For Peace of Mind: Volume 7 - Memories

The Battle of Vinegar Hill

You expect to see memorial tributes to ‘battles' at a cemetery, but it is unusual in Australia for the cemetery to be built on the site where a battle took place. The Battle of Vinegar Hill is an important part of the history of the northwest Sydney suburb of Castle Hill. Marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill involved a week of celebrations, including the commemoration of the monument on the site of the battle in what is now Castlebrook Memorial Park at Rouse Hill in Sydney. That celebration continued this year and promises to be an annual event.

The history behind the battle dates back to the Irish convicts who were a source of fear to the then Governor. Many of them were victims of the ruthless suppression of the 1798 rebellion in Ireland.

“Late on Sunday night 4th March 1804, the Governor received an urgent message that the convicts at Castle Hill Government Farm were in rebellion. A state of martial law was declared and a company of the NSW Corps supported by volunteers was dispatched to suppress the uprising. The rebels' aim was to join up with other convicts along the Hawkesbury, advance to Sydney via Parramatta and commandeer ships to return to Ireland. The soldiers confronted the rebels at the site later known as Vinegar Hill, from the site of the battle fought in Ireland in 1798. While negotiating under a flag of truce, the soldiers attacked the poorly armed rebels; about 20 were killed in the clash and pursuit that followed. Nine leaders were executed; one, Philip Cunningham, without a trial. Others received up to 500 lashes while still others were sent to hard labour at Coal River, where Newcastle now stands.”

Such was the success of the commemoration; Blacktown City Council passed a unanimous resolution to thank those who participated. The day itself attracted over 1300 people.

If you talk to the Family Service staff at Castlebrook Memorial Park, they will be happy to show you the Vinegar Hill Memorial.

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