Editing Scheyville National Park (section)

==History==

===Aboriginal occupation===

The land now known as Scheyville National Park and Pitt Town Nature Reserve was originally [[Dharug]] land. The Cattai clan of the Dharug people inhabited the area around Cattai Creek and Pitt Town at least 30,000-years ago. The area along the Hawkesbury Rivers and its tributaries provided fertile alluvial soils sustaining consistent supplies of food for the local Aboriginal people from the fish and wildlife stock and edible vegetation.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

On two occasions, one in 1789 and the other 1791, the earliest contact with the Dharug of the Hawkesbury area was made by [[Arthur Phillip|Governor Phillip]] and his party. By 1794 the first European settlers had established themselves in the area, carving out farms on the same rich soils that had sustained the Aboriginal population for thousands of years. First interactions between the Dharug and European settlers were cordial, but soon deteriorated as land was cleared for farming, trees were cut down for fuel and firewood, and the Dharug were denied access to their traditional hunting, fishing and gathering areas along the [[Hawkesbury River]] and other watercourses by European settlers.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

As settlement in the area continued and spread further inland along the river, the local Aboriginal population began to diminish. This was due to a number of reasons most significantly, mortality from introduced diseases and migration of the Dharug out of the area because of the disruption to traditional lifestyle and competition for natural resources. This pattern continued and by 1851 it was reported that there were no Aboriginal people living in the Pitt Town area.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Pitt Town village settlement===
In 1804 an area of approximately {{convert|5650|acre|km2}} was set aside as a grazing common for the local settlers. This area originally called the Nelson Common finally became known as the Pitt Town Common. By 1889 the Common had increased to {{convert|9000|acre|km2}} in size, and extended from Maraylya to South Windsor.

In 1893 the government resumed {{convert|3000|acre|km2}} of the Pitt Town Common in order to establish an experimental agricultural settlement. It was declared the Pitt Town Village Settlement, operating as a cooperative farm, established to allow the unemployed and their families to make a living during the economic depression of the 1890s. Each family was expected to work the common land, clear and tend their own small allotment and contribute to the construction of community facilities in exchange for a set ration of food. By 1896 the settlement had failed due to the difficulties of farming the country.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Labour farms and the Dreadnought scheme===

Despite the paucity of the soils for agriculture, the government persisted with endeavours to assist the needy by putting them to work on the farm at Pitt Town and in 1896 a Casual Labour Farm was established on the site of the Cooperative Farm. Here the poor and unemployed worked collecting firewood or tending pigs, for a small wage, for a limited term of three or four months. In 1905, dairy cattle were added to the farm's livestock. A scheme was introduced to train young men in the skills of raising livestock and farming. The Pitt Town Village Settlement and later Casual Labour Farm. tell a resonant and significant story in the history of NSW as they were radical and often controversial government responses to social problems experienced by families and individuals in the economic depression of the 1890s. As such, they were a significant early example of government intervention in the welfare of its constituents.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Farm Training for Australian Boys scheme ran until 1910 when under the vision and management of [[William Schey]], Director of Labour and Industry in the first years of [[Federation of Australia|Federation]], the farm was established as a training farm for young British Migrants who arrived in Australia under the [[Dreadnought scheme]]. The scheme was a State government incentive and offered the boys 13 months of training in all aspects of farming, dairying, livestock care, care and use of farm equipment orcharding and cropping. After the training, the boys were placed with a NSW farmer. Many of the existing facilities were retained to accommodate the boys and facilitate the training and farming activities although Schey oversaw the construction of a number of new buildings. his was the first of several youth migration schemes in Australia established with the sole focus of bringing youth to Australia for training in areas of skills shortage such as agriculture and domestic work. Later schemes included the [[Fairbridge, Western Australia|Fairbridge Farm scheme]], the Barwell Boys scheme and the Big Brother scheme.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Dreadnought scheme at Scheyville ran from 1911 to 1915 when the outbreak of [[World War I]] saw a reduction in number of trainees at the farm from 800 in 1913 to 30 in 1915.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

By this time the agriculture sector, like other sectors of the workforce in NSW was experiencing a serve lack of skilled workers due to the enlistment of many men in the armed forces and their engagement in active service in the European theatre of war. The government decided to call on the women of Australia to fill the skills shortage. To address these problems in the agricultural sector the facilities and training course at Scheyville were opened to the women of NSW in 1915. While there was a significant increase in women entering the workforce between 1914 and 1918 (from 24% to 34%) these were mainly into areas women traditionally worked in, clothing, footwear, food industries with some increases in clerical, retail and teaching. This resistance to stretching gender roles and taking on work outside the traditional areas was reflected in the noticeable lack of interest among NSW women in taking up the offer of training in agricultural skills at Scheyville. Between 1915 and 1917 when the incentive was abandoned, about 25 women had trained at Scheyville.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

At the close of the war when the thousands of soldiers returned home many found that there were no longer jobs for them. In recognition of their service to the nation and to give them a helping hand the Commonwealth and State governments joined forces to put in place a soldier settlement scheme whereby, on application, returning soldiers were allocated by or leased land from the [[Government of New South Wales|State Government]] and financially assisted to establish farms by the Commonwealth government. Many of the returnees had no previous farming experience and so during 1917 and 1918, the Government Agricultural Training Farm at Scheyville was opened to returned soldiers who received basic agricultural training there.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

In 1919, the Dreadnought training scheme restarted and it continued to run up until 1929. The last five years of the scheme were funded jointly by the Commonwealth and State governments and also the British government.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

In 1928 plans were drawn up by the [[New South Wales Government Architect|Government Architect's]] Office for a handsome set of buildings in the Georgian Revival and Inter-War Mediterranean style. These building formed the "Quadrangle Precinct" and comprised an administrative block, kitchen dining room and two dormitories.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

While the Scheme was officially suspended in 1929 due to the looming economic crisis of the [[Great Depression in Australia|Great Depression]], the farm continued to train both Australian and Immigrant boys through the 1930s when it was known as the Government Training Farm. During the 1930s many changes were made to the farm facilities including the construction of a double silo, and a new dairy and tank base.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===World War II===

With the outbreak of World War II, the farm was commandeered by the military. Initially, it was intended to use the farm for artillery and anti-tank warfare training but little record of this is available. In early 1942 the Scheyville Dreadnought Farm became the home of the newly formed 73rd Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Company.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The new and highly specialised force was an essential element in the defence of Australia particularly after the Japanese surprise air [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]] on 7 December 1941. The 73rd Company used the land at Scheyville to carry out basic training while waiting for its ranks to fill.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

73rd Company administration was carried out in the former farm administration building of the Quadrangle Precinct. Officers were housed in the Quadrangle dormitories suitably adapted as single person rooms. The dining room became the Officer's mess. Other ranks were housed in tents pitched to the southeast of the quadrangle buildings. The Company moved out of Scheyville in November 1942. They first moved to a Staging Camp in [[Brisbane]] and then to [[Townsville]] where on 29 December 1942 they boarded the MV Duntroon and were shipped to New Guinea where they served at [[Port Moresby]], [[Nadzab]] and [[Lae]] during 1943 and 1944. Initially illuminating anti-aircraft artillery they soon were also employed illuminating enemy aircraft. Their most commended function by both the Australian and American forces was their work guiding Allied aircraft, damaged in battle, back to their bases in Port Moresby and Lae. Often these aircraft had lost radar and radio contact and the lives of those airmen depended on the assistance provided by the 73rd Company men.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

At the outset of the war the allied nations had no effective paratrooper forces. They were quickly convinced of the necessity to train paratroopers as [[Germany]] successfully deployed paratroopers in battles to annex [[Austria]], [[Norway]], the [[Netherlands]] and [[Crete]]. As part of Australia's contribution to the defence of the [[British Empire]] and our own shores then under threat by the Japanese, the [[1st Parachute Battalion (Australia)|1st Parachute Battalion]] was formed in late 1942 and was the first airborne combat battalion to exist in the Australian armed forces. The members of the Battalion were recruited from the ranks of the army and most of the men had already seen active service in other theatres of war. A number of those who joined the Battalion were decorated and there were ten soldiers who had earned the Military Cross for their war service.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Extensive training was required for those volunteering to join the new force. They began training with Australia's first Parachute Training Unit at [[RAAF Station Tocumwal]] under the command of Wing Commander P. Glasscock (RAAF). Training at Tocumwal was in specific aspects of airborne combat and culminated in their first parachute jump. The paratroopers continued training for a short period of time at [[RAAF Base Richmond]]. During flight training members of the Battalion had to qualify for the winged insignia and the "Red Beret" by performing a total of seven jumps. Once flight training was completed the men were then marshalled at Scheyville where, while waiting for their Battalion ranks to fill, they received general combat and fitness training.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Like the Searchlight Company before them, the Parachute Battalion took over the facilities at the "Scheyville Camp", utilising the quadrangle buildings for administration, officer accommodation and the slopes to the south-east of the quadrangle.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Under the command of Lt. Col. Sir [[John Overall (architect)|John Overall]] CBE, MC & Bar, a seasoned and distinguished Officer, the Company moved out of Scheyville in late 1944 eventually arriving at [[Canungra, Queensland|Canungra]] where they received training in jungle combat. The Battalion finally moved to [[Mareeba Airfield]] in northern [[Queensland]] to await orders. This was where the Battalion spent the final months of the war.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Scheyville Migrant Holding Centre===

In the immediate post-war years there was a huge influx of migrants from Europe, people traumatised and left homeless and with few resources for survival. By 1950 Australia had received 153,685 assisted migrants who were initially housed in government run migrant accommodation. In 1949 as the need for migrant accommodation continued to grow, it was decided that the facility at Scheyville would be established as a Migrant Holding Centre. Between 1950 and 1964 thousands of migrants had passed through Scheyville Migrant Holding Centre which was largest of the migrant centres in Australia during those years.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Quadrangle buildings were adapted to accommodate the centre's staff and administration and prefabricated huts were located on site to house the migrants. Two large SAARS huts were installed on site, one of which contained kitchen facilities to augment those in the quadrangle building. The other huts and some new buildings housed many other health and amenity facilities including a community hall. A large number of prefabricated huts were installed on site to accommodate the migrants. A sewage treatment works was constructed on site in 1949. The installation of a sewage plant and electrical network during the post-WWII phases of use allowed the migrant camp and the later Officer Training Unit to operate as an almost self sufficient community. The Scheyville Migrant Holding Centre accommodated new migrants up until 1964.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Officer Training Unit, Scheyville===
{{Main|Officer Training Unit, Scheyville}}

In 1965 Scheyville was once again commandeered for military uses, specifically to house an Officer Training Unit for [[Conscription in Australia|National Servicemen]]. The OTU provided and intensive 22-week program of training in military leadership skills for select National Servicemen. The Unit was the first of its kind in Australia as previously Officers were traditionally educated and trained in the elite military schools such as [[Royal Military College, Duntroon]] and not selected from those drafted into National Service.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Between 1965 and 1973, and under the command of the noted soldier and military educationist Ian Geddes, 1871 conscripts passed through Scheyville OTU making use of the classroom-based training as well as the extensive field exercises and physical fitness training.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Once again the quadrangle buildings formed the nexus of the site's activities. The administration block on the southern end of the quadrangle housed the Commanding Officer's and Sergeant Major's administrative quarters The dormitory buildings on the east and west sides were further adapted to house the Officers who provided the training, and the dining room and kitchen was the Officer's Mess.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Commandant and his family were housed in the old farm managers house and the Sergeant Major and family in the overseers cottage. The prefabricated buildings, a legacy of the Migrant Holding Centre period accommodated the Officer Cadets. The SAARs huts were converted to provide gymnasium facilities and the Officer Cadet's dining and recreation facility. A parade ground was established to the north east of the quadrangle and adjacent to that on the west of the parade ground, a "t" shaped teaching facility was constructed.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

In addition to reusing existing buildings, the OTU made extensive use of the surrounding farmlands and scrub, establishing obstacle courses, a small arms range, challenge courses and a tough rout march trail.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Officer training was tough physically, emotionally and mentally. It was intended to remake, remould and train the potential Officer "in a way that was similar to tearing the insides out of an old factory and completely renovating the insides."<ref>(Donnelly, The Scheyville Experience)</ref><ref name=nswshr-1817/>

330 graduates of the Scheyville Officer Training Unit served in the [[Vietnam War]], eight of whom died in action. Other graduates did not see active service in Vietnam but went on to other areas of the Army where 130 became Lieutenant Colonels and 13 Brigadiers. Many who trained at the OTU, such as [[Tim Fischer]] and Jeff Kennet have achieved positions of importance in civilian life and attribute their success to their training at Scheyville.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Direct entry aviation cadets were also trained at Scheyville, in the same 6-month courses as the National Servicemen. There were three 12-month Officer Cadet School (OCS) Portsea courses at Scheyville in 1972 and 1973. The first six months of these courses were the same as that for National Servicemen and the latter six months concentrating on subjects more suited to careers with the Regular Army. The Officer Training Unit continued to function until 1973 (the last intake was October 1972 to March 1973), after the [[Australian Labor Party]] abolished further National Service in December 1972. However, a small number of the Regular Army officer cadets were still training there until December 1973 before travelling to OCS Portsea to graduate.

===Hawkesbury Agricultural College campus===

In 1973 the OTU left Scheyville and it was left vacant for some years. In 1977 the facility was rented from the Commonwealth by [[Hawkesbury Agricultural College|Hawkesbury College of Advanced Education]] which was in need of residential facilities for its students. The Scheyville residential campus began operating in 1978 and closed down in 1983.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

===Post-1980===

In 1985 the NSW Police Tactical Response Group used the site at Scheyville to train and practise tactical response skills. Since this time there have been plans to develop the site as an international airport, a maximum security prison and a large housing development. These plans did not reach fruition and in 1996 the land was put under the care of the [[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|National Parks and Wildlife Service]] when the Scheyville National Park was gazetted.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Early management practices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service reflected the organisation's primary concern at the time, the conservation of natural values of items under its care. Because of this NPWS allowed the demolition of a number of structures damaged by the police and military uses of the property. Since that time there has been a growing awareness of the importance of conserving all the values, including cultural heritage and natural heritage values in National Parks and the Department of Environment and Climate Change has taken up this challenge.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Phoenix Pistol Club has been running from 1992 in Scheyville National Park, near the corner of Dormitory Hill Road and Scheyville Rd, Scheyville NSW. The club is using part of the original rifle range built by the Australian Government during World War 1 as a part of the officer training camp originally located in the quarry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/planmanagement/final/20090232Vol2ScheyvilleCMP.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625144122/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/planmanagement/final/20090232Vol2ScheyvilleCMP.pdf |archive-date=2014-06-25 |url-status=live|title=NSW Dept of Environment material}}</ref>