HASSALL FAMILY HISTORY ASSOCIATION
Denbigh
Family House
Cobbitty
The original homestead “Denbigh”, at Cobbitty, was built in 1818 by Charles Hook and purchased by Thomas Hassall in 1827. It evolved into a small village with its own school master, blacksmith, carpenter, brickmaker, producing wheat, sheep, vineyards, and orchards, and continues to operate as a working farm under Ian and Susan McIntosh, whose family purchased the property after Thomas Hassall’s death in 1868.
More information about this site ...
Denbigh is currently owned by Ian and Susan McIntosh. They kindly open their property for inspection by the Reunion participants, including setting up a lovely Devonshire Tea in one of the buildings. The McIntosh family bought Denbigh from the Hassalls in 1868
The following story is reprinted from the Reunion booklet
Denbigh is a five hundred acre grazing property situated in Cobbitty on the south-western edge of Greater Sydney. Granted to Charles Hook in 1812 it is one of the oldest working farms in the country and has been described as ‘one of the finest early colonial farmhouses in Australia, with important historical associations and an evocative atmosphere”.
For over two hundred years the property has remained in the ownership of three families – the Hook (1812-1826), Hassall (1827-1868) and McIntosh (1868-present day) families. For thousands of years prior to European occupation the land held strong spiritual significance for the Aboriginal people. It was at the intersection of three language groups: the Dharug, Tharawal and Gundungarra and was referred to as “the Valley of Peace”. Denbigh’s homestead, garden and outbuildings stand today much as they have for over two hundred years. In itself, this nucleus of a settlement is quite extraordinary, both for its historical richness and its state of conservation. However it is the fact that Denbigh remains connected to its landscape that gives it such importance. Its buildings were constructed over time, evolving as the farm’s practices and ownership changed.
In 1812 Charles Hook, as a reward for his loyalty to Governor Bligh during the Rum Rebellion, was granted land in the newly discovered Cowpastures. Wary of Aboriginal attack, he constructed fortified stables with barred and turreted windows, from stone quarried on the property. The buildings were sited around a forest red gum which is now over 230 years old.
History of Denbigh - PDF
Susan McIntosh has written a short history of Denbigh (2008), now available in PDF form:
