Hamilton Hume’s Coach

Australian Town and Country Journal

5 April 1902

When the Royal Commission on the Sydney Water supply paid a visit to the sources of the supply, they took the train to Campbelltown.

From the latter town they were driven to the scene in a coach owned by Mr. James Waterworth. He is one of the few remaining specimens of the coach man of the pre-railway days. There are very few left, though one or two are still to be met in Tasmania.

Waterworth's father was chief con stable of the Agamemnon, and was killed by convicts at Mars Hill, Parramatta, whilst in the execution of his duty. James Waterworth is now close on four score years of age, and his coaching experiences go back to a very early date.

The coach shown in the picture, with Waterworth on the box, is nearly as old as the driver himself, and possesses a history of its own. It was bequeathed to him by Hume the explorer, who bought it in 1842 from Mr. Campbell, a well-known Sydney merchant of the early days. "I take care of it," says Mr. Waterworth, "because of Hamilton Hume, who left it to me, and who reared me."

Pointing out its many excellencies of construction, Mr. Waterworth will show you the cunning little box where in the early riotous days he used to find it desirable to keep his personal belongings, and you will also be shown the receptacles under the seats "where the girls used to put their ball-dresses, which they would put on when they got into town."

Originally the sides were windowed, but now they are open. Lord Carrington, it appears, when he used to travel wanted more room to see about him.