Early Settlement in the Huskisson area

Edward Deas Thompson arrived in Australia in December 1828. He found work as a clerk for the Legislative Council of New South Wales and later became Colonial Secretary in 1837. In 1831 Deas Thomson had selected a 1,036 hectare grant called Pierre Point, part of what is now Vincentia. He advertised Pierre Point for sale as a farm in 1839, but it remained unsold.

A committee of landowners from Braidwood, Nerriga and inland towns formed a company in 1840 to build the Wool Road from the tablelands to Pierre Point, known as South Huskisson. This road was completed in December 1841. The first 100 building lots offered for sale by Deas Thomson sold in the first two hours, making £3,519 pounds; the demand was so great that a second sale of 100 lots followed.

The first known store capable of holding 2,000 bales of wool was opened by Mr Campbell, (probably merchant Campbell of Sydney). Hotels followed, with licenses being granted for the South Huskisson Hotel in October 1841 then Breadalbane Hotel and Braidwood Hotel in 1842. A blacksmith and postal receiving office were established with a Mr Lamond in charge. In 1842 Father Rigney requested assistance from the government to erect a schoolhouse.

A public meeting was held in South Huskisson Hotel in 1842 in which a company was formed to erect a good and substantial wharf, to be called South Huskisson Wharf. Nineteen ships advertised in The Sydney Morning Herald from May 1841 to April 1844 that they would be calling at South Huskisson. These included the Waterwitch, Tamar, Lark, Star and Aladdin.

The paddle steamer Sophia Jane called twice a month from September 1843 to March 1844, bringing in supplies and shipping out produce. In 1843, The Sydney Morning Herald reported the Sophia Jane had on board 50 bales, part of Colonel McKenzie's and Dr Wilson's wool of season and a large pair of grinding stones and ironwork for an extensive mill to be erected on Dr Wilson's estate at Braidwood.

South Huskisson was prosperous for only a few years, with only two houses remaining occupied by 1848. The township of Vincentia was established on the site in 1945, and is now a thriving tourist destination.

A map of South Huskisson is on display in Jervis Bay Science and the Sea Gallery.

Erowal House

Captain John Lamb, after retiring from the Royal Navy, arrived in Sydney on May 6th 1829, with his wife and five children. He was granted 1,036 hectares, receiving the deeds to the property he called "Erowal" in April 1837.

John Lamb stated he did not wish to reside on the property but to place upon it a responsible, respectable, free person, to oversee the convicts who cleared and farmed the land. On January 9th 1838, Lamb leased the grant with option to purchase to C. J. Campbell, who had land adjoining on the western side of the property. In March 1841, there were ten persons residing at Erowal, five of them convicts.

The dwelling was made of brick and stone. In 1846 the property was mortgaged to A. W. Young. There is no record of the land being worked between 1844 and 1854.

Alexander and William Bryce started farming at Erowal in 1854 and continued farming into the 20th century. The property was worked as two separate farms from the mid 1860s. Alexander Bryce, his wife and children stayed at Erowal House, while William Bryce and his family moved to build and farm Cockrow.

A sketch of Erowal House is on display in Jervis Bay Science and the Sea Gallery. Bricks and an Iron Cauldron from the Erowal Homestead are also on display.

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