56-685: Riverstone may refer to: Places [ edit ] Riverstone, New South Wales , a suburb of Sydney, Australia Riverstone railway station, Sydney Electoral district of Riverstone Riverstone High School Riverstone Terraces , a suburb of Upper Hutt, New Zealand Riverstone (Fort Bend County, Texas) , a master-planned residential community in Sugar Land, Texas and Missouri City, Texas Companies and organizations [ edit ] Riverstone Holdings , an energy and power focused private equity firm Riverstone International School ,
112-493: A Roman Catholic priest, Father James Dixon , to appeal to them. He then rode up himself, and got their agreement to hear Father Dixon again. Meanwhile, the pursuing forces had closed in and Major Johnston, with Trooper Thomas Anlezark, from the Governor's Body Guard of Light Horse , approached them again to parley , calling the leaders Cunningham and William Johnston down from the hill. Demanding their surrender, he received
168-495: A high density inner-city housing block situated in an empty country paddock remained a bizarre local landmark. Riverstone remained a small country town until the beginning of the 21st century when the current housing boom swallowed it up as part of the urban sprawl . Large areas of former farmland have recently (2014) also been released for housing in Riverstone and surrounding suburbs. On its northern side Riverstone still has
224-500: A large and thriving industrial area. Poultry farming and intensive market gardening are also still important activities in the area. According to the 2021 census of Population, there were 8,627 people in Riverstone. There are currently two public schools in Riverstone: Riverstone High School (Est 1963) and Riverstone Public School (Est 1882). Originally the school operated on the site now housing
280-473: A number of convicts along the way. Those later giving evidence stated they were press-ganged into service in hope of lessening their punishment. During that phase, the rebels obtained around a third of the colony's entire armaments. Their numbers had dwindled to several hundred, eventually totalling around 233, according to the Government controlled newspaper of the time. While at Constitution Hill during
336-608: A quick inspection, an advanced guard was sent to the west of the town. Johnston arrived at Government House in Parramatta about four hours later, not long after King had declared martial law under the Mansfield doctrine of posse comitatus . King's proclamation of martial law applied to a wide area, extending from Castle Hill to the Hawkesbury and Nepean areas, and empowered citizens in the area to detain those who lacked
392-470: A school in Boise, Idaho Riverstone Networks , a computer networking company Other [ edit ] Patuxent River stone , a gem Riverstone Pebble Tiles Riverstone , an album by Ten Mile Tide Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Riverstone . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
448-640: A ship. Early in 1804, after news arrived of Robert Emmet's attempted rising in Dublin the previous July, a similar conspiracy formed. Phillip Cunningham, a veteran of the rebellion of 1798, and William Johnston, another Irish convict at Castle Hill, planned an uprising. Over 685 Castle Hill convicts intended to join with nearly 1,100 convicts from the Hawkesbury River area, rally at Constitution Hill , and march on Parramatta and then Sydney Port Jackson itself. According to Helen Mackay, their goal
504-749: Is a suburb of Sydney in the state of New South Wales , Australia. Riverstone is located 48 kilometres (30 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district , in the Blacktown local government area and part of the Greater Western Sydney region. Originally settled in 1803 as part of a government stock farm, Riverstone is one of the oldest towns in Australia. As at the 2021 census , Riverstone had an estimated population of 8,627. Prior to settlement and colonisation of Australia,
560-572: Is likely that Richard Rouse , a staunch establishment figure, was given his grant at this site specifically to prevent it becoming a significant site for Irish convicts. "The Government Farm at Castle Hill", a plot of land around 60 hectares (150 acres), was added in March 1986 to the now defunct Register of the National Estate , as a special place of international and Australian significance. Residential development has significantly diminished
616-422: Is not known whether some or all of them were sent to Coal River. Of the remaining rebels (approximately 150), some were put on good behaviour orders, in default being sent to Norfolk Island , while the majority were pardoned and allowed to return to their places of employment, it having been adjudged that they were coerced into the uprising. Cunningham, badly wounded but still alive, was court-martialled under
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#1732781075946672-588: The Hawkesbury local government area, with those areas absorbed into the suburb of Vineyard . Riverstone has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Mary O'Connell, formerly Putland nee Bligh died in 1864. Her estate was eventually sold off including most of the original grant from Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Later a pattern of intersecting streets was laid out, mostly named after famous streets in London (e.g. Piccadilly Street, Gladstone Parade etc). When
728-603: The rebellion it had instigated in Ireland in the summer of 1798. From late 1799, they were transported as exiles-without-trial to the Colony of New South Wales. In September 1800, an Irish conspiracy was uncovered. The rebels planned to meet at and take Parramatta, and then before daylight take the Barracks at Sydney. Afterwards they planned to live on settlers farms, until they heard from France, where they had intended to dispatch
784-453: The 4 miles (6.4 km) march to Toongabbie. Initially, it was believed that the rebels were at Toongabbie, but on his arrival, Johnston was informed that they had moved to Constitution Hill. A small party under a corporal was sent to outflank that position, while an assault force of around a dozen men advanced on the summit, only to find it abandoned, with the rebels having moved off towards the Hawkesbury, about 17 miles (27 km) away. As
840-596: The Garfield Rd traffic lights adjacent to the Railway Station have caused massive traffic disruptions. Riverstone is one of the few suburbs left in the Sydney region with a level crossing with old-fashioned boom gates. This view looking west onto the undeveloped flood-prone paddocks is popular with Sydney film and TV commercial makers as a stand-in for a small country railway station. The final parting scene in
896-527: The Loyal Volunteers, Cunningham had no recourse but to withdraw west towards the Hawkesbury, hoping to add to his forces by picking up more recruits and to meet his missing forces on the way. Knowing that going forward would only see more death and a possible routing, the rebels quickly moved westward, hoping to join up with those now heading east from Green Hills (Windsor) in the area of today's Rouse Hill and Kellyville , recruiting or impressing
952-634: The Museum. For many years the Infants Department and Primary School were in separate buildings but are now located on the one site in Elizabeth Street. Riverstone also has three private schools: St Johns Catholic Primary School (Est 1950) https://www.stjohnsriverstone.catholic.edu.au/About/Who-We-Are , Norwest Christian College (1980) (formerly known as Coverdale Christian School) and Australian Christian College. ACC has two components:
1008-509: The Parramatta area. After fruitlessly waiting for a signal of a successful takeover of Parramatta, and with the non-appearance of reinforcements, Cunningham was forced to withdraw from Parramatta to Toongabbie to re-assess his strategy. Having already declared his hand and therefore deprived of surprise, as well as facing a superior and well disciplined detachment of the New South Wales Corps and enthusiastic militia force from
1064-521: The Sydney Loyal Association militia, took over guard duties, and a New South Wales Corps contingent of 56 personnel, including Lieutenant William Davies and Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Laycock, were dispatched to march through the night to bolster the garrison at Parramatta. Meanwhile, the provost marshal, Thomas Smyth, was sent ahead to contact Major George Johnston at Annandale. The troops from Sydney arrived at 1:30 am and, after
1120-455: The accepted spelling, although in the Sydney region the name is still pronounced as though the "e" is not present). Originally, beef cattle farmed in the area were driven overland to the Hawkesbury River for transport by sailing ship to the convict settlement at Sydney Cove . The construction of the Sydney to Richmond Railway line in 1864 both eliminated the need for this and opened up the region to non-rural development. An important meatworks
1176-427: The appropriate passes. A curfew had also been enacted and an amnesty declared, which gave those who were involved 24 hours to surrender. On Johnston's arrival at Parramatta, King delivered his orders to Johnston in writing, and then verbally to his small detachment. Johnston was to proceed to the western gate of the park around Government House, where the rebels had been seen a few hours earlier. If they were not there, he
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#17327810759461232-501: The area by boat, escorting Elizabeth Macarthur and her children, because an informer had advised that an attack would be made on the Macarthur's farm so as to draw troops away from Parramatta. On receipt of the news of the uprising, Governor King set off alone for Parramatta to assume command, while Colonel William Paterson , the lieutenant governor, called out the guard. One hundred and forty men from HMS Calcutta , as well as
1288-428: The area of the prison town. Less than 20 hectares (49 acres) has remained undeveloped and conserved, as Castle Hill Heritage Park , established in 2004. There is a sculpture near the battle site at Castlebrook Cemetery commemorating the sacrifice. There is some debate as to where the battle actually occurred. The bicentenary of the rebellion was commemorated in 2004, with a variety of events. The re-enactment in 2004
1344-519: The area that was to become known as Riverstone was inhabited by the Darug tribe . Most of these people died due to introduced diseases following the arrival of the First Fleet , and the remainder were largely relocated to government farms and a series of settlements. The Sydney Cove region originally settled in 1788 turned out to be unsuitable for farming, and after a number of years of near-famine in
1400-401: The armed convict uprising who then tried to escape to the Hawkesbury would have traversed the Riverstone district. In 1810 Lieut-Col Maurice Charles O'Connell was granted 2,500 acres (10 km ) of land in the district, which he named "Riverston Farm", after his birthplace in Ireland. (The "e" at the end first appeared on railway timetables in the 1860s, an apparent misprint that has become
1456-601: The arrival of a train from Sydney. They stay for two minutes because the next station, Vineyard, is single platform. After that they shift to an hourly schedule. Depending on the hour, train services running through Riverstone offer a varying number of "limited stops" to the Sydney CBD and the majority then continue over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the North Shore line and Hornsby or Berowra. Apart from
1512-425: The city stations, transfer to most other lines is easily made at Strathfield, Redfern or Parramatta, and other stops that offer fewer choices. The peak-hour journey from Riverstone to Central takes a little over an hour, and another 20 minutes to the popular destination of Chatswood . Buses at Riverstone are run by Busways with route 757 that goes to Mount Druitt and 747 to Marsden Park and Rouse Hill. Developments at
1568-565: The colonial authorities of the British colony of New South Wales . Led by veterans of the United Irish Rebellion of 1798 , the poorly armed insurgents confronted the colonial forces of Australia on 5 March 1804 at Rouse Hill . Their rout in the resulting skirmish was hailed by loyalists as Australia's Vinegar Hill after the 1798 Irish Battle of Vinegar Hill , where rebels in Ireland were decisively defeated. The incident
1624-543: The colonial forces until they were caught on Rouse Hill on 5 March 1804. While negotiating under a flag of truce , Cunningham was arrested. The troops then charged, and the rebellion was suppressed. Nine of the rebel leaders were executed, and hundreds were punished, before martial law was revoked a week after the battle. Many convicts in the Castle Hill area were veterans of the United Irish movement and of
1680-476: The colony, efforts were made to relocate food production inland to hopefully more climatically stable regions. In 1803 a government stock farm was established in what was to become the Riverstone/Marsden Park area, on the basis of the abundant water supply and good grazing land there. In 1804, the infamous Castle Hill convict rebellion broke out in nearby Castle Hill. Those who took part in
1736-416: The ensuing pursuit of the rebels, which continued until late in the night, with newly arrived soldiers from Sydney joining in the search. It was reported that gun shots could be heard up to a fortnight later, such was the settling of old scores. On Wednesday, 7 March, Governor King announced that those who surrendered before 10 March would receive leniency and, following that, large parties who lost their way in
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1792-549: The film Beneath Clouds was shot there. The M7 Motorway can be accessed by the Richmond Road ramp to provide faster access from Riverstone to the city. Riverstone and surrounding suburbs have a continuous motorway link to Sydney Airport via the Lane Cove Tunnel . Tallawong Metro Station is located just 10 minutes by car from Riverstone's CBD. Riverstone was named as one of the second release sites in
1848-490: The insurgency. Irish plots continued to develop, keeping the Government and its informers vigilant, with military call-out rehearsals continuing over the next three years. Governor King remained convinced that the inspirers of revolt had kept out of sight, and had some suspects sent to Norfolk Island as a preventive measure. The battle site is believed to be to the east of the site of the Rouse Hill Estate , and it
1904-479: The intelligence gathered a year previously, when 12 convicts escaped from Castle Hill, seeking out friends and sympathisers in the surrounding districts. When captured, every convict had the same story: they were heading to China by crossing over the Blue Mountains . When news of the uprising spread there was great panic amongst the colony of around 5,000 inhabitants. Officials such as Samuel Marsden fled
1960-467: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riverstone&oldid=1121710623 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Riverstone, New South Wales Riverstone ( / r ɪ v ər s t ə n / )
2016-532: The martial law decree, and hanged at the Commissariat Store at Windsor, which he had bragged he would burn down. Initially, military officers were intent on hanging a token number of those captured, having convened a military court at the Whipping Green but that was quickly stopped by Governor King, fearful of the repercussions. Martial law was lifted on 10 March 1804, but that did not end
2072-491: The morning progressed, the heat of the day threatened to stymie the efforts of the marching troops who were poorly equipped for the pursuit. About 6 miles (9.7 km) from Toongabbie, Johnston located the main rebel party of around 230 to 260 men near Rouse Hill, Johnston first sent a mounted trooper on to call the rebels to give up and benefit from the Governor's amnesty for early surrender. That having failed, he dispatched
2128-492: The night turned themselves in under the amnesty, or made their way back to Castle Hill, where a large party of about 70, led by Samuel Humes, was captured by a detachment of the Loyal Parramatta Association. According to the official records of the day, around 230 people were brought in over next few days and, of the convicts directly engaged in the battle, 15 were killed. Nine were executed, including
2184-697: The night. Cunningham and Johnston began drilling their men, while a party unsuccessfully tried to enter Parramatta, where they were to set fire to a building to signal other conspirators to begin converging on Constitution Hill. Cunningham, being involved in two previous rebellions, as well as the mutiny on the Anne , knew from experience that the most important element of a rebellion or uprising would be secrecy. There were two defections: an Irish convict overseer named Sloane, and Lewis Bulger. The commandant at Parramatta, Captain Edward Abbott, who had warning of
2240-481: The old Masonic hall. In Riverstone, there has also been a major flood in 1961 and again in 2021. The flood of 2021 saw some homes along Marsden Road become completely submerged. The suburb boundaries of Riverstone were changed in November 2020, shrinking the size of the suburb and creating the new suburbs of Grantham Farm in the east and Richards and Angus in the west. The suburb also no longer extended into
2296-573: The on campus day school and the distance education school, which serves home educated students across New South Wales. Riverstone is situated between the Richmond Road running from Blacktown to Richmond, and the Windsor Road running from Windsor to North Parramatta. Riverstone railway station is on the Richmond branch. From dawn to about midnight, commuter trains to Sydney leave at approximately 30-minute intervals, in most cases coinciding with
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2352-401: The original 1880s blocks remain vacant to the present day. Riverstone terrace , erected in 1883, is a curious relic of the anticipated 19th century population boom. It was meant to be the first of a row of high-density terrace housing units that would run the length of Garfield road. However this single block and the small unit next to it were the only ones ever built. For many years the sight of
2408-606: The plan to gather weapons, ammunition, food and recruits from local supporters and the government farm at Castle Hill. With Cunningham leading, about 200 to 300 rebels broke into the Government Farm's buildings, taking firearms, ammunition, and other weapons. The constables and overseers were overpowered and the rebels then went from farm to farm on their way to Constitution Hill at Parramatta, seizing more weapons and supplies, including rum and spirits, and recruiting others to fight their cause. Their move had been informed by
2464-402: The railway line was extended from Blacktown to Richmond, a railway station was constructed at Riverstone, opening in 1864. Other infrastructure was constructed such as a school, churches, hotel and stores. The presumption was that Riverstone was set to become an important regional centre but this did not eventuate. Most of the allotments were eventually taken up for suburban housing but a few of
2520-403: The rebellion as it was happening, commenced defensive measures and sent a message to the governor in Sydney. With their courier, John Griffen, having had second thoughts about passing on the instructions Cunningham had given him to convey to Brian Furey, and subsequently being arrested, the call out messages to Windsor , Parramatta and Sydney failed, and the uprising was confined to the west of
2576-477: The response "Death or Liberty" from Cunningham, to which some were reported to have added "and a ship to take us home", although that exchange was only once recorded, some time later, by Suttor. With the NSW Corps and militia formed up in firing lines behind Major Johnston, he and Trooper Anlezark produced pistols, while negotiating under truce, duping the two leaders of the uprising, and escorting them back to
2632-575: The ringleaders Cunningham and Johnston, with two, Johnson and Humes, subjected to "hanging in chains" or gibbeting . Two men, John Burke and Bryan McCormack, were reprieved and detained at the Governor's pleasure, seven were whipped with 200 or 500 lashes and sent to the Coal River chain gang, while 23 others, including Cavenah, were sent to the Newcastle coal mines. Another 34 prisoners were placed in irons until they could be "disposed of". It
2688-476: The rollout of the optical fibre National Broadband Network . As of March 2014 most of the Riverstone residential streets were fitted with the NBN cable. 33°40′55″S 150°51′34″E / 33.68194°S 150.85944°E / -33.68194; 150.85944 Castle Hill convict rebellion The Castle Hill convict rebellion was an 1804 convict rebellion in the Castle Hill area of Sydney , against
2744-479: The short period of the rebellion, Cunningham was elected "King of the Australian Empire", and his followers declared the area "New Ireland". Major Johnston's contingent, wearied by their night march, needed time to close with the retreating rebels, who were reported to number around 400 so, to implement delaying tactics, he rode after them with a small mounted party, while the rest of his party completed
2800-558: The soldiers' lines. On being given the order to engage, Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Laycock directed more than fifteen minutes of musket fire at the rebel lines and then charged, cutting Cunningham down with his cutlass. The now-leaderless rebels tried to fire back, but then broke and dispersed. According to official reports, at least fifteen rebels fell during the battle. Major Johnston prevented further bloodshed by threatening his troops with his pistol to temper their enthusiasm. Several convicts were captured and an unknown number killed in
2856-578: The town. Over 50 men enrolled in a reserve militia combined with the New South Wales Corps to march out and confront the rebels. Johnston decided to advance in two columns, one which he led himself towards Toongabbie , and another under a subaltern, Davies, which was sent along the Castle Hill Road. Meanwhile, the rebels at Constitution Hill (Toongabbie) were having difficulty co-ordinating their force because several parties, including one of around 70 men under Samuel Humes, had lost their way in
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#17327810759462912-476: Was established there in 1878, undergoing various stages of rebuilding and expansion until it closed permanently in 1992. In 1970, a major fire at the Riverstone Meatworks killed six men, who were attempting to lead the animals to safety. In 1988, as part of a Federal Government programme to commemorate the 200th anniversary of European settlement in Australia, a heritage museum was established in
2968-539: Was ordered to exploit towards Toongabbie and Castle Hill to locate them and then await further orders. He was also empowered to fire upon anyone who did not obey his directions. Shortly after 5:00 am, Johnston set out to locate the main rebel force. In addition to the troops he had brought with him, a number of civilians volunteered. The 36 armed members of the Parramatta Loyal Association militia were also called out, and took over defence of
3024-533: Was significant in that exact numbers were recruited to form the rebels, the militia and the military. The event was held near the original site on a similar landscape. The re-enactment was recorded by the ABC . The battle has been depicted on screen. An Australian 1978 TV series, Against the Wind , included a dramatization over two episodes of the build-up to and ultimate defeat of the rebellion. A monument commemorating
3080-521: Was the first major convict uprising in Australian history to be suppressed under martial law . On 4 March 1804, 233 convicts, led by Philip Cunningham, a veteran of the 1798 rebellion, as well as a mutineer on the convict transport ship Anne , escaped from a prison farm, intent on "capturing ships to sail to Ireland". In response, martial law was quickly declared in the colony. The mostly Irish rebels, having gathered reinforcements, were hunted by
3136-485: Was to establish Irish rule in the colony and obtain ships for those that wanted to return to Ireland to help revive the failed Irish Rebellion of 1803 . At 8 o'clock on the evening of 4 March 1804, John Cavenah set fire to his hut at Castle Hill as the signal for the rebellion to begin. While the fire was not seen by the convicts at Green Hills, today's Windsor , on the Hawkesbury River, Cunningham activated
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