Kelso
This has been copied from a book written by the late Harry S. Dorman titled “A PORTRAIT OF BATHURST”.
It has been copied by N.S. Greenhalgh for BCW Inc. May 2006.
The most westerly point that the City of Sydney flag ever flew was Kelso Police Station. Kelso is now a suburb of Bathurst.
KELSO
Kelso, on the eastern banks of the Macquarie River, was the western limit of private settlement until the Bathurst town survey was completed in 1833. So some of the first buildings west of the Blue Mountains were erected here. Some also survive. Governor Macquarie gave ten early grants of land, of between 70 and 100 acres each, to 10 grantees - five supposedly colony-born, and five who had served their sentences.
The Holy Trinity Church at Kelso was built in 1835 and was the first church of the Church of England in Australia to be consecrated - in 1836. The church is unique for its interior, its carved rood screen. The richly ¬stained windows, oak altar, choir stalls, stone pulpit, brass lectern, carved ceiling, and oak pews were all gifts of one or other of the descendants of pioneers. The church graveyard reminds the visitors of the hardships suffered by the pioneer families. The weather and weeds have all but erased their stories on the gravestones. But clearly recorded is the first burial in the graveyard - "The remains of John Fennell Esquire J.P. He was Lieutenant in the 48th H.M. Regiment Foot, Comman¬dant Bathurst, and for many years aide-de-camp to Major General Sir Thomas Brisbane K.C. Governor of New South Wales. Lieut. Fennell died July 6, 1826, at the age of 36 years".
The inscription on the gravestones of the Shirtley family tell their own story of hardship. "My dear Husband Peter Shirtley who departed this life June 11th 1888 aged 44 years also my dear stepson Peter Shirtley son of the above who was accidentally killed on the Namoi River from a fall off a horse August 28th 1883 aged 18 years also my grandson Elwyn Garnet Shirtley who died July 31, 1909, aged 13 years also Herbert Charles Jacklin Shirtley who departed this life aged 3 months June 22nd 1871 also of Hannah Elizabeth Anne Shirtley who died June 20, 1870 aged 3 years and 3 days." And then the last chapter is written: "also Maria Elizabeth Shirtley died July 21, 1926 aged 84 years."
Holy Trinity Church Kelso
Only yards from the Kelso crossroads is Kelsoville, the beautiful home on the land granted by Governor Macquarie in 1818 to George Cheshire, one of the "original ten".
These are the stables ...
... and the home, itself - typical of a gentleman's home of the first half of the 19th century. It was the home of Richard Young Cousins and Sarah Cousins. R.Y. Cousins was, in 1863, the first Mayor of Bathurst.
(above) Kelsoville Stables, (below) “Kelsoville”
At the Kclso crossroads were two inns and a butcher’s shop. One of the inns is still functioning. A third inn is now the central part of the Evans Shire Chambers in Lee Street - and not still functioning as an inn!
Note: Evans Shire is now part of Bathurst Regional Council and the building is used by community groups.
(above) Kelso Shops, (below) Kelso Hotel
