Old Toongabbie

Gazing at the gentle flow of Toongabbie Creek, have you ever wondered about the whispers of history carried on its waters? Old Toongabbie, a suburb of Greater Western Sydney, holds a unique place in Australian history. It stands as the third post-colonization settlement, chosen for its vital location along this essential waterway. Old Toongabbie’s story begins in 1792 when Governor Arthur Phillip sought the local Aboriginal people’s name for this place. They called it “Toongabbie”, meaning “place by the water” or “meeting by the water”. This marked the oldest official use of an Aboriginal place-name in Australia. Parramatta, although settled earlier, was initially named Rose Hill. Old Toongabbie became distinct from the later-developed Toongabbie near the Western Railway station. Originally, the entire area was simply Toongabbie. With the arrival of the railway and the subsequent development around the station, the original settlement became known as Old Toongabbie. Parts of Old Toongabbie later became Constitution Hill, Winston Hills, and Pendle Hill. The land was originally inhabited by the Tugagal clan of the Dharug people. European settlement began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet. Food shortages in 1791 prompted the establishment of a government farm in Old Toongabbie. The location, at the confluence of Toongabbie Creek and Quarry Creek, was ideal for boat travel, the primary mode of transport in early Australia. Life for convicts working on the Old Toongabbie government farm was harsh. They labored under difficult conditions, often lacking proper food and tools. Many died from overwork, malnutrition, and exposure to the elements. Living conditions were cramped, with up to 18 people sharing small huts. After eleven years, the government farm closed. The land was granted to settlers and convicts who had served their sentences. Although a railway line reached nearby Blacktown in 1860, it wasn’t until 20 years later that trains stopped at Toongabbie. The first school in Toongabbie opened in 1886 but briefly closed in 1911 due to low enrollment. It reopened the following year and remains open today. The area’s first post office opened in a private house on Old Windsor Road in 1887. The postmaster, Mr. Birks, received an annual salary of 25 pounds for managing the office and collecting mail from Seven Hills on horseback. By 1922, a second post office, Toongabbie West, opened in Wentworth Avenue. A dedicated post office building followed in Portico Parade in 1960. This became the Toongabbie Post Office, while the original was renamed Old Toongabbie Post Office. Despite its dense settlement, Old Toongabbie has seen a resurgence of wildlife. Bushland regeneration and pollution control programs have contributed to the return of rare species, including platypus, to Toongabbie Creek. Old Toongabbie retains its historical charm and significance, a quiet reminder of the hardships and resilience of early colonial life.