, so hoping to secure a bale of hides in a deposit, he attended a Sydney hide premises where they sold to the highest bidder. He questioned the auctioneer about purchasing some hides on a deposit, or pay for a dozen hides, but was told they were not allowed to break a bale. Unknown to Martin, his conversation was overheard by another St Mary's tanner and when Martin was out of range, the tanner purchased a bale and arranged consignment to Martin at the St Marys goods yard. He was notified by the stationmaster on their arrival at the goods yard, but Martin replied he had not purchased them, but as they were in his name he had to pick them up. This act of friendship from the unknown tanner, led to a very prosperous life of tanning by Martin, which lasted 55 years as a master tanner. His speciality being the high grade harness leather. He married Elizabeth Yanz in 1881 and as his sons became old enough, they came into the tanning business. Martin died at his residence "Four Winds" St Marys, next to his tannery in January 1934 at the age of 77 years. The sons took over for a short while and ran the tannery, but family disagreements caused it to close down. In 1935 in September, the property was sold and the premises demolished. The tanning pits , which still contain some of the dumped machinery, are still there. Part of the tannery premises demolished was a brick building that was once the barroom of the "Cottage of Content" hotel and under the floors workmen found coins to the value of 160 pounds (from a farthing to a golden half sovereign). There was also many tokens, some celebrating the opening of the railway from Sydney to Parramatta in 1855. The hotel was built in the early 1830 . (Thomas Herford closed it down in 1866.}
"Four Winds" - Brell Family residence on the Great Western Highway at Werrington.
www.stmaryshistoricalsociety.org
The election of the first St Marys Council was held in May 1890 and continued until St Marys was amalgamated with the City of Penrith in 1948. The Mayors of St Marys were William Garner 1890 - 91, George Turner 1892-93, James Beecroft 1893-95, Edgar W.P. Cox 1896, Joseph Sainsbury 1897-1904, Jessie Turner 1905-07, Andrew Thompson 1908, J Carberry 1909-1911, K Campbell 1912-14, Francis Brell 1915-16, K Campbell 1917-19, William Morris "Cuffy" 1920, Thomas Brooker 1921-26, Franis Brell 1927-28, R B Dent 1929, J W Irwin 1930, R D Hope 1931, W K Kennelly 1932, H P Christie 1933, L A Muscio 1934-42, J B Thompson 1943, A J Adams 1944-45, J A MacKay 1946, A J Cook 1947, J J Blair 1948.
"Old Buffers" movement commenced in the 1880's, to help preserve old acquaintances and loyalty to the town on the part of its St Mary's citizens who had left the area. For nigh on half a century, St Marys enjoyed the distinction of being the only town in Australia that for year after year, held a reunion of past and present residents, by means of what was known as the "Old Buffers’ Reunion & Cricket Match. The first coming together of the townspeople of St Marys was originally in 1856, when "O'Connell's Square" as Victoria Park was known at that time, was sold to James Hackett and then won back by the people of St Marys, who celebrated by way of a "Bullock Roast" in their beloved "square" . This celebration was the first of what became an annual commemoration known as the "Bullock Roast & Sports Day". The first cricket match held on Victoria Park was in 1890, and down the years the fraternity continued to function, save for a few lapses during the First World War and again in the Depression of the 1930's and as one generation passed on, the next took their place and in this manner, the association continued to be rejuvenated until September 1938, when it ended through lack of interest. Pleas by the last three survivors of the 1890 originals at this last reunion, brought little response, and as such the "Old Buffers" passed into history. Three prominent townsmen who helped begin the "Old Buffers" movement, were George T Bennett (Wagon Builder) Andrew Thompson (Master Tanner) and William Fleming (Brick maker). The first match in 1890 was described as "24 old buffers, some over 60 years of age, hunted for the ball in dress ranging from professional togs to moleskins and cabbage tree hats. No one had to run very far, for there was no hard hitting and when there was a good hit, the chances were it would at least fall to one of the 24 scouts or else got lost in the long grass. Besides, over the 2 rail fence - but a short distance away, was counted as 2 runs and after 48 wickets had fallen, someone yelled 'damn the cricket, lets go to dinner' which had been prepared at the Commercial Hotel" . These reunions were financed by donations, raffles and the sale of tickets for the after dinner dance. George T Bennett was one of the three original "Old Buffers" to play in the last match in 1938 at the age of 85 years. The term "buffer" was used both humorously and disparagingly to describe an elderly man and comes from the French word "foolish fellow" however, it acquired an affectionate meaning and it was in this sense that it applied to the cricketers. (Research from Nepean Times & the late Bert Evans)
OTHER TANNERS OF THE DISTRICT- Thomas Paskin- first practised the art of tanning on the property of Edward King Cox of "Fernhill"at Mulgoa, where he also married in the 1820's. The hides were (cleansed, defleshed, and dehaired) in the Nepean River, above what is now known as "The Basin", being secured to chains stretched across the river and tanned in pits dug beside the stream. About 1844 he moved to St Marys, setting up his home and tannery on the site of the Masonic Temple (Gt Western Highway). It was here Thomas, who was a skilled saddler and harness maker, taught his two sons Daniel and John Henry to become skilled in both trades. Daniel would meet the teams from over the mountains at Emu Plains to purchase the hides. When sufficient hides of leather were made, they were loaded onto a spring cart and taken to Sydney. The only way the tanners could export of leathers was by meeting the Captains of the boats at Sydney and induce them to take their leathers back home to their homeland. Thomas eventually sold his tannery in 1882 to John Herford. Thomas' son Daniel became the licensee of the "Oddfellows Arms" - later named the "Commercial Hotel" and John Henry settled in Penrith as a saddler. John Henry also went into tanning and cattle dealing to finally end up a tanner. He gave up harness making to erect a large tannery and residence on a site, having a good spring of water, near the Penrith ambulance station, about opposite Castlereagh Road. He was joined by his father and brother Daniel. John Henry also had a butchery business in Station St, Penrith. He also secured orders for railway sleepers which were cut at Euroka Creek and he built a large punt to transport them down river to Penrith. John Henry handed over his tannery in 1894 to his two sons who became the third generation of Paskins in the tannery business. John Henry married at Windsor in 1862 and had 10 children. He died in July 1910. After 2 years the brothers moved the tannery to a property on Scott’s Creek, about midway between Kingswood & Werrington on the northern side of the railway lines. Here they started with 20 pits, 12 spenders (these being pits where the tannery lacquers are made) and the building of large sheds and stores equipped with up to date machinery. To ensure a good supply of water, they built a dam across the creek, which dried up in the drought of 1901/02. Water was then drawn from the water tower at Kingswood by pumping it into 200 & 400 gallon square iron ship’s tanks, loaded on carts, thus enabling them to carry on until the rains came. They were never again troubled by a shortage of water, for Frederick Jones, whose tannery was close by had laid down a pipeline from the Nepean River to the yards of both establishments. Here, the brothers traded under the name of "Paskin Brothers" to be joined in later years by their 5 sons, to maintain the family's tradition of high grade leather, concentrating on quality rather than quantity. John Henry retired in 1922 and arranged with his brother to take over his interest a few years later, Thomas also retired and handed over to the 5 sons of the brothers who traded as "Paskin Brothers Jnr". Eventually with 3 brothers dead and the 2 remaining, they closed down the tannery in 1954. The end came finally when the premises were destroyed by fire in May 1957.
ABRAHAM CORNWALL - Had a tannery about the site of the Londonderry Race Track. Not much is known except through his dealings with a Penrith storekeeper whose ledger reveals the following information:- "Abraham Cornwall February 13th 1844, Bought 2 hides at 5 shillings, 1 pigskin (credits) - 1 side leather, August 10th 1846 Debit - 5 hides, 1 calf skin - May 10th 1848 - Debit 1 fresh hide, 1 pigskin - Credit 1 side leather. Not much more is known except Abraham Cornwall ended his days as a saddler and harness maker at Bathurst at the age of 92 years.
MATHEW J CONNELL - was born at Richmond in 1843. His parents came from Ireland in 1839. He died at his home at Mulgoa Rd at the age of 97 years on 24th August, 1940. At one time he was an employee of Abraham Cornwall. Mathew started a tannery in partnership with a Mr Neale of Jamison town in 1889.
JOHN PAGE- was an English Master tanner who established his tannery "Saylhurst" in 1856 after acquiring several 50 acre blocks on the eastern side of South Creek, on the banks of the creek at what is now the far end of Pages Road, where many a later tanner learnt and benefited by following his craftsmanship. He was regarded as the father of the tanning industry at St Marys. He employed 50 workers on his farm and tannery, who he supplied with morning and afternoon tea. He employed the children of the district during the summer holidays, husking the corncobs and at the end he would give them entertainment. He also gave St Marys its first library. John's tannery was taken over in 1871 by Robert Saddington and Sons, who sold out later to Thomas Henry Alcock & Joseph Davenport. After they vacated the premises it remained idle for some time until in 1882 it was bought by Ebenezer John White.
JAMES FARRELL- was born 1806 in England and came to Australia a free man in 1822. He was one of the first tanners in Victoria. When he came to Sydney, he took up tanning at Burwood and then he came to St Marys in September 1882 where he took over the "Saylhurst Park" tannery. He renamed it the "Colonial Tannery" . He was the first to start the 8 hour system and was regarded and the working man's champion. He died in 1894 at the age of 88 and is buried in the St Marys General Cemetery. Shortly after James's death, the tannery, the largest in St Marys at that time, was closed down. The closure was a disaster for its former employees, compelling many to leave their families to seek work elsewhere, some to take their families and leave St Marys for good. The tannery remained closed for 3 years until 1897, when the conditions became more stable on the economic front and was restarted by William Armstrong who operated it for 3 years. In the early months of 1902 he should out to L F Anshau & Sons.
L J ANSCHAU & SONS- who started in the village of Luddenham in 1888 when Mr Anshau (Snr) began to manufacture men's "Blucher Boots" . These boots were a heavy-soled studded working and a Cossack-type boot which was popular with the miners. In March 1902, the father took his 3 sons and bought the "Colonial" tannery from Mr Armstrong who went to Botany. They converted part of the tannery to the manufacture of boots as they had connections in Sydney for their boots as well as their leather. This tannery was mainly run as a family concern but they did employ a few hands to make a total of 14 persons employed in both trades. In June 1910, the firm shifted from St Marys to Parramatta where they went into boot making only. The Granville firm of Marsh Brothers intended to ta ke over the tannery but this did not eventuate so this old tannery which started with John Page in the 1840's came to an end after a life of 66 years, when in October 1911 the buildings were demolished and the timber sold by auction.
THOMAS HERFORD- migrated to NSW with his family in 1843. He was engaged as he stepped off the ship by Major James to work on his property (the original grant to Major James Erskine, granted in May 1818 and named "Erskine Park" near St Marys). Thomas was a boot maker by trade and in his spare time, commenced the making of boots and soon, by careful industry, was able to purchase some ground over the western side of the creek, on the southern side of the Great Western Road, about opposite the old Werrington Turn off (now called Tennant Road). Here he built a home and a small factory, calling it "Enterprise Boot Factory" . When he was established, he started a tannery on the site and for 48 years until 1895, he operated the two industries. Adjacent to the boot factory stood the brick built "Cottage of Content" hotel that had served the Western Road travellers since the 1830's. This was later taken over by Thomas who ran it as well as the 2 factories until about 1866, when he closed the hotel down. The factories remained and he was assisted by his 2 sons, John and Paul and his son-in-law William Carberry. Thomas and several other residents of St Marys formed a syndicate and went to the gold fields of Sofala and Ophir Creek, where they prospected for a few years with some success, Rheumatism caused him to eventually give up this venture and he returned to St Marys where he died in the home of his son-in-law in October 1893. In 1848 Alexander Simpson put down a tannery of 12 pits alongside of Thomas's tannery and it was sold to Martin Brell in 1881.
MATTHEW WEBB - born in 1846 in the Penrith district and when old enough went to work in John Page’s tannery. When Matt was 18 he purchased a block of ground situated behind the present Band Club where he put down a small tannery and water storage dam and in 1864 started his own business which he conducted with his sons alongside that of making boots until about 1880 when he sold it to John B Forsythe, who sold it to Andrew Thompson in March 1891. This tannery was known as the "little tannery" and remained in production for only 5 or 6 years when it closed down and was demolished and anything useable was incorporated into the "big tannery" on Saddington St, St Marys. Matthew died at Cootamundra aged 53 years in March 1899.
JOHN HERFORD - was born at Rimpton, Somerset, England in 1847 and came to Australia with his parents on the "Birkenhead" in 1856. His father assisted in supervising the construction of the railway to Parramatta and died 6 months after arriving in Australia. There family were then living at Smithfield and John, at 11 years of age was forced to go to work to help out the family. His first job was the carting of wood to the saw mills at Smithfield. Later he worked in a local tannery to leave there and become an apprentice in the trade in the tannery of the Anthony Brothers, where he soon built up a reputation as the best knives man in the county. When a young man, he came to St Marys in 1867 to work in the tannery of Alfred Alcock and while here he married a local girl and t he moved to Parramatta where most of his family were born. He moved his family back to St Marys and took over the Paskin tannery and for the next 8 to 9 years he worked the tannery and sold it in 1890 to the Innes Brothers. John bought the recently deceased John Shand's tannery at Wallgrove but he sold that to take over the "Federal Tannery" at Botany from J R Woodland in 1899. John died at Botany on the 8th March, 1927 at the age of 80 years and is buried in Botany cemetery.
THE INNES BROTHERS - George & Albert Innes were born at Emu Plains (Albert in 1854). When a young man, George became apprenticed to Matthew Web at his tannery (behind the present Band club). When he completed his apprenticeship he went to work at the trade in Brisbane & Goulburn. In 1890 George bought the small tannery of John Herford and he and his brother Albert, worked in partnership for 8 years where it was sold to Andrew Thompson who closed it down. This small tannery commenced by Thomas Paskin in 1844, came to an end in 1900, where both tannery and residence were demolished. George died in 1928 at the age of 72 and is buried at St Marys general cemetery.
ROBERT HAMILTON- was born at Parramatta in 1842. He came to St Marys in 1874 and established his "Parkhill" tannery in the area then called "Bulls Bush", now called Monfarville St and conducted his small tannery for the next 27 years. He packed up in 1901 and left for Botany, where he continued his tannery operations. Robert died in 1921 at the age of 79 years and is buried in St Marys General Cemetery.
FREDERICK CHARLES JONES - was born in a house in Castlereagh Street, Penrith in 1875. his father, a native of Carnarvon, Wales died when Fred was 13 years old and he had to leave school to help support his family. He obtained employment in a local general store for 3 years, after which he joined the railway in the loco department and became an engine fireman by the time he was 7 years old. Around about this time, retrenchments in the railway department were being made and Fred was discharged. After some time in various jobs, some i n Queensland, he was recalled back into the service. With only 150 pounds of borrowed money, and no experience in the tannery business, he left the railway and selected a block of ground on Scott’s Creek, which was between Werrington & Kingswood on the northern side of the railway line and where, with the practical help of Daniel Paskin and Bill Ransley, he put down 12 pits and building one small shed to equip the pumping arrangement and a wheelbarrow. A month after the completion of the tannery he resigned from the railway service and took up tanning in 1897. This tannery of 5 acres was turning out 40 sides of leather a week and by 1910 it had grown into 25 acres of land, handling 1,000 hides a week. After about 11 years of operation of his tannery, his annual turnover was estimated to be 60,000 pounds. His tanning sheds were most extensive and were a practical mixture of old and new. One shed alone measured 120 x 50 and was capable of holding 10,000 pounds worth of stock, while others provided plenty of accommodation for drying, dressing, baling and dispatching. Two rooms were set aside for steam drying, each could hold 800 sides and another capable of holding 2,000 sides of leather. The drought of 1901/2 dried up his water resources of Scott's Creek and to keep his tannery working (20 men were then employed) he joined with the Paskin Brothers (whose tannery was close by) in drawing water from the water tower that was at Kingswood and was able to carry on until the rains came. To stop this from happening again, and at his own expense, he laid down a pipeline a distance of 25 miles from the Nepean River to the tanning yard. This pipeline was laid just inside the railway fence from Penrith to Werrington, then across to the tannery. His tannery produced a good quality heavy sole leather, which went to two leading Sydney boot and shoe manufacturers. The light and medium was exported to South Africa, England and Scotland. His chief source of hides came from the Riverstone Meat Works, the rest from open market. Later on they cam from his properties in Queensland. In 1920 he and a brother bought 4,000 acres of land at Bulga in the Gunnedah district. With other purchases of land, they held a total of 9,000 acres which eventually held some 10,000 sheep and 850 head of cattle. He also took part in meat share farming. Fred left nothing go to waste. The extraction of tallow from the fleshing of hides, found a good market in Sydney. He was also "Captain of Industry" for one of his investments in the State Book Manufacturing Company, having a shop on the north eastern corner of High & Station Streets, Penrith. Another, was a fish curing venture at Lower Portland, a sawmill at Douglas Park, and interest in a colliery at Lithgow and a gold mining venture at Bungonia in the Goulburn district. Fred Jones was a keen sportsman, especially in trotting and as owner, trainer and driver, owned some of the fastest trotting horses in NSW, and for some years, was a leading reinsman for square trotters at Sydney courses. He was also a keen gun shot and sporting dog enthusiast, owning at one time 24 beagle dogs. He was also a large landowner in the Penrith district, one of the largest being known as "Jones Town Estate" - this property was the original grant of John Best in 1814. The Nepean District Hospital is built on part of his estate. He also had a circular training track on this estate. He was well known for his generosity and in the depression years of 1930 to 1935 he gave 20 blocks of land off his estate for homes to unemployed homeless families. He also gave land in High Street in Penrith for the central district ambulance. He died at his Penrith residence in August, 1938 at the age of 64 years and is buried in the Penrith General Cemetery in Kingswood. After his death his tannery continued for a short while and eventually closed down after a productive life of 41 years.
WILLIAM MILLEN - strictly speaking, the last of the St Mary' s tanners to close their tanneries was Martin Brell's tannery shortly after his death in 1934, but it was William Millen who was to be the last of the old time tanners to cease operations in the Nepean district in 1958. Until the year 1949 when the St Marys Council amalgamated with Penrith, his tannery in Second Avenue, Kingswood, was situated in the St Marys municipality, who's western boundary then being the centre of Bringelly Road. William was born at Brewingle, near Bathurst in 1873. As a child he came with his parents to Kingswood and after leaving school, he joined the railway to become a fireman on the engines that went on the old Zig Zag line over Lapstone Hill. When he was 22 years of age he left the railway to start up a small tannery near his home in Second Avenue and during the years of tanning, his tannery increased in size. The tannery remained a family business for 63 years, being managed by William, his son and lastly his son-in-law. William died at his residence on 27th September, 1958 at the age of 85 years and is buried in the Penrith General Cemetery at Kingswood.
WHO MAY BE A TANNER "Act of James 1st - No person or persons, from and after the Feast of Saint Bartholomew next coming, may tan any leathers or shall use, take or have any profit, gain or commodity of, or by the same craft of mystery of the tanning of leather, and, except such person or persons as have had a tan house at the beginning of the present session of Parliament and did they occupy the mystery of the tanning of leather, and except such has been or here after shall be, brought up, instructed, or taught as, apprentices or covenant as hired hands for that purpose by the space of 7 years in the mystery of tanning of leather, and except the wife or such son of sons of a tanner as hath used the mystery of tanning of leather, by the space of 4 years, or the son or daughter of a tanner or such persons who shall marry such wife or daughter to whom he hath or shall leave a tan house and fate, upon pain of forfeiture of all such leathers by him, or so tanned, or whereof he, or they shall receive any profit or commodity by tanning or just value thereof" .
PENALTY FOR GASHING OR WATERING WITH A HIDE, OR SELLING A ROTTEN HIDE - "Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, the lords spiritual and temporal and commons of this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that from and after the feast of Saint Bartholemew, the apostle next coming, no butcher by himself, or by any other person, shall gash, slaughter or cut any hide of any ox, bull, steer or cow in the flaying thereof or otherwise whereby the same shall be impaired or hurt, upon pain of forfeiture for every hide so gashed, slaughtered and cut ..... 20 pence AND No butcher, shall water any hides except only in the months of June, July and August, nor shall offer or put to sale any hide putrefied and rotten, upon pain of forfeiture for every hide so watered and for every hide so putrefied and rotten and offer or put to sale ....3 shillings & 4 pence.