Please join us at the Chapel on Saturday, July 27th where we are delighted to welcome Marilyn Wood our esteemed local historian living in Greengrove. Marilyn has been interested in researching the pioneers in this district, the many families now living in the Mangrove Mountain and Spencer areas whose origins were from Greengrove, and the general history and significance of this forgotten part of the Lower Hawkesbury region.
The initial period of occupation of the Lower Hawkesbury including along the Mangrove and Popran Creeks occurred from 1820 to 1840s. Even though this area was isolated the settlers nevertheless were able to move with ease along the waterways that crisscrossed their area. Facilities catering for them also emerged often created by their own efforts, all accessible by boat, rather than by road. In the 1830s, St Peter’s Anglican Church was built at Greengrove, Mangrove Creek by James Everingham. It was replaced in 1910 by a new weatherboard building but today only St. Peter’s cemetery still exits.
This cemetery has historic and social significance as an early burial site for the pioneer settlers of the Mangrove Creek area such as Matthew Pemberton and other prominent local families including the Atkins, Crafts, Coxes, Donovans, Ellems, Hibbs, Starkeys and Woodburys. The cemetery has aesthetic and scientific significance not only for it’s potential for research but also as a group of funeral monuments representative of the development of the area, showing a wide variety of styles indicative of each period.
The Greengrove Wharf was an important early stone government wharf located at the mouth of the Bedlam Creek associated with access to markets for produce or to collect goods despatched to the early farming communities of Mangrove Creek and Mangrove Mountain. It is representative of the fact that water transport was easier than taking produce east by road.
We will meet at the Chapel at 12.00pm for lunch at 12.30 pm.
Come and listen to Marilyn’s rollicking tales about the old days. Marilyn will commence her talk at the Wesleyan Chapel, 6445 Wisemans Ferry Road, Gunderman after lunch.
COST: Members $15/ Non-Members $20.
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: [email protected] or 0404 272 969 (leave a message) by Monday, 22nd July for DLHHS Members and by Wednesday, 24th July for Non-Members. All welcome.
