Thursday 22d.
---Wishing to explore very minutely and attentively that Tract of Land lying between the Bunbury Curran Creek and the head of George's River, I got up very early this morning for this purpose; and at half past 5 o'clock set out from St. Andrews on Horseback, accompanied by Mr. Moore, Capt. Cleaveland, Ensn. Maclaine, Dr. Redfern, my Guide Warlby, and one orderly Dragoon. ---We first travelled in a S.E. by East direction for about 4 miles through very fine rich Land well watered, and fit for both Tillage and Pasture, until our further progress was arrested by a very deep extensive stony Creek or Gully, close to the Banks of which the Rocks appeared. From hence we travelled through equally good and rich land in a N. East by North direction, until we fell in with Rocky Land again about 3 miles from the last Rocks; and our Guide being of opinion that we were here very near George's River, we altered our course in the supposed direction of it, travelling for about half a mile due East; when all of a sudden and unexpectedly we arrived on the Bank of the River, the course of which was here about North East and South West; a very pretty little stream of clear well tasted running water, both Banks being very high, steep, and rocky. Leaving our Horses in charge of the Dragoon, we all descended or scrambled down the Bank we arrived on, crossed the River, and ascended to the top of the opposite Bank; from whence we walked for about a quarter of a mile in a Southerly direction through a very barren rocky bad soil -- which appeared to continue equally bad as far as we could see in that direction. --We then returned across the River the same way we came, being perfectly satisfied that this could be no other than the main and principal branch of George's River; which, it would appear, comes from a more Westerly point than has hitherto been supposed, and approaches towards its source within a very few miles of the Nepean River. ---It took us only one hour and a quarter to ride from St. Andrews to George's River -- which perhaps cannot be above Five Miles in a straight Line from St. Andrews. ---- We travelled back from the River in a different and more circuitous direction than that by which we came to it; our course homewards being nearly N. West for 3 miles, till we arrived on the Right Bank of the Bunbury Curran Creek through very fine rich Land and open Forest, well watered and fit for agriculture and grazing. ---We rode along the Creek for about a mile, then crossed it a little below Dr. Townson's Farm, and returned home from the Left Bank of it in a Westerly direction. ---We arrived at St. Andrews at 9 o'clock, very hungry for our Breakfasts, but highly gratified with our morning's ride; having rode between 14 and 15 miles through the best and finest Country I have yet seen in the Colony, and by far the most eligible centrical and fittest in every point of view for small Settlers to have allotments of Land assigned them in. ---I intend forming this Tract of Country into a new and separate District for the accommodation of small Settlers, and to name it "Airds" in honor of my dear good Elizabeth's Family Estate! ---

Having Breakfasted and sent off our Servants and Baggage, we took leave of St. Andrews for this time, and set out in the Carriage at Noon for Parramatta, where we arrived after a very pleasant ride of 22 miles at 3 o'clock in the Afternoon; Joseph, tho' suffering great pain having drove us with his usual Skill and dexterity safe home to our House at Parramatta. ---Mr. Moore took his leave of us at St. Andrews to return home; and our excellent Guide Warlby parted with us on the Road near his own Farm at Prospect.---

21 November 1810 | 27 November 1810