Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Plan of the allotments of ground, granted from the Crown of New South Wales

Plan of the allotments of ground, granted from the Crown of New South Wales

1814
Printed map
London, 1814
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
DL Z/Cb 81/1

This map shows land grants made in the Sydney region to 1813. It was created to accompany the booklet, An Accurate List of the Names of the Land-holders in the Colony of New South Wales (corrected to 1813). Together, the coloured map and list could be purchased for 10 shillings and sixpence; the list alone for 6 shillings and sixpence.

The two large plots closest to Sydney, 7 and 9 on the map, represent the first land grants made in the Surry Hills area. Major Joseph Foveaux received 105 acres (42ha) in 1792 and Commissary John Palmer received 90 acres (36ha). The area marked Green Hills had been named Windsor by Governor Macquarie in 1810, but on the basis of this map it seems that the name had not yet been adopted.

Many place names on the map are no longer used. For example, the area marked Liberty Plains now encompasses the Municipality of Auburn and includes the modern suburbs of Lidcombe, Auburn, Newington and Homebush Bay. The area named Bulanaming’ (point H), is located between Sydney, the Cooks River and the Parish of Petersham.

Enticing Sydney

When Governor Phillip left England to establish the colony of NSW, he was given instructions which empowered him to grant land to emancipists. Each male was entitled to 30 acres (12ha), an additional 20 acres (8ha) if married, and 10 acres (4ha) for each child with him in the settlement at the time of the grant. To encourage free settlers to the colony, Phillip received additional instructions entitling non-commissioned marine officers to 100 (40ha) acres and privates to 50 (20ha) acres. Other settlers coming to the colony were also to be given grants.
The first land was granted in 1792 to James Ruse, a former convict who had been sentenced to seven years’ transportation for breaking and entering. Ruse was allotted land at Rose Hill (Parramatta). Phillip insisted that land must have a particular use to help sustain the colony with food. As a result he only granted around 4000 acres (1618ha) in almost five years. It was not until 1792 that larger grants were made, although these were frequently subject to exploitation and land speculation.