Eccleston on the Upper Allyn

Eccleston lies on the Upper Allyn, above Allynbrook. Its history connects the village’s origins with early schools and churches, as well as an agricultural industry shaped by citrus growing and dairy farming. Those interested in local rural history will find several specific topics here, from early settlement to the routes along which timber was transported to Paterson.

Location and historical context

The roads around Eccleston and Salisbury were not built until 1920. This date contrasts with the church and school developments that began as early as the 19th century. Together with its location on the Upper Allyn above Allynbrook, it gives Eccleston a clear geographical and historical context.

Early settlement, schools and churches

The village’s origins are said to be linked to the property taken over by Alexander Seymour in the 1830s. Eccleston lay in the predominantly Welsh district of Gresford. The place name Eccleston is also regarded as an expression of the heritage of early Welsh settlers. The history of settlement and cultural influences thus form part of the town’s early chapters.

By 1853, there were enough families in Eccleston to support an Anglican church. St. Paul's Anglican Church was a simple building made of horizontally laid timber planks, with a gabled roof and a porch; it was rebuilt in 1924. The history of Eccleston School also goes back to this period: by 1853, a school had been established on land donated by Hugh Massie. It closed in 1864 and reopened as a public school in 1867. New school buildings were erected in 1885.

A Congregationalist community added to the religious history. In the 1880s, Eccleston became the centre of the Congregational Church in the district; the first services at the Congregationalist church were held in 1885. By 1903, Eccleston was the centre of a preaching circuit that also included Gresford. Anglican and Congregationalist history thus stand alongside the history of the school as distinct strands in the town’s development.

Agriculture and a destination in Upper Allyn

Eccleston was an important area for citrus growing and dairy farming. Oranges, cream, milk and timber were among its products; timber was transported to Paterson along the valley roads. The story of agriculture therefore encompasses both production and its connection to transport routes.

North of Eccleston, in Upper Allyn, the Boot Hill display stands along the fence of a farm on Allyn River Road. It comprises around 1,000 shoes and boots; the display may change over time. Boot Hill Drive is on Allyn River Road in Upper Allyn, also north of Eccleston. If you plan to visit the display, check in advance what is currently on view.

When choosing a holiday rental, you can plan your stay around the topics that interest you most: Eccleston’s settlement, school and church history, or the Boot Hill display in Upper Allyn. This makes local history a practical reference point when deciding which aspects of the area to include in your trip.

Discover more destinations: Griffith City, Berridale, Fernbank Creek, Exeter, Sydney, Argoon, Table Top, Toukley.

For the broader travel guide: New South Wales.