In 1807, Bell arrived in the colony of NSW accompanied by his wife and eight children, taking up a position as a junior officer in the NSW Corps. Throughout his life, the crown granted him substantial portions of land, initially 500 acres via Governer Bligh which includes the very land we are presently standing on.

Just seven months after his arrival, he found himself deeply embroiled in the infamous Rum Rebellion, an event that likely had a profound impact on the trajectory of his life. Despite the controversies surrounding him, Archibald Bell managed to forge an impressive career over the next 29 years, excelling as a soldier, magistrate, landholder, and an advocate for the community he served. His multifaceted persona remains a subject of both admiration and criticism.

Henry Newcomen (1866 - 1889)

Henry Newcomen was the first person to pay for this land. A British free settler, he acquired the Belmont estate from the Bell family for £4,250 in 1866. Hailing from England, Henry Newcomen had journeyed to Australia as a free settler. His endeavours ranged from being a grazier to a government inspector of sheep in the Hunter area, and he further embraced roles as a local magistrate and churchwarden.

Alongside his wife Emily and their children, Henry Newcomen occupied Bell's former residence. Displaying a fondness for old Belmont, he refrained from making substantial changes to the property and even bestowed the name "Belmont" upon his children as their middle names.

Upon Henry's passing, his eldest son, William Belmont, assumed ownership of the estate while still in his teenage years. Attempting to subdivide Belmont, William's efforts met with limited interest during the auction, prompting him to sell the entire property to Philip Charley in 1889.

Philip Charley (1863 - 1937)

Born in Victoria in 1863, Philip George Charley was the fifth of eight children. He experienced a challenging childhood, being placed in state care due to neglect at the age of eight. He found himself licensed to lawyer J.C. Stewart at just 13 years old and later began working at Mount Gipps sheep station in western NSW, owned by McCulloch, Stellar and Co.

The station had an area of 540,000 acres, and laid near the mineral finds at nearby Silverton In 1883 boundary rider Charles Rasp and two of other workers had pegged out a forty-acre claim in the paddock known as Broken Hill. George McCulloch suggested that he and his workers form a syndicate and explore the potential of the land. After he offered to let the men draw on their wages to sustain the venture, George McCulloch, Charles Rasp, David James, James Poole, Phillip Charley, George Urquhart and George Lind came together to form what became known as the Syndicate of Seven.

In 1885, the syndicate made a significant discovery of silver on the Broken Hill property, which eventually generated more than $100 billion in value. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (now BHP Billiton), stemmed from this discovery, and grew to become the world's largest mining company, influencing Australia's industrial development with expansions into steelworks, shipping, and collieries.

In 1891, Charley and his wife Clara Ewens purchased the historic Belmont property at Richmond Hill, where they built an elegant Italianate sandstone mansion. Philip Charley engaged in diverse agricultural pursuits, importing, breeding, and exhibiting various livestock, and he became a major employer in the region. Additionally, he assumed roles as the president of the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association and a vice-president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and Hospital.

Unfortunately, Charley's fortunes took a downturn during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In 1936, Belmont Park was divided into 55 allotments and put up for sale, with the mansion's contents auctioned off. The mansion itself was described as suitable for various purposes, including a Gentleman's Home, Golf or Country Club, Scholastic, or Ecclesiastical Institution.

Breaker Morant (1864 - 1902)

Harry Harbord "The Breaker" Morant, was a multifaceted English figure of the late 19th century. A drover, horseman, bush poet, and military officer, Morant's complex legacy is rooted in the events of the Second Anglo-Boer War. Accused of murdering six prisoners-of-war and three civilians, Morant faced a historic court-martial, one of the earliest in British military history.

Serving as a lieutenant with the Bushveldt Carbineers, Morant's alleged revenge killings in response to his commanding officer's death led to his arrest. The trial, marked by a defense invoking the Nuremberg Defence, highlighted the moral and legal complexities surrounding wartime orders.

Ultimately found guilty and sentenced to death, Morant, along with Lieutenant Peter Handcock, faced a firing squad on 27 February 1902. Their story has since become a symbol of self-determination and independence for modern Australians, inspiring books, a stage play, and an award-winning film by director Bruce Beresford. Despite the gravity of the charges, some view Morant and Handcock as potential scapegoats, sparking ongoing efforts for a posthumous pardon or new trial. Explore the captivating tale that transcends history, resonating with themes of justice, heroism, and the quest for national identity.

During a short stint living in nearby Windsor, Morant would ride and compete in jumping and hunting competitions on a horse owned and trained by Philip Charley named ‘Cavalier’.