Castlereagh SettlementPrint Page

The obelisk marks the original selection for the site of Castlereagh by Governor Macquarie.

This suburb is one of the most historic sites in Australia's history, being one of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's five towns founded in 1810. Governor Lachlan Macquarie recorded the following in his journal "the Township for the Evan or Nepean District I have named Castlereagh in honor (sic) of Lord Viscount Castlereagh, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1805–1806. He, in turn, was named after Castlereagh in Northern Ireland. The official Government and General Order issued from Government House, Sydney was dated 15 December 1810.

Saturday was a day of much historical importance to Castlereagh, when an obelisk commemorating the siting of the town by Governor Macquarie in 1810 was unveiled by Ald. T. R. R. Smith, before a good attendance of residents and visitors. A very interesting historical address was given by Mr. J. K. Houison, president of the Royal Australian Historical Society, who stated that some historians considered that Macquarie was the greatest of the Governors. Castlereagh is one of what are known of the "Five Macquarie towns." Others are Windsor, Richmond, Pitt Town, and Wilberforce. The stone obelisk has been erected immediately in front of Castlereagh Hall, formerly the council chambers, and bears a tablet indicating its purpose.
Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW), 12 April 1951.

Location

Details

Dedication