Featured Image: Plan for ‘Invermein’ (Scone) in 1836 by Mortimer Lewis clearly showing Kelly’s Farm
Acknowledgment Scone & Upper Hunter Historical Society
Kelly Street, the main street of Scone, was originally known as the Great North Road. It was named after Richard Kelly, a sea captain with a government (Governor’s) commission to transport convicts to Port Macquarie. His first ship ‘Black Jack’ was shipwrecked at the bar and he was given another ship, ‘The Isabella,’ in compensation. This second ship was hi-jacked by mutineer convicts and disappeared forever with its occupants from the face of the earth. In 1826 Governor Darling recompensed Kelly with a grant of 1920 acres of land. Kelly’s Farm ran east from Kingdon Ponds to the Segenhoe boundary and the track through his land eventually became the main street. We can assume the Wonnarua people were not consulted with the concept of ‘Terra nullius’ prevailing official policy? Richard Kelly was the first ‘colonial owner’ and held his land for just a few years before selling out to William Dumaresq, the first owner of the Saint Aubin’s property.