Richard Rouse

Richard Rouse (26 February 177410 May 1852) was an Anglo-Australian public servant who was active during the Colonial development of New South Wales as the Superintendent of Public Works and Convicts at Parramatta under the direction of NSW Governors William Bligh and Lachlan Macquarie. He is attributed as the designer of Rouse Hill House in , that was his family home from 1819 until his death in 1852. on 14 December 1801 as a free settler with his wife, Elizabeth Adams, and their two young children. In March 1802 Governor Philip Gidley King granted Rouse and he established on a farm at on the Hawkesbury River. In July 1805 he was appointed superintendent of lumberyard at Parramatta.

In 1806, Rouse welcomed Governor Bligh against the despotism of the New South Wales Corps and was one of the governor's staunchest supporters. After sympathizing with Bligh, he was named by Bligh as one of the witnesses he wished to take to England. However, the trip did not eventuate as Bligh changed his mind. Rouse his position as a public servant. On 14 January 1810 he was appointed superintendent of carpenters by Governor Macquarie and in October 1814 was appointed auctioneer at Parramatta. He superintended the construction of many buildings, tollhouses and turnpikes in the vicinity of Parramatta, and , including the renovation of Old Government House, Parramatta, in 1815 and the erection of the Parramatta Hospital in 1818.

In 1822, Rouse sent his sons in search of good pasturage in the area north-west of the Blue Mountains; and in 1825 they took up land for him north of on the Cudgegong River near . This grant of was gradually increased, and became two stations, Guntawang and Biraganbil, which were inherited by his sons Edwin and George. Both properties prospered and the Rouses were connected with progressive movements in the towns of Mudgee and Gulgong for many years. Rouse also acquired Ewenmar on the Castlereagh River, Gillendoon near , Cobborah near and other land at Bathurst as well as the properties at and . By 1828 he possessed about , but by then he had retired to Rouse Hill. There he devoted his time to the raising of sheep and cattle, the breeding of thoroughbred horses and the management of his various properties. He became well known for the quality of his stock, which he improved from time to time with imported sires. and Richard Rouse died on 10 May 1852.