THE TOWNS OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 



2/5 



!N 



\t\rn 



JAMES RUSE v i - 



i DEPARTED THIS LIFE '%' 

 iSEP V 5 If iw TBE YEAB?OT 



HOTOE Umt> 1837 NATfcF 

 OF OORWV^TBLL AND AftlVED n 

 :iNTHl$<CQLENY BY THE 



AGED 7? 



W* MOTHER REREAD 



*MB Kffi SHE TOOK. MUCH PAINE S 

 AND WHEN IARIVBIQ 



Above Liverpool the River becomes shallow, and on the left or eastward side, is a 

 wide tract of country consisting of poor light soil, though on the right are pleasing 

 undulating slopes, and some pretty glimpses of agricultural settlement. Less than twelve 

 miles from Liverpool there is a rise of one hundred and sixty feet to Campbelltown, a 

 healthy old road-side township, two hundred and ten feet above sea-level. Here, placed 

 on the highest hill, is the Roman Catholic chapel of 

 St. John's, consecrated by Arch-priest Therry over half 

 a century since. In the adjoining grave-yard is a stone 

 which informs the curious that beneath it lie the 

 mortal remains of one James Ruse, native of Cornwall, 

 who came to the colony with the First Fleet, and 

 who sowed the first wheat grown in New South Wales. 



Fifty-six years ago Campbelltown was the centre 

 of a large wheat-growing district, but about the year 

 1860 the rust made its appearance, and gradually 

 overcame the farmers. Ploughs were laid by and 

 flour-mills ceased grinding corn, and the land was 

 mainly used for growing hay and grazing stock. But 

 as time passed on the population increased ; many 

 settlers finding attractions on this part of the Southern 

 Line, the old farms changed hands, and considerable 

 sums were spent on improvements. From this point 

 on the railroad branches off a light line to Camden, a 

 small town about ten miles to the westward, and the 

 nucleus of early agricultural settlement. It has been 

 described at length, in connection with the introduction 



of wool, in a previous chapter. Here also is agriculture harassed by plant-diseases, and 

 damages done by vegetable" parasites. Many years ago rust attacked the wheat-fields ; there 

 is now phylloxera in the vineyards. An additional trouble is found in the irregularity of the 

 climate ; for several seasons the rain-fall has been provokingly scanty. Yet, notwithstanding 

 these various drawbacks, Camden is a contented little spot, with few wants and fair prospects, 

 and its annual agricultural exhibitions rank well among the best rural displays of the South. 



The old road, which was laid out by Sir Thomas Mitchell, followed the ridge lying 

 between the Nepean River and the George's River, and then, crossing the spurs running 

 down inland from the coast range, descended into the deep intervening gullies from 

 which the water-supply of Sydney is now obtained. A later and easier road took a 

 course which in the main is followed by the railway line. This route passes through the 

 town of Menangle, where it crosses the River, six miles from Campbelltown, on a bridge 

 nearly five hundred feet in length, built on the box-girder principle. In ordinary seasons 

 its four huge supports tower giant-like over the stream, but instances are not rare when 

 they have had their solidity well tested by torrents which have risen to within a few 

 feet of the roadway. 



Douglas Park is some miles farther on, and to the eastward appears the massive 

 stone residence known as the Nepean Towers, a mansion originally erected by Sir 



ap>i ^ Bwacr FATHBUHOFE 



S) "REMAIN 



RUSES TOMBSTONE. 



