Hardwick Farm
Christine Glover (1.3.4.3.1.1A) has provided the following information on Hardwick Farm which she believes was compiled by H.White in 2018. Although there are few citations for the information Christine understands that it's fairly accurate.
The Fahey Brothers' Hardwick Farm
Hardwick is still a working farm, though not named Hardwick anymore. It is in a beautiful location among rolling hills with a beautiful modern residence on top of a hill overlooki ng the f arm. It is bounded on two sides by the Nepean River and on one side by Simpson's Creek. It is now a Horse Stud where race horses are bred and some cattle are raised.
The farm (Lot 5 & 6) was first leased by Thomas Fahey c.1844 from Alexander Riley and was eventually purchased by the Fahey brothers, Edward, James & Timothy in c.1856.
From 1880 to 1889 the farm was the site of construction of the sandstone Upper Canal bringing much needed water to Sydney from the Upper Nepean Dams to Prospect Dam. It still supplies 20% of Sydney's water using only gravity to transport water along tunnels, canals & aqueducts Edward's son, Timothy Fahey, worked on the Sydney Water Canal as a stone mason. (St Bede's Appin Church History p 41). On the Fahey property, along Simpsons Creek, a village sprang up with huts for the workers and their families and even a school which all the Fahey children attended. At one time the only students at the school were Faheys and they kept the school open after the completion of the canal. The gravestones in St Bede's Catholic Church Cemetery state that both Timothy Fahey in 1880 and James Fahey in 1885 died leaving a widow and 9 children. The Australian Town & Country Journal, Sat 8 May 1880, p 17, reported "The extra population now about Brooke's Point being 200, and nearly all men, increased police protection is urgently needed".
Many local farmers, including the Faheys, set up boarding houses and hotels around Appin at this time for the influx of workers and their families. Following Timothy Fahey's death, a notice in the NSW Govt Gazette Tues 13 July 1880 stated that the estate and effects of Timothy Fahey "late of Brooke's Point, near Appin, in the colony of NSW, innkeeper, deceased, intestate" were to be granted to his wife Jane Fahey of Brooke's Point near Appin. Timothy's property known as the "Waterworks Hotel" adjoining the Hardwick Estate was listed for auction in the SMH Wed 3 August 1887, page 12.
The farm transfered to Edward's eldest son, Timothy, in Edward's Will dated 5 June 1891. It then passed down through Timothy's heirs until it left Fahey ownership in 1981 when it was purchased by Mr. Howard Blight from Margaret Ellen Dillon (nee Fahey) who resided in Liverpool England. He bought 200 acres for $220,000 and is the current owner. He subdivided 30 acres into 6x5 acre lots and before long will be subdividing much more and sadly leaving the farm as the Sydney outer suburbs encroach.
The image below of Hardwick Farm was was taken in 1994 by Ron Parker who is a descendent of Edward Fahey (1880-1901) and Elizabeth Wonson (1832-1888). The photo is taken looking west towards the Nepean River on the Western boundary.
The following is provided by Ron Parker:
I wish to submit some information regarding ownership of Hardwick Farm.
Hardwick was granted to Alexander Riley in 1812, however shortly after it was forfeited for not meeting grant conditions.
It now appears that the original grant was taken over by Richard Atkins in 1816 and later sold to Richard Brooks who moved in about 1828. It was Richard Brooks who passed the property to his daughter Christiana, wife of Thomas Blomfield.
This being the case the Lease by Thomas in 1844 and the eventual purchase by Edward, James & Timothy in 1856 must have been from Christiana Blomfield nee Broughton.
Ron Parker Great Grandson of Edward Fahey through Elizabeth Fahey and William Millward.
Finally, attached is a Historical Parish Map of Appin dated 1867 showing "Hardwicke Farm"
The Fahey Brothers' Hardwick Farm
Hardwick is still a working farm, though not named Hardwick anymore. It is in a beautiful location among rolling hills with a beautiful modern residence on top of a hill overlooki ng the f arm. It is bounded on two sides by the Nepean River and on one side by Simpson's Creek. It is now a Horse Stud where race horses are bred and some cattle are raised.
The farm (Lot 5 & 6) was first leased by Thomas Fahey c.1844 from Alexander Riley and was eventually purchased by the Fahey brothers, Edward, James & Timothy in c.1856.
From 1880 to 1889 the farm was the site of construction of the sandstone Upper Canal bringing much needed water to Sydney from the Upper Nepean Dams to Prospect Dam. It still supplies 20% of Sydney's water using only gravity to transport water along tunnels, canals & aqueducts Edward's son, Timothy Fahey, worked on the Sydney Water Canal as a stone mason. (St Bede's Appin Church History p 41). On the Fahey property, along Simpsons Creek, a village sprang up with huts for the workers and their families and even a school which all the Fahey children attended. At one time the only students at the school were Faheys and they kept the school open after the completion of the canal. The gravestones in St Bede's Catholic Church Cemetery state that both Timothy Fahey in 1880 and James Fahey in 1885 died leaving a widow and 9 children. The Australian Town & Country Journal, Sat 8 May 1880, p 17, reported "The extra population now about Brooke's Point being 200, and nearly all men, increased police protection is urgently needed".
Many local farmers, including the Faheys, set up boarding houses and hotels around Appin at this time for the influx of workers and their families. Following Timothy Fahey's death, a notice in the NSW Govt Gazette Tues 13 July 1880 stated that the estate and effects of Timothy Fahey "late of Brooke's Point, near Appin, in the colony of NSW, innkeeper, deceased, intestate" were to be granted to his wife Jane Fahey of Brooke's Point near Appin. Timothy's property known as the "Waterworks Hotel" adjoining the Hardwick Estate was listed for auction in the SMH Wed 3 August 1887, page 12.
The farm transfered to Edward's eldest son, Timothy, in Edward's Will dated 5 June 1891. It then passed down through Timothy's heirs until it left Fahey ownership in 1981 when it was purchased by Mr. Howard Blight from Margaret Ellen Dillon (nee Fahey) who resided in Liverpool England. He bought 200 acres for $220,000 and is the current owner. He subdivided 30 acres into 6x5 acre lots and before long will be subdividing much more and sadly leaving the farm as the Sydney outer suburbs encroach.
The image below of Hardwick Farm was was taken in 1994 by Ron Parker who is a descendent of Edward Fahey (1880-1901) and Elizabeth Wonson (1832-1888). The photo is taken looking west towards the Nepean River on the Western boundary.
The following is provided by Ron Parker:
I wish to submit some information regarding ownership of Hardwick Farm.
Hardwick was granted to Alexander Riley in 1812, however shortly after it was forfeited for not meeting grant conditions.
It now appears that the original grant was taken over by Richard Atkins in 1816 and later sold to Richard Brooks who moved in about 1828. It was Richard Brooks who passed the property to his daughter Christiana, wife of Thomas Blomfield.
This being the case the Lease by Thomas in 1844 and the eventual purchase by Edward, James & Timothy in 1856 must have been from Christiana Blomfield nee Broughton.
Ron Parker Great Grandson of Edward Fahey through Elizabeth Fahey and William Millward.
Finally, attached is a Historical Parish Map of Appin dated 1867 showing "Hardwicke Farm"