North Rocks

Gazing upon North Rocks today, it’s hard to imagine the towering sandstone formations that once defined this landscape. North Rocks, a name echoing through centuries, predates even Parramatta itself. Originally known as Jerusalem Rocks, or simply Jerusalem, the area’s beauty drew picnickers and walkers in the early 1800s. Lush forests shaded the area from the scorching Australian sun, and a murmuring stream offered respite. These prominent rocks lent their name to the area, but sadly, they weren’t preserved. The need for building materials led to their demise. In 1841, a contractor recognized the quality and convenient location of the North Rocks sandstone. He won the tender to build Parramatta Gaol, and much of North Rocks became its walls and flagstones in 1844. Later, in 1855, more of the sandstone was used to construct the dam wall for Lake Parramatta. This wall, a testament to the rocks’ strength, stands about 73 meters long and fifteen feet thick at its base. Before its transformation into a residential suburb around 1958, North Rocks was a rural landscape dotted with about 40 farms. Peach and nectarine orchards flourished, alongside poultry farms and piggeries. The rezoning ushered in a new era, with housing estates like Lynwood Estate springing up. North Rocks also held a darker history. The rugged bushland and caves offered refuge to bushrangers like “Bold Jack” Donohoe and the Wild Colonial Boy. These outlaws, active between 1826 and 1830, instilled fear in the local population. The caves also concealed illicit stills, producing alcoholic cider from local fruit. The government offered rewards for information on these operations, eventually leading to their suppression. A remnant of North Rocks’ rocky past can still be found at the corner of Bettington and Pennant Hills Roads. This large rock, rescued from Hunts Creek, stands as a reminder of the area’s geological heritage. It was placed there in 1962, marking the entrance to the Kingsdene housing estate.