Governor Lachlan Macquarie
The 1st January 2010 marks 200 years since Lachlan Macquarie was commissioned as Governor of New South Wales. Born on the island of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland Lachlan Macquarie volunteered for the British Army at the age of 15. The next thirty four years saw him serve with and advance through the ranks in the British Army all over the world. In April 1809 Macquarie was appointed Governor of New South Wales and set sail with his wife Elizabeth in May 1809 to take up the post.
With him Macquarie bought a different viewpoint of the new colony and saw New South Wales as a settled community as well as a penal settlement. To utilise and absorb the increase in the number of convicts sent to New South Wales Macquarie set about expanding the colony. Many of the historic buildings in Sydney and Parramatta owe their origins to Macquarie and his ambitious programme of public works. Macquarie was also keen to grant tickets of leave to well behaved convicts.
Some of Australia's milestones can be attributed to Macquarie. These include:
In 1824, back in England and eager to resolve his issues with the British Government and secure a pension for himself and his family, Macquarie was struck down with an illness that proved fatal. He died in London on the 1st July 1824 and was transported back to Mull by sea where he was buried on his estate 'Jarvisfield'. As a testament to the legacy Macquarie left to the colony that was to become Australia the Australian Government maintains his mausoleum in Scotland.
With him Macquarie bought a different viewpoint of the new colony and saw New South Wales as a settled community as well as a penal settlement. To utilise and absorb the increase in the number of convicts sent to New South Wales Macquarie set about expanding the colony. Many of the historic buildings in Sydney and Parramatta owe their origins to Macquarie and his ambitious programme of public works. Macquarie was also keen to grant tickets of leave to well behaved convicts.
Some of Australia's milestones can be attributed to Macquarie. These include:
- Introduction of coinage (1813)
- Organisation of the construction of the road over the Blue Mountains. This road enabled access to the western plains and thereby expanded the pastoral land available to the colony and thus the agricultural production and livestock numbers.
- Establishment of the colony's first bank (1817)
In 1824, back in England and eager to resolve his issues with the British Government and secure a pension for himself and his family, Macquarie was struck down with an illness that proved fatal. He died in London on the 1st July 1824 and was transported back to Mull by sea where he was buried on his estate 'Jarvisfield'. As a testament to the legacy Macquarie left to the colony that was to become Australia the Australian Government maintains his mausoleum in Scotland.