Our places 
Chowder Bay
Early life and education
Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy was born in 1796. In addition to being the only son of Lord Charles FitzRoy, he was grandson of Augustus Henry FitzRoy – the 3rd Duke of Grafton and, for a short time, the Prime Minister of Great Britain (1768 to 1770).
FitzRoy was educated at Harrow and joined the Royal Horse Guards at the age of 16. He was present at several of the chief actions of the Peninsular War and was wounded at Waterloo. By the age of 29, he had reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In the early 1820s, he was sent to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and served in a variety of positions. He returned to England in 1831 and was elected to the House of Commons for Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk; however, his political career ended a year later.
FitzRoy retired from the army in 1833 and lived quietly for several years, while his family and patrons attempted to find him employment suitable to his social standing. In 1837, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Price Edward Island off the coast of Canada, followed by Governor and Commander in Chief of the Leeward West Indian Islands.
Governorship in New South Wales
FitzRoy was appointed Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales and its dependencies in February 1846 and arrived in the colony on 2 August of that same year. The following day he took over the administration left by Sir George Gipps.
FitzRoy arrived at a time when the colony of New South Wales was rapidly changing. Migration of free settlers was steadily growing, prosperity increasing and the cultural identity of the colony forming. Six years prior to FitzRoy’s arrival, the British Government issued an Order-in Council removing New South Wales from the list of places to which convicts could be sent. However, during his first year as Governor, FitzRoy received a dispatch from in London, notifying that the Legislative Council of New South Wales should favourably consider the renewal of convict transportation.
The proposal proved unpopular with the colonists and with FitzRoy, and the matter climaxed on 11 June 1848, when the Hashemy arrived in Port Jackson with convicts. Public protests were held at Circular Quay, and a deputation against the landing of the convicts presented to FitzRoy. A further convict ship arrived in September with less disturbance. However, due to intense opposition to transportation the Secretary of State, Earl Grey wrote to FitzRoy in November 1849, advising that the transportation of convicts would cease. The last convicts arrived in the colony in 1850.
Conflicts and challenges
The most dramatic impact on New South Wales during FitzRoy’s governorship was the discovery of gold in 1851. The population of the colony doubled in less than 10 years, and the government asserted the right of the Crown to control mining and adopted a system of licences (set at 30 shillings a month), which they hoped (in vain) would curtail a rush to the diggings. The goldfields were placed under special commissioners, clergy were encouraged to the mines and gold escorts were introduced. The squattocracy and landowners were able to thrive during FitzRoy’s time. Concessions were granted by Henry Grey, the 3rd Earl Grey and Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. These concessions were not opposed by FitzRoy, meaning squatters has access to long leases, renewals and the right to purchase their property in preference to any other person.
FitzRoy was often at odds with Earl Grey and sometimes omitted to inform – or delayed informing – the Colonial Office in London of issues in the colony. Earl Grey was critical of FitzRoy’s lack of protection of First Nation people’s rights over the rights of squatters – something Grey was particularly passionate about. Squatters and landowners often denied access to their properties to the traditional owners and objected to expenditure on Aboriginal welfare. FitzRoy was reluctant to quarrel with landowners as they were a powerful political force.
FitzRoy was a popular Governor of New South Wales, and provided stability during a time of social, political, and economic change. Some of his popularity can be attributed to his aristocratic background – most notably, he was a sixth-generation descendant of King Charles II and the Duchess of Cleveland. Although noted for his tact, humanity and moderation, FitzRoy’s tenure as Governor was also marked by scandal and tragedy. Notably, Lady Mary FitzRoy, the Governor’s wife, perished as a result of a carriage accident as she departed from Government House, Parramatta in December 1847. FitzRoy also scandalised the colony toward the end of his governorship during a visit to Berrima. During this visit, he stayed at the Surveyor General’s Inn and became involved with the licensee’s 18-year-old stepdaughter, who later gave birth to a son, named Charles Augustus FitzRoy.
Succession and later life
FitzRoy was succeeded as Governor by Sir William Denison in January 1855 and died three years later in England. In reporting FitzRoy’s death a newspaper obituary noted his achievements. “We must pass rapidly over events which distinguish the reign of Sir Charles: - the passing of the Constitution Act of New South Wales; the incorporation, endowment and inauguration of the University of Sydney; in turning of the first sod of the Sydney Railway; the laying the first stone of the sill of the FitzRoy Dock; and the also the first stone of the Sydney Exchange.”
Visitors to Cockatoo Island can visit Fitzroy Dock, which when completed in 1857, was the largest dry dock in the Southern Hemisphere. Named for Governor FitzRoy, it also has the distinction of being the only surviving example, nationally, of a dry dock constructed by convicts.
References
- The Argus, Wednesday, 5 May 1858, page 3.
- Objects Through Time. 1840 Order Ending Transportation to New South Wales. 1840 Order Ending Transportation To New South Wales | Australia's migration history timeline | NSW Migration Heritage Centre.
- Parliament of New South Wales, 1843 to 1855 – Towards Responsible Government. 1843 to 1855 - Towards Responsible Government (nsw.gov.au).
- Ward, John M. (1966) Australian Dictionary of Biography. FitzRoy, Sir Charles August (1796-1858) Biography - Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy - Australian Dictionary of Biography (anu.edu.au).
Article was originally published on 25 July 2023.
