The Pines ‘Roughley House, Dural
Roughley House, home to five generations of the Roughley family, tells their story of hardships of convict living, working the land and their determination to turn their fortunes around as they forged a new life in Australia. Like most families, the Roughley’s story is filled with moments of happiness, sadness, tragedy and pain as well as a few larger-than-life characters such as Clive Roughley that add to the story.
The Roughley story begins in England 1817 when Joseph Roughley and his oldest son James were found guilty of stealing 5 pence worth items. For their crime, they were sentenced to seven years’ transportation to the NSW colony. Here in Australia, Joseph and James served their time as convict labourers in Parramatta after which James married and set about building the Roughley house which is also referred to as “the Pines” given the many towering pine trees planted over many generations.
The family farmed crops and later citrus fruit which was taken by horse and cart to sell at Haymarket. Hard work, grit and sheer determination paid off and by the time James Roughley II died, the family estate had expanded to include 5 properties and was valued at more than £2600. The Roughley house remained in the family and was passed down from generation to generation.
Gordon ‘Clive Roughley’, who was the very last Roughley to remain living at Roughley house. A larger-than-life character, Clive was born in the front room of the house in 1914. He was well known across the district as the “honey and egg man” and was always up for a chat about his family’s history of which he was immensely proud as well as his award-winning chickens which earned him many show ribbons.
Sadly, Clive’s first wife passed away not long after she and Clive were married. Clive never really recovered from the loss of the love of his life and his second marriage didn’t last long. Without any direct heirs to hand the Roughley House to, Clive decided to sell his home to the Hills Shire Council for $1 on the condition that the property would be open to the public and that the house would remain a time capsule of colonial life and the Roughley’s family story.
As part of the agreement, Clive was able to live in his family home and was looked after by Council until his passing in 2002. Today, stepping into the Roughley House, which the Roughley lived in for over 126 years, is like stepping into a living time capsule that expands 5 generations. It is much more than furniture and artefacts. Each generation has left its own mark on the house, with each room telling its own story of early colonial life to more modern times as well as reflecting life in the very early days of the Hills District. Many of the pine trees planted by the family remain and the property covers wonderful views towards the mountains.
For more information on Roughley House and opportunities to visit including events such as Jazz in the Pines go to www.thehills.nsw.gov. au/Venues/Parks-Recreation/Parks-Recreation-Directory/Roughley-House-The-Pines-and-Visitor-Interpretation-Centre
