Charles Throsby
Encyclopedia
Charles Throsby was an Australian explorer, pioneer and parliamentarian. He opened up much new land beyond the Blue Mountains for colonial settlement. He was a grazier, and became a prominent member of New South Wales society.
near Leicester in England
. He was engaged as a surgeon on the convict transport Coromandel carrying 136 male convicts from Portsmouth to Sydney. They departed Portsmouth 12 February 1802, and arrived in Sydney without calling in port on 13 June 1802, with no reported convict deaths under his care.
Soon afterwards he joined the medical staff of the Colony, and in October 1802 he was appointed a magistrate and acting-surgeon at Castle Hill. In August 1804 he was transferred to Newcastle
, and in April 1805 was made superintendent there. Towards the end of 1808 he was given a grant of 500 acres (2 km²) at Cabramatta, and in the following year resigned his position at Newcastle. In 1811 he was employed as agent by the colony's wealthiest landowner, Sir John Jamison
, of Regentville.
He subsequently paid a visit to England
On 8 March 1818, with James Meehan
, he set out to discover a route to Jervis Bay
, and about three weeks later — the party having been split up — Throsby's section reached Jervis Bay by way of the Kangaroo and Lower Shoalhaven rivers. Determining that he had no hope of finding his way to his intended destination, he couldn't decide whether to keep going or head back. Fortunately for him a pair of aboriginals helped him get through the valley by way of Meryla Pass.
On 25 April 1819 Throsby pioneered exploration west of the Blue Mountains, when he left the Cowpastures (near the present day Camden
), and travelling first south-south-west, then west, north-west, and north-north-west, finished his journey near the site of Bathurst
. Macquarie stated in a dispatch that "the rich fertile country passed over by Mr Throsby . . . will be fully equal to meet every increase of the population . . . for many years". Throsby himself was given a grant of land near Moss Vale at Bong Bong. Throsby undertook the journey with John Rowley, two servants, and two Aboriginal guides, named Cookoogong and Dual.
He was put in charge of the construction of a road to the Goulburn plains and in August of that year two of his men reached Lake George. In October Governor Macquarie
visited this district with Throsby, and while he was there Throsby and two other men made further explorations. The details of this trip are lost, but it is probable that Throsby passed through what is now the Australian Capital Territory
and that he reached the Yass River
. On 20 March 1821 Throsby with two companions made an expedition to reach the Murrumbidgee River
, having heard of its existence from the aborigines. Coming first to the Molonglo River
he probably discovered the Murrumbidgee below Tuggeranong
, near Pine Island
early in April 1821.
to Earl Bathurst as suitable for appointment for a colonial council, and when the council was formed in December 1825 three of these were appointed of whom Throsby was one. His standing in the community was very high and he was the owner of about 20000 acres (8,093.7 ha) and large and valuable herds of cattle.
Charles Throsby had no children, and his estate was inherited by his nephew, Charles Throsby. He had previously been sent for and arrived on the Mangles on 7 August 1820 The nephew and his family prospered in the Moss Vale area. He married Elizabeth (Betsy) Broughton, one of the survivors of the Boyd Massacre
, and had many children. Throsby Park in Moss Vale was occupied by five generations of the family.
, and in the Canberra suburb of Throsby
.
Early life
Throsby was born in GlenfieldGlenfield, Leicestershire
Glenfield is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Blaby district, and has a population of about 10,000. Its location at the northwestern fringe of the city of Leicester effectively makes it a suburb, although it is politically and administratively separate...
near Leicester in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was engaged as a surgeon on the convict transport Coromandel carrying 136 male convicts from Portsmouth to Sydney. They departed Portsmouth 12 February 1802, and arrived in Sydney without calling in port on 13 June 1802, with no reported convict deaths under his care.
Soon afterwards he joined the medical staff of the Colony, and in October 1802 he was appointed a magistrate and acting-surgeon at Castle Hill. In August 1804 he was transferred to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, and in April 1805 was made superintendent there. Towards the end of 1808 he was given a grant of 500 acres (2 km²) at Cabramatta, and in the following year resigned his position at Newcastle. In 1811 he was employed as agent by the colony's wealthiest landowner, Sir John Jamison
John Jamison
Sir John Jamison was an important Australian physician, pastoralist, banker, politician, constitutional reformer and public figure....
, of Regentville.
He subsequently paid a visit to England
Exploration
In 1817, did some exploration near Moss Vale and Sutton Forest.On 8 March 1818, with James Meehan
James Meehan
James Meehan was an Irish-Australian explorer and surveyor.Meehan was born in Ireland in 1774, and was one of a number of political prisoners who arrived in Australia in February 1800. Two months later he became an assistant to Charles Grimes, the surveyor-general, and went with him to explore the...
, he set out to discover a route to Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
, and about three weeks later — the party having been split up — Throsby's section reached Jervis Bay by way of the Kangaroo and Lower Shoalhaven rivers. Determining that he had no hope of finding his way to his intended destination, he couldn't decide whether to keep going or head back. Fortunately for him a pair of aboriginals helped him get through the valley by way of Meryla Pass.
On 25 April 1819 Throsby pioneered exploration west of the Blue Mountains, when he left the Cowpastures (near the present day Camden
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
), and travelling first south-south-west, then west, north-west, and north-north-west, finished his journey near the site of Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
. Macquarie stated in a dispatch that "the rich fertile country passed over by Mr Throsby . . . will be fully equal to meet every increase of the population . . . for many years". Throsby himself was given a grant of land near Moss Vale at Bong Bong. Throsby undertook the journey with John Rowley, two servants, and two Aboriginal guides, named Cookoogong and Dual.
He was put in charge of the construction of a road to the Goulburn plains and in August of that year two of his men reached Lake George. In October Governor Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
visited this district with Throsby, and while he was there Throsby and two other men made further explorations. The details of this trip are lost, but it is probable that Throsby passed through what is now the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
and that he reached the Yass River
Yass River
The Yass River is a river in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The town of Yass is located on the Yass River a short distance from its confluence with the Murrumbidgee River.There are two competing theories as to the origin of the name Yass...
. On 20 March 1821 Throsby with two companions made an expedition to reach the Murrumbidgee River
Murrumbidgee River
The Murrumbidgee River is a major river in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory . A major tributary of the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee flows in a west-northwesterly direction from the foot of Peppercorn Hill in the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains,...
, having heard of its existence from the aborigines. Coming first to the Molonglo River
Molonglo River
The Molonglo River rises on the western side of the Great Dividing Range of eastern Australia in the state of New South Wales. Its source is on the other side of the mountain range from where the Shoalhaven River rises, in Tallaganda state forest at ~1200 metres altitude...
he probably discovered the Murrumbidgee below Tuggeranong
Tuggeranong
Tuggeranong is the southernmost town centre of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. It comprises 19 suburbs with a total of 31,819 dwellings, housing 87,119 people of the 324,034 people in the Australian Capital Territory . The district occupies 117 square kilometres to the east of the...
, near Pine Island
Pine Island (Canberra)
Pine Island Reserve is a reserve on the Murrumbidgee River where the river flows through the Canberra district of Tuggeranong, Australia.Pine Island is not a permanent island, but exists when the area floods...
early in April 1821.
Legislative Council
In November 1824 Throsby was one of the 10 landholders and merchants submitted by Governor BrisbaneThomas Brisbane
Major-General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, 1st Baronet GCH, GCB, FRS, FRSE was a British soldier, colonial Governor and astronomer.-Early life:...
to Earl Bathurst as suitable for appointment for a colonial council, and when the council was formed in December 1825 three of these were appointed of whom Throsby was one. His standing in the community was very high and he was the owner of about 20000 acres (8,093.7 ha) and large and valuable herds of cattle.
Legal action and death
Unfortunately for him, about the year 1811 he had become security for the purchase of a vessel by a friend, Garnham Blaxcell, who had left the colony in 1817 and subsequently died. Proceedings were taken against Throsby which became drawn out, and eventually a verdict against him was obtained for £4000. His health had not been good for some time, and becoming depressed, on 2 April 1828 he committed suicide by shooting himself.Charles Throsby had no children, and his estate was inherited by his nephew, Charles Throsby. He had previously been sent for and arrived on the Mangles on 7 August 1820 The nephew and his family prospered in the Moss Vale area. He married Elizabeth (Betsy) Broughton, one of the survivors of the Boyd Massacre
Boyd massacre
The Boyd Massacre took place in 1809 when Māori residents of Whangaroa Harbour in northern New Zealand killed and ate between 66 and 70 people as revenge for the whipping of a young Māori chief by the crew of the sailing ship Boyd...
, and had many children. Throsby Park in Moss Vale was occupied by five generations of the family.
Legacy
Throsby is commemorated in the name of the Commonwealth Electoral Division of ThrosbyDivision of Throsby
The Division of Throsby is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. It covers eastern Wingecarribee Shire, extending from Exeter, Lake Yarrunga and Upper Kangaroo Valley in the south to Aylmerton, Alpine, the Avon Dam, Lake Avon, Dombarton, and Kembla Grange in the north to the Pacific...
, and in the Canberra suburb of Throsby
Throsby, Australian Capital Territory
Throsby is a designated suburb of Canberra, Australia in the district of Gungahlin. The suburb is adjacent to the suburbs of Kenny and Harrison and is bounded by the Federal Highway to the east, the ACT/NSW border to the north, Horse Park Drive to the south and the Goorooyarroo nature reserve to...
.