page_title: Government Depot Site, Rooty Hill
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Government Depot Site, Rooty Hill / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Government Depot Site, Rooty Hill: Part of the concrete-covered brick wall of the underground tank, filled with building debris that may or may not be from the site.
context_page_description: Government Depot Site is a heritage-listed archaeological site at the location of the former Government Stock Farm at Dunsmore Street, Rooty Hill, City of Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1815 to 1819 It is also known as Government Depot Site, Government Depot Ruins, Thornleigh, Stratton and Rooty Hill Government Farm. The property is owned by Department of Planning and Infrastructure. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
context_section_description: The site once comprised the former c.6000 acre Government Stock Farm and associated Superintendent's residence built in 1815.
  Between January 1810 and November 1821, there was (in terms of buildings on site):
  "At Rooty Hill:
  1. a brick built house of two stories high for the residence and accommodation of the superintendent and principal overseer of the Government stock at the station, reserving one room for the use of the Governor, when occasionally there, with kitchen, stables and other necessary out-offices and kitchen garden enclosed;
  2. four paddocks of 50 acres, each enclosed for the grazing of young cattle and raising of wheat and maize for the use of the stockmen;
  3. temporary log huts or barracks for the accommodation of 20 stockkeepers, with small kitchen garden attached thereto.
  From a walk around the overgrown area where the original building is thought to have been, there is little visible evidence remaining of any structures above ground. The area is almost completely overgrown with thorn bushes. The only evidence found included several timber posts, from a post and rail fence and a large cement rendered brick pit (possibly a well). It has been filled with various items and debris. Remnants of the garden which would have served the main building are discernable, as is the overall form of the garden.
  A 1992 DUAP listing described the remains of the depot to include: mounds of bricks, stone flagging, timber slabs, and a five-metre-diameter (16 ft) well, however, with the exception of the well, none of these structures are visible and appear unlikely to have survived.
caption: Underground tank, possibly the well
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