14 Facts About Charles Throsby

Charles Throsby was an English surgeon who, after he migrated to New South Wales in 1802, became an explorer, pioneer and parliamentarian.

Charles Throsby opened up much new land beyond the Blue Mountains for colonial settlement.

Charles Throsby was engaged as a surgeon on the convict transport Coromandel carrying 136 male convicts from Portsmouth to Sydney.

In 1817, Throsby did some exploration near Moss Vale and Sutton Forest.

On 25 April 1819 Charles Throsby pioneered exploration west of the Blue Mountains, when he left the Cowpastures, and travelling first south-south-west, then west, north-west, and north-north-west, finished his journey near the site of Bathurst.

Charles Throsby himself was given a grant of land near Moss Vale at Bong Bong.

Charles Throsby undertook the journey with John Rowley, two servants John Wait and Joe Wild, and two Aboriginal guides, named Cookoogong and Dual.

The details of this trip are lost, but it is probable that Charles Throsby passed through what is the Australian Capital Territory and that he reached the Yass River.

In November 1824 Charles Throsby was one of the 10 landholders and merchants submitted by Governor Brisbane to Earl Bathurst as suitable for appointment for a colonial council, and when the New South Wales Legislative Council was formed in December 1825, three of these were appointed, of whom Charles Throsby was one.

Charles Throsby's standing in the community was very high and he was the owner of about 20,000 acres and large and valuable herds of cattle.

Charles Throsby's health had not been good for some time, and becoming depressed, on 2 April 1828 he committed suicide by shooting himself.

Charles Throsby had no children, and his estate was inherited by his nephew, Charles Throsby.

Charles Throsby had previously been sent for and arrived on the Mangles on 7 August 1820.

Charles Throsby married Elizabeth "Betsey" Broughton, one of the survivors of the 1809 Boyd massacre, and had many children.