Scheyville National Park

Timeline of Significant Events

• Pre-1790 Cattai clan of the Dharug people inhabited the area for an unknown period at least 40,000 years.
• 1790 First recorded contact with European people.
• 1804 An area of 5,560 acres to be known as the Nelson Common was set aside by Governor King as a public common to be used for grazing stock.
• 1890-93 Resumption of land by NSW government.
• 1893 A portion of the land on the northern and southern borders of the common was subdivided into 10-60 acre farm allotments.
• 1893-95 Government set aside 2,100 acres of the common for the establishment of a Pitt Town Co-Operative Settlement for the unemployed. Preference was given to destitute family men over single men.
• 1896-1910 Casual Labour Farm established to provide accommodation, food, training and short-term employment for unemployed, alcoholics and down-and-out men.
• 1907 Area became known as Scheyville due to the continuous involvement of the Director of Labour, William Francis Schey. Programme introduced to teach basic farm skills to ‘town boys’ from the age of twelve who were then sent to jobs in the country.
• 1910-1940 Commencement of Dreadnought Scheme which brought able-bodied British youths aged from fourteen to nineteen years to Scheyville Agricultural Farm for training in farm skills before being apprenticed to NSW farmers for up to three years. The funding for the scheme was provided from £90,000 which had been raised in NSW by public subscription for the purchase of a Dreadnought class battle ship for the British navy in defence of the Commonwealth.
• 1914 Used briefly as an internment camp for crew from German vessels.
• 1939 Conclusion of Dreadnought Scheme due to outbreak of WWII.
• 1940 Site taken over by Australian Army.
• 1942 Scheyville occupied by 73rd Australian Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Company.
• 1943-1944 RAAF 244 1st Parachute Battalion stationed on the site.
• 1949-1964 Buildings converted to Scheyville Migrant Hostel. Displaced persons escaping from war-torn Europe and migrants were accommodated in new barracks-style huts.
• 1965-1973 Officer Training Course for National Servicemen and courses for Direct Entry Aviation Cadets held at Scheyville. During this time ten houses were constructed in Long Tan Place or the accommodation of training instructors. These houses with the exception of one building have been demolished.
• 1974-1980 Accommodation for students from Hawkesbury Agricultural College.
• 1984 In the 1980s Scheyville was considered as one of the possible sites for Sydney’s second airport. The Minister for Aviation, Mr Beazley, announced in September 1984 that the sites being considered for the second airport have been narrowed down to Wilton and Badgery’s Creek.
• 1985-1987 Buildings used for live training exercises by the Police Tactical Response Group and Special Weapons Operations Squad. Many buildings destroyed during this time.
• 1992 Hawkesbury City Council decided to abandon plans for housing development in Scheyville area.
• 1996 Scheyville declared a National Park ensuring the preservation of the area’s rich cultural and natural heritage. The park includes also Longneck Lagoon, a significant wetland area and wildlife breeding ground.

See also Scheyville National Park https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/historic-buildings-places/scheyville-camp-precinct

Central quadrangle buildings which were constructed in 1929 as accommodation for the Dreadnought Farm including boy’s dormitories, kitchen and dining hall. When the scheme ceased by the beginning of World War Two, the buildings then housed members of the military units training at the site, Nicholas McHardy December 2018

Central quadrangle buildings, Cathy McHardy September 2016

Exterior of Nissan huts used for the housing of migrants and displaced persons from Europe after the end of World War Two. Only five of these lightly constructed buildings have survived the ravages of time and vandalism, Nicholas McHardy December 2018

Timber hut, Nicholas McHardy December 2018

Interior of Nissan huts, Nicholas McHardy December 2018

Scheyville National Park Plan of Management (2000) http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomFinalScheyvillePitttown.pdf

Location of Scheyville National Park

Topographic Map: WILBERFORCE

Categories for Scheyville National Park

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