2025Wollombi

Along the great north rd to Wollombi
On the Main North Rd to Wollombi, This used to be the "Great" North Rd and this was main road between the Hunter Valley and Sydney. It was built by 3000 convicts. We sanctimoniously proclaim to the rest of the world that Australia has never had slavery . . . Yeah but? The reality. 12 September 2025 These human beings technically weren't slaves either; it's very hard to tell the difference. it is still involuntary servitude. Notice the gun in the white guy's hand? Note: Circa late 1800, Pearl Divers in Broome W.A. On the Main North Rd to Wollombi, 12th September 2025 The Great North Road was constructed between 1826 and 1834. It took 3000 convicts to build the road, eight years of hard labour. My great-great-Grandfather (Samuel John Reeve/s) arrived in NSW as a free settler in 1840. He later moved to the colony of Victoria and became a well-to-do pastoralist. On the Main North Rd to Wollombi, 12th September 2025 The road was an engineering triumph, with some sections constructed to a notably high standard. However, it was not an unqualified success in practical terms. Apart from the steep grades, there was a lack of water and horse feed along the route. The road quickly fell into disuse with the development of alternative means of getting to the Hunter Valley, such as steamships and newer roads. Much of the road fell into total disuse while other parts were absorbed into the urban and rural road network.
On the Main North Rd to Wollombi, 12th September 2025 At the time of settlement, NSW was a British colony and not a country. Transportation of convicts to NSW ended on 22 May 1840. After this New South Wales became a free colony and this continued until the colony became part of the new Federated Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Transportation continued in the colony of Western Australia until 1868. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 The school closed in 2014, but, since 2019, Ngarralingayil Barker indigenous school occupies the school building and much of the grounds. In July 2024 the name Wollombi School Community Education Trust Incorporated (WSCET) was changed to Wollombi School Community Centre WSCC to reflect the expanded use of the site. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Following floods in 1857, 1864 and 1867 (where part of the school building was washed away), the school was relocated to its present site on the Wollombi Road opposite the Cemetery. In 1881 the sandstone schoolhouse and principal’s residence were erected, and the school operated continuously for the next 133 years. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 My lovely wife took charge of the day. She drove there and back and did the ordering in the pub. It was not her fault that the steak I ordered was almost inedible.
Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 A lovely sandstone-block building from that era. This was originally a private home that became the Post Office. It served as such for many years and became a private home again in the 1990s. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Our car had a mysterious problem where it started pulling to the left. Our mechanic changed front wheels L to R and R to L and now it pulled to the right. It turned out to be a buckled rim so I replaced the rim and the tire. Fixed, no more problems. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 This is one of a series of shops that seem to have survived from the convict era. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 The General Store has been part of village life since the 1850s. Jenni took Caroline to Wollombi on one of her trips to Australia. It's the sort of place that women find fascinating; knick knacks and brikabrak, and etc.
Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 For nearly 175 years, the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel has been the place of Catholic worship in the heart of the Wollombi Valley. The local community purchased the Church when it was sold in 1991. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 The Catholic Church sold the Church in 1991. it is now a private Catholic chapel owned and maintained by the local community. It welcomes Catholic and other Denominations, and conducts Civil ceremonies. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Construction of the church began in 1840 from hand-sawn local sandstone. Geology: the sandstone is part of the Sydney Sandstone Formation that runs between Newcastle to Batemans Bay and out to the other side of the Blue Mountains. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 this Store has been around since the 1850s.
Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 A store, visible through the trees, sells "historical" memorabilia. Just hidden behind is a delightful restaurant that we used to visit often during our motorcycle days. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Inside the pub. An extensive menu can be seen on the left side of the bar. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Jenni orders our meals and I decide to have a Scotch fillet steak cooked rare. The steak was as tough as old boots and not what I expected. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 I let my head go and have a light beer shandy.
Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 The guy at the bar kindly took these shots. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 in the beer garden of the Wollombi Pub. Lovely day, a very pleasant place to relax in the sunshine with a beer and a "bestie". Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 This used to be the home of the Wollombi police. Is now a cultural centre. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Long gone and forgotten.
Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 These can be interesting places to wander through and look at the lives people once lived. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 2-300 m out of town the rural life begins. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Jenni bravely holds her ground as this wild beast gradually comes nearer. We've had a lot of rain this year and everything is green. Exploring Wollombi, 12th September 2025 Click the Adobe icon first (please), BROWSER Back arrow to return here. In Anglo-Saxon England, a reeve (Old English: gerefa) was a Chief Magistrate serving the king or a lesser lord. After the Norman Conquest, it was an office held by a man of lower rank, appointed as manager of a manor and overseer of the peasants. Note: My sister Joan put this genealogy to gether and she was just as interested in the "COOPER" side of her family. End of this story. Return to the index when you're done.