A brief history of Box Hill – and the Box Hill & Nelson Progress Association

Box Hill’s story begins with Governor-designate William Bligh, who arrived in Sydney on 6 August 1806. Just four days later, retiring Governor Philip King granted him 1,000 acres spanning much of present-day Box Hill, with parts of Nelson and Rouse Hill. Bligh named it the Copenhagen Estate after a famous naval battle, and officially became Governor on 13 August 1806.

 

After Bligh’s departure in 1810, the estate passed into new hands. In 1819, entrepreneur Samuel Terry acquired a 1,700-acre property covering much of the Copenhagen lands. His son John lived at the homestead, today the site of McCall Gardens off Terry Road. Following John’s death in 1842, the property went to Samuel Henry Terry, who served in the NSW Parliament for Mudgee (1859-69; 1880-81), New England (1871-80) and later in the Legislative Council (1882-87).

 

George Terry inherited next, ran sheep, and led the Sydney Hunt Club. By 1919, the driveway was extended to Old Pitt Town Road and became Terry Road. That year the family subdivided the estate into 170 lots auctioned on 24 May, retaining 211 acres around the homestead. By 1956, much of this land was owned by William McCall, who donated 43 acres and the house to the Sub-Normal Children’s Welfare Association. Renovations followed, and the McCall Garden Colony opened on 27 September 1958.

 

Community advocacy has deep roots here. Formed in 1944 by 38 locals, the Box Hill and Nelson Progress Association met in homes until a hall, a relocated ex-army Nissen hut on land gifted by Anthony Skarratt, opened in 1955. Transferred to Council in 1986 and renovated in 1993, the site was sold in 2023 to help fund the new Box Hill and Nelson Community Centre, due to open next year. The Association still meets at 7:30pm on the second Monday of every second month, locals welcome.