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Mary Wall of Berowra
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DescriptionThe European history of Berowra begins in 1879 with Mary Wall.
In 1879 Mary Wall, manager of the International Dining Rooms in Sussex Street, Sydney, selected 60 acres of land beside the Peats Ferry Road at the head of the track leading to Berowra Waters. In doing so she was following the example of her husband Nathaniel Wall, who had selected 93 acres on the Peat's Ferry Road, near the turn off to Galston Gorge.
Mary Wall was the youngest of 21 children, and a woman of exceptional independence and tenacity. She had come to the colony as a nursemaid to the children of an army officer. After her marriage she had accompanied her husband to the goldfields, where the eldest of their 8 children had been born.
Like her husband Mary Wall walked the 21 miles from Sydney to fulfil the condition of purchase - that she sleep one night each week on her selection. This she did for 3 years, until she was eligible to apply for the deeds of her estate. While she was in residence each weekend, she cleared an area of land and planted fruit trees. The 500 trees were all planted from seed and took many years to bear fruit.
After the orchard became productive the Wall family moved to Berowa. To supplement her income Mary Wall took in paying guests, providing accommodation for the gentlemen who came to shoot the gill birds which were regarded as game. 'The Shaping of Hornsby Shire' p.62.
Physical FormatBerowra
In 1879 Mary Wall, manager of the International Dining Rooms in Sussex Street, Sydney, selected 60 acres of land beside the Peats Ferry Road at the head of the track leading to Berowra Waters. In doing so she was following the example of her husband Nathaniel Wall, who had selected 93 acres on the Peat's Ferry Road, near the turn off to Galston Gorge.
Mary Wall was the youngest of 21 children, and a woman of exceptional independence and tenacity. She had come to the colony as a nursemaid to the children of an army officer. After her marriage she had accompanied her husband to the goldfields, where the eldest of their 8 children had been born.
Like her husband Mary Wall walked the 21 miles from Sydney to fulfil the condition of purchase - that she sleep one night each week on her selection. This she did for 3 years, until she was eligible to apply for the deeds of her estate. While she was in residence each weekend, she cleared an area of land and planted fruit trees. The 500 trees were all planted from seed and took many years to bear fruit.
After the orchard became productive the Wall family moved to Berowa. To supplement her income Mary Wall took in paying guests, providing accommodation for the gentlemen who came to shoot the gill birds which were regarded as game. 'The Shaping of Hornsby Shire' p.62.
Physical FormatBerowraLocation
Building NameWall FamilyBerowra
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Mary Wall of Berowra. Hornsby Shire, accessed 26/04/2026, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/4768