This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Early Days at Kempsey and Surrounds in Leamington
The author recalls arriving at Leamington at night and settling into a cottage after a long journey from Windsor to Kempsey. Dawn brought birdsong and a surprise encounter with New England magpies. The piece outlines early settlement around the Macleay River, naming landowners like Mrs Smith, the Verges, the Oakes, and Jacky Warne, with Warne’s Warneton as a key center four miles above Kempsey. It describes Kempsey’s three districts East Central West, notable landmarks, stores, chapels, the Weslayan Church, and early figures such as Dr Gatriel the West Indian, Hampton Court’s sugar mill beginnings, and political figures Rutledge and Cowley. The narrative is a vivid, fustered recollection of a developing town and its people.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leamington
Windsor
Kempeey
New England
Macleay River
Mrs Smith
Verges
Oakes
Jacky Warne
Warna‘on
Buroke
Dongdoga'ong Ste
Mr.Warne
Warneton
Smith
Mrs. Smith
Kempseys
Fort Kempsey
Rodder
Church of England
Rudder's Hill
Gatriel
East Kempsey
Hampton Court
Bowes
Woolls Rutledge
Kempesy
Fast Kempsey
Miso Ro
W. T. Dangar
Misa Eve Dangers
Ww. T. Danger
Harry Morton
West Kempecy
Purler's Creek
Hefferman
Thomp
Thompson Ale
Port Macquarie
Dod Smith
Letchfeld
W. Bowera
Ship
Glenugie Farm
Frank Scott
Leamin
Letchfield
Star Hotel
Wessern
Mackay Herald
Charles
Kempacy