Riverstone
Riverstone was named after the birthplace of Maurice Charles O'Connell, one of the first land holders in the district. O'Connell was granted 2,500 acres (approx 1,012 hectares) in 1810 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. He called this property Riverston Farm, and it covered the area from Garfield Rd to Bandon Rd, Vineyard and from Windsor Rd to Eastern Creek. O'Connell received a further grant of 1,000 acres (approx 405 hectares) which stretched from Garfield Rd to Kensington Park Rd, Schofields. This property O'Connell named Mount Macquarie Farm.
In 1840 about 200 acres (80 hectares) of the Riverston Farm were auctioned off and in 1856, after the death of O'Connell, his widow had the estate divided into 59 farms and auctioned.
Most of the area was used for grazing cattle and horses, and orchards and vineyards were planted (hence the suburb 'Vineyard'). The vineyards were ruined in 1892 by a phylloxera attack (an insect which attacked the grape vines).
Until 1928 Riverstone was part of Windsor Council, ceding to Blacktown Council in the hope of improving services to the townspeople. In 1933 mains water was available and the electricity supply followed in 1934. In celebration of this event, a 'Back to Riverstone' week was held, with the proceeds of the events going to the purchase of 16 acres (6.4 hectares) of land to be developed as a park and sportsground.
Railways
The railway line from Blacktown to Richmond opened in 1864. The first station was a timber platform with a brick building which housed the waiting room, ticket office and residence for the stationmaster. In 1879 a siding known as Richards Siding was built to service the abattoirs. In 1886 a new station office was constructed, and the platform was enlarged and bricked. The line was electrified in 1975.
Meatworks
The Meatworks was established by Benjamin Richards in 1878 on 2,300 acres (930 hectares). A beef-house was erected, where the killing took place at night, due to the lack of refrigeration facilities. In 1879 a mutton house was completed, where 30 butchers were employed. An average of 2,000 sheep and 100 bullocks were processed daily, according to a newspaper report of 1893. The meatworks was acquired by W. Angliss in 1919 and the industry was expanded with the construction of freezers, a cannery and a large area to treat sheepskins. Dairies were developed and a margarine department introduced.
In 1934 the Vestey group of companies took over the works. During World War II frozen and canned meats and dehydrated eggs were produced for the use of servicemen overseas.
A new meat works complex was constructed in 1973, making Riverstone Meat Works one of the most modern and technologically advanced meat processing plants of the day. In 1978 2,000 people were employed by the Meatworks. However, by 1981 rumours of the meatworks closing down were being heard and in 1984 a three day working week was introduced, closely followed by the total shutdown of the factory. It did reopen, but never regained the stability it had once had. Smorgon Consolidated Industries bought the meatworks in 1992 but operation has since ceased and the area sold.
Timeline for Riverstone & Surrounding Area
Pre 1788 Prior to the settlement of New South Wales by Europeans, the Riverstone district was in the territory of the Dharuk Tribe of Aborigines.
1794 Old Windsor Road from Parramatta to Hawkesbury River cut through the area.
1803 Government Stock Farm established by Governor King. Present day Riverstone located in the north-west corner.
1804 Battle of Vinegar Hill took place along the Windsor Road.
1810 Lieut-Col Maurice Charles O’Connell is granted 2,500 acres of land, which he calls “Riverston Farm”. The grant extended from the present day Garfield Rd to Bandon Rd and from Windsor Rd to Eastern Creek.
1815 Rev. Samuel Marsden is granted 1,000 acres of land in the district.
1816 Richard Rouse is granted 450 acres of land in the district.
1818 John Palmer is granted 1,500 acres of land in the district, the grant was named Rouse Hill.Rouse Hill House on Windsor Rd completed.
1819 James Ruse is granted 100 acres of land in the district.
1821 John Schofield arrives in the Colony as a convict aboard the Minerva.
1824 Clydesdale House on Richmond Rd under construction.
1828 John Schofield granted ticket of leave on the 26th September.
1845 Riverston Farm, 3 500 acres, offered for sale.John Schofield purchased a 600 acre property known as ‘Argown’, from Robert Fop.
1846 Sir M. C. O’Connell appointed Acting Governor of NSW. St Phillip’s Church of England on “Clydesdale” consecrated.
1848 Sir M. C. O’Connell dies, buried in Rookwood Cemetery.
1856 Riverston Estate subdivided into 59 farms and offered for auction.
1863 Christ Church, Rouse Hill, built and opened in July. Work commenced on Blacktown to Richmond railway line, the colony’s first branch rail line. English spelling of “Riverstone” came into being.
1864 Commissioner of Railways buys portion of John Schofield’s land for construction of railway line to Richmond. First regular train service on the Blacktown-Richmond line.
1867 Greatest flood on record in the Hawkesbury area. Height 19.2m.
1872 Vineyard Provisional School opened. Became Vineyard Public School in 1880.
1875 Rouse Hill Primary School opened.
1877 Riverstone Post Office established at Riverstone Railway Station.
1878 Riverstone Meat Works established by Benjamin Richards. Christ Church, Rouse Hill consecrated.
1881 Riverstone Estate offered for sale.
1882 St John’s Catholic Church in Garfield Rd Riverstone, opened by Archbishop Vaughan on July 2.
1883 Riverstone Public School opened, William Langton was the first teacher. Main railway station building constructed at Riverstone.
1884 St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church opened in Regent St, later moved to Garfield Rd in 1912. Services had been held in the home of Mr John Greig since 1875. St Andrew’s Church of England, Vineyard opened. Also known as The Vineyard Mission School Church.
1885 St Paul’s Church of England opened.
1886 Telegraph Office opened at the Riverstone Railway Station.
1889 Marsden Park Primary School opened.
1892 Police residence completed, now used as Riverstone Police Station. First resident Policeman appointed was Mr E Grace. Vineyards destroyed by phylloxera insect, most small farmers ruined.
1898 St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Marsden Park opened on October 29th .
1904 St Johns Catholic Church opened, present brick church.
1909 First service held at St John’s Church of England, Marsden Park on December 30th.
1911 Riverstone population 981.
1914 Telephone exchange installed at the Riverstone Railway station.
1919 War Memorial unveiled.
1921 Riverstone Scouts formed.
1923 Schofields Primary School officially opened. Royal Pictures commenced screening in the Oldfellows Hall, this was the second theatre in Riverstone, the first being the Olympia in Garfield Rd, which started in 1920.
1926 First motor repair shop, service station opened in Riverstone by Bill Nichols in Garfield Rd.
1928 Riverstone separated from Windsor Council and came under the administration of Blacktown Shire Council.
1929 Riverstone Public School moved to the eastern side of Garfield Road.
1933 Riverstone Country Women’s Association Branch formed on August 24th. Riverstone population 1,319. Riverstone connected to Metropolitan water supply.
1934 Electrical services connected at Riverstone in June. “Back to Riverstone” Carnival held in June.
1941 Methodist Church opened in Pitt Street, Riverstone.
1950 Catholic School operated at St John’s Catholic Church.
1955 St John’s Catholic Primary School opened.
1957 Riverstone Public School operated on two sites — Infants in Garfield Rd and Primary in Elizabeth St. St Clare’s Convent Riverstone dedicated on April 28th.
1961 60 families evacuated from their homes at Riverstone due to flooding.
1962 Riverstone High School established. Riverstone’s first swimming pool opened, constructed using community funds.
1967 Riverstone Cemetery came under control of Blacktown Council.
1973 New complex opened at Meatworks in December.
1975 Inaugural electric train service between Blacktown and Riverstone on May 22nd.
1976 Riverstone Olympic Swimming Pool opened.
1978 Riverstone Marketown opened. Riverstone Branch Library opened by Minister for Mineral Resources and Development Ron Mulock on November 27th.
1980 Coverdale Christian School opened. Residents able to connect to sewer.
1981 First O’Connell County Fair held.
1988 Blacktown and District Bicentennial Museum opened in original Riverstone Public School premises in December.
1994 Riverstone Meatworks closed down.
1996 Riverstone population 5,497.
2000 Riverstone Branch Library moves to expanded premises, still in the same building.
2001 Riverstone suburb gets its own website (www.2765local.com.au). Riverstone County Fair held. New RSL club opened. Riverstone population 6,345.
2002 Riverstone Public School consolidates and opens on Elizabeth St site.
2003 Restoration work at Riverstone Cemetery undertaken.
2004 Casuarina School opens for students with behavioural problems.