Blog Post #2 - Clifton Convict Quarters: The First Home of the Stonestreet Brothers

Stonestreet Family

10 Mar

⛓️From Chains to Shelter: The Legacy Begins

When Moses, William, and Levi Stonestreet arrived in New South Wales aboard the Mangles in 1824, they were assigned to one of the colony’s most intriguing sites — the Clifton Convict Quarters at Locksley. Built in 1826, this two-story brick building stands as one of the oldest surviving examples of early convict housing in rural New South Wales.

Located near Bathurst, Clifton became the brothers' first home in the colony — a stark, cold structure that offered shelter, discipline, and the foundation for what would eventually become 200 years of family legacy. Its original purpose was simple: contain and control. But through the generations, it has come to symbolise resilience, grit, and new beginnings.

🏆Restoration with Respect

In 2017 the building underwent award-winning conservation. Its National Trust heritage award recognises the painstaking effort that went into restoring the convict-era quarters — preserving handmade bricks, timber detailing, and colonial craftsmanship. A rear addition, clad in recycled corrugated iron, now allows the building to meet modern safety standards while honouring its rugged, utilitarian past.

🏘️A Place to Stay, Reflect, and Remember

Today, Clifton is more than just a historical relic. It has been thoughtfully transformed into self-contained accommodation, blending colonial architecture with modern comforts. Guests can literally sleep beneath the same rafters where the Stonestreet brothers once lay, looking out at the same landscape they worked on as assigned labourers.

💬 Have you visited Clifton and had the chance to walk in the brother’s footsteps — not through imagination, but through bricks and mortar. Leave a comment.

📚 Next up: A Name That’s Lasted 200 Years