The Appin Historical Heritage Walk, created by Appin Historical Society, is a free self-guided tour around the highlights of Wollondilly’s oldest town. Granted the weather is on your side, it’s the perfect way to step not only into history but the shoes of a local and experience the sights that make Appin so unique.
History of Appin
The D’harawal Aboriginal People are the traditional inhabitants of the Appin area, which was known to them as “Toggerai’ meaning “cold water.” The Georges and Cataract-Nepean River systems provided their water, food and shelter. The Cataract River is particularly significant to the D’harawal People as it was the site at which the People found sanctuary after fire swept through the land, resulting in the reincarnation of one of the original D’harawal women, Wiritjiribin, as the Lyrebird, the Totem of the D’harawal People.
In 1807 George Caley (who was sent by Sir Joseph Banks to collect flora and fauna to send back to England) recorded the Aboriginal name for the “frightful cataract” Carrunggurrung, which is now called “Appin Falls”. In 1811 Governor Lachlan Macquarie named Appin after the small coastal village of Appin, Argyllshire in Scotland, where his wife Elizabeth was born. The first land grants were made on 22nd May, 1811 to William Broughton (400ha “Lachlan Vale”) and John Kennedy (80ha “Teston Farm”). Most of the early settlers came from Irish stock with names such as Brennan, Dwyer, Byrne, D’Arcy and Bourke.
The following year Macquarie granted 40 ha to Andrew Hume who had sailed to New South Wales in 1789 to work as an instructor in agricultural techniques. His sons Hamilton and John were both anxious to explore the surrounding countryside. In 1814, when Hamilton was 17 years old, he made an exploratory trip, crossing the Razorback Range and exploring the area through the Bargo Brush to Picton, Berrima, Mittagong, Bowral and Bong Bong.
Hamilton Hume is most famous for his expedition with Narellan landowner William Hovell. Together they left from the Hume family home of “Humewood” and were the first to travel overland through Yass to Port Phillip in Victoria. The Hume and Hovell Monument (on Appin Rd 4km north of Appin) was erected in 1924 to mark the centenary of their expedition.
Conflict between the white settlers and the D’harawal People resulted in a punitive expedition being mounted by the military in 1816. Fourteen Aboriginals were killed at Appin and five were captured, but it is believed many more rushed to their deaths over the cliff tops of Caratact Gorge. This event occurred on 17th April 1816 and is known as the Appin Massacre. A special memorial service is held each year to remember the massacre victims and their families.
The Appin Historical Heritage Walk covers 11 different stops to visit at your leisure, including an additional 5 stops of other points of interest. These include the Schoolmater's Residence, Stone Cottage, St Bede's Catholic Church & Cemetery, St Mark's Anglician Church & Cemetery and Appin Inn amongst many more.
Click the button below to download the Appin Historical Heritage Walk brochure or pick up a free copy at Wollondilly Shire Council (open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm) or from Appin Historical Society on 78 Appin Road (open Saturday, Tuesday & Wednesday 10am - 2pm):
