Property Research Service

Have you ever wondered who has owned your property over the years or when your house was built?

Maybe your ancestor owned a block of land at a certain location and you’d like to know more about the purchase.

Hawkesbury People and Places Research Service can delve into a range of resources for you such as:

• NSW Land Title Records
• Newspapers and Government Gazettes on TROVE
• Maps and survey plans
• State Archives and Records NSW
• State Library of NSW
• National Archives of Australia

Here is an example of information concerning the naming of Harkness Road, Oakville:

The name Harkness Road was in use by the 1930s and was named after Samuel William Pearson Harkness, a successful poultry farmer in the Vineyard and Oakville districts for many years. Harkness was born in Scotland and came to NSW in about 1885 with his wife Caroline Mary (Williams). The couple’s property in Harkness Road was named Jesmond Poultry Farm. Samuel died in 1935 aged 80 years and his wife in July 1944 aged 86 years.

Harkness purchased two blocks of land in the Parish of Pitt Town, County of Cumberland by Conditional Purchase being Portions 143 and 144. Each had an area of were 41 acres each. Portion 144 was purchased in January 1897 and Portion 143 in April 1901. The purchase price was £2 per acre. After satisfying the conditions associated with the purchase, the first certificate of title was issued to Samuel Harkness for Portion 143 in September 1928 (see Torrens Register Vol 4184 Fol 221).

In January 1936 this portion became the property of auctioneer Henry Saundercock of Parramatta (after the death of Samuel in 1935). Samuel also gained title to Portion 144 in September 1928 (see Torrens Register Vol 4184 Fol 222). Portion 144 also became the property of Saundercock in 1936. Over the years both properties have been subdivided several times. For example DP577668 was a block divided from Portion 144 in 1975.

Research fees are charged at an hourly rate of $45.

Please email cathy@nisch.org or complete the form below with your enquiry to request further information on this service.

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