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Transactions of the Colony, from the Commencement of the Year 1789,
until the End of March.
Pursuant to his resolution, the governor on the 31st of December sent
two boats, under the command of Lieutenant Ball of the 'Supply', and
Lieutenant George Johnston of the marines, down the harbour, with directions
to those officers to seize and carry off some of the natives. The boats
proceeded to Manly Cove, where several Indians were seen standing on the beach,
who were enticed by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter
into conversation.freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00084.txt
The arrival of the First Fleet, saw the aggressive dispossession of land, and the introduction of diseases, such as small pox. Within 18 months the Gadigal clan' numbers had been decimated.
In 1793, the land between the two Creeks and Harbour, was given to George Johnston, a Marine who had supervised the transportation of convicts in the First Fleet. George re-named the area Annandale after his birthplace Annan, Scotland, in the tradition of another Scottish emigre. A century earlier, Col. William H. Fitzhugh had named Annandale, Virginia, USA.
Enroute to Australia, Johnston met Esther Abrahams, a convict he was supervising.
'Two hundred and seventeen years ago tomorrow, a 16-year-old girl, Esther Abrahams, was arrested in London for "feloniously stealing 24 yards of black silk lace, value 50 shillings".' - Online transcripts illuminate world of First Fleeters (July 26 2003)
"Yesterday morning a Native from Botany Bay brought an account of a large ship having anchored there: As the wind was fair for her getting into this Port, the reasons for her going into Botany Bay could be in no other way ac- counted for than the probability of its being some ship with hostile intentions... Major JOHNSTON immediately set off to reconnoitre..she was the ship Mary of Boston.. bound to Manilla" - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (about) Sunday 22 January 1804
The turpentine and iron bark forest was cleared, to make way for agriculture and, any remnants of the original vegetation, were subsequently wiped out by urbanisation. The Rozelle Bay Community Native nursery is now undertaking projects to recreate pockets of original forest in public spaces.
George and Esther developed their estate to eventually include a bakery, smithy, slaughterhouse, butchery, stores, vineyard and orangerie. In 1799 they built Annandale House south west of the present intersection, of Parramatta Road and Johnston St.
Family Notices - BIRTH. On the 6th instant, at Annandale, the lady of Lieutenaut JOHNSTON, R. N. of a son and heir. - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803-1842) and The Sydney Herald Thursday 7 November 1833
"The entire extent of the present division consists in the whole of nearly three hundred and fifity lots, situated on the westside of Darling Harbour, and on the north east side of a roma... inlet known as Johnson's Bay, being in continu- ation with the point previously sold, and offering (though to a different class of residents) advan- tages quite commensurate with the prior lots, being nearer to Sydney by the road. and as easily reached by water. To those unacquainted with the locality, it may be necessary to state that the, present allotments are surrounded and bounded by the propeties of some of our most respected and wealthy colonists, among whom may be enu merutad those of James Norton, Esq , of Elswick; Captain Perry. Deputy Surveyor General ; Robert Johnston Esq , Annandale; James Bowman, Esq, Lyndhurst, George Cooper, Esq , Controller of Customs, &c possessing scenery of the most var¡ed and interesting description, with an abundant supply of excellent water, and in many parts the soil is eminently adapted for horticultural purposes, and there are now several places which have been cultivated as gardens The ground ia gently undulating in every part, and possesses abundance of excellent stone fur building pur- poses; several rivulets intersect it in various directions, and there is n good landing for boats in every situation that the water touches" - The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831-1842) (about) Thursday 20 July 1837
"about 63 feet, on the north by "Rozelle Bay," and on the east by lot 14 On this is a site for building, and with lot 11 would form a good allotment-the view is excellent." - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Tuesday 5 May 1840
John M'Longhlen, a labouring man, on Mon- day night last gave, information at the Police Oriice of his having about seven the same evening been knocked down by four r'uthans between Gross Farm and Annandale - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Saturday 8 October 1814
Government Gazette...Great Western Road. At Annandale, Beckett's Bridge, Pitt Bow - The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser Thursday 5 December 1861 (page 3)
Death of George Johnston Jnr Esq - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803-1842) Saturday 26 February 1820
"Election of Scotch Peers....A protest from Mr Gooding Johnstone requested it be entered on the minutes that he claimed a right to vote as Marquis of Annandale" - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803-1842) Thursday 13 October 1831
"List of Transfers of Male Convicts, made between October 1st, and December 31st. 1834.... Macquarie, 1 farrier Johnson John, Darlington, 1 ploughman Johnson Robert, Annandale," -The Sydney Gazette and... Saturday 6 June 1835
"Market. Friday Oct 26 - The supply this mornng was very good, and the demand was pretty equal to it.... On Wednesday morning, R. Johnson, Esq. J.P. of annandale, called at Dr Bland's residence in Pitt street leaving his gig which it was the duty of his servnt to have attended during his absence in his charge. He had not been in many minutes when the horse which was very shy bolted at full speed, the consequence was that the vehicle was capsized and much damaged..."- The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803-1842) Saturday 29 October 1836
Tender to lease the Annandale Toll Gate: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Tuesday 20 September 1842
"dues authorised and imposed by the Act of the Governor and Council... arising and to be collected at the Sydney Toll Gate, near Annandale Bridge, an the road from Sydney to Parramatta..."The Sydney Herald Wednesday 3 March 1841
"Alderman allen proposed, and Mr Lt Johnston of Annandale seconded, the nomination of Mr Thomas burdekin as a fit and proper person to be a member of the Sydney District Council"- thought to be in "The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Wednesday 8 May 1844" (NLA)
"..bounded by that invaluable stream...dividing it from Annandale called JOHNSTONE'S CREEK" - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Friday 2 June 1843
"Corporation Song: Australia the Wide and the Free" - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Thursday 22 December 1842
"ten minutes you reach the Sydney Road coming out a little beyond Captain Johnston's of Annandale and close to the residence of Mr Abraham Hearn, Parramatta Road. Fifteen minutes more brings you into Sydney accomplishing the distance by way of Bourke Town from the North Shore..." - The Sydney Gazette (Classified Advertising) Tuesday 25 August 1840
Johnston's orbituary noted "..As Lieutenant' Colonel of the 102d Regiment (New South Wales Corps) his name will be handed down to posterity, blended with that of Australia ; having assumed the reigns of administration, for a short interval, during the memorable colonial inter-regnum. A large family remain to deplore a fond Parent's deprivation.- The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (about) Thursday 9 January 1823. Ther inter-regnum referred to was the 1808 Rum Rebellion.
By Special Licence, on Thursday last, at St. James's, Church, by the Venerable the ARCHDEACON, GEORGE EDWARD NICHOLAS WESTON, Lieutenant in the Hon. East India Company's Service, to BLANCHE, youngest daughter of the late GEORGE JOHNSTONE Esq, of Annandale - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Saturday 23 May 1829
By 1830, James Busby was praising 'Annandale Farm' is praised for its fine vineyard "A Manual of Plain Direction for Planting and Cultivating Vineyards and the Making of Wine in New South Wales". -Historical Timeline:Wine and Grape History in the Sydney Region
Annandale House was demolished in 1914, its gates were relocated to Annandale School. There are also photographs of Annandale House in Picture Australia.
MEGATHON AT ANNANDALE.-An experiment was publicly made yesterday with the Megathon, on the estate of Mr. Johnson, at Annandale, forthe purpose of testing the adaptabiliiy of the ma-chine as a motive power in the operation of ploughing. His Excellency the Governor General, the honorable E. Deas Thomson, Captain Ward, R.E, and a number of gentlemen con-nected with the agricultural interest were present. The ploughing experiment..The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 9 May 1857
On Mon-day, Messrs. M-irt and Co. sold farther allot-ments in the village of Sydenham opposite to Elswick, and adjoining Annandale. This being the site of the second railway Station from Syd-ney, the value of the land has materially in-creased. For the front allotments from £3 to £ 5 10s per foot was obtained ; for back allot-ments £1 to £2 ... The result of the sale' Was about £4000. Yesterday the firm sold The Maitland Mercury, and Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday 21 October 1854
This page www.ramin.com.au/annandale/story2.shtml last Updated: 18 August 2010.