WINERIES
The Macarthur family commercially produced
wine at Camden Park from the early 1800s. Brandy was also produced. Grape vines
were planted at Minchinbury in 1859 by Dr Charles McKay and he won three awards
at the International Exhibition held in Sydney in 1879. The property was purchased
in 1912 by the Penfolds Wine Company with Leo Buring as the wine maker. Wines
were produced at Minchinbury until 1978, even though grapes were not grown
after 1953. Various sized wineries operated at different times in Parramatta,
Fairfield, and the Hawkesbury during the 19th & 20th century.
HORSES
Some horses arrived in 1788 with the
First Fleet but it was some time before they flourished. Horses were a valuable
asset used for transport and in agriculture, they were also utilised as a form
of leisure and racing developed as a popular sport. Breeding horses was a profitable
industry and there were notable stud farms in the Hawkesbury, Prospect, Kirkham
and Mulgoa from the early 19th century.
PLANT
NURSERIES
Several plant nurseries were established
in Western and South Western Sydney including Camellia Grove at Pennant Hills
which commenced in 1852 and the State Nursery at Campbelltown in 1881, which
was established to supply community groups, public works, schools etc with
trees and shrubs, it was closed in 1930.
POULTRY
During the nineteenth century, poultry
were mostly kept for domestic use and it did not become a commercial industry
until around the turn of the century. Areas involved in the poultry industry
included Castle Hill, Homebush, Silverwater, Toongabbie, Rydalmere, St. John's
Park, Fairfield area, Blacktown district and the Hawkesbury.