Naming of the wards and other significant areas
Maria Lock Ward - Medical
Early historic documents described her simply as "Maria, daughter of Yarramundi". Maria Lock became the first child entered into the Native Institution in 1814. Here she sollected the chief prize when tested against approximately 20 Aboriginal and 100 European students. Later she married a convict named Lock, and became the first Aboriginal person to be married in a church at St John's Parramatta on 26th January 1824. Maria was the first female Aboriginal to be given a land grant, at Liverpool.Maria's family are part of the region's history:- Her father was Yarramundi, a Karadji or "clever man" (a healer) from the Richmond area. Her brother, Colebee, was with William Cox when the road across the Blue Mountains was surveyed in the early 1800's. Her grandfather - Gomerberee, her father - Yarramundi, and brothers - Colebee and Djimba, were the first people to meet Captain Watkin Tench's party when exploring the Hawkesbury District in 1791. Her grandson, Jerome Lock, was in the Third Detachment of the Windsor Volunteer Rifles in 1878/9, and served in the First World Was. He is believed to be Australia's first Aboriginal Soldier.
Maria Lock's family tree dates back to circa 1740 and is thought to be the oldest of its kind documented in Australia.
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This page was last modified on 2 February, 2007