Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt (1813-1848?), Prussian born naturalist and explorer, visited Newcastle and the Hunter Region on his journey of explorations through Australia during the years 1842-1843.
We have prepared this timeline below of his chronological movements throughout Newcastle and the Region to assist a German documentary team, planning to produce a documentary for German Television to co-incide with the 200th anniversary of Leichhardt’s birth.
Where possible we have illustrated his travels with contemporary sketches and plans executed close to the time from our own collections, as well as those of the National Library of Australia and State Library of New South Wales.
The information has been sourced from The letters of F.W. Ludwig Leichhardt collected and newly translated [from the German, French and Italian] by M. Aurousseau (London : Published for the Hakluyt Society by Cambridge University Press, 1968).
The University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections in the Auchmuty Library hold’s Marcel Aurousseau’s personal library. He is the translator of Leichhart’s letters into the English language. The original letters are held in the State Library of New South Wales Mitchell Library.
LEICHHARDT
AROUND NEWCASTLE ON FOOT
Monday 19th September 1842
Leichhardt leaves Sydney by sea for Newcastle with Alexander Walker Scott.
Tuesday 20th September 1842
Leichhardt arrived Newcastle in morning and takes breakfast with Alexander Walker Scott. Taken to Scott’s Salt Works (built around 1836 – ref. Bingle) on Stockton and visits rest of Scott’s property there.
Wednesday 21st September 1842
Excursion in South West Direction
Friday 23rd September 1842
Leichhart visits Ash Island and stays at Scott’s house there for 3-4 days. How it looked at the time was recorded in the sketch by Conrad Martens, and the frontpiece to the Scott Sister’s Lepidtoptera
Ash Island 12th May 1841 by Conrad Martens
Flyleaf Ash Island 12th May 1841
from [Album of] Pencil sketches, watercolours, etc.
by C. Martens, O.W. Brierly, S.T. Gill, John Rae, C. Rodius and others, ca. 1823-1863
View Album:http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=404878
Frontispiece – Scott’s Australian Lepidoptera Volume 2
showing the original pier and entrance to Scott’s house and farm from the River
Sunday 25th September 1842
Leichhardt meets Reverend C.P.N. Wilton and studies the coastal geological section at Nobby’s Island and southward.
77. Nobby Rock, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
Item 77 Nobby Rock, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#
Monday 26th September 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (61) to Lt Robert Lynd
Tuesday 27th September 1842
Visit to Valley of the Palms (Glenrock Lagoon) with Alexander Walker Scott
Saturday 1st October 1842
Studies coastal section at the South head of Newcastle; begins sea-bathing
Sunday 2nd October 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (62) to Lt Robert Lynd. Fishing from the rocks with Alexander Walker Scott.
Monday 3rd – Tuesday 4th October 1842
Visit to Tilligerry with Major Crummer and Mr Bolton (Customs Officer)
Wednesday 5th October 1842
Returns to Newcastle
Saturday 8th October 1842
At Nobby’s Island
f.5 Nobby’s Newcastle. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.5 Nobby’s Newcastle. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. [1843?]
from Portfolio collection of views, mainly in New South Wales, volume 5, ca. 1836-1873 drawn by Conrad Martens
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=825931#
Wednesday 12th October 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (63) to W. Kirchner and writes that he has been to the coal seams, Nobbys Island, Valley of the Palms, and Ash Island “It’s a romantic place, which I like well enough to think that, perhaps – I’d be content to live and die there.”
Saturday 15th October 1842
A visit to Sugarloaf mountain to visit A. W. Scott’s cattle station at Minmi
Sunday 16th October 1842
At the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain
Tuesday 18th October 1842
Lynd arrives in Newcastle
Friday 21st October 1842
To Ash Island with Lynd, A.W. Scott and Bolton
Wednesday 26th October 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (64) to Dr William Nicholson Newcastle Upon Tyne – writes with a description of Newcastle, Nobbys Island, Aborigines, whose teeth are ground like those of Egyptian mummies, creatures called congivoi, Aboriginal kings, Telligerry Creek and Major Crummer
Friday 28th October 1842
Newcastle. continues letter (64) to Dr William Nicholson Newcastle Upon Tyne – describes Aboriginal fires, black snakes on way to Telligery Creek, Rode to weatherboard home of Mr Dawson which lies south of a rugged valley that Mr Wilton (clergyman) has called the Valley of the Palms (Glenrock) – Earthquake recorded at 5.45am
Monday 31st October 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (65) – Earthquake report, describes Morris’ Bath (i.e., Morrisett’s Bath aka Bogey Hole)
76. Morrisets Bath, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
Item 76 Morrisets Bath, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#
Tuesday 1st November 1842
Newcastle. continues letter (65) – Mr Calvert brings Leichhardt a Caprimulgus albogularis (white throated goat sucker). Mr Bligh, nephew of former governor brings him another Gryllotalpa
Friday 4th November 1842
Leichhardt determines strike of volcanic dykes near Newcastle
Saturday 5th November 1842
Newcastle. continues letter (65) – describes Morris’s Bath (i.e., Morrisett’s Bath aka Bogey Hole), and describes the coastal feature overlooking the gaol i.e. today’s ocean baths, as a kind of Charybdis, a fissure in rocks that produces a funnel blowhole sort of thing.
Sunday 6th November 1842
Leichhart went out towards Great [Red] Head and ‘the lagoon’ to see if there was change in coal measures
Monday 7th November 1842
Returns to Newcastle. continues letter (65) – with a report from day before? Shepherd’s Hill, Redhead, beyond Valley of the Palms, two natives enjoy oozings from honey comb. Two black identified as John M’Gill (king of Lake Macquarie tribe and Gorman, King of another clan, both enjoy damper and honey and have a sleep.
Tuesday 8th November 1842
Newcastle. continues letter (65) – describes vines, Hunter Valley vines, Raymond Terrace, Mr Robert Scott, William Brooks, Threlkeld
Wednesday 9th November 1842
Newcastle. continues letter (65) – discusses Schools
Thursday 10th November 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (66) to C. Schmalfuss Music Master Berlin
Friday 11th November 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (67) to Lt Robert Lynd – mentions Ash Island, Mr Dawson, Mr Scott, Burwood, Mrs Mitchell (wife of Dr James Mitchell and mother of David Scott Mitchell) wants him to be a tutor to her children
Saturday 12th November 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (68) to Dr W.J. Little London – naming of Newcastle, AACo., Maitland, Morpeth
Monday 14th November 1842
Sets out on walking excursion to Brisbane Water with Flood (Post Master). Today they reach Brook’s holding near Boolaroo.
Tuesday 15th November 1842
At Threlkeld’s Estate, Ebenezer, on Lake Macquarie.
The image below is an engraving of the site of the Toronto Hotel as it looked around 1887. The Hotel is believed to have been built on the site of the former Ebenezer Mission of the Reverend Threlkeld. This image was published in Plans, views and particulars of the Toronto Estate, Lake Macquarie, for sale by the Excelsior Land Investment & Building Company & Bank Ltd. The date is ca. 1887. The full set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622086704813/with/3879272453/
Wednesday 16th November 1842
At Holden’s estate, Newport, Lake Macquarie. They spend the night in Carter’s hut.
Thursday 17th November 1842
At Sidebottom’s hut, just north of Wyong.
Friday 18th November 1842
Through F.A. Hely’s estate to Gosford on Brisbane Water
Sunday 20th November 1842
Through Forster’s station near entrance to Tuggerah Lakes to a point on the coast opposite Bird Island.
Monday 21st November 1842
At the entrance to Lake Macquarie (the constable’s hut)
Tuesday 22nd November 1842
Return to Newcastle from Brisbane Water. Leichhardt receives news of his sister Mathilde’s death and learns that Strezelecki is about to leave Newcastle.
Thursday 24th November 1842
Newcastle. Writes letter (69) to Lt Robert Lynd describes trip to Brisbane Water
– accompanied by Mr Flood to Brisbane Water, 1st day Lake Macquarie, 2nd day coal mines at Mr Threlkeld’s, 3rd day Newport, 4th day travelled to Tukkerah Beach Creek, 5th day arrived West Gosford near Brisbane Water.
– Returned from Bribane Water 1st day to south of Tukkerah Beach to station of Mr Foster, walked up the beach till opp. Birds Island, 2nd day walk to and arrive at 3pm to Lake Macquarie, 3rd day returned to Newcastle.
– Lake Macquarie described “Its numerous bays and abrupt, wooded hills present great diversity, and it would far exceed the lake of Zurich in beauty, could a livelier green replace the subdued green of the Australian bush.”
Monday 28th November 1842
Trip to Ash Island? (see letter 4th December 1842 – (72) note of artesian bore (first mention of an artesian bore in this country – according to Marcel Aurousseau)
Tuesday 29th November 1842
Sets out on walking tour to Port Stephens (first night at the sea side – letter 71)
Wednesday 30th November 1842
At Crummer’s hut, Telligerry
Item 54. Kerua [i.e. Karuah] River, Tilligherry, 8 May 1852
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#
Thursday 1st December 1842
Bushfires in swamps. Went alone and on foot to the southern headland of Port Stephens (see letter 72).
See below an engraving by Skinner Prout from around 1841 of Port Stephens as it looked close to the arrival of Leichhardt in 1842.
Friday 2nd December 1842
Leichhardt returns from walking expedition to Port Stephens after 4 days in the bush. Walks along Stockton Bight finds cask on the shore full of fresh water.
Saturday 3rd December 1842
Newcastle writes letter (71) to John Murphy Sydney – Description of walk to Port Stephens, cask on Stockton, casuarinas, Prout in Sydney and next week goes to Glendon and Patrick Plains
Sunday 4th December 1842
Newcastle writes letter (72) to W. Kirchner – description of journey to Brisbane Water (15th November to 22nd November) visit to Lake Macquarie, mission of Rev Threlkeld, Newport, Tuggerah Beach Creek (now Ourimbah Creek) Mr Healey, different route back to Newcastle through Mr Foster’s properties then along sea shore – last week went to Ash Island (circa Monday 28th November?) – Last Thursday Port Stephens – Sets out for Glendon on Thursday
Monday 5th December 1842
Leichhardt on a wallaby hunt.
Friday 9th December 1842
He leaves Newcastle on foot for Calvert’s holding. Buys a horse from Calvert.
LEICHHARDT’S JOURNEYS IN THE HUNTER REGION (GLENDON) ON HORSEBACK
Friday 9th December 1842 – 20th December 1842
(Letter 77) Leichhardt reports that left Newcastle and visits Mount Sugarloaf (9th), then Mr Scott’s Cattle Station at Minmi, From Minmi to Harper’s Hill, Visit to Mr Wyndham, Mr Kelman vineyard, takes 14 days to reach Glendon (from the 20th December 1842 to arrival on the 2 January 1843).
Friday 9th December 1842
Leichhardt rides from Calvert’s holding to Scott’s station at Minmi
Saturday 10th December 1842
Leichhardt ascends Mount Sugarlof with Callaghan
Monday 12th December 1842
Returns to Minmi
Tuesday 13th December 1842
To Maitland with Rorke
Wednesday 14th December 1842
At Harper’s Hill.
46. Harpurs Hill, 7th May 1841
Item 46. Harpurs [i.e. Harpers] Hill, 7th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#
Friday 16th December 1842
Leaves Harper’s Hill. Thunderstorms. Through Wyndham’s to Dawson’s at Belford
Saturday 17th December 1842
Excursion with Porter to Black Creek and Blind Creek. Then with Porter to visit Kelman’s vineyard sometime after the 17th December.
Tuesday 20th December 1842
Arrives at Glendon
- The Hunter at Glendon 3rd May 1841
Item 6 The Hunter at Glendon 3rd May 1841
from [Album of] Pencil sketches, watercolours, etc.
by C. Martens, O.W. Brierly, S.T. Gill, John Rae, C. Rodius and others, ca. 1823-1863
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=404878
f.70 Glendon. Unsigned. Dated 5th May 1841
f.70 Glendon. Unsigned. Dated ‘May 5th, 41’. Titled at lower right.
From: Album of cloud studies, mountain, bush and harbour scenes, ca. 1841-1850 drawn by Conrad Martens
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=825948
Wednesday 21st December 1842
Excursion to Jump up Creek
Thursday 22nd December 1842
Excursion downstream to Bell’s
Saturday 24th December 1842
Excursion up Glendon Brook to the coal
83. Tangorrin and Glendon Brook from near the Station, 4 May 1841
Item 83. Tangorrin and Glendon Brook from near the Station, 4 May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#
Wednesday 28th December 1842
Exploration of Helenus Scott estate
Saturday 31st December 1842
On the way to Mount Tangorin
Monday 2nd January 1843
At Merranie
Tuesday 3rd January 1843
Tolka Tolka and Stanhope
Friday 6th January 1843
Visit to Mount Tyroman
Saturday 7th January 1843
Visit to Bukembelong (Blackguard Hill)
Sunday 8th January 1843
Visit to Jack Shea (mountain)
Monday 9th January 1843
Visit to Wargungunnie
Tuesday 10th January 1843
Leaves Poot yung gun
Sunday 15th January 1843
Returns to Glendon
Monday 16th January 1843
Glendon. Writes letter (73) to C. Schmalfuss – At the estate of Mr Helenus Scott Glendon (brother of A.W. Scott), description of hunter’s river
Monday 16th January 1843
Glendon. Writes letter (74) to Lt Robert Lynd – description of Harper’s Hill, Wyndham Vineyard, arrived at Glendon a fortnight ago (i.e. 2nd January 1843?), before this at Kilman vineyard, description of Glendon, Aboriginal names of mountains recorded with dates of visits to mountains/valleys
Monday 23rd January 1843
Went to Meranni 10 miles from Glendon – German or English miles? (see letter 76) – Leichhardt is attacked by wild bullock? (see letter 77)
60. Mirranni from above the Station, 30th April 1841
From Conrad Martens sketches [of New South Wales 1835-1842]
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=446239
Tuesday 24th January 1843
Commenced journey to Mount Royal (see letter 76)
Wednesday 25th January 1843
Visit to house of Capt. Mayne on northern slope of Dyrinne, Piri, Mount Royal. Climbs Dyrring from St Clair (Captain Mayne’s station)
Thursday 26th January 1843
Makes camp in a hollow tree on flank of Piri
Sunday 29th January 1843
At Merannie
Monday 30th January 1843
Returns to Mayne’s station
Thursday 2nd February 1843
Return to Piri
Tuesday 14th February 1843
Returns to Glendon
Wednesday 15th February 1843
Glendon. Writes letter (75) to Walker Scott Newcastle
Sunday 19th February 1843
Glendon. Writes letter (76) to Lt Robert Lynd Sydney
Tuesday 21st February 1843
Glendon. Writes letter (77) to W. Kirchner – description of trip to Glendon i.e. Sugarloaf , Minmi, etc
Wednesday 2nd March 1843
Glendon. Writes letter 78 to Lt Robert Lynd – precis of how he was occupied last 12 days Scott
Friday 4th March 1843
Leaves Glendon. First notices the great comet of 1843.
Friday 24th March 1843
Dalkeith. Writes letter (79) to Helenus Scott – stays at Bengalla near Muswellbrook
Absolutely wonderful sketches.
Fantastic work! This sort of history needs to be told and retold, the connection between the old and new, then and now.
Leichhardt is actually really close to where I stay in Inner West Sydney, so I’ve always wondered about the name. What a find to stumble on all these beautiful pictures……
Great story and amazing sketches. Thank you for posting. Margaret Thompson