Port Macquarie (like Port Arthur) was founded as a Penal Settlement for secondary offending Convicts who committed further crimes once in the colony of New South Wales. It was first settled in 1821 under the command of Captain Francis Allman, with a small contingent of Soldiers, an Engineer, A surgeon, and 60 convicts. As a secondary place of Punishment life in Port in the first few years was hars
h with a high death rate. Convicts worked long days in the sun in leg irons, with small rations. Floggings were commonplace for attempted escapees. In contrast later on Governor Darling described Port Macquarie as being “hardly a place of punishment”. Sugarcane, Maize, Cedar and Livestock were the main produce, pilfering of goods was common among officers and commandants. Produce and supplies were transported by sea. And many, many shipwrecks occurred on Port Macquarie’s notorious bar entrance causing high loss of life over the years. Most ships could only cross in high tide as the water was never deeper than 10ft over the bar. Nearly all of the original buildings have been demolished with only St Thomas’ Church and the Historical Society building still standing from the convict era. Some of the original buildings were; Government house, Gaol, Military barracks, Prisoners barracks, Hospital, Church, Boat shed, Lumberyard, Women’s factory. Two early burying grounds from the colonial era still exist. The first being Allman Hill where the first burials took place. Those of note are James McMahon on 22 July, 1821 the first person to die in the new settlement - killed by a protracted illness. And James Vaughan member of the 48th Regiment killed by a gunshot wound whilst preventing convicts from escaping. 28 burials occurred on Allman Hill from 1821-1824. Under the Floor of St Thomas’ church is the grave of Captain Rolland who died of exposure on the 16th of November 1824. The second burying ground contains over 1500 soldiers, convicts. The town's second cemetery was used from 1824-1886. Although the cemetery officially closed in 1886, further burials were reported after this date. The first burial was of Elizabeth Murphy, daughter of Corporal Murphy 3rd regiment of the Buffs aged four months. Infant mortality rate was high as shown in burial records. Today, over 110 graves can still be seen.
