Black Town

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Photograph (c) Blacktown City Council Library, c.1900

Built 1823 & was located on Rooty Hill Road North, Oakhurst (at the intersection of Rooty Hill North & Richmond Roads).

Originally established in 1823 as a "native institution" where native children were taught to read and write, given religious instruction and given training in trades such as basic carpentery and spinning. As early as 1818 former students from the Parramatta Native Institution had settled on the site and by 1821 aboriginal families were living on the site operating a European-style farm. In that year William Walker, a missionary, wrote mentioning the " ... black town Boogarrumbee [Bungarribee]". By 1822 the site had officially become known as "Black Town". With the closure of the Parramatta Native Institution in late 1822, the students were moved to "Black Town" and a large two storey building erected. In its original form, the school had a shingle roof, slab walls and a verandah. The Black Town instution proved unsuccessful by 1825 it had closed. It was reopened a few years latter, but closed again in 1829, this time permanently.

In 1834 the school and property was bought by William Bell and renamed "Epping Forest". During its ownership by the Bell family the school building was considerably renovated, with additional wings added to the rear and the rough timber replaced with more finished timberworkm (compare the photograph above with the drawing below). In 1877 the Bell family sold the homestead to pastorialist Sydney Burdekin, who renamed it "Lloydhurst". Burdekin sold the estate in 1906 and it passed through several hands before being destroyed by fire in 1924.

Black Town Native Institution, Blacktown & District Historical Society

Sources:
"When the Country Became the City Blacktown", 1996, Blacktown & District Historical Society
"Blacktown & District - Pictorial History", Alan Sharpe, 2000, Kingsclear Books