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“DEATH OR LIBERTY” - THE CRY, “ST PETER” - THE PASSWORD, MONDAY 4th MARCH , 1804 - “THE DAY”. Australian history is often said to be dull as it lacks the passion, violence, drama and powerful beliefs that require ultimate sacrifice. This is not the case with Thompson Square and the conclusion to a revolt that begun in Ireland and ended with bones left to bleach near the Hawkesbury. Ireland was in flames during the 1790’s as people rose across the country to throw off English rule inspired by the successful revolutions in France and America. In 1798 a seminal battle took place at Vinegar Hill in County Wexford and the United Irishman revolt was crushed. |
Over the next 6 years it lingered on with up to 600 rebels being sent to Australia to the horror of the Governors here. They were political prisoners, highly motivated, generally educated and with military experience.
Anticipating problems they were quarantined in work camps such as Castle Hill but this tended to concentrate the problem. Many revolts were hatched but in March 1804 it exploded as a rebel army marched on Windsor to capture the colony’s food supply and thus seize the mainland and declare it “New Ireland”.
Their leader was Philip Cunningham. Born in County Kerry he was cited as ‘a man of great stature and commanding appearance…a born leader of men and a man who commanded loyalty and got it’. He was known for his oratory and intellect. He was a Captain in the Kerry Brigade and a fierce republican. Whilst on a transport in 1800 he engaged in mutiny on the high seas to seize the “Anne” and was nearly lashed to death. In Sydney his attempt to escape to re-join the Irish cause on a French ship had him sent to Norfolk Island.
Being a stone mason by trade his skills were invaluable and the Governor made the fatal mistake of sending him to Castle Hill to build officer quarters, the heartland of the rebel course. Thus they revolted and made their stand on a hill named in honour of that Irish holy soil and place of shattered dreams. The colony was in total panic at the prospect of the various units joining up with possibly 600 men and a third of the guns in the colony. Before the opposing forces engaged in battle Cunningham was induced to parlay under a white flag with the call for “death or liberty”. He was struck down during this truce and in the battle that ensued the rebel forces were defeated.
Near death he was taken to Green Hills (Windsor) where, approximate to the corner of Bell Post Square (Thompson Square) he was gibbetted, without trial, from the the Governor’s external storehouse steps and left to hang there as a warning to all “Croppies” of what awaited them in revolt. The stench of the dead eventually led to complaints and all skeletal remains were collected and buried in a mass grave near the bridge over South Creek. Its believed Cunningham is amongst them – a memorial marks the spot as does a marker at the corner of Bridge St and George St in the square.
Thus on the other side of the world the Irish Rebellion played out its final saga carrying the same battle cry and battle name, indeed by many of the same men. Ireland was to wait another 118 years before the dream held by men such as Cunningham would be fulfilled.
Ironically with over 30% of the colony were Irish. For many of them Australia was to become the land of prosperity, religious tolerance, freedom and suffrage for these subjugated people well before it was attained back home.
Thus ended Australia’s only internal attempt to seize the country by force of arms from the King. It should be remembered the pass word at Eureka was – “Vinegar Hill”.
When in the square, near to where the new proposed road is to go, its worth reflecting upon that warm 5th day of March 210 years ago when these events unfolded on that spot. Thompson Square is inculcated into the bedrock of our collective history – it deserves respect!
Anticipating problems they were quarantined in work camps such as Castle Hill but this tended to concentrate the problem. Many revolts were hatched but in March 1804 it exploded as a rebel army marched on Windsor to capture the colony’s food supply and thus seize the mainland and declare it “New Ireland”.
Their leader was Philip Cunningham. Born in County Kerry he was cited as ‘a man of great stature and commanding appearance…a born leader of men and a man who commanded loyalty and got it’. He was known for his oratory and intellect. He was a Captain in the Kerry Brigade and a fierce republican. Whilst on a transport in 1800 he engaged in mutiny on the high seas to seize the “Anne” and was nearly lashed to death. In Sydney his attempt to escape to re-join the Irish cause on a French ship had him sent to Norfolk Island.
Being a stone mason by trade his skills were invaluable and the Governor made the fatal mistake of sending him to Castle Hill to build officer quarters, the heartland of the rebel course. Thus they revolted and made their stand on a hill named in honour of that Irish holy soil and place of shattered dreams. The colony was in total panic at the prospect of the various units joining up with possibly 600 men and a third of the guns in the colony. Before the opposing forces engaged in battle Cunningham was induced to parlay under a white flag with the call for “death or liberty”. He was struck down during this truce and in the battle that ensued the rebel forces were defeated.
Near death he was taken to Green Hills (Windsor) where, approximate to the corner of Bell Post Square (Thompson Square) he was gibbetted, without trial, from the the Governor’s external storehouse steps and left to hang there as a warning to all “Croppies” of what awaited them in revolt. The stench of the dead eventually led to complaints and all skeletal remains were collected and buried in a mass grave near the bridge over South Creek. Its believed Cunningham is amongst them – a memorial marks the spot as does a marker at the corner of Bridge St and George St in the square.
Thus on the other side of the world the Irish Rebellion played out its final saga carrying the same battle cry and battle name, indeed by many of the same men. Ireland was to wait another 118 years before the dream held by men such as Cunningham would be fulfilled.
Ironically with over 30% of the colony were Irish. For many of them Australia was to become the land of prosperity, religious tolerance, freedom and suffrage for these subjugated people well before it was attained back home.
Thus ended Australia’s only internal attempt to seize the country by force of arms from the King. It should be remembered the pass word at Eureka was – “Vinegar Hill”.
When in the square, near to where the new proposed road is to go, its worth reflecting upon that warm 5th day of March 210 years ago when these events unfolded on that spot. Thompson Square is inculcated into the bedrock of our collective history – it deserves respect!
