History of Bowral - Village: 1840 - 1850s

1850s

During 1857- 1858, John Oxley's sons, John Norton Oxley and Henry Molesworth Oxley had built the locally renowned "Wingecarribbee" homestead that remains until this day. The homestead held the Wingecarribee (modern-day Bowral) village's Church of England services. The homestead is currently privately owned. It is during this period in time that Henry conveyed his share of the 4,200 acre grant to his older brother John. John subdivided 200 acres (0.81 km2) as it was known that the railway would be constructed through the district. The arrival of the railway in 1867 was the catalyst for the development of Bowral from a private village into a township. Henry also subdivided the land for farms which in the future lead to growth in Bowral.