Branxton Landmarks

The Branxton Inn

built in 1862

then

now

The Manse

Nixon's Store

(then)

Branxton Butter Factory

Branxton Golf Club

Branxton F3 Freeway Project

Prior to the beginning of construction

Huntlee

The Wanaruah People

The Wanaruah People take their totem from the wedge tailed eagle.  Their land stretches from the Liverpool Ranges in the north to Wollombi in the south and east from Sandy Hollow and Merriwa across the Western fringes of the Barrington Tops.

This rock painting depicts the creation spirit Biame. Creator of all things, this particular image is known to the local Wanaruah people as the Keeper of the Valley.

From the wall of the sandstone overhang south of Singleton he looks out through the Milbrodale Gap, over what is now the Putty Road, and into the Upper Hunter Valley. His long arms outstretched embracing the Valley and its people.


http://www.workingwithatsi.info/content/rockpaintings3.htm 

Catholic Church - Branxton's First Church & Cemetery Inscriptions

The First Church

The wooden slab construction was built in 1840 at a cost of £120 on land donated by William Bowen.  It was designed to hold 200 people.  The oldest known headstone in the cemetery is also dated 1840.  As the population began to grow a new church was needed and the original was demolished in 1866.

The Second Church 

(photo by Mrs. J. Rockett)

Designed to hold 250 people, the second church was completed in 1866.  It was built of brick on a solid stone foundation.  It remained in use until 1886.

The Third Church (above & below)

Again space became limited and a third church was built.  The new church was completed in 1886 and officially opened by Bishop Murray in 1887.  The church was built on the new site next to the cemetery and the land was purchased from William Bayliss.

The current St Brigids' Catholic Church 

Below is a list of Inscriptions for St Brigids' Catholic Church Cemetery.

http://austcemindex.com/cemetery-inscriptions.php?id=460

My "Branxton" Family Tree

William J. Bowen b: 1790 - d: 1848, married Elizabeth (nee ?) b: 1791 - d: (?).  They had two known children, Thomas and Elizabeth. 
  
Elizabeth Bowen b: 1828 - d: (?) married Thomas Raisbeck b: 1811 d: (?).  Their known children were Thomas b: 1832, William b: 1847 and Henry b: 1849.

William Raisbeck b: 1847 - d: 1927 married Bridget Sweeney.  

Together they raised five children; 

Emily b: (?) - d: 1915, 

William Henry Raisbeck b: 1865 - d: 1935, 

Maria Raisbeck b: 1868 - d: 1868, 

Rebecca Raisbeck b: 1869 - d: 1870  

Manesseh Raisbeck b: 1871 - d: (?)

William Henry Raisbeck b: 24th December 1865 in Branxton - d: 12th September 1935 in Paramatta.  He married Bridget M. Kenna b: 1862 - d: 1942.

Bridget M. Kenna was the daughter of Michael Kenna b: abt 1830 - 1897 and Mary Dunne b: abt 1834 - d: 1921.  Together, Michael and Mary had fourteen (14) children.  They were;

Johanna Kenna b: 1856 - d: 1930, married William John Sheridan in 1877.
James Kenna b: 1857 - d: 1860. 

Mary Kenna b: 1859 - d: 1929, married Henry Anthony Bendeich in 1903.

Margaret Kenna b: 1861 - d: 1943, married Thomas Shanahan in 1879.

Bridget M. Kenna  (as above)

Catherine Kenna b: 1864 - d: 1957, married George Devine.

Ellen Kenna b: 1865 - d: 1951, married James Yates in 1888.

Patrick J. Kenna b: 1867 -d: 1923, married Ellen Murphy in 1900.

Honora Kenna b: 1868 - d: 1954, married Michael Cantwell in 1894.

Jane A. Kenna b: 1870 - d: 1935, married Thomas Cantwell in 1895. 

Elizabeth Kenna b: 1871 - d: (?), married James Farrell.

Michael John Kenna b: 1873 - d: 1924, married Evelyn Agnes Parrott.

Martin William Kenna b: 1874 - d: 1954, married Mary Elizabeth Larney in 1905.

James Augustine Kenna b: 1876 - d: 1956.

My Great Grandparents, Margaret Kenna (as above) and Thomas Shanahan b: 1847 - d: 1939 married in Maitland in 1879.  They made their home in Branxton and shared it with their twelve (12) children.  They were;

John Shanahan b: 1880 – d: 1942

Mary Elizabeth Shanahan b: 1882 – d: 1968, married Matthew Francis Hayes.

Isabella Josephine Shanahan b: 1884 – d: 1961, married Edward T. L. Hawkins.

Margaret Clare Shanahan b: 1886 – d: 1975, married Albert G. Chambers.

Michael Shanahan b: 1888 – d: 1943, married Clara Maud Bell.

Catherine Anne Shanahan b: 1890 – d 1979, never married.

Thomas Shanahan b: 1893 - d: 1986, never married, caretaker of Lochinvar Convent.

Bernardette Shanahan b: 1896 – d: 1944, married Jack Skein.

Vincent Shanahan b: 1898 – d: 1943, never married, became a Marist Brother.

Josephine Shanahan b: 1900 – d: 1996, married Arno Hebbe.

Patrick  Leo Shanahan b: 1903 – d: 1985, married Lucy Hatcher.

William Shanahan b: 1906 – d: 1906.

Black Creek - The History of Branxton

BLACK CREEK was thought to have been occupied by the Wanaruah people prior to white settlement.  It was renamed Branxton in 1848 after a town in Northumberland, England, when the land was subdivided and sold. Branxton was part of William Bowen's Farmborough Estate.  By 1860 a small village was in existence with around 500 residents.  By this time a mechanical institute, a post office, a steam mill and four hotels were in operation.

A well known landmark in the area is Anvil Creek.  This view is taken from the New England Highway at East Branxton heading towards Singleton.

Anvil Creek (then)

Anvil Creek (now)