Pittwater farmers supplied beef to the colony in 1815
In the period immediately prior to the establishment of farming west of the Blue Mountains, the Northern Beaches area was an important source of beef for the still- infant colony. Prior to 1819, Cossar’s farm at Long Reef and Ramsay’s immediately to its north at Narrabeen were both significant suppliers, Cossar in fact being the biggest contributor to the government stores in 1815.
But how did the two farmers deliver their cattle to the government? The process was almost more arduous than the farming. The delivery point was the nearest government store that handled live cattle. This was either a yard at Eastern Creek, Rooty Hill or one nearby at Seven Hills. Neither location was simple to reach and involved an overland trip of some 100 kilometres. It took the order of a week.
In today’s terminology, the route was north to Mona Vale Road, west to the Pacific Highway, north to Pearce’s Corner and then west again on Pennant Hills Road, Castle Hill Road, Old Northern Road and finally Seven Hills Road.
The same route would have been used to bring the initial cattle – supplied on credit from the government stores – to the Northern Beaches. They were descendants of the First Fleet cattle, sourced originally at Cape Town on the voyage out, the ones that famously escaped and prospered in the Camden area.
The cattle would have been horned, quite wild and dangerous to interact with. None of the roads were made and some of the terrain was arduous. Just getting the mob up the escarpment out of Mona Vale would have been a serious challenge.
However, do not imagine that William Cossar put himself in danger. Unlike his neighbour, John Ramsay, an ex-convict, Cossar was an absentee farmer, continuing in his role as government boatbuilder. He would have left the task to his overseer and assigned convicts.
Richard Michell is the vice-president of the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Historical Society and the secretary of Friends of Dee Why Lagoon. Visit mwphs.org.au and fodyl.au
