Reverend Robert Cartwright is the namesake of this very Cartwright Park. Officially, Cartwright became a suburb in 1972. But its roots trace back to the Green Valley Housing Estate established between 1961 and 1965.
Cartwright Park is named after a significant figure. Robert Cartwright was the first rector at St Luke’s Church in Liverpool. He arrived in Australia in 1810. He was initially assigned to the Hawkesbury district. Later, in 1819, he was appointed to Liverpool. He remained there until 1836.
Between 1825 and 1829, Cartwright taught at the Male Orphan School. This school housed and educated destitute boys until they turned 15. When Cartwright first arrived in Liverpool, he lived in the rectory. It was at the corner of Elizabeth and Macquarie Streets. Today, the Westfield shopping center occupies that site. He later moved to his farm. It was named Maryvale. It is thought to be on part of the present-day Cartwright site.
But there’s more to this story than just a name. Maria Lock was an Aboriginal woman. She challenged the norms of the time. In 1824, Maria married Robert Lock. It was the colony’s first marriage between an Aboriginal woman and a white man. Maria was the daughter of Yarranundi. She was born near Richmond around 1808. In 1814, she entered the Native Institution as its first child. She may have won the top academic prize in 1819. This was against 100 European and 20 other Aboriginal children.
Maria met Robert Lock. He was a convict carpenter at the Native Institution. He had been transported for theft. But he was considered honest and hardworking. They married in 1824. She was 16. He was 24. They received four acres at Blacktown. By 1825, they were working on Reverend Cartwright’s farm in Liverpool. In 1831, Maria petitioned Governor Darling for land and a cow. She had been promised these upon her marriage.
Here’s where the story takes an unexpected turn. Robert Cartwright also wanted the land Maria desired. Maria refused to back down. She appealed to the new Governor, Bourke, who sided with her. In 1832, Maria finally secured the land. This was despite Cartwright’s objections. Maria also owned 60 acres in Blacktown. Her family moved there in 1843 or 1844. She had ten children. Robert died in 1854. Maria died in 1878. Her land was divided among her nine surviving children.
Maria Lock’s story is often remembered as colonial assimilation. She could read and write. She married a white man. She acquired land and raised a large family. However, Maria negotiated a middle ground. She balanced settler society expectations with her Aboriginal identity. Her marriage to Robert Lock suggested a life like white people. But she always wanted to return to her own country. She used settler systems to bring her family back to Blacktown.
Cartwright Park stands as a testament to these intertwined histories. It reminds us of Reverend Robert Cartwright. It also reminds us of Maria Lock. It is a place where different narratives converge. So take a moment to reflect on the stories beneath your feet. Consider the complexities of the past as you enjoy this space.