Indenture – William Bligh

The Indenture relates to the controversial ‘Camperdown’ land grant bearing the signature of Governor Philip Gidley King (See SF000064), an early colonial document of prime historical importance.

Bligh arrived in Sydney on 6 August 1806 to assume his appointment as Governor of the colony. However, in an unprecedented move, he did not make his official landing until the 8th, and he was not sworn in as Governor until 14th August. This intervening period, which he spent with the outgoing Governor King at Government House, was to become the centre of a storm of controversy when it was revealed that certain grants of land were made between the incoming and outgoing governors during this time.

This present land grant “for a private residence near Sydney” to be known as “Camperdown”, named after the sea battle in which Bligh had recently distinguished himself, was one of three that Governor King granted to Bligh at this time. The others were for residences near Parramatta and at Rouse Hill.