Till- CITY OF SYDNEY. 



211 



the " Field of Mars." It received its title because it was the commonage attached to the 

 free grants given in early days to the soldiers, who were planted in the district of Ryd- 

 in the hope that they would become industrious freeholders. The hop.: was not very 

 largely realized, and the farms quickly changed hands, hut the common remuin.-d. The 

 inhabitants of the district, cut off from Sydney by the Parramatta River, thought, how- 

 ever, that a good road would be more valuable to them than a common, most of which 

 was poor soil and thickly covered with inferior timber ; so they bargained with the 



COOGEE 1JAV. 



Government that it should take over the common, and give them in return a direct 

 road to town, with two bridges, one over the Parramatta and one over Iron Cove. 

 The bridges have been built, the road has been opened and has proved a great con- 

 venience. The railway to Newcastle skirts the western edge of the " Field of Mars," 

 and makes it accessible in that direction. The land is being subdivided and sold, but 

 some portions are reserved. The old "Field of Mars" will be in a few years a populous 

 suburb. Farther to the west lies the beautiful reserve of Parramatta Park, -the preser- 

 vation of which for public enjoyment we owe to the fact that it was the domain 

 attached to the old Government House, which still exists. Governors knew how to 

 reserve land for themselves, if they were not always forethoughtful for the people, who, 

 however, inherit what was once vice-regal luxury. The old Government House is not 

 worth much, but the reserve, which was meant as a run for the Governor's horses and 

 cows, is worth a great deal. It is now a fine Park, with beautiful drives around and 



