History
The area was exclusively used by the Macarthurs for the breeding of their sheep
In 1799 Joseph Foveaux was granted 400 hectares (980 acres) which, in addition to other purchases, he sold to John Macarthur in 1801. John Macarthur enlarged this through additional purchases until it comprised around 810 hectares (2,000 acres). John and Elizabeth Macarthur farmed sheep on this property in addition to their properties at Camden and Parramatta. For much of the time that the Macarthur’s owned this farm John was overseas and it fell to Elizabeth to manage the various Macarthur properties and flocks. During this time reference is made by her to “my Seven Hills Farm”.
Although claims are made by some that the Seven Hills Farm was used exclusively by the Macarthurs for the breeding of their merino flocks, this is clearly not the case as the documentary evidence of the Macarthur papers shows that their Merino rams were paddocked at Elizabeth Farm at Parramatta. The Seven Hills farm was isolated and stock there were always in danger from theft and aboriginal attack. Two of Macarthur’s stockmen were killed on the farm by natives in 1805. In fact the sheep at the Macarthur’s Seven Hills farm had their genesis in the 600 sheep which were purchased from Foveaux at the same time as the property. What can justifiably be claimed about the site is that it was one of the first major Australian sheep breeding farms and that the results later achieved at Camden with fine merino sheep only followed Elizabeth’s efforts at Seven Hills. Part of this land was later acquired by the Pearce family and became known as Bella Vista.
All the buildings on the site today date from this period of its history with no extant buildings from the Macarthur period. In the 1890s, Edward Henry Pearce (1839–1912) of Bella Vista was declared the “largest and most successful orange grower in the colony.” Bella Vista was sold by the Pearce family in 1950.[2][3]
Until the mid-1990s, the area was primarily used for small-scale agriculture. Since then, significant changes have become apparent as it incorporates a residential area and a busy business district. However, the homestead and old farm buildings have been preserved and this portion of the former Pearce family property is now owned by The Hills Shire Council. The Friends of Bella Vista Farm Park has been formed and they are working actively to achieve the continued restoration of all buildings on this unique site.
Timeline
1801 |
SEVEN HILLS FARM |
Pre-1788 | Aboriginal custodianship of the Cumberland Plain by the Darug people |
1788 | European settlement and exploration of the Cumberland plain commenced |
1799-1801
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Seven Hills was sub-divided by the Crown into a series of grants to free settlers including 500 acres was transferred to James Robertson
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1801
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Stock Farm was sold to John Macarthur along with 1,250 sheep. Bella Vista Farm Park still contains the historic homestead and farm buildings with a single avenue of bunya Pines and is open for public recreation.
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1949 |
NORTH SYDNEY BRICK AND TILE COMPANY LIMITED (NORBRIK)Norbrik purchased a total of a thousand acres of land with part being used for their brick and tile manufacturing plant which operated on part of the site from 1956 to 2002. |
1980’s
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Norbrik investigated alternate uses for the site and came up with the concept of a business park where people worked, lived and played.
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1987
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Baulkham Hills Shire Council and the New South Wales State government rezoned the land as Employment land.
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1992 |
FIRST STAGE OF NORWEST BUSINESS PARKThe first large-scale business park in Australia of some 377ha was brought to the market. Subdivision works were completed for Stage 1 and construction of buildings commenced in the early 90’s with Australia Post, Cathay Pacific and Hillsong Church acquiring land and commencing construction in 1993. The first residential development took place in the Bella Vista Village precinct. |
1997 |
MULPHA AUSTRALIA LIMITEDMulpha Australia Limited (Mulpha) purchased the North Sydney Brick and Tile Company Limited (Norbrik) including the Norwest Business Park and traded as Norwest Land. Norwest Land transferred the remaining half of Bella Vista Farm to the Baulkham Hills Shire Council for $1. Bella Vista Farm Park now open to the public. In 1998 Norwest Boulevarde opened linking Old Windsor Road to Windsor Road and the Homemaker centre opened. |
2000 |
MAJOR COMPANIES ENTER THE PARKMajor companies such as Woolworths, Resmed and Wyeth Australia purchased land for their national head quarters within the Park. Residential development continued with Bella Vista Waters. |
2005 |
MULPHA FKPFKP Limited bought a 50% stake hold in Norwest Land forming Mulpha FKP. Major projects were completed including Lexington Corporate. |
2008 |
CIRCA – THE FINAL PRECINCTMulpha FKP launches the final business precinct within Norwest Business Park known as Circa. The precinct features the Norwest Private Hospital, Circa Retail and will house major Australian companies. Circa will set a new benchmark in the amenity of the business park with an urban park, piazza and events where people can work and play. |