| 40,000 BC |
Darug Aborigines (also spelt Dharug, Daruk, Dharuk) inhabited the Shire until the early 1800s. |
| 1791 |
Governor Phillip journeyed to the Shire in April |
| 1794 |
Hawkesbury Road ( Old Windsor Road ) was developed from Toongabbie Government Farm to the Hawkesbury River . William Joyce received the first land grant in the Shire and by 1811 was operating the Shire's first inn that was located on this road. |
| 1799 |
 Joseph
Foveaux was granted 300 acres, which he sold to John Macarthur in
1801. John and Elizabeth Macarthur farmed sheep on this property
before establishing them at Camden . Part of this land was later
acquired by the Pearce family and became known as "Bella Vista
Farm." Pictured "Pearce Slab machinery shed at Bella Vista
Farm" |
| 1801 |
Toongabbie Road ( Junction Road ) was made from Toongabbie Government Farm to Baulkham Hills and then Castle Hill Road ( Old Northern Road ) was built to the new Castle Hill Government Farm. |
| 1804 |
The convicts rebelled from the Castle Hill Government Farm on 4 March and made a stand for freedom at the Battle of Vinegar Hill on 5 March. |
| 1807 |
George Suttor of "Chelsea
Farm" Baulkham Hills, was the first person in the colony to produce oranges commercially. |
| 1810 |
Windsor Road was constructed |
| 1811 |
Castle Hill Government Farm was converted to the first lunatic
asylum in the colony. It operated until 1826 when it was relocated
to Liverpool . |
|
| 1823 |
Most of the land in the southern part of the Shire had been granted by this time. As the century progressed these original grants were subdivided into farms. |
| 1826 |
Construction of Old Northern Road , part of the Great
North Road , from Castle Hill to Wisemans Ferry began. |
| 1840 |
The first school in the Shire, St Simon's School began at the Old Castle Hill Government Farm site. |
| 1856 |
John Malloy Kelly opened the first general store and post office in the Shire. It was located near the corner of Junction and Windsor Roads, Baulkham Hills - now the M2. |
| 1886 |
Castle Hill District Show began at Rogans Hill and moved to Showground Road , Castle Hill in 1891. Opening of the show in 1921 by the Governor. |
| 1890s |
Bella Vista Farm was declared the largest orchard in NSW. |
| 1894 |
A telephone service was extended to the Hills from Parramatta . |
| 1902 |
A Tram from Parramatta to Baulkham Hills commenced with an extension to Castle Hill in 1910. This accelerated the subdivision of old estates adjacent to the railway into residential blocks. |
| 1907 |
Telephone links were created between the Hills and the Hawkesbury area. |
| 1911 |
The population of the Shire was 3, 498 |
| 1913 |
 Joseph Cook, Member for Parramatta (which then included Baulkham Hills Shire) became the Prime Minister of Australia.
Water pipes in Showground Road were connected to the Sydney Water Supply. By 1917 there were water pipes in Baulkham Hills.
|
| 1920 |
Slab huts in Windsor Road , Baulkham Hills, just
south east of the crossroads, were used in the filming of "On
our Selection". |
| 1920s |
Poultry and egg production replaced citrus and stone fruits as the main industry. |
| 1923 |
A train service from Westmead to Castle Hill replaced the tram. It was extended to Rogans Hill in 1924. |
| 1926 |
Electricity came to Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill. |
| 1932 |
The Railway closed mainly due to the advent of the combustion engine used in trucks, cars and buses that, in turn, needed a wider main road. |
| 1933 |
Population of the Shire was 8, 075. |
|
| 1956 |
Population of the Shire was 16, 500. |
| 1960s |
Urban development accelerated from this time. |
| 1970 |
Population of the Shire was 52, 000. |
| 1971 |
Sewerage connection was available to residents in Baulkham Hills; Castle Hill followed in 1977. |
| 1975 |
Population of the Shire was 70, 000. |
| 1979 |
The first stage of Castle Towers Shopping Centre was commenced with additions following in 1982, 1989, 1993, 1999 and 2001. |
| 1980 |
Population of the Shire was 90, 000. The NSW Department of Environment and Planning began looking at the potential development of the Rouse Hill area. |
| 1988 |
The Hills Centre for the Performing Arts was opened at Castle Hill. |
| 1991 |
Population of the Shire was 114, 032. |
| 1997 |
Baulkham Hills Shire Council obtained title to two significant heritage sites: Castle Hill Heritage Park and Bella Vista Farm. |
| 2000 |
Population of the Shire was 131, 000 |
| 2001 |
Rouse Hill Regional Centre plans were revealed. Population reaches 147,000. |
| 2004 |
Bicentenary of the Castle Hill Rebellion and Battle
of Vinegar Hill. The former Castle Hill Government Farm was opened
as Castle Hill Heritage Park by NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir.
|
