HERITAGE TRAIL

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Walk from the park towards the Brook. Wollombi Brook was previously known as Cockfighter’s Creek, this unusual name arose during Howe’s 1819 expedition when Howe’s party crossed the flooded creek and their lead horse, ‘Cockfighter’, perished in the attempt.  

  In 1904, the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady was built to replace the original church. In the days when the divide between Protestants and Catholics was still wide, separate churches were vital for keeping the peace.

 The first church services in the area were held in the woolshed on Fordwich Estate. By 1864, the population had grown, so a little school and a ‘neat little edifice, built of wood’ was constructed in the village.  

  By the mid-1800s, Broke had its own cricket team and the Maitland Mercury noted that Broke could ‘boast of a nice recreation ground, some three acres in extent, surrounded by a neat painted fence, and provided with gates, etc. where we presume the Brokeite lovers of the willow display their skill occasionally.’ 

 In 1876 the current school house and teacher’s residence were constructed ready for an enrolment of 36 children. Many of the children travelled to school by horse from neighbouring farms  

 In 1878 the Brokeites received a government land grant for the Broke School of Arts and Mechanics Institute. However, it wasn’t for another 20 years that the building was constructed on the site which was opened with a grand ball and over 200 guests!  

  The fertile soils in the valley around Broke have been used to grow corn, oats, barley, rye, potatoes, pumpkins, grapes, and oranges. Orange orchards became a common feature, and in 1907, the Sunday Times reported that the area was known as ‘one of the most important fruit-growing centres in New South Wales. 

 Blacksmiths played an essential role in early farming communities. Curling smoke rising from the blacksmith’s forge was a common sight, and the rhythmic sounds of metal being hammered were a familiar part of life. 

 A manual telephone exchange operated in Broke since the end of the 1800s and by 1974 there were 40 telephones connected to it. Miss Laura Lancaster and Mrs Jessie Forbes were two of the post mistresses and telephone exchange operators.  

  Norman ‘Harry’ Thompson operated his butcher’s business during the 1920-30s and locals recall that the choice was very limited - meat or mutton! Animals to be butchered were kept in the paddocks behind the current house and the meat was slaughtered and sold from the back room. 

 A reporter from the Maitland Mercury noted in 1873 that: ‘The prettily situated village of Broke has recently made several signs of impending progress. There is now a first-class country inn in the township, kept by Mr. Francis Dorrington 

 The village of Broke was officially surveyed in 1860 and one of the first purchasers of an allotment was wheelwright and builder, Joseph Clarke. It was at his premises that the first local post office operated