FROM SYDNEY TO 1^\'[HUHST IN 18t>. 



A Description, by the late Mrs Hawkins, of Bathurst, of 



THE experiences ON THEIR JOURNEY OF THE FIRST FAMILY 

 OF FREE IMMIGRANTS (tO NeW SoUTH WaLES) WHO SETTLED 

 IN THAT TOWN. 



Communicated by Hon. A NORTON, M.LC. 



(Read heforf thr Iloj/al Soeieti/ of Queensland, 21st November, 1903.) 



In order that the letters to which this forms a preface may be 

 properly understood, the conditions under which the journey 

 described therein was made must be clearly recognised. Even 

 at the present time the father of so large a family who had just 

 arrived from the mother country, would be glad to obtain the 

 fullest information from old residents before he attempted to 

 convey the whole party from Sydney to Bathurst by means of 

 horse and bullock drays. Yet there are well-beaten roads from 

 one point to the other, and along the whole route settlement has 

 taken place to a large extent ; fresh food and milk can be ob- 

 tained day by day, and camping out would not be necessary. 

 Besides, the settlers to whom bush life in all its phases is fami- 

 liar, would always give their ready help to the wayfarers who 

 found themselves in a country of which they had no knowledge. 

 Such difficulties as new-comers might now meet with — real 

 difficulties to them — would be overcome for them, and they 

 might wonder at all they saw without being troubled. In 1822, 

 however, people had to travel under quite different conditions. 

 Think for a moment of this enterprising immigrant landing at 

 Sydney, the penal settlement to which convicts of all kinds were 

 sent that the mother country might be rid of them. The number 

 of free settlers at that time was limited, and the immigrant found 

 himself amongst a people composed almost exclusively of officials, 



