John Howe's 1820 Expedition

In March 1820, John Howe set out on his Second Expedition, aiming to reach the Hunter River and travel along it. They had 6 horses and 6 pack saddles of provisions and equipment. The Expedition included the following group of men with their two Aboriginal guides:

Free men: George Loader Jr, Benjamin Singleton and Daniel Phillips. Ticket of Leave: Jeremiah Butler. Convicts: Charles Berry, Samuel Marshall, Frederick Rhodes, James House, Robert Bridle and Nicholas Connelly. Volunteers: Andrew Loder, Thomas Dargan Jr and Phillip Thorley. Aboriginal guides: Myles and Mullaboy.

They reached the Hunter River on 15 March 1820 and travelled downstream for five days, arriving at Wallis Plains. Howe wrote to Governor Macquarie from Wallis Plains on 21 March to tell him about the trip.On their return journey, they blazed their route and that became the first road north from Sydney. It was opened officially as a road in 1823. It became known as The Bulga Road or sometimes as The Parson's Road. Today, it is usually referred to as the Putty Road. There is more about Howe and his 1820 expedition.

Subsequently all the freemen received land grants in the Hunter Valley as a reward for their efforts in setting a route for travel from Windsor to the Hunter Valley.