A brief history of Mount Hunter

Monks Lane is situated in a very special part of Australia, Mount Hunter. Mount Hunter has a beautiful young history dating back to the arrival of the first fleet. The First Fleet of 11 ships included 6 beasts: four black Cape cows and two bulls. The first farm of the colony was set up by Governor Arthur Phillip, naming it ‘Farm Cove’, located next to Bennelong Point (the site of the Sydney Opera House), to establish meat and milk for the colony.

 

In early June 1788, the cattle went missing. Numerous parties were sent out to try and recover the cattle, but after three weeks of fruitless search, Governor Phillip abandoned the matter, concluding the cattle had been killed, or strayed far into the interior in quest of better feed.

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In October 1795, two convicts, while on a hunting expedition, heard rumours that cattle existed across the Nepean River, and reported this to the Governor.

 

Governor John Hunter sent Henry Hacking to investigate the matter, who set out from Prospect Hill on November 6, 1795, and after travelling for two days, they crossed the Nepean river, near modern day Camden, and to their surprise was a herd of over 40, grazing in “country remarkably pleasant to the eye, and the finest yet discovered, the soil good and eligible for cultivation, everywhere thick luxuriant grass”.  The next morning, another herd of over 60, now totalling over 100 head, had been discovered.

 

On hearing this news, Governor Hunter was now determined to visit the location to see the cattle and country for himself. With a small party, he left Parramatta on 18th November 1795. After travelling a few days, the explorers crossed the Nepean River to the “cow pastures” and ascended the highest point reporting the view from the summit as full of grand objects, “wood, water, plains, and mountains”.  Everywhere on that side of the Nepean River the soil was excellent, and eligible for cultivation. The Hill obtained the name of Mount Hunter, a landmark that goes by the same name today, and "Cowpastures", by which the location became known, is due to Governor Hunter, for he marked it on a map drawn by himself, dated 20th August 1796.

 

The cattle and the name ‘Cowpastures’ disappeared and were forgotten, however the land, sought out above all else, “wood, water, plants, mountains, thick luxuriant grass”, still remains. The incredible fertility of the cattle is a testament to the fertility of our special soil, and we are blessed to have our trees and livestock growing here.