Editing Scheyville National Park (section)

== Surviving aspects of historical significance ==
Scheyville National Park is located in the Hawkesbury region on the edge of the Cumberland Plain near the Hawkesbury River and Pitt Town Bottoms. The park comprises an area of 954 hectares and is bound by Midson Road and Scheyville Road to the east, Old Pitt Town Road and Old Stock Route Road to the West, Pitt Town Dural Road to the north and residential properties facing Saunders road to the south and boundaries with properties along Avondale, Whitmore, Greenfiled, Phipps and Old Stock Route Roads in the lower Longneck Catchment.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The park contains the largest remnant of Cumberland Plain Grey Box/Ironbark Woodland in the region. To the north west of the site on a ridge between Pitt Town and Avondale roads is a small area of Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland which is considered as vulnerable. Between Llewellyn Creek, Longneck Lagoon and Avondale road there is Shale /Gravel Transition Forest vegetation containing 2 vulnerable species, ''Dilwynia tenuifolia'' and ''Acacia pubescens''. The park also contains Longneck Lagoon, part of the Hawkesbury wetlands which is home a wide variety of birdlife and a number of threatened and endangered species. Much of the Scheyville National Park has been cleared since European settlement and supports species of introduced grasses such as paspalum, Kikuyu, Couch and African Love grass and regenerating Cumberland Plan Woodland.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

While much of the fabric demonstrating the history and development of the site is archaeological, ruins or in poor condition, there is a range of evidence that clearly demonstrates the way the place used and functioned through all its phases of development<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Within the larger curtilage of the Park there are 4 main areas each of which contains remnant evidence of structures, buildings and evidence of land use from all stages of the history of the Scheyville National Park. The four areas are the Longneck Lagoon area, the Scheyville Camp area, the Dreadnought Farm area and the Sewage works/Military training area.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Area 1: Long Neck Lagoon===
The Longneck Lagoon area is located in the north west corner of the park and surrounds Long Neck Lagoon. Aside from its important natural values as a wetlands and vegetation reserve containing endangered and vulnerable species, the area contains earliest evidence of one colonial use associated with the park when it was still the Pitt Town Common. The large [[sandstone]] quarry located between the end of Phipps Road, Cattai Road and the Longneck Lagoon Field Studies Centre commenced operation in the mid 19th Century and continued well into the 20th Century after the Common was decommissioned. Stone from the quarry was used in local buildings such as St James Anglican Church and Bona Vista Homestead at Pitt Town.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The sandstone quarry is a substantial feature of this area and demonstrates quarrying techniques dating from the mid 19th Century to the 1930s.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Area 2: The Scheyville Camp area===
The area lying between Midson Road, Old Pitt Town Road, Scheyville Road and Dormitory Hill Road. This area was the site of the Pitt Town Village Settlement and was later used by the Scheyville Government Training Farm, WWII military uses, post-WWII Migrant Holding Centre and the Vietnam War era Officers Training Unit. It contains the majority of structures and archaeological remains at Scheyville. The earliest remnant farm structures are generally located in a basin near Longneck Creek to the south east of the [[Quadrangle (architecture)|quadrangle]] buildings.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Remnants and archaeological sites in this area include;
* Allotments site and former roadway relating to the Pitt Town
Settlement Village period 1893–1896;
* Site of the old dairy and silo relating to the Pitt Town Settlement Village period, and the early Dreadnought farm period 1911–1929;
* Underground concrete tank relating to the last phase of the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm 1930–1939;
* Single silo, relating to the early Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm period;
* Old dairy, Scheyville relating to the Pitt Town Settlement Village and Government Agricultural Training farm periods;
* Ruins of barn and sheep dipping area, relating to the early Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm period;
* Supervisors Cottage and Post Office, Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm period;
* Group of archaeological sites, relating to early Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm era;
* Log bridge over the Longneck Creek, relating to the early Scheyville Government Agricultural Training Farm period;
* The Avenue, relating to the early Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm era;
* Site of the social hall and tennis court, relating to the early and later Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm era;
* Farm Manager's house, relating to the early and later Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm era;
* Site of orchard adjacent to the Farm Managers house, second phase of the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm
1919–1929
* New Dairy, relating to the third phase of the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm;
* Double Silos, relating to the third phase of the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm;
* Site of vegetable garden, pump house and existing dam, relating to the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training Farm;
* Sites of Orchards, relating to the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm;
* Site of poultry yards, relating to Scheyville Government Agricultural Training farm,<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

In 1929 the establishment of the quadrangle accommodation and facilities on the ridge marked the reorientation of the farm and relocation of land use in the area. There are a number of buildings and features in the ridge top location, often known as the Scheyville camp because of its military uses, that are still extant. These include;<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

* The Interwar Mediterranean style quadrangle buildings with Georgian Revival elements, ([[roof lantern]]s, door [[fanlight]]s and 12 panelled windows). Designed by the Government Architects Office in 1928, these buildings use architectural elements such as the gabled roofs, long, deep [[veranda]]hs which were the trademark of the Government Architect's Office at the time.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* An important feature of the buildings is the rainwater recovery system with gutters connected into standing water tanks and underground storage tanks.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* The central [[courtyard]] contains its original path layout and the walkway connecting the dormitory with the kitchen/dining room block. The courtyard still retains the Phoenix palms which are remnant original planting and also the cypress planted in 1936.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* The administration block is located at the northern end of the quadrangle complex. It accommodated the administration of the later phase of the Government Training Farm, the WWII military uses, the Migrant Holding Centre and the Officer Training Unit. It currently houses the administrative offices for the National Park.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* The east and west flanks of the quadrangle complex were originally two dormitories for the Dreadnought Migrant Boys training at Scheyville Government Agricultural Training Farm. They have since been adapted to single person accommodate for Officer accommodation during WWII, post-WWII Migrant Holding Centre staff and later Training Officers for the Officer Training Unit.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* The Kitchen and dining room stand at the southern end of the quadrangle to the administration block. This was first used by the Government Training Farm boys and staff and later by the Officers of the 73rd Australian Search Light Company and Paratroops Battalion and later staff of the Migrant Holding centre. During the Officer Training Unit period this building was the Officer's Mess for the Officer Training Unit.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* Two large SAARS Huts sit to the south of the Officer's Mess/ Dining Hall. SAARS huts are prefabricated semi circular structures commonly mistaken for "[[Nissen hut]]s". SAARS huts are also known as Quonset huts and the two at Scheyville are the very large Quonset warehouse type huts. These two structures were installed to provide dining facilities for the Migrant Holding Centre. Timber kitchens were attached to the north end of the hut and the hut proper was for dining and recreation. In fact the whole of the western hut was used for dining and the eastern hut was a combination dining room, Adult Education Centre and recreation area. Later this area became a kindergarten. A garden/playground lay between the two huts and a boiler house was situated at the northern end of the garden. During the OTU period, the Eastern SAARS hut was divided in two and the northern end used as a Mess for regular army Other Ranks and the other end became the gymnasium. The western hut was the Cadet's Mess and recreation area complete with bar. The garden was divided in two to provide outdoor recreation areas for the Other Ranks and the Cadets.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* The concrete [[Foundation (engineering)|foundations]] for the "lines" of prefabricated accommodation are situated on the slope to the east of the quadrangle buildings. These accommodated the migrant families at the Holding Centre and later were adapted for use by the Officer Cadets. Two ablution blocks originally constructed for the Migrant Holding Centre and later used by the army are still in situ.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* On the western side of Ridge Road across from the administration building are situated three Nissen huts which operated as a store for the Migrant Holding Centre and as stores and quartermaster's stores during the OTU period.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* There is also an area known as Transport Compound No C situated on the western side of Ridge Road and a little south of the end of the SAARS huts. This was established by the Officer Training Unit.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* The Parade Ground area is situated on the south western side of the quadrangle building and comprises a large, level area of tarmac. This feature was constructed during the Officer Training Unit period.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* An area near the water tanks are the remains of the OTU challenge course. This was established during the Officer Training Unit period.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>
* The front gates on Scheyville Road and the monument in front of the Administration building. The gates were constructed during the OTU period and the Monument was established in recent years to commemorate the various military uses of Scheyville and marking the death in the Vietnam hostilities of 8 officers who trained at Scheyville.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Archaeological evidence and remnants of the Pitt Town Village Settlement, Casual Labour Farm and the early phase of the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training School are found in the basin near Longneck Creek to the southeast of the quadrangle buildings.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Fabric relating to the later phase of the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training Farm, the WWII uses, post WWII Migrant Holding Centre and OTU periods is in varying condition. The quadrangle buildings have been subject to termite activity but they still stand and are undergoing conservation works with plans to reuse these buildings. The Administration building is in good condition and is used as the Scheyville National Park Central Office.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The SAARS Huts are in disrepair but are still standing as are the Nissen huts. The garden adjoining the SAARS huts is overgrown but evidence relating to its use remains. The boilers located near the SAARS huts remain standing in a state of deterioration due to the destruction of the building originally containing them and their subsequent exposure to the elements.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The "lines" of prefabricated accommodation and ablutions blocks for the migrant and OTU period have been demolished ( except for one ablution block) but the concrete foundations remain which clearly demonstrates the layout and function of the "camp" area overall.
The Parade Ground is in a state of disrepair but still an important and eminently readable part of the landscape<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The challenge course is still evident although not completely intact.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

There are a number of plantings, roadways and features such as the obelisk and entrance gates that are in good condition.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Area 3: The Dreadnought Farm area===
The area lying between Dormitory Hill Road, Midson Road, and Scheyville Road. This area was the central to the Dreadnought Farm.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

This area has archaeological potential relating to the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training Farm.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Area 4: Migrant Holding Centre Sewage Works and Officer Training Unit remnant structures===
The area between Scheyville Road, Pitt Town Dural Road, Avondale Road and Schofields Road. This area contains the sewage treatment works installed during the Migrant Holding Centre period. It also contains remnant structures relating to the Officer Training Unit period such as the rifle range and the [[obstacle]] course.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The sewage works for the Migrant Holding Centre and OTU periods is still in situ although deteriorating. Remains of the obstacle course are to be found although they are in poor condition.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

=== Condition and integrity ===

The long history of European occupation and use of the area has heavily disturbed some areas and is likely to have destroyed many Aboriginal sites, however a total of 16 sites have been recorded on the national park.<ref name=nswshr-1817-4254>Dallas and Navin, 1990</ref> The highest number of sites were found on the margins of Longneck Lagoon and along Longneck and Llewellyn Creeks. The sites, which include stone cores and occupation sites, have generally been heavily disturbed by previous farming activities and floods and are not easily recognisable or interpreted to visitors. No Aboriginal sites have been found on Pitt Town Nature Reserve, however it is possible that sites and artefacts are buried beneath alluvial deposits.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

A conservation plan prepared by Edds (1991) identified the following sites and structures as being of considerable to high significance and that consequently should be retained as archaeological sites relating to use of the area prior to 1929; the twin silos from the Dreadnought era (built around 1930); the 1929 Georgian revival style masonry buildings and quadrangle; the palm trees and avenue of pine trees to and around the buildings, which may have been part of the architect's design for the buildings; the two large Nissen huts used during the migrant period; the 1929 electrical sub-station; and the small water storage tank built in 1911. Gates erected during the Officer Training period remain as evidence of the involvement of the place with the Vietnam War.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The areas now Scheyville National Park and Pitt Town Nature Reserve, like much of the fertile Cumberland Plain, have been subject to vegetation clearing since the early days of European settlement in Australia. Approximately 30% of Scheyville National Park and the majority of Pitt Town Nature Reserve are still covered with introduced and native grasses.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Most introduced plants within Scheyville National Park occur in the previously cleared areas of the park. Species include African love grass ([[Eragrostis curvula]]), blackberry ([[Rubus fruticosus]]), lantana ([[Lantana camara]]), bridal veil creeper ([[Myrsiphyllum asparagoides]]), mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum syksii), prickly pear ([[Opuntia stricta]]), paspalum ([[Paspalum dilatatum]]), kikuyu ([[Pennisetum clandestinum]]), common couch ([[Cynodon dactylon]]), willow ([[Salix]] spp.), oleander ([[Nerium]] oleander) and liquidambar ([[Liquidambar styraciflua]]). Blackberry is of particular concern, with large clumps occurring in cleared areas and along Longneck Creek.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Introduced animals can destroy native vegetation, compete with and prey on native animals, adversely affect the breeding and feeding of native animals, and can detract from the experience for people visiting natural areas. The use of Scheyville National Park and Pitt Town Nature Reserve as commons mean that both have been grazed by domestic stock for long periods of time. Grazing ceased in the nature reserve in 1991 and in the national park in 1997.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Introduced animals observed in the national park and nature reserve include the red fox (''[[Vulpes vulpes]]''), cat (''[[Felis catus]]''), dog (''[[Canis familiaris]]''), rabbit (''[[Oryctolagus cuniculus]]''), brown hare (''Lepis capensis''), black rat (''[[Rattus rattus]]''), house mouse (''[[Mus musculus]]''), starling (''[[Sturnus vulgaris]]''), sparrow (''[[Passer domesticus]]'') and Indian myna (''[[Acridotheres tristis]]''). In addition, sheep and cattle from neighbouring properties have been occasionally observed in the national park and nature reserve. European carp (''[[Cyprinus carpio]]'') are present within both Longneck and Pitt Town Lagoons. Carp are of concern as they are believed to compete with native species and contribute to muddiness of the water and loss of aquatic vegetation.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The national park retains its ability to demonstrate the reasons for its natural and cultural significance, and the interplay between the values for which it was established.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

=== Modifications and dates ===
* 1804: Gazetted as a Common and subject to clearing and grazing
* From 1850s to 1930s: sandstone quarrying
* 1893: a central portion of the old Common was established as a cooperative farm - 3 dams established on Longneck Creek and a well dug. erection of timber housing, farm buildings and other amenities including a schoolhouse in 1894.
* 1896: the area became a Casual Labour farm
* 1911: The farm taken over by the Scheyville Government Agricultural Training Farm and while retaining some existing facilities developed many new buildings including dormitories, dining room, ablutions blocks, recreation facilities, farm manager's residence and many new farm buildings. The Avenue was established as the main roadway into the farm.
* 1928–1929:
** construction of the quadrangle buildings containing two large dormitories and administration wing and a kitchen dining room
** reorientation of farming activities out of the area around Longneck creek to the ridgetop. Many new farm buildings erected including the double silos new dairy and piggery. Importantly a new entrance and roadway was constructed (Ridge Road) superseding the Avenue as the way into the farm.
* WWII: Quadrangle buildings adapted to provide accommodation for Officers and an Officers Mess and a sergeants' mess.
* In 1949 in preparation for the use of Scheyville as a Migrant Holding Centre a substantial number of prefabricated huts were installed on site for use as accommodation. Two SAARS huts were installed and adapted as dining and recreation accommodation and later to house a kindergarten.
* 1949: quadrangle buildings further modified to meet need of Migrant Holding Centre Staff
* All these buildings were again adapted to suit the needs of the Officer Training Unit when it took up residence in 1973. The Farm manager's residence was at this time refurbished to house the Commandant. Physical training courses and small firearms ranges were set up in the paddocks surrounding the Scheyville camp.
* In 1977–78 the quadrangle buildings and prefabricated hut accommodation was refurbished for use by the Hawkesbury CAE.
* During the latter half of the 1980s the Police Tactical Response Group used of the site a number of the buildings in this area were damaged.
* In the initial years of NPWS management of the site (from 1996) a number of the hut buildings were demolished.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>