History of Kellyville

Shire of Baulkham Hills and City of Blacktown Location: 36 kilometres north-west of Sydney on Windsor Road

This suburb, with its rural atmosphere, is bounded by Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Rouse Hill and Glenhaven. Population is low because properties here are large, and many accommodate orchards, or support horses kept for riding, or cultivate native-plant nurseries. In 1884 a large subdivision of fifteen old grants created 100 acre lots. It was called the Kellyville Estate as much of it had been owned by Hugh Kelly, hence the suburb's name. Previously it had been known as Irishtown, a logical enough title since a large clan of the Kellys inhabited the area, and after Kelly's death disputed the apportionment of his land among them.

Hugh Kelly had a hotel on the Windsor Road known as the Bird- in-Hand where coaches made a refreshment stop. Another hotel further along the Windsor Road, known as the White Hart Hotel, was owned by a man named Cross. Two other inns were run by John Hillas who received two grants on the present Old Windsor Road in 1802 and 1804. He farmed the land as well as operating the inns, the Stanhope Arms and the Nowhere Here - apparently this was the standard reply to authorities looking for people who had no business to be in the area!

Another important early land-owner in the district was the Macarthur family. They purchased the grant of Joseph Foveaux in about 1802. Elizabeth Macarthur (1766? - 1850) bred merino sheep on this Seven Hills Farm, which was situated in what is now the Old Windsor Road, opposite Meurants Lane, until 1820, when it was returned to the government by the Macarthurs in a land exchange. It passed through other hands and by the late nineteenth century the whole area was one of vineyards and orchards.

Kellyville Park in Memorial Avenue provides a pleasant stopping place for today's picnicking motorists. Kellyville Public School, established in 1873, is set in a pleasant area in Windsor Road.

Reference: The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled & Edited by Frances Pollon, published by Angus & Robertson Publishers 1988