Tocal Wetlands Drive

Convict labour

One of the first tasks for settlers and their convict labour was to clear areas for home sites, to run livestock and to plant crops.

The flats surrounding the Homestead were the first areas to be cleared. Clearing of the rainforest and paperbarks from the valleys, river and creek flats was so effective that only remnants survive today.

Looking towards the Homestead, you can see a convict-built stone wall in front of Thunderbolt's cottage (built to face the road from Paterson to Maitland which originally ran along this side of the Homestead).

Other evidence of convict activities on Tocal includes a convict-built bridge. On the far side of the creek you can see the abutment of an early bridge. It was built by James Webber and his convicts between 1822 and 1834.

Drive the drive: you can drive the wetlands drive when Tocal Homestead is open to the public (Homestead admission fee applies) - opening details.