The Foundation of a Nation and Australian Railway Culture
Despite early opposition to the exploitation of convict labour power from Governor Phillip, the Commander of the First Fleet, it was convicts who built and operated early 19th Century mine railways at Newcastle, New South Wales, as well as rudimentary passenger railway systems like that at Port Arthur in Van Dieman’s Land (Tasmania)
Convicts such as Francis McNamara (widely known by his fellow prisoners as Frank the Poet) had little control over their working conditions, and they faced a harsh life and an often early death. However, the spirit of resistance was ever present. MacNamara, in a letter to the superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, William Crosdale, bravely stated his opposition to the Company’s practice of using men to pull railway trucks in their Newcastle coal mining operations. For this defiant act and others like it he was sentenced in Sydney in 1842 to serve out a secondary sentence
in Port Arthur, where similar convict propelled carts were used to transport privileged visitors and those in charge.
FOR THE COMPANY UNDERGROUND
Francis MacNamara of Newcastle to J. Crosdale Esq. greetings.
When Christ from Heaven comes down straightway,
All His Father's laws to expound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the man in the moon to Morton Bay
Is sent in shackles bound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the Cape of Good Hope to Twofold Bay
Comes for the change of a pound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When cows in lieu of milk yield tea,
And all lost treasures are found,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the Australian Co.'s heaviest dray
Is drawn 80 miles by a hound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When a frog, a caterpillar and a flea
Shall travel the globe all round,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When turkey cocks on Jews’ harps play
And mountains dance at the sound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When milestones go to church to pray
And whales are put in the Pound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When Christmas falls on the 1st of May
And O'Connell's King of England crown'd,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When thieves ever robbing on the highway
For their sanctity are renowned,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the quick and the dead shall stand in array
Cited at the trumpet's sound,
Even then, damn me if I'd work a day
For the Company underground.
Nor over ground.
Horse Drawn Railways
Despite the fact that the steam railway age was well underway in Britain by early 1820’s and steam railways were being considered in Australia in the late 1840’s an important decision was taken by the South Australian Commission for Public Workers to build a horse drawn railway between Goolwa at the mouth of the Murray River to near by Port Elliot on the South Australian coast. Work to build this nine mile railway began in 1851 and it open in May 1854, four months before Australia’s first steam railway opened in Melbourne. Seen as Australia’s first example of a publicly owned railway the infrastructure was funded from the public purse for approximately $20000. This provided a service that allowed an estimated 8000 tons of river freight per year that came from as far north as Queensland on the Darling River to be ship overseas.
Horse drawn railways were established in other parts of Australia in the period between early white settlement and the dominance of steam power
GOOLWATOWN RIDE
Despite early opposition to the exploitation of convict labour power from Governor Phillip, the Commander of the First Fleet, it was convicts who built and operated early 19th Century mine railways at Newcastle, New South Wales, as well as rudimentary passenger railway systems like that at Port Arthur in Van Dieman’s Land (Tasmania)
Convicts such as Francis McNamara (widely known by his fellow prisoners as Frank the Poet) had little control over their working conditions, and they faced a harsh life and an often early death. However, the spirit of resistance was ever present. MacNamara, in a letter to the superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, William Crosdale, bravely stated his opposition to the Company’s practice of using men to pull railway trucks in their Newcastle coal mining operations. For this defiant act and others like it he was sentenced in Sydney in 1842 to serve out a secondary sentence
in Port Arthur, where similar convict propelled carts were used to transport privileged visitors and those in charge.
The Australian Agricultural Company’s Pit Railway, 1830, from Brown St Newcastle to Newcastle Harbour.
FOR THE COMPANY UNDERGROUND
Francis MacNamara of Newcastle to J. Crosdale Esq. greetings.
When Christ from Heaven comes down straightway,
All His Father's laws to expound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the man in the moon to Morton Bay
Is sent in shackles bound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the Cape of Good Hope to Twofold Bay
Comes for the change of a pound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When cows in lieu of milk yield tea,
And all lost treasures are found,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the Australian Co.'s heaviest dray
Is drawn 80 miles by a hound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When a frog, a caterpillar and a flea
Shall travel the globe all round,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When turkey cocks on Jews’ harps play
And mountains dance at the sound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When milestones go to church to pray
And whales are put in the Pound,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When Christmas falls on the 1st of May
And O'Connell's King of England crown'd,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When thieves ever robbing on the highway
For their sanctity are renowned,
MacNamara shall work that day
For the Company underground.
When the quick and the dead shall stand in array
Cited at the trumpet's sound,
Even then, damn me if I'd work a day
For the Company underground.
Nor over ground.
Horse Drawn Railways
Despite the fact that the steam railway age was well underway in Britain by early 1820’s and steam railways were being considered in Australia in the late 1840’s an important decision was taken by the South Australian Commission for Public Workers to build a horse drawn railway between Goolwa at the mouth of the Murray River to near by Port Elliot on the South Australian coast. Work to build this nine mile railway began in 1851 and it open in May 1854, four months before Australia’s first steam railway opened in Melbourne. Seen as Australia’s first example of a publicly owned railway the infrastructure was funded from the public purse for approximately $20000. This provided a service that allowed an estimated 8000 tons of river freight per year that came from as far north as Queensland on the Darling River to be ship overseas.
Horse drawn railways were established in other parts of Australia in the period between early white settlement and the dominance of steam power
GOOLWATOWN RIDE
A song sang by pupils of the Port Elliot S.A. Public School Choir during the 150 Year Celebrations May 2004
Words to “Goolwatown Ride” by Andrea Thomas, to the tune of Morning Town Ride.
The Railway Story editors are currently seeking permission to display this song on Australia and the world’s public railway system.
There were a number of horse drawn Railway systems in Australia during the early days of Australia industrial development. Can you assist our research by listing those in your local area and doing a little investigation for a song or poem about them, maybe in your local library or early newspaper files?
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