Settlement - The Parish of Gordon

The original Parish of Gordon in the County of Cumberland was named by Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor-General from 1828 to 1855. It roughly covers the area which is now known as the Ku-ring-gai municipality.

Early settlers in the Upper North Shore included Robert Pymble, who received a land grant of 600 acres in 1824, and timber-getter Thomas Hyndes who, from 1842, had a lease of 2000 acres which covered much of present day North Wahroonga. Hyndes and Pymble went into partnership in the timber-getting business and employed hundreds of convicts. Blackbutt, iron bark and blue gum were felled for use in the building of wharves and housing in Sydney. Orchards were eventually established on the cleared land in the 1850s and 60s. The soil was particularly rich, suitable for citrus, stone fruits, apples and grapes.

Hyndes' and Pymble's lands are clearly marked on this map of the Parish of Gordon from the 1850s.

Parish of Gordon, County of Cumberland, ca. 1850s
Map ZBRN 496331B1