Colonial Events 1811
In 1811 under Macquarie the colony was divided into five distinct police districts to improve safety and security. D’Arcy Wentworth was appointed as the Superintendent of Police, overseeing a system designed to suppress the "disgraceful Scenes of Rioting" and burglaries that had previously affected the town. To further organize the capital, Macquarie ordered the numbering of all houses and buildings in Sydney and the naming of several new streets and lanes.
Infrastructure development was a major priority throughout the year. A new bridge was completed in Sydney, leading from George Street to Macquarie Place, and a substantial turnpike road was constructed to connect Sydney with the Hawkesbury region. In Cockle Bay, a new wharf and a street leading to a centralized Market-place were established to accommodate the trade of livestock and grain. Additionally, a contract was in progress for the construction of a General Hospital, financed by allowing the contractors - Garnham Blaxcell, Alexander Riley, and D'Arcy Wentworth - exclusive rights to import and retail specific quantities of spirits.
The agricultural state of the colony in 1811 was highly favorable, with Macquarie reporting a "most plentiful Harvest". This period of abundance followed a subsidence of earlier floods that had occurred with minimal damage compared to previous years. During this time, Macquarie began the transition away from government-run agriculture, totally abolishing the Government agricultural establishment by October 1811 to focus on assisting industrious private settlers. To support these settlers, the government distributed breeding stock from the Crown herds, strictly prohibiting the sale of such cattle for three years to ensure the growth of colonial resources.
In June 1811 Macquarie established strict regulations for the granting of pardons and tickets-of-leave, requiring convicts to demonstrate a "long and uninterrupted period of good conduct" before receiving such indulgences. A lunatic asylum was established at Castle Hill in May 1811, providing the first dedicated facility for the mentally afflicted who had previously been confined in gaols. Burial grounds were consecrated in the newly named townships of Windsor, Richmond, Pitt Town, Wilberforce, Castlereagh, and Liverpool.
Macquarie personally inspected the colony's dependencies through extensive tours. By November 1811, the Governor embarked on a tour of Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), where he examined the resources of Hobart Town and Port Dalrymple.
February 11
Robert Whitmore who became an Early settler at Patterson's Plains was first sent to Newcastle in 1811..... Court of Criminal Jurisdiction - Robert Whitmore late Master of the Chance, Hawkesbury vessel, indicted for having feloniously opened five out of six casks of salted pork, and stealing parts of the contents, the property of Henry Kable and put on board as freight at Sydney to be delivered to Windsor. Sentenced to seven years transportation. - Sydney Gazette 16 February 1811.
February 17
Arrival of the convict ship Eagle.March
William Evans appointed colonial assistant surgeon (Newcastle) in place of Richard Horner
March
General Statement of the Inhabitants in His Majesty's Settlement on the Eastern coast of New South Wales, with an Estimate on the Remains of Provisions in the Public Stores5th March 1811
Newcastle Civil Department victualled -
Assistant Surgeon - 1.
Superintendent and Storekeeper - 1.
Women of the Civil Department - 2.
Children above 2 years - 3
Military Department Victualled - Lieutenant - 1. Serjeants and Corporals - 4. Privates - 25.
Women - 7.
Children above 2 years - 4.
Children under 2 years - 3
Persons victualled from the Public Stores - Male 58; Females 11; Children above 2 years - 2; Children under 2 years - 2
Total number of souls in the Colony - 124
Historical Records of Australia, Series 1, volume VII, Governors' Despatches to and From England, January 1809 - June 1813, The Library committee of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1916. p. 421 - 422
April
Road from Sydney to Parramatta opened to trafficApril
Vessel 'Perseverance' ran aground at NewcastleApril
Edward Edwards, gentleman's servant repeatedly robbed his master - ordered to be publicly whipped behind a cart and then twelve months hard labour. James Hardy Vaux as an accessory sentenced to twelve months hard labour - Sydney Gazette 27 April 1811.May
Lieutenant James Henry Crummer of 28th regiment injured at the battle of AlbueraMay
Stone arch bridge over Tank Stream connecting east and western Sydney completedJune 5
Completion of the Trial of Lieut-Col Johnston of the 102nd regiment on a charge of Mutiny and Usurpation to which he pleaded Not Guilty.July
Lieutenant Skottowe, 73rd regt., appointed Commandant at NewcastleJuly
George Johnstone cashiered and permitted to return to New South Wales.July 2
Convict ship Providence arrived with male and female prisoners.July 14
Colonial vessel 'Eliza' owned by Underwood wrecked near Port StephensAugust 28
Ralph Malkins attempted to sell his wife in the streets of SydneyA person (for a man I cannot call him) of the name of Ralph Malkins, led his lawful wife into our streets on the 28th ultimo with a rope round her neck, and publicly exposed her for sale; and, shameful to be told, another fellow equally contemptible, called Thomas Quire, actually purchased and paid for her on the spot, sixteen pounds in money and some yards of cloth. I am sorry to add, that the woman herself was so devoid of those feelings which are justly deemed the most valuable in her sex, agreed to the base traffic, and went off with the purchaser, significantly hinting that she had no doubt her new possessor would make her a better husband than the wretch she then parted from. - Correspondence, Sydney Gazette
August
Robert Watson appointed Sydney's first senior pilot (Watson arrived as Quartermaster on HMS Sirius in 1788).August
Pounds established in various districts of NSWSeptember 29
Arrival of the convict ship Admiral GambierOctober 8
The vessel Governor Macquarie launched from Cockle Bay. SydneyOctober 10
Arrival of the Convict Ship Friends. Master James Ralph.October 30
Foundation stone of Sydney Hospital laid by Governor MacquarieNovember
Governor Macquarie visited Van Diemen's LandNovember
Building of Sydney Hospital commenced.December
Captain J. Murray of the 73rd regiment appointed Commandant of the Settlement at Hobart TownDecember
Mental asylum established at Castle Hill.↑