Before the European invasion of Australia, this mountain was the hunting grounds of the Dharawal speaking nation of peoples, they called it Jumbulla, a place of good hunting where wallaby and bush turkey were abundant. The Dharawal moved throughout their territories depending on the abundance of the seasons, for trade and their ceremonies. Their lands extend from the south of Botany Bay to the north of the Shoalhaven River and to the west towards the Southern Highlands and Macarthur areas. Mt Kembla formed part of a travelling route connecting the salt water people of the coast out through the Cordeaux River Valley, to the sweet and bitter water peoples of the inland areas. Robert James one of the first non-indigenous people to grow up in Mt Kembla during the 1840s recalls in Reminiscences of Illawarra witnessing a large Aboriginal Camp of about 100 people on the banks of American Creek "near the bottom of the present Mount Kembla incline" possibly north of what we now know of as Kirkwood Place, Mt Kembla. 

Image: View of Hat Hill from Tom Thumb Lagoon July 9th 1835 by Conrad Martens from the collections of the State Library of New South Wales. 

1770 - the first recorded European mention of the mountain that would later be known as Mt Kembla is found in Captain James Cook's log book of the Endeavour as he sailed north up the East coast of Australia. 
"2:00 pm Wednesday, 25 April, 1770 - a little way inland to the North West of this point [Red point/Port Kembla] is a round hill, the top of which looked like the crown of a hat" (Log of H.M.S. Endeavour, 1768-1770 in CAPTAIN COOK'S JOURNAL DURING HIS FIRST VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD MADE IN H.M. BARK "ENDEAVOUR" 1768-71 London 1893. Project Gutenberg EBook 2005).

Matthew Flinders (1774-1814) and George Bass (1771-1803) explore the Illawarra in 1796. 'Our examination of the country was confined, by circumstances, to a general view. This part is called Alowrie, by the natives, and is very low and sandy near the sides of the rivulet. About four miles up it, to the north-west, is the lagoon, and behind, stands a semicircular range of hills, of which the biggest is Hat Hill.' (Matthew Flinders)

The image is a 1996 commemoration of the first European landing in the Illawarra by George Bass and Matthew Flinders in the Tom Thumb 28th of March 1796 (Image provided by Dr Joe Davis on Kembla Jottings).

More information on The First Footers - Bass and Flinders in Illawarra, W. G. McDonald 1975

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The first published reference to Hat Hill on a map is found on this 1799 Charles Grimes (1772-1858) map "A Topographical Plan of the Settlements of New South Wales Including Port Jackson, Botany Bay and Broken Bay. Surveyed by  Messrs. Grimes & Flinders  ; communicated by Lt. Col. Paterson of the New South Wales Corps ” From the collection of the National Library of Australia. The map is mentioned in EARLIEST ILLAWARRA BY ITS EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS Edited by w. g. McDonald Past President, Illawarra Historical Society.

The map includes George Bass' discovery of coal at Coalcliff 5.8.1797 and Martins Islands named after William Martin who sailed in the Tom Thumb with Bass and Finders March 1796; Sandy Point (Sandon Point today) and Tom Thumbs Lagoon. 

For the unraveling of the mystery of two Hat Hill's see MATTHEW FLINDERS' " HAT HILL " IN ILLAWARRA ON THE SOUTH COAST OF NSW: THE RESOLUTION OF TWO CENTURIES OF EXTREME HISTORICAL CARTOGRAPHIC CONFUSION by Dr Joseph Davis

The English botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858) accompanied by botanical artist Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826) visited Hat Hill in June-September 1803 and again in 1804 in search of natural history specimens. With the help of Aboriginal guides they collected the first type specimens of the koala, a mother and two joeys. They also collected specimens of the Spine-tailed Log-Runner (Orthonyx temmincki) and the 'Purple-breasted Pigeon' (Megaloprepia magnifica). Historian Michael Organ was the first to uncover this and realise that Hat Hill in the historical records was referring to Captain Cook's Hat Hill (Mount Kembla) highlighting the koala's special connection to Mount Kembla (Organ 2006) . Brown's work describing the koala had remained unpublished in Latin for more than a century in the collection of the British Museum of Natural History. Brown wrote "in sylvis ad radices montium prope Hat Hill Potitans foliis Eucalupti..." translated in 1994 by zoological researchers Alwynne Wheeler and D.T. Moore "Natural habitat: In the forests at the foothills of mountains near Hat Hill continuously feeding on the leaves of the Eucalyptus Name according to the Native dweller (Native name), 'Coulo - Kola - Koulou' as an animal which is constantly chewing..."(Moyal 2008:20).

The Discovery of the Koala: Hat Hill (Mount Kembla), New South Wales 1803, Michael Organ 2006

Koala Historical Biography, Ann Moyal 2008

Timber getters penetrated the think forests of the Five Islands in search of valuable red cedar trees, Toona ciliata. "Winderong was their name before we forget it" wrote Philip Zylstra referring to the Cedar's beautiful Dharawal name. To the Europeans it was a highly sought after timbre used to build everything a new colony needed. The great ancient trees were felled and transported to the coast by bullock drays for shipment to Sydney. The tracks left behind by the timber getters opened up the land for agriculturalists to follow. 

Image - Cabbage-tree forest, American Creek, New South Wales 1867 Colour lithograph by Eugene Von Guerard (1811-1901)

"At the time this view was sketched, numerous fires had been kindled by the wood-cutters, and the stately giants were rapidly falling before the pitiless axe of the hardy pioneers of civilization". 

Image sourced from Flickr.

Colonial Botanist Allan Cunningham claimed to have reached the summit of Mount Kembla on the 28th of October 1818, although it appears he actually climbed Mt Keira (McDonald 1975:15). Interestingly though, he uses Mt Kembla and Hat Hill interchangeably in his diary "...About 8 a.m. we left the hut, with an intention, if possible, to reach Mt Kembla, the summit of Hat Hill, bearing about 8 or 9 miles (apparently) W.N.W.,... In an opening through the trees we could clearly distinguish the bold rocky summit and perpendicular face of the hill, which we intend to ascend... After crossing two deep water-channels, and passing over several minor elevations, we arrived at the back of the lower part of the range considerably to the left or southward of Hat Hill, and tracing it continually upon the ascent we at length reached the rugged summit of this flat-topped mariner's landmark at 3 p.m.... I was much disappointed upon finding this eminence entirely covered with very common Port Jackson plants, affording me nothing interesting...From this elevation we had a very extensive view to the seaward, of the whole of the farmed land occupied by various settlers, and bounded by the ocean, comprising from north to south an expanse of near 40 miles. The view westerly on the contrary, is very confined, the country being a succession of lofty ranges behind each other, from among which, large smokes of native fires were observed ascending... After a range of full one hour on this summit, I thought it advisable to descend, and make the most of the daylight and sun, which was much obscured by the dark clouds blowing from the eastward and enveloping the summit of this lofty hill..."

Allan Cunningham, Botanist, In the Illawarra 1818 - 1830,  Michael Organ 1994

The First Footers - Bass and Flinders in Illawarra, W. G. McDonald 1975

Cornelius O'Brien(1793-1869) JP an Irish pastoralist who arrived in Australia in 1815 discovered an overland route to bring cattle from the Appin district to the Illawarra. With 60 pounds in subscriptions from landholders along the route he cleared a track from Figtree to Appin which was reported as completed in January 1822 (King 1965:27). The track descended the Illawarra escarpment between the mountains of Mt Keira and Mt Kembla providing a stunning view of the coastal plain below. It descended from a point north of today's village of Kembla Heights to the ancient fig tree where the track met with the Dapto Road (Princess Highway, Figtree today).

Governor Major General Lachlan Macquarie (1762-1824) traveled this road from the Illawarra after his visit to the region in 1822, "At 10 mins. past 6 a.m. we set forward on our Journey; and after passing over some very bad Road, and Crossing the Cataract River near it's source, we arrived at the Summit of the Great Mountain that contains the Pass to the low Country of Illawarra – the Top of this mountain being three miles from our last Station. — On our arrival on the Summit of the Mountain, we were gratified with a very grand magnificent Bird's Eye view of the Ocean, the 5 Islands, and of the greater part of the low Country of Illawarra as far as Red Point. — After feasting our Eyes with this grand Prospect, we commenced descending the mountain at 20 mins. after 8,O'Clock. The Descent was very rugged, rocky, and slippery, and so many obstacles opposed themselves to our progress, that it was with great difficulty that the Pack-Horses could get down this horrid steep descent. — At length we effected it, but it took us an Hour to descend altho' the Descent is only One Mile & a Half long... " Tuesday 15th of January 1822 recorded in his Journal of a Tour to the Cow Pastures and Illawarra in January 1822.

Cornelius O'Brien - Pioneer of Bulli, N. S. King 1965

The name "Kembla" first appears on maps instead of "Hat Hill" in 1834 though the name had already been in use by Europeans since at least 1818. Governor Richard Bourke (1777-1855) visited the Illawarra in April 1834 after being petitioned by local residents for better roads and safe anchorage. He sent the Surveyor General, Major Thomas Mitchell (1792-1855) to the district where Mitchell mapped out a road descending from Mt Keira to Wollongong; another from the foot of Mt Keira to  Dapto through to Minnamurra; and mapped out the site for the town of Wollongong which was announced in the Government Gazette on the 26.11.1934 (Cousins 1994:93). This image is of the Sir Thomas Mitchell 1834 map of the Illawarra showing the roads, grants and township reserve from the collections of the State Library of NSW.

The town site was also surveyed by Surveyor H. F. White and he too notes "Kembla" on his map. 

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Cousins, Arthur 1994, THE GARDEN OF NSW - A History of Illawarra and Shoalhaven

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Keelogues or Gundarun, had once been a promise grant of Gregory Blaxland of the Blue Mountain's fame, but he lost his grant because he didn't develop it so the estate was passed onto John Hubert Plunkett on the 12th of March 1837. Plunkett was Solicitor General of the Colony in 1832 and became the Attorney General in 1833. (Organ, Doyle and Lindsay 1994)

The estate is advertised for sale from July 1839 selling farms of 30, 40 and 50 acres (The Sydney Monitor 22.6.1839)

The map of the Keelogues subdivision dated September 1939, lists several creeks : Keelogues Brook; Brush Creek, Branch Creek, Running Brook and Mill Brook. It would appear that Keelogues Brook is the name previously given to Brandy and Water Creek, Branch Creek has retained its name to this day and Mill Brook is now Byaron Creek. 

Benjamin Rixon was granted his 40 acres in Central Kembla in 1839 and called his property "Spring Creek". Rixon's land was later purchased by Deighton and Rachel Taylor (nee Henning) who lived there from June 1873.  

Americans on an Exploration Expedition led by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes set anchor in Sydney Cover on the 29th of November 1839. They spent time exploring the region, describing both the natural landscape and the manner in which the inhabitants both Indigenous and European lived. A group of Americans including geologist James Dwight Dana (1813-1895) and artist Alfred Thomas Agate (1812-1846) traveled to Wollongong by steamer in January 1840 and were made welcome at Mr John Hubert Plunkett (1802-1869) the Attorney-General of the colony's farm in Keelgoues. They described his farm as  "about two hundred acres, and it is exceedingly pretty. The residence of Mr. Plunket is a neat cottage, built after the manner of the settlers, and is well adapted to the country. It is surrounded by the most luxuriant foliage, nearly all of which has a tropical character, and includes palms, cabbage-trees, and several varieties of tree-ferns, all growing to a great height." (Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition: During the Years 1838 to 1842, Charels Wilkes  1845:243)

This image, titled "Corrobory (dance) N.H.", is a depiction of a corroboree in the Illawarra 1840, engraving by E G Dunnel from a drawing by Alfred Thomas Agate (one of the official artists of the US exploring expedition).

We may never know for sure how the creek, along who's banks the village of Mt Kembla sprang, received its name "American Creek". One thing seems certain, that either Americans and/or Canadians mistaken for Americans camped near the creek in the early 1840s which was thereafter known as the American Creek. One report from an elderly Robert James (son of William James an 1847 Mt Kembla pioneer) says it was Americans growing tobacco on a large scale along the banks of the creek circa 1850s (Illawarra Mercury 16.5.1924) that gave American Creek its name. Another is that the creek was named after a group of Americans harvested red cedar from its banks using a broad axe. Kevin Stone postulates that the Americans could have been part of the United States Exploring Expedition of 1840 who were nearby at Keelogues Estate through which this same creek flows (KC Stone 'A Profile History Of Mount Kembla' 2002:8).  

Still another theory is that it was French Canadians and American political prisoners exiled to Australia as convicts that settled in the Illawarra that gave the creek its name. A French Canadian, Joseph Marceau, one of 58 prisoners arrived in Sydney in February 1840 and was set to work on Parramatta Road, meanwhile American prisoners were sent on to hard labour in Van Deimen's Land. Marceau and his fellow French Canandian prisoners received a tickets of leave in 1842. In January 1844 after international condemnation Queen Victoria granted all the political prisoners pardons. Joseph Marceau married Dapto girl Mary Catherine Barrett on the 9th of October 1844 and was to settle in Dapto in the Illawarra area raising 11 children and later buying lots 217 and 216 in the Cordeaux River Valley area (John Leo McNamara 'Life at Cordeaux River' 2007:33). "Before he moved to Dapto, Marceau met Ira Polley and Hiram Sharpe in Sydney two Americans who took part in the Canadian Rebellion" and who were transported to Van Deimen's Land. Ira Polley left Tasmania in October 1844 and received his pardon on the 18th of December 1844; Hiram Sharpe left Tasmania for Sydney in August 1846 (from They left Jefferson County Forever... John C Carter 2014).  In Sydney the two decided to join Marceau and moved to the Illawarra. "Using American axes all three men cleared the bush and cut cedar near Mount Kembla (in the area known as American Creek which had been named after them)." (information from Identifying Illawarra Pioneers from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds Migration Heritage Project 2012 page 10 & 13)

However, given that there is no evidence that any of the Canadian rebels were in the Illawarra until 1844 and that all three could not have been together harvesting timber or growing tobacco in Mt Kembla until after 1846; and with land grants listed as in "American Creek" as early as March 1843, it would seem likely that the USA expedition of 1840 who were camped near the creek and could also have harvested timber with their American axes are probably the original source of the name. The later visits by Canadian and American nationals would have simply reinforced the name American Creek and possibly confused later early settlers like Robert James as to the origin of the name.

The first land grants in what is now the village of Mount Kembla were sold in the early 1840s. Lots 10- 15 situated in the county of Camden, parish unnamed, at the Illawarra, part of the Great Reserve were advertised for sale by Public Auction in the New South Wales Government Gazzett 11.10.1842. While the parish of Kembla was not yet named, they were described as having parts of lots bounding the "American Creek", this is the first published mentioned of the name American Creek yet found.

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Both Henry Gordon and Patrick Lehaey purchased their lots at the Public Auction on the 11th of October 1942. 

Henry GORDON of Sydney was a little quicker at registering his purchased lots on 28th of March 1843. These were described on the deeds as Lot 10 (later Lot 93) of 43 acres purchased for 55 pounds and 8 shillings; Lot 15 (later lot 117) of 23 acres for 52 pounds and 2 shillings; Lot 13 (Lot 95) of 30 acres for 45 pounds; and Lot 12 (later Lot 118) of 62 acres for 68 pounds and 4 shillings. Mr Henry Gordon J.P. named his residence Woodbrook farm and remained an active member of the community until the 1860s before moving to Wollongong. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Mt Kembla Public School and chose the name Violet Hill for the school. Woodbrook farm later became part of John Bright's Estate.  

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Patrick LEAHANEY of the Illawarra purchased his land for 36 pounds. He registered his purchase of Lot 11 (later Lot 130) of 24 acres just a few days after Gordon on the 31st of March 1843. On the deeds Patrick's surname is spelt Lehaey, it has been spelt a multitude of ways making research tricky. The family were likely in the area before the Gordons making them the earliest settlers of Mt Kembla and stayed on until the 1950s. They named their property Golden Valley. For more information see American Creek's Golden Valley Blog. 

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Other land grants of the 1840s include:

BENJAMIN Robert - Lot 180 - 13 acres purchased on 18-10-1844 for twenty-nine pounds and five shillings. Decendants of the Benjamin family live in the area until today. Benjamin Rd Mt Kembla is named after Robert. 

BUCKLAND, John - Lot 131 - 20 acres, 18-10-1844

THOMPSON, Dr John Vaughan (19-11-1779 - 21-1-1847) - Lot 132 - 15 acres on 18-11-1844, it appears he never lived at American Creek, residing in Sydney as the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals. This property was sold from his deceased estate to GARRETT John on the 27-7-1847. John Garrett's son was Thomas Garrett, one of the founders of the Illawarra Mercury and politician. 

MCAULEY, Samuel - Lot 94 - 24 acres. McAuley sold to this to Henry Gordon  on the 17.09.1846.

JAMES. William - Lot 128 - 21 acres 10-8-1847; followed by Lot 119 - 21 acres on 30.3.1853; Lot 120 - 21 acres on 30.3.1853; and Lot 92 - 24 acres 30.3.1853. William James Rd is named after him. 

HARTLEY, James Lot 91 - 21 acres 1.11.1851 (now Cordeaux Heights).

Image - Yellow: 1840s grants. Green: 1850-1855 grants, Blue: 1856 grants.

The Reverend William Branwhite Clarke (1798–1878) a geologist and Church of England ordained clergyman arrived in Australia in May 1839 and is known as the father of geology in Australia. He first visited the Illawarra in January 1840 and met up with the American Exploration Expedition (Organ 2016). Clarke recorded in 1853 that "There are oil bearing shales or carbonaceous deposits behind Mount Kembla in the Illawarra, from which I selected specimens in the year 1849 and I believe such will be found to exist elsewhere. The shales do not produce so much oil as the Cannel Coals and when used up in the retorts appear to be of the character of Charcoal".

In 1866 he wrote "Under the escarpment at the head of the Cordeaux River, and a little to the west of it and below Mount Kembla in the beds intersected by America Creek, a series of Shales exist with coal, a portion of which are found to produce oil, but in inconsiderable quantity compared with the Brown Cannels. They will, perhaps, not be esteemed as a source of oil... they will ignite readily by the light of a match" (Clarke 1853 & 1966 sited in Fleming 1976 The Pioneer Kerosene Works).