The Convict Valley: The Bloody Struggle on Australia's Early Frontier

by Mark Dunn

In 1790, five convicts escaped Sydney by boat and were swept ashore near present day Newcastle. They were taken into the local Aboriginal clan, marrying and starting families. Thus began a long and often dramatic series of encounters between Aboriginals and convicts in the Hunter Valley, the second European settlement after Sydney. This book tells the story of the Hunter's first 50 years—a rich account of relations between the convicts, land owners (many former convicts), and Aboriginal clans. Not a simple recounting of frontier conflict, it also shows how some Aboriginal families found ways to survive the loss of their land by subtle forms of resistance, or by working for the European settlers. Based on meticulous and extensive primary research which has uncovered many new stories,The Convict Valley is a new Australian history classic.

 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Australia

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2020

About the author

Mark Dunn is a historian living in Sydney, Australia. He has worked for over twenty years in the history, heritage and archaeology industry. His first book, The Convict Valley, examines the colonial history of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales where he grew up.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating, highly important contribution to a part of Australia’s early history. The Convict Valley is set in the area I live, and I’d had little idea about there being a penal colony in Newcastle in the early 1800s – operating from 1804 to 1821. I’ve read much historical fiction set in and around Sydney, with the early settlers and convicts but very little about the Hunter Valley. The research Australian author Mark Dunn has put into this book is obvious, and the inclusion of photos gives reality to the facts that were part of life back then. His inclusion of the Aboriginal people and their involvement in and with the early settlers and convicts is interesting, with both the alignment of some of the natives with the British, and the sometimes violent skirmishes between the men.

Mark Dunn’s grandparents and great grandparents were part of the convict era in the area and as such, his telling of our history is deeply personal. As the convict men and women moved forward, marrying and having families, finding work in the fledgling coal and timber industries, the Hunter Valley was born. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Convict Valley by Mark Dunn is a fascinating examination of New South Wales’ Hunter Valley region covering approximately a 60-year span from the late 1790’s to the early 1850’s.

“Outside of Sydney, the Hunter Valley was the first region to be explored in any detail by the British....”

Dunn utilises meticulous research to uncover the history of the region’s early development, and makes a sincere attempt to include the experience of the Aboriginal people in the narrative.

“From the very first years a complex, interwoven history emerged between the Aboriginal people and the British in the Hunter.”

Essentially stumbling on what is now known as Newcastle during the pursuit of five runaway convicts, the British were quick to recognise the region’s potential to provide coal and timber for the burgeoning colony of Sydney. Beginning as an unspoiled wilderness, home to the Wonnarua people, the Hunter Valley became the site of the state’s second penal colony in 1804, mainly to provide free labour to exploit its natural resources in a systematic manner, before the land was opened to free settlers in 1822. Largely an agricultural landscape, dominated by farms and estates, Newcastle (briefly renamed Kings Town) slowly became an urban center by default as new colonial settlements began to develop in Wallis Plains (Maitland), Green Hills (Morpeth) and Patrick Plains (Singleton).

“...as the population rose, and the stakes over land and property grew, class and racial tensions began to manifest themselves in what for a time became a landscape of violence.”

Detailing the physical, economic and social growth of the Hunter Valley in an accessible manner, enhanced by paintings, maps, sketches, and photographs, The Convict Valley makes an important contribution to the historical record of Australia

[Michael Lever · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written work of deep documentary research. Unfortunately, despite the authors acknowledgement of the problem, white voices and sources prevail even when telling Aboriginal stories. This is an ongoing issue in Australian histories that is only starting to be addressed through greater incorporation of Aboriginal oral history and interviews.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward history covering Newcastle from 1790ish through to about 1840 in detail, with a chapter moving beyond that. It seems kind of incredible that it hasn't been done before, but Dunn does a good job. His focus here is very much on the nature of the convict/settler relations, and the Aboriginal/British relations. He builds here on recent scholarship in establishing an overall framework for these dynamics - the influence of Grace Karskens and Paul Irish, in particular, is noticeable and well acknowledged. He accepts at the outset that these were complex and varied dynamics and that they were largely driven in both cases around the dynamics of access to land.
Stylistically, Dunn is a straightforward writer, with a gift for describing his hometown, and the location of place is a strength - I think this will be loved by Novocastrians, and although I left two decades, I could smell the sea spray off Nobby's reading this.
Dunn is dispassionate but clear in approaching the history of violence against Aboriginal residents and visitors, and also in looking at the violence visited on convicts. He is also forthcoming in pointing that the contemporary understandings of this were sharper than many today would like to admit to: "
In 1833, William Breton, while travelling through the Hunter, bluntly summed up the result of the years of violence: We have taken possession of their country, and are determined to keep it; if therefore they destroy the settlers or their property, they must expect the law of retaliation will be put in force, and that reprisals will be committed upon themselves."

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found the early history chapters of European and Indigenous contact more interesting than later parts of convict settlement but it's an excellent history of the Newcastle/Maitland/Hunter region.
Read it on my ereader borrowed on borrowbox from the library, would have been better as a physical book, to check chapter notes etc.

[Anne Fenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting account of the early history of the the Hunter Valley, including Newcastle and other smaller towns. It covers the interaction between indigenous people and invaders of their lands, from convicts, freed men and women, to free emigrants. Lots of names and places will be familiar to those who know the area. Well written, easy to follow. Beautiful early art work finishes the history.

[Ian Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE CONVICT VALLEY by Mark Dunn
I couldn’t help but think, “This is a book that needed to be written”. With over 50 pages of notes and indexes at the end, you can understand why it took so long!
Mark has roots in the Hunter Valley, one of the most important areas of support for the burgeoning colony that became Australia. His numerous sources, for what was originally just a thesis, give an overall view of what life was really like in the early days while his family tree goes way back to the early 1800s.
Timber was one of the first products that helped boost the area, along with agriculture and that mineral that led it to become the world’s largest exporter of coal. However, coal only became a boom product with the advent of steamships.
In the Hunter Valley, as elsewhere, the problem was, of course, that there was already an indigenous population living there and it’s really the relationship between them, the new settlers and the convicts that played out on the fields of the Hunter Valley. It’s an age old story of hatred fostering hatred and kindness begetting kindness.
As the English settlers and their descendants spread out, the natives were disenfranchised and you could have written the tale of what was going to happen and merely added the names later.
Some of the horrors of what happened along the Hawkesbury were repeated here and it took some time before reaction took place as settlers grabbed more and more land. Magistrates were mostly unpaid and unsupervised and it was only when 18 indigenous people were massacred in 1826 that notice was really taken that there was a serious problem underlying what was happening in the Valley.
Escaping convicts were another ongoing difficulty but it’s interesting to note just how much trouble land owners who treated them well versus those who were cruel had. The latter were forever having to exercise violent punishment such as whipping while those who were kind were mostly trouble free – nothing new there!
The initial route from Sydney was either ship or what today is roughly the Putty Road, originally carved by explorers blazing trees.
The convict hewn Great North Road, an amazing route for the time and much sought out by bushwalkers and the like these days, was eventually the main route to Newcastle.
The original haphazard organization of Newcastle streets was eventually redefined by the surveyor Dangar who had a significant impact on not only the town but the entire valley itself. Originally it appeared that Morpeth (nee Green Hills) would be the most significant settlement as that was as far as the Hunter was navigable but modernisation changed all that.
There are many photos of paintings from the time, covering all aspects of life, that are included in the middle to enhance the script.
A must for anyone interested in our early history.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This history of the Hunter Valley makes great reading. My only complaint is that I would have liked the author to concentrate on telling the story of some of the individuals rather than the 'broad brush' approach that he has followed. My overall feeling is one of sadness for the aboriginal people who were dispossessed by Europeans who counted land possession highly, a concept not understood by the native people. Well worth the read.

[Bill Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for any remaining troglodytes still embracing the concept of terra nullius, denialists having difficulty saying the word "invasion", and depressing reading for many, some of whose forebears "opened up" the Hunter Valley by mistreatment of convict labourers and alienation of Aboriginal space. All facilitated by inadequate policing and a scant system of justice manipulated by those with power and influence.

But also essential reading for those wishing to have a better understanding of the British "colonisation" of New South Wales.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. So very interesting.

[David Cragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scope of this meticulously researched book is broad, encompassing well known identities and events of the early colonial period of the Hunter Valley. It traces how the large land owners, aided and abetted by the government of the day, subdued the indigenous population by asserting themselves over vast tracts of land already rich from thousands of years of intentional management mixed with benefits brought by natural events.

Robert Scott, who features in the book, was an enigmatic character among the landed gentry. Over twenty years he rises from a young man filled with initial curiosity and a sense of entitlement to lord over all he surveyed. His brand of justice was swift and merciless as convicts felt his lash and indigenous people were slaughtered in punitive attacks for defending their country. His treatment of one of the Tolpuddle martyrs, is unfortunately not covered, but exemplified the attempt to maintain British social classes, build a local aristocracy and punish those who dared challenge the status quo.

A wonderful followup to the book would be the many colourful stories that remain to be told of settlers, bush rangers, indigenous populations and of convicts who emerged from servitude to thrive through industry or surrender to the temptations of a increasingly sprawling community. I encourage Mark to continue researching and writing about the Hunter Valley.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dunn does quite well in creating an interlacing narrative that reflects its characters. I particularly enjoyed his discussions relating to Indigenous settlement, the complex relationships between they, convicts and free settlers. Though also his inclusion of my home stretch 'The Putty Road' in his establishing narrative does great service in setting the catalyst for The Hunter Valley's several tumultuous incidents.

I feel his conclusion misses out the Aboriginal aspect however, especially considering he speaks about it at great length. Considering this is a rehabilitation of the Australia's 'Convict Past' however, I do appreciate how Dunn finishes on his personal connection as well as interest in the topic.

In terms of readability, Dunn's is a master-class. The style and flow are relaxed, in step with the movement toward contemporary Australian history writing. He does not however, sacrifice substance for such style. His content is well researched and reasoned with interesting theories noted and discussed during narrative breaks.

In short, it is an easy read with excellent discussion pieces. If you're interested in the Hunter Valley, this one does its best to serve all the histories of the area since European settlement and onto the end of Newcastle's 'Convict era'.

[David Holford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its always fascinating to get to know the place where you live. This book tells the story of the Hunter Valley since Europeans came here. There is also a bit about the pre-European history too, but there are no written sources about that time. It was encouraging to see how the British and the indigenous inhabitants of the land worked together in the earliest years, existing in a symbiotic relationship in which both parties benefited from the other. But as always it was depressing to see the way that history developed into what could only be thought of as a frontier war. The development of this area was about much more than just two groups - indigenous and foreign invaders. The British were also divided - convicts both in servitude and free, free settlers, government agents, colonial born Australians. The story of the relationships between these many groups makes a fascinating narrative. Mark Dunn, the author, is himself a descendent of Hunter Valley convicts, so he is telling the story of his own ancestors. It is an interesting read, and was a wonderful introduction for me to this area that I have been traveling through since I was a child, but which I have scarcely given a second thought.

[Geraldine Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched book providing an interesting overview of the development of the Hunter Valley. It looks at the intricacies of the interactions of the Aboriginal people, the convicts, the emancipated citizens and the free settlers and the damage it did to the traditional way of life. The free settlers often thought they were above everyone and could treat people as second class citizens which led to lots of animosity. Life was hard and brutal, the rivers regularly flooded and swept away homes and crops and those that were there to protect enforced by beatings and hangings.
I found it a good read but thought the title The Convict Valley was a misrepresentation as it was more about the complexity of relationships between all groups who lived in the valley.

[Stefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone like me, having lived the majority of my life in the beautiful Hunter Valley, this was an interesting and informative read. I especially appreciated that the author included to some degree Australia’s first people and how they were affected by colonization.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extensive history of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley and the violence between settlers, convicts and Aboriginal people. The author is descended from some of the convicts in the area, so had a personal interest in the subject.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly it is as much about the Aboriginal involvement in the colonial history of the Hunter region as anything. As such it is a rare read.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting history

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know about the history of Newcastle. it really has a sad and horrible story. Early settlement in Australia was hard, awful and to a point humiliating for the convicts that came here. For petty crimes, the punishment they went through, we today really have no idea and cannot compare it to anything remotely similar. Imagine the First Nations people wondering who these people are invading their lands and taking over, treating them horribly. I found the book to be very specific and detailed which got me a little confused at times due to the technicality of everything. Obviously, a lot of research went into this book. I was more interested about the people rather than the specifics of roads etc. On reflection, roads, lands and rivers that are still here today are fascinating to understand their history. Australia's story is not that old, so know that people can trace their family tree to how they got here and their ancestor's story is so interesting and amazing to hear.