Berrima’s

First Residents

Ninety-four people have been identified as living in Berrima during the township’s first ten years. Some, including the military stationed to oversee the convicts in the stockade, the tradesmen employed to build the goal and courthouse and the bureaucrats appointed by the government to administer the law, stayed only for a few years. Others, predominantly innkeepers and storekeepers, made Berrima their home. They included first generation Australians, ex-convicts and free immigrants. Many arrived with limited means but were able to purchase or rent a small allotment, establish a business and raise their families. For many, Berrima offered the opportunity of a much better life than the one they had left behind.

What follows is a work-in-progress. If you can add to our knowledge of the individuals listed here please contact me.

Name

Occupation if known and Land Ownership

Dates recorded being in Berrima

Background

Officer in Charge, 28th Regiment of Foot

1840-42

Military

Owner of allotment

1841

Ex Military

Constable

Sept. 1841

ToL Convict

Clerk to the Bench, Registrar of Petty Sessions and Deputy Postmaster

Sept. 1836 – March 1837

Arrived Free

Owner of allotment

1841 - ?

Ex-military

Superintendent of Convicts, 80th Regiment of Foot

Feb. 1836 – Oct. 1837

Military

Poundkeeper until 1841

1840 - ??

Ex-Convict

Sergeant, Mounted Police

1841-?

Ex-Military

Owner of allotment

1841

Ex-military

Constable

1841-1849?

Ex-Convict

Constable

1841

Ex-Convict and wife a free immigrant

Stonemason

1837

Ex-Convicts

Brother of Noel Chapman (Chief Constable)

1841

Ex-Convict

Chief Constable

1840-1849

Ex-Convict and wife born in colony

Chief Constable

March 1836- December 1839

Arrived free and wife an ex-convict

Constable and Lock-up Keeper

1836 - ?

Ex-military

Blacksmith

1841 - ?

Arrived Free

Innkeeper and contractor for construction of gaol

1837-1850

Arrived Free

Innkeeper and coach operator. Owner of four allotments

1837-1850

Ex-Convict and wife Born in Colony

Tradesman

1841 - ?

Arrived Free

Carpenter

1841 - ?

Arrived Free

Constable

1836-1847

Ex-military

Shoemaker

1841 - ? (at least 1848)

Ex-Convict

Clerk to the Bench and Registrar Petty Sessions

March 1840-June 1841

Arrived Free

Constable

1841-42

Ex-Convict

Housemaid

1840 - ??

Convict

Gaoler (and Matron). Owner of six allotments

1839 -49

Ex-Military

Clerk to the Bench and Registrar Petty Sessions

1841-50

Assistant Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts

Oct 1838-1839

Military

Presbyterian School Teacher

1837-39

Arrived Free

Storekeeper

184-43

Arrived Free

Constable

1841-48

Contractor for building gaol

1835-36

Ex-Convict

Hospital Attendant at Stockade

1837

ToL Convict

Superintendent of Convicts

May-August 1838

Military

Retired. Farther of James Harper

1841

Ex-Convict

Publican and Landowner

1834-1845 (wife until 1851)

Born in Colony (wife a Convict)

Constable

1841

Unknown

Storekeeper

1837-57

Arrived Free

Merchant and innkeeper – 1836-1862. Owner of three allotments plus rural land

1838-1860s

Ex-Convict. Wife Born in Colony

Merchant, Butcher Innkeeper,

1838 onwards

Free Settler

Storekeeper

1837-1847

Arrived Free

Builder, coach proprietor, storekeeper and landowner

1835-38 (dec.) Ann to Goulburn ~1840

Ex- Convict. Wife Born in Colony

Constable and Poundkeeper

1836-8

Ex-Convict

Stonemason

Sept. 1836

Ex-Convict

Teacher

1840-42

Unknown

Unknown

1841-1873

Arrived Free

Clerk to the Bench and Registrar of the Court of Requests

1837-1840

Arrived Free

Publican

1841-42

Arrived Free

Brickmaker

1837

Ex-Convict

Shoemaker

1840

Ex-Convict

Constable

1841-44

Unknown

Police Magistrate

1836-39

Arrived Free

Stockade Superintendent

1835

Military

Sub-Inspector of Roads

1837

Unknown

Brewer

1839

Arrived Free

Mitchell's County Town

Berrima 1831-1841

Berrima township was founded in May 1831, its site chosen by Major Thomas Mitchell when he laid out a new line of road to link Sydney with Port Phillip (Melbourne). It was to be the main administrative centre south of Sydney, complete with gaol and courthouse and service hub for travellers and local settlers.