Parish of Harrowby - 1890 Aboriginal Heritage

The Broke region is within the Country of the Wanaruah People.  While it is difficult to estimate how many Aboriginal people would have lived in and around the Broke area prior to the early 1800’s, it can be assumed that the reliable freshwater source of Wollombi Brook would have been an important resource.   This is consistent with the number of stone artefacts which have been found mainly concentrated on watercourses such as the Wollombi Brook and associated drainage lines.  Sources suggest that Aboriginal people in the Broke area generally lived in small family based groups that moved around within defined territorial areas and periodically came together with members of their own and other Aboriginal nations to take part in large and very detailed ceremonies that formed an important part of life.   Social interactions were largely governed by complicated kinship relations that needed to be understood and followed by all within and outside the tribal group.  Leadership was closely linked to age and experience and becoming an adult member of society required that boys be taught important information about their country and their place within it.  Gender roles were relatively well defined and children were taught from a young age how to complete the tasks expected of them.  

Prior to mining, areas of cultural significance within our mining lease were identified by aboriginal groups and archaeologists.  Grinding grooves and areas of artefact scatter were uncovered and identified as culturally significant.

An Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan, prepared in consultation with local aboriginal groups, helps us maintain and manage culturally significant areas. 

We work closely with aboriginal groups to understand and preserve the cultural heritage of the area.

European Heritage

Situated on the Wollombi Brook, the Broke Fordwich district has a proud and diverse history. The first land allocations in the district included:  2,000 acres to Alexander Ritchie (1824); 4,200 acres to John Blaxland Snr (1825); 1,200 acres to Thomas Walker (1825).  Both Ritchie and Walker were married to daughters of John Blaxland Snr.  The first allocations in the then unnamed parishes of Milbrodale and Harrowby on the eastern side of the Wollombi Brook included: 1,200 acres to the Reverend Richard Hill (1825); 800 acres to Frederick Boucher (1824); 1,500 acres to John Tremayne Rodd (1825); and 300 acres to Robert Adamson Rodd (1825).

Charlton Road follows the original line of the Great North Road which diverged at Monkey Place Creek on John Blaxland Snr’s land, across the Bulga Road to Warkworth.   Under the supervision of Surveyor Peter Ogilivie, The Broke Warkworth branch was cleared by private contractors but built by convict gangs during 1834 and 1835.   This stretch of Charlton Road has been extensively upgraded through its history. 

Prior to mining, heritage items were identified in the Environmental Impact Statement.  European heritage relics within the project area are managed in accordance with the relevant acts so that mining operations do not adversely impact on the condition of items of heritage value.