Crosslands Reserve

Crosslands Reserve

The river flats of Crosslands Reserve lie on the eastern bank of Berowra Creek, at the northern boundary of Hornsby Heights in Hornsby shire. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the valley of Berowra Creek marked the boundary between the Kuring-gai people to the east, and the Dharug people to the west. [1]

This land was originally purchased from the Crown by James Bellamy of Pennant Hills in 1831, and passed through the hands of a number of owners. In 1856, the property was acquired by Matthew Charlton, who employed Burton Crossland as a caretaker. Crossland made a living there by timber-cutting, fishing, boat-building and tending an orchard. He transported his timber to Sydney using two boats he built himself, the Mary Crossland and the White Cloud. On his return trips, he brought in sandstone, which he used with his own timber to build many of the early settlers' houses on Berowra Creek. [2]

In later years, the boats brought parties of sportsmen into the upper reaches of the Creek. Burton Crossland also constructed a road (now Somerville Road) to give access to Peats Ferry Road (now the Pacific Highway). After the railway line to Hornsby was completed, Crosslands Reserve became a popular picnic spot, and boats could be hired there. [3]

Crosslands Reserve remains a popular location for picnics, barbeques, bushwalks, canoeing, and camping. Access is via the unsealed northern section of Somerville Road. Some of the area is council-owned community land, and part of it belongs to the Berowra Valley Regional Park. The park is managed by Hornsby Shire Council by agreement. [4]

References

Hornsby Shire Historical Society, Pioneers of the Hornsby Shire, 1788–1906, North Sydney, 1983

Claire Schofield, The Shaping of Hornsby Shire, Hornsby Shire Council, 1988

Notes

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