Castle Hill convict rebellion
The Castle Hill convict rebellion, occurring on March 4, 1804, marks the first significant uprising in Australian history. Primarily led by Irish convicts, many of whom were political prisoners from the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland, the rebellion aimed to overthrow British authority and return to Ireland to continue their fight for independence. The convicts, approximately three hundred in number, initially overpowered guards at Castle Hill and planned to gather forces from nearby areas to support their cause. Despite their efforts, disorganization and the capture of a key messenger led to a rapid response from British military forces, resulting in a violent confrontation. The rebellion was ultimately suppressed, with martial law declared and heavy casualties among the convicts, leading to the deaths of an estimated thirty-nine individuals and the capture of many others. The event has also been referred to as the Second Battle of Vinegar Hill, connecting it to its Irish roots. The legacy of the Castle Hill rebellion is preserved at Castle Hill Heritage Park, which is recognized on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
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Castle Hill convict rebellion
The 1804 Castle Hill convict rebellion was the first uprising in Australian history. The rebellion was an attempt by Irish convicts, most of whom were convicted for political reasons, to overthrow British authority. Their ultimate goal was to return to Ireland to continue fighting for the Irish Republic. The uprising culminated in a brief battle near the present-day Rouse Hill. The uprising resulted in the declaration of martial law and was put down by a British military unit known as the New South Wales Corps. It is estimated that thirty-nine convicts died during or as a result of the fighting. The rest were either captured or surrendered. The Castle Hill convict rebellion is also called the Second Battle of Vinegar Hill after the Battle of Vinegar Hill that took place in Ireland during a rebellion in 1798.
Background
The Castle Hill convict rebellion was inspired by the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland, which was a major uprising against British rule that resulted in the death of about thirty thousand people on both sides. The 1798 Rebellion is considered the beginning of Ireland’s quest for independence. It took place mainly in Ulster and Wexford, culminating in the rebels’ defeat on Vinegar Hill. After the uprising, at least four hundred participants were transported to the British penal colony in New South Wales. In time, more Irish ships brought exiles from the rebellion to New South Wales. Among them were the Anne in 1801, the Atlas II and Hercules, both in 1802. In 1804, the Ferret, a whaling ship, arrived in Sydney bearing more prisoners.
Each ship transported more Irish exiles who had participated in the 1789 Rebellion, causing a spike in the number of convicts in Australia’s cities. At the time, convicts constituted about 43 per cent of Sydney’s population and about two-thirds of the combined population of Parramatta and Toongabbie. In Hawkesbury, only 13 per cent of the population consisted of convicts.
Between 1800 and 1804, many small uprisings were planned in and near Sydney but were crushed before they began. In Sydney, a gathering of rebels was broken up and another plot was uncovered, while other conspiracies were investigated. The participants were either flogged or sent to Norfolk Island, which had been claimed by New South Wales in 1788 and inhabited by both convicts and free settlers.
The Rebellion
On Sunday, 4 March 1804, at Castle Hill, which is north of Parramatta, about three hundred convicts rebelled against British authority—a detachment of the New South Wales Corps led by Major George Johnson. The leaders of the rebellion were Phillip Cunningham and William Johnson, former United Irish captains who were transported to Australia for taking part in the 1798 Rebellion. The plan was for the Castle Hill convicts to join more convicts from the Hawkesbury area and march to Parramatta and then to Port Jackson, where they would board ships sailing to Ireland. On the night of the rebellion, the convicts overpowered the guards, stealing weapons and ammunition. They then raided homes in Castle Hill for additional weapons and supplies.
Cunningham gathered together the rebels to inform them of the plan. He concluded his speech by saying, ‘Now, my boys, liberty or death!’ After this, ‘death or liberty’ became the convicts’ rallying call. The convicts divided into groups and raided nearby settlements. They lit a fire to alert convicts in these settlements to join the rebellion. However, many became lost during the night possibly due to alcohol consumption and did not arrive at the meeting point outside of Parramatta, reducing the number of rebel fighters.
A messenger who was supposed to deliver orders to the convicts in Hawkesbury was captured by authorities and revealed to them Cunningham’s plan. By 9.00 pm, word of the uprising had reached Parramatta, and by 11.00 pm a general alarm had been sounded in Sydney. Major Johnston was awakened and New South Wales Governor Philip Gidley King declared martial law and arrived with troops. Johnston led them to Parramatta in pursuit of the convicts. There Johnston divided them, sending half to Castle Hill under the supervision of a lieutenant. Johnston took the other half and headed west to Toongabbie, where he believed many rebels were hiding. Johnston and the soldiers marched on through the night until they were just a few kilometres from the rebels.
Major Johnston rode ahead of his troops along with trooper Thomas Anlezark and Father Dixon, a Catholic priest. They attempted to convince the rebels to surrender but instead they chanted, ‘Death or liberty and a ship to take us home.’
When the troops arrived, Major Johnston asked to meet their leader. Cunningham approached Johnston but became startled when the troops arrived, allowing Johnston and Anlezark to capture him. Johnston then ordered the troops to fire on the convicts. At least fifteen were killed while the others ran into the bush. At least twenty-four others were later killed, and about three hundred more were captured or surrendered.
According to historical records (albeit sketchy) thirty-nine convicts were killed in or because of the rebellion. Nine were executed, including Cunningham, who was hanged at the Commissariat Store at Windsor, which he had bragged that he and the rebels would burn down. Seven convicts received between two hundred and five hundred lashes and were sent to the Coal River chain gang. Twenty-six were sent to the coal mines in Newcastle. Many were pardoned because British authorities concluded they were likely coerced into participating in the Castle Hill rebellion.
Bibliography
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Michaels, Chrissie. Castle Hill Rebellion. Omnibus Books, 2019.
Moore, Andrew. “Phil Cunningham: A Forgotten Irish-Australian Rebel.” Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, 7 Mar. 2004, www.labourhistory.org.au/hummer/vol-4-no-2/cunningham/. Accessed 7 Dec.2020.
Murphy, Pauline. “Australia’s first rebellion was started by a Kerryman.” Irish Central, 29 Jul. 2020, www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/australias-first-rebellion-kerryman. Accessed 7 Dec.2020.
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Symes, James G. The Castle Hill Rebellion of 1804. Hills District Historical Society, 1979.
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