Springbank Island
Encyclopedia
Springbank Island is an island within Lake Burley Griffin
, in the centre of Canberra
, Australia
. It was named after the rural property that now composes part of the island.
Springbank included both the river flats of the Molonglo River
and Black Mountain
plus a sizeable portion of the area now occupied by the Australian National University
. 640 acres (2.6 km²) was granted to John MacPherson in October 1831. The homestead of the property was on the high ground that now forms Springbank Island.
The MacPherson family lived at Springbank; John MacPherson being the first resident landholder in Canberra, and his wife Helen and their children the first European family to live in what is now the Australian Capital Territory
. One of their children, John Alexander MacPherson
, grew up to become, briefly, the 7th Premier of Victoria
. It has been suggested that he was probably the first European boy born on the Limestone Plains
.
McPherson's grant was disputed by Joshua John Moore
, a neighbouring landowner. Moore wrote to Robert Hoddle
, Government Surveyor: I beg leave to inform you that I am desirous of retaining the 1000 acres (4 km²) already in my possession. It is called and known by the name Canburry. It was agreed that Moore retain the ridge and the name Canburry for his land, whilst the basin be shared with MacPherson.
The Macphersons sold the property to the Kaye family in 1844. Joseph Kaye had migrated to Australia in 1832 and in 1838 arrived in Queanbeyan
, where he ran the local pub for several years. In 1844 the family moved to Springbank, taking over the existing farm and buildings. The farm extended over a roughly rectangular area now bounded by University Avenue in the north, Clunies Ross Street to the west, the old Canberra High School (now Canberra Institute of the Arts, Australian National University) to the east and, to the south, the Molonglo River which formed part of the boundary with Corkhills' farm. The area included the old Canberra race track, the original Federal golf course (at Acton before moving to Red Hill) and a large part of the present ANU.
The Kaye family moved in 1855 from the Springbank home to a house near the present Hotel Canberra
. Apparently the family found the house unpleasant to live in because of the snakes in the swamps of the nearby Molonglo River
which became a menace during times of flood.
Before it was purchased by the Sullivan family in 1888, the property served two years as a school under James Abernethy, and Mr Evans, a tutor at Duntroon
, also occupied it for some time. The Sullivans had lived in the area since the mid 1850s. Canberry Creek which ran through the property was renamed Sullivans Creek
after William Sullivan (1829-1911). The Sullivans left the area in 1913 after the government resumed their land in 1910.
In 1914, Sydney Stock and Station Agents Gair, Sloane and Co. gave a detailed valuation of Springbanks 1955
acres of freehold land: 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) were listed as arable flats, 53 as dark soil, 570 wheat land and the remaining
1217, grazing land. The property, including 1955 acres (7.9 km²) of freehold land, the Homestead Buildings, Yards, Cow Bails, Piggery, Buggy-shed, Woolshed, yards and three dams, eleven hundred willow trees and an orchard, was valued at 'ten thousand and twenty two
pounds, ten shillings and no pence'.
The 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of alluvial
flats had a frontage to the Molonglo River to the south, Scott’s Paddock on the West, the two huts, Woolshed and Pisa on the East and Black Mountain on the North.
The arable flats were valued then at 30 pounds per acre. The agents described the trees on Springbank as:
From 1913 until 1924 the farm was occupied by the Cox family. The Kaye family returned in 1924 until 1961: the family sold the farm assets once construction of Lake Burley Griffin began.
Lake Burley Griffin
Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake in the centre of Canberra, the capital of Australia. It was completed in 1963 after the Molonglo River—which ran between the city centre and Parliamentary Triangle—was dammed...
, in the centre of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was named after the rural property that now composes part of the island.
Springbank included both the river flats of the Molonglo River
Molonglo River
The Molonglo River rises on the western side of the Great Dividing Range of eastern Australia in the state of New South Wales. Its source is on the other side of the mountain range from where the Shoalhaven River rises, in Tallaganda state forest at ~1200 metres altitude...
and Black Mountain
Black Mountain (Australian Capital Territory)
Black Mountain is situated close to the central business district of Australia's capital city Canberra. Like all major hills in Canberra it is protected from development by the Canberra Nature Park. It is covered in native bushland and is a haven to native wildlife.With its peak at 811.987m AHD,...
plus a sizeable portion of the area now occupied by the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
. 640 acres (2.6 km²) was granted to John MacPherson in October 1831. The homestead of the property was on the high ground that now forms Springbank Island.
The MacPherson family lived at Springbank; John MacPherson being the first resident landholder in Canberra, and his wife Helen and their children the first European family to live in what is now the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. One of their children, John Alexander MacPherson
John Alexander MacPherson
John Alexander MacPherson , Australian colonial politician, was the 7th Premier of Victoria.MacPherson was born at his father's property of Springbank on the Limestone Plains, in New South Wales : he was the first Premier of Victoria born in Australia. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian...
, grew up to become, briefly, the 7th Premier of Victoria
Premiers of Victoria
The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the political party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly....
. It has been suggested that he was probably the first European boy born on the Limestone Plains
Limestone Plains
The Limestone Plains were broad, frost-hollow floodplains through which the Molonglo River flowed. Early settlers named this floodplain after the occasional small outcrops of limestone found on it. The Limestone Plains were the area Australia's capital city Canberra was built on...
.
McPherson's grant was disputed by Joshua John Moore
Joshua John Moore
Joshua John Moore , a grazier and large owner of land by occupation, was born to John Moore, yeoman farmer, at Horningsea, Cambridgeshire, England....
, a neighbouring landowner. Moore wrote to Robert Hoddle
Robert Hoddle
Robert Hoddle was a surveyor of Port Phillip in the 1830s, and the creator of the Hoddle Grid, the street grid system upon which inner city Melbourne is based. He was also an accomplished artist and depicted scenes of the Port Philip region as well as New South Wales...
, Government Surveyor: I beg leave to inform you that I am desirous of retaining the 1000 acres (4 km²) already in my possession. It is called and known by the name Canburry. It was agreed that Moore retain the ridge and the name Canburry for his land, whilst the basin be shared with MacPherson.
The Macphersons sold the property to the Kaye family in 1844. Joseph Kaye had migrated to Australia in 1832 and in 1838 arrived in Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
, where he ran the local pub for several years. In 1844 the family moved to Springbank, taking over the existing farm and buildings. The farm extended over a roughly rectangular area now bounded by University Avenue in the north, Clunies Ross Street to the west, the old Canberra High School (now Canberra Institute of the Arts, Australian National University) to the east and, to the south, the Molonglo River which formed part of the boundary with Corkhills' farm. The area included the old Canberra race track, the original Federal golf course (at Acton before moving to Red Hill) and a large part of the present ANU.
The Kaye family moved in 1855 from the Springbank home to a house near the present Hotel Canberra
Hotel Canberra
The Hotel Canberra, also known as Hyatt Hotel Canberra is in Yarralumla, near Lake Burley Griffin and Parliament House, in Canberra. It was built to house politicians when the Federal Parliament moved to Canberra. It was constructed by the contractor John Howie between 1922-1925. Originally...
. Apparently the family found the house unpleasant to live in because of the snakes in the swamps of the nearby Molonglo River
Molonglo River
The Molonglo River rises on the western side of the Great Dividing Range of eastern Australia in the state of New South Wales. Its source is on the other side of the mountain range from where the Shoalhaven River rises, in Tallaganda state forest at ~1200 metres altitude...
which became a menace during times of flood.
Before it was purchased by the Sullivan family in 1888, the property served two years as a school under James Abernethy, and Mr Evans, a tutor at Duntroon
Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory
Duntroon is a suburb of the city of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.-History:Robert Campbell's property Duntroon was situated on the limestone plains of New South Wales in the area that is now covered by the ACT....
, also occupied it for some time. The Sullivans had lived in the area since the mid 1850s. Canberry Creek which ran through the property was renamed Sullivans Creek
Sullivans Creek
Sullivans Creek is a small creek in Canberra, the capital of Australia. It has a catchment area of .Located on the northern half of the city, it flows through the Australian National University into Lake Burley Griffin.-References:...
after William Sullivan (1829-1911). The Sullivans left the area in 1913 after the government resumed their land in 1910.
In 1914, Sydney Stock and Station Agents Gair, Sloane and Co. gave a detailed valuation of Springbanks 1955
acres of freehold land: 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) were listed as arable flats, 53 as dark soil, 570 wheat land and the remaining
1217, grazing land. The property, including 1955 acres (7.9 km²) of freehold land, the Homestead Buildings, Yards, Cow Bails, Piggery, Buggy-shed, Woolshed, yards and three dams, eleven hundred willow trees and an orchard, was valued at 'ten thousand and twenty two
pounds, ten shillings and no pence'.
The 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of alluvial
Alluvium
Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediments, eroded, deposited, and reshaped by water in some form in a non-marine setting. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of materials, including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel...
flats had a frontage to the Molonglo River to the south, Scott’s Paddock on the West, the two huts, Woolshed and Pisa on the East and Black Mountain on the North.
SOIL: Is rich dark alluvial friable and fertile loamLoamLoam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
about 12 feet (3.7 m) deep, resting on a gravel bed, providing good draining – liable to be inundated by the overflow water from the Molonglo River annually, leaving a rich deposit of alluvium, rendering it admirably suited for the growth of lucerneAlfalfaAlfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
and cornMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and comparing favourably with a great deal of the Hunter River land. The roots of the lucerne penetrate down to the perennial water supply which percolates through the underlying porous bed from the River and from the Creek flowing through the centre of this area, providing natural irrigation in the dryest season – this creek has never been known to run dry.
The arable flats were valued then at 30 pounds per acre. The agents described the trees on Springbank as:
Chiefly Iron-bark, White gum, Box, Peppermint, a few cherry and oak trees. RingbarkedGirdlingGirdling, also called ring barking or ring-barking, is the complete removal of a strip of bark from around the entire circumference of either a branch or trunk of a woody plant. Girdling results in the death of wood tissues beyond the damage...
years ago and neglected as a natural consequence, is now a dense mass of undergrowth of young trees.
From 1913 until 1924 the farm was occupied by the Cox family. The Kaye family returned in 1924 until 1961: the family sold the farm assets once construction of Lake Burley Griffin began.