The Pansy Tram Journey

A popular memory of the Camden area is the Camden tram, affectionately called Pansy, which used to travel along a narrow gauge line beside the road from Campbelltown to Camden. The line began in 1882 and carried its last train just over 50 years ago on 1st January 1963.

There were seven stations along the thirteen kilometre track between Campbelltown and Camden. First was Maryfields where huge crowds travelled each Easter for Stations of the Cross commemorations. Next was Kenny Hill near the water supply channel where sometimes passengers had to get off and walk to lighten the load and enable the train the reach the top of the hill.Then came Curran's Hill near the present day Australian Botanical Garden at Mt Annan.

Narellan Station was next on the corner of the Northern Rd to Penrith where coal was loaded. Not far on was Graham Hill for an easy lift for those spending time at the Narellan Hotel.Kirkam was at the bottom of the hill where milk cans were loaded each morning bound for Sydney then the little Elderslie Station with just a small weather hut on the north side of the Nepean River. Camden had goods yards and a siding into the Camden Vale Milk factory at the entrance to the town.

Locals would listen for the whistle to know the morning papers had arrived from Sydney and engine drivers were known to hold the train for pretty girls running late for their train to work.Floods sometimes left passengers standed near the playing fields at Elderslie where they had to be rescued by boat.

Poems and a song about the tramline were written and can be found in the Camden Library collection as well as books, DVDs and memorabilia from the line.

Some oral histories conducted by Camden Library interviewed the last of those still alive who worked on the tram as engine drivers and firemen. At a few places along Narellan Road and Camden Valley Way traces of the line can still be seen. Many car drivers on Narellan Road wish Pansy was still with us as they make their slow journey to the University of Western Sydney or the electric rail at Campbelltown. For more images and stories visit Camden Images and Camden Voices. To see a video of the last service go to Railway video

Coach Travel in Blacktown

Horses were the main means of transport for a long time in the Blacktown area. By the time the railway reached Blacktown in 1860, stage coaches had been operating in the area for more than 30 years. Regular coach services were run between Sydney and Penrith by the 1820s. Early attempts to introduce a service to Windsor failed because of the road's deplorable condition.

However, by 1831, a daily mail service was operating between Windsor and Sydney, with four changes of horses being made including one at John Booth's Rouse Hill Hotel. The following year a new "patent safety coach with accommodation for 15 passengers who are much sheltered from the weather" began operations.

Extension of the railway to Richmond in 1864 brought an end to the service because the trip was reduced from five to two hours.

Rivalry between coach services was intense. Writing for the Cumberland Argus in 1911 historian William Freame recalled an incident when two rival coaches left the Fox Under the Hill staging post and inn at Prospect at the same time and a race quickly developed.

"Down they came, full gallop, the horses urged on by the drivers' whips and the cries of their passengers who were yelling out their cries of derision. The coaches were seen swaying from side to side when Kendall's driver began to press the other fellow over toward the edge". Fortunately, a terrible accident was narrowly averted.

When the coaches pulled up at Fullagar's Hotel, the dastardly coward who tried to wreck his rival was buffeted and had his nose pulled in the presence or 40 people who gave him fits".

Although motor vehicles gradually replaced the horse in urban areas, Blacktown still had a blacksmith. Horse and cart deliveries were made for milk, bread and meat. Although the old butchers' carts ceased operations around 1940, bread carts were still used until the early 1960s.

Family outing 1920s

Butcher's cart, 1916

Brief outline of Hawkesbury's Railway Service

An extension of the Sydney to Parramatta railway line was discussed as early as 1843. Following the plans to extend the line to Blacktown, the community pressured the Government. The railway line was officially opened to Blacktown in 1860. The Government eventually set aside money in the budget in 1862 for the line to be extended to Richmond. Originally the line was going to be a horse-drawn service however there was a lot of opposition and at the proclamation in 1863 the change was announced.

The line was officially opened by Sir John Young, the Governor of New South Wales, on the 29 November 1864 with stations at Riverstone, Mulgrave, Windsor and Richmond. Newspapers reported the opening in detail and The Sydney Morning Herald on the 30 November 1864 gives a thorough account. When the need grew, other stations opened at various times, these included:

• Racecourse 1870 but renamed Clarendon in 1876. This station was used extensively for the racecourse in the vicinity.
• Hawkesbury Dairy & Ice Society siding near Windsor opened in 1922 
• Vineyard 1935 
• East Richmond 1935

Richmond Railway Station in the late 1950s. Photo: R. D. Power
Source : Hawkesbury Library Service

The railway line was electrified to Riverstone on the 22 May 1975 and following long delays and debate, the extension continued to Richmond, officially opening on the 17 August 1991.

Official opening of electrified line at Richmond Railway Station, 1991. Photo: M. Nichols
Source: Hawkesbury Library Service

During the 1880s the community proposed that the rail service be extended to Kurrajong. In 1924 the first sod was turned and the line was officially opened to Kurrajong on the 8 November 1926. The line ran at a loss and following flood damage and land slides the line was officially closed in 1952.

Additional information about the Richmond-Kurrajong Railway Line is located online at Richmond Kurrajong Railway 


Sources
Hawkesbury Heritage / Stan Stevens
Macquarie Country / Douglas Gordon Bowd
Hawkesbury 1794 - 1994 / Jan Barkley & Michelle Nichols

Peter Kemp - World champion sculler

The sport of sculling was flourishing throughout the world in the latter half of the nineteenth century, particularly in Australia. Australians were dominating the sport and pulling in huge crowds of spectators, particularly along the Parramatta and Hawkesbury River. The professional sport of sculling remained popular until around the onset of World War 1.

Peter Kemp from the Windsor & Richmond Gazette 7 June 1890

Peter Kemp 1853-1921

Peter Kemp was well-known in the sport and was born and bred in the Hawkesbury. Peter was born 15 November 1853, the son of Peter Kemp, a convict who arrived in 1832, and Sophia nee Huxley. As a boy growing up near the mouth of the Colo River, he taught himself to row on both the Colo and Hawkesbury Rivers. His first race was against William Grono, another well-known Hawkesbury family. Kemp became interested and participated in several small events including a race in 1873 with his brother, Thomas. They beat William and Alexander Grono in a double sculls event, the times was thirty-three minutes over the four mile event.

Considered a late starter, his first important race was against George Solomon on the Hawkesbury River, he was then aged thirty-one years old. In 1884 as a virtual unknown, he raced against the superior sculler, Neil Matterson. Kemp led for half the race but then became ill. Following some controversy he attracted the attention of champion Bill Beach (1850-1935) and travelled to England with him as his protégé in 1886. He performed badly and was harshly criticised by the press both here and in England. On his return to Australia he started a training program, and actively exercised. In 1887 he once again met Matheson at a race on the Parramatta River which he won with little effort.

At another event, Bill Beach reigning champion, beat Canadian sculler Edward Hanlan at a race on the Nepean which Beach won. Kemp then challenged Beach however Beach decided to retire and under the rules of rowing, this made Kemp the World Sculling Champion. The sculling world was stunned and the press had a field day claiming the situation was rigged and Kemp was not worthy as the title holder. In 1888 a race was held at Parramatta between Kemp and his rival Hanlan. Huge crowds flocked the riverbanks and large bets were made. Kemp won the race and silenced his critics; he was then hailed as a brilliant oarsman. At his peak in 1888, Kemp's physical measurements were recorded in the newspaper. He was described as a strongly built, muscular man, with a wonderful freedom and dash in his stroke. His height was recorded as 5' 9"  with a chest of 40" and 14" biceps. His rowing weight was recorded as 11 stone 4 pound. The Windsor & Richmond Gazette reported that the Americans were keen for Kemp to travel to their country and organise a race between the American champion John Teemer and Kemp.

Hanlan challenged Kemp again several months later, however Kemp easily won the race and he finally the undisputed World Champion. Following this race, Kemp was challenged by Henry Searle (1866-1889) an unknown sculler who was quickly being recognised as a champion. Searle beat Kemp to become the champion, however he died suddenly in 1889 and under the rowing rules, Kemp then reclaimed the title. After several more wins Kemp was finally beaten by John McLean in 1890.

Peter Kemp was married in 1874 in Windsor to Henrietta Jones, the daughter of William Jones and Catherine Elkin. They had nine children but sadly Henrietta died, following the birth of daughter Bertha in 1891. Kemp married a second time to Bertha Lawler in 1891 and there were two more children born. Peter Kemp passed away on the 1 December 1921 at Summer Hill and is buried at Rookwood. His obituary was published in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette 9 December 1921.

Recreation in the Hawkesbury

Hawkesbury River

The Hawkesbury River has always played an integral role in recreation and water sports in the district. In 1845 the Hawkesbury Regatta Club was formed to encourage aquatic sports on the Hawkesbury River. Races were held for two and four oared boats, sculls and canoes. Regattas were held regularly along the river and the Grono family were first-rate participants. 

Advertisement for the establishment of the Hawkesbury Regatta Club Sydney Morning Herald 11 October 1845

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic, is an annual race between Windsor and Brooklyn and now raises money for charity. 

Water ski-ing and power-boating are prevalent along the Hawkesbury River since the mid-twentieth century, the Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic commences from Dangar Island and continues the length of the Hawkesbury River and finishes at Windsor, 112kms later. The first race was held in 1961.

Early days of ski-ing on the Hawkesbury River.
Taken by Robert 'Bob' Powers, courtesy Hawkesbury Library Service

Sculling 

The sport of sculling was flourishing throughout the world during the latter half of the nineteeth century, particularly in Australia and around the Hawkesbury-Nepean and Parramatta Rivers. Australians dominated the sport with large crowds of spectators. Peter Kemp (1853-1921) a local Hawkesbury sportsman went on and became the World Champion Sculler.

Swimming 

When the district was originally settled by Europeans, many drownings took place as the settlers were not familiar with the river or swimming. Several generations later these families swam in the river for recreation. Swimming featured as a sport from about the 1890s. In 1896 the Mile Championship of Australasia race was held at Windsor with contestants from interstate and New Zealand, the race was won by Percy Cavill. 

In 1896 a meeting of ladies desirous of forming a swimming club in Windsor took place at the School of Arts. About thirty ladies attended the meeting and Mr. F. Collison and Mr. H. R. Buttsworth moved and seconded, on behalf of the ladies,  that a ladies branch of the NSW Swimming Association be formed in Windsor. The following ladies were proposed as a committee: Misses Becke, Linsley, Wood, Brancker,  Walker, Barnett, Dunstan, Cobcroft, Ward, Callaghan and Tebbutt. 

Swimming Clubs were formed to promote and teach the art of swimming. Richmond Pool was opened in 1963 and Windsor in 1971. Swimming in the Hawkesbury, Grose and Colo Rivers has always been a popular past time. Unfortunately swimming has not been promoted in the Hawkesbury River since the late 1980s with the advent of a Blue-Green algae problem. 

Recreation

Hawkesbury residents were proficient at entertaining themselves. Whilst sporting events were popular in some areas, social activities such as theatre, dances and tea parties were exceedingly prevalent in others. 

School of Arts & theatre groups 

Dr John Dunmore Lang opened the Windsor School of Arts building in Thompson Square in 1862 while Sir Henry Parkes opened the Richmond School of Arts in 1866. Each of the original buildings were fitted with a library and hall. Other buildings were established in the smaller townships at later dates. The School of Arts provided locals with lectures, recitals, debates, public meetings, balls etc. Richmond School of Arts is still used for its original purpose and is the home of the Richmond Players, the local drama group which was established in 1952. 

Windsor School of Arts
Courtesy Bowd Collection, Hawkesbury Library Service

Church activities 

Religion played an important role in the Hawkesbury district and the religious beliefs of the various denominations often influenced the lifestyle. Church services gave the inhabitants the opportunity to worship and the chance to interact socially. Denominations in the area included Church of England, Presbyterian, Methodist and Roman Catholic. Related events such as fetes, tea parties, concerts and other activities provided Hawkesbury residents with various forms of recreation. 

Organisations and community groups 

One of the earliest groups commencing in the district was the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society. Established in 1819, it was set up to support the poor, sick and elderly in the district. This group folded in the 1980s when the Western Area Service Scheme was set up. The Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association has been operating since 1879 and providing the regular Hawkesbury Show. Other groups such as the Richmond Rifle Corps, Windsor Ladies Music Club, Sons of Temperance or the Windsor School of Arts Literary and Debating Club have been and gone. 

Parks 

There are many parks in the Hawkesbury district that are used for the pleasure of the community. These range from large areas of land with grass and trees, to smaller portions that are filled with bushland. Some of these parks are also used as sports-grounds, meeting places and for recreation and picnics. The Hawkesbury has about 100 parks and reserves. 

Rotunda at McQuade Park,  1979
Taken by Margaret Chadwick, courtesy of Hawkesbury Library Service

Due to the diversity of the landscape in this district, there are six National Parks included within the Hawkesbury local government boundaries. They are Blue Mountains, Cattai, Dharug, Parr, Scheyville, Wollemi and Yengo National Parks. Other areas include the Mount Tomah Botanical Gardens, Pitt Town Lagoon Nature Reserve, Windsor Downs Nature Reserve & Comleroy State Forest. Renowned bushland landscapes and national parks in the area encourage the pursuit of bushwalking. 

Sport in the Hawkesbury

In previous centuries, recreation and leisure time in the Hawkesbury was constrained due to working commitments and economic factors. The residents of the district created their own activities which included a wide range of sporting pursuits and recreational entertainment.

Sport

The Hawkesbury district as always been very involved in the pursuit of sport. Some of the most popular sports include :-

Horse breeding and racing

Breeding horses and horse racing has always been very popular in the Hawkesbury district. A map dated in 1806 mention a "Race Course" and an early account reports of a race in 1810 in Windsor. Mr Benn's Scratch was matched against Mr May's roan poney (sic) formerly Mr Williamson's, to run two miles for a sum said to be considerable and Scratch was the eventual winner. Regular races were held throughout the Hawkesbury district including: Killarney, near McGraths Hill, Clarendon, Wilberforce and North Richmond. The first organised meet took place in 1829. 

Some of the well-known horse breeders in the district included members of the Cox family, Phillip Charley, William Town and his son, Andrew Town.

In 1865 a race course was built from leased Crown Land. A grandstand was also constructed and the first Hawkesbury Grand Handicap was run in 1871 with a purse of 120 sovereigns. 

Cricket

Cricket has been played in the Hawkesbury district since the early nineteenth century. In 1882 a match between the visiting 'All England Eleven' was played against a team selected from players from the Hawkesbury and Nepean. A special train conveyed about a thousand additional spectators to the game held in Windsor. The home team scored 61 with All England replying with 5 for 135. 

Local cricket at Richmond Park in the 1950s

Source : Hawkesbury Library Service

Charlie Nicholls of Freemans Reach was one of the finest players in the Hawkesbury in the 1920s. A promising fast bowler who played Grade cricket as well as representing NSW. The local newspaper reported he retired from Grade Cricket in 1933. 

Football 

Various forms of football have been played in the Hawkesbury. Rugby Union, which had been introduced from England in the 1860s, was the first type of football played in the late nineteenth century in the Hawkesbury. Rugby Union games were played in McQuade Park from at least 1896. 

Windsor Football Club in 1910 

Source: Hawkesbury Library Service 

Another code of football was introduced when a break away group Rugby League was set up in NSW in 1907. The first League team in Windsor was established by 1910. This was a very popular sport, particularly in the post World War 2 period, and the district won many premierships and produced many fine players. Rugby League continues to be a popular sport in the district and the local Windsor Wolves team generating a lot of support. The Windsor Leagues Club officially opened a licensed league club in South Windsor in 1986.

Australian Rules Football evolved in Victoria in the 1850-1860s. Mainly a Victorian game, eventually the code spread to NSW in the twentieth century. The local team club is Hawkesbury Australian Rules Football Club.

Athletics

Various challenges were made during the nineteenth century by persons wishing to show off their athletic abilities. These included running races, rolling downhill in a barrel and running with a pumpkin on your head. One interesting chap was William Francis King (1807-74) who was known as the ‘Flying Pieman.’ William migrated to Australia in 1829. He worked as a schoolmaster at Sutton Forest, then a barman in Sydney & also worked as a pie man. His nickname the Flying Pieman came from a series of extraordinary walking feats. He beat the Windsor to Sydney coach, several times. He walked from St. John's Parramatta to St. Matthew's Windsor and back, a journey of forty-three miles, three days in row. The first trip took eight hours, the second day seven hours and the last day it took him seven hours and twenty-five minutes. Other things he was renowned for was carrying a dog between Campbelltown and Sydney.

Athletic days were held in local parks or wherever there was space. One particular event held in Richmond Park in 1881 included races, hurdles, sack races and a tug of war. A fifty yard backward race as well as a race run on both hands and feet. Schools promoted athletics and a wide range of activities involving students took place. During the mid to late twentieth century many combined school athletics days took place at both Richmond Park and McQuade Park in Windsor.

Sports Days and tea meetings were very popular in the smaller communities around the Hawkesbury and often held for the dual purpose of raising funds for local projects and for the entertainment of the community.

The community at Bull Ridge (East Kurrajong) spent many years raising money to build a much needed School of Arts adjacent to Stanley Park. It was reported in the Windsor & Richmond Gazette in 1913 that a nice gathering assembled at Stanley Park on Monday, 27th January, for the tea meeting. Some of the proceeds were to go towards the project. A number of races were held including a bicycle race, flag race, and needle race. Apparently one lady cheated by having the needle already threaded but still failed to win the contest. Tests of strength were also included such as the wood chopping and ladies nail driving contest. After the tea meeting, about twenty couples continued the festivities by engaging in music and dancing into the night. About midnight refreshments were passed around. Dancing was kept going until 4 o'clock.

Today there are several organisations in the district promoting athletics for juniors. 

  

School athletics carnival at McQuade Park Windsor in the 1950s

Source: Hawkesbury Library Service

Netball

Over the last few decades, netball has grown to be an extremely popular sport in the Hawkesbury area. Played females of all ages in day games as well as night. The district has produced a number of outstanding teams and players, including Liz Ellis who commenced her career playing with Green Hills Netball Club in the Hawkesbury Association. Liz was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Tennis 

Lawn tennis has been enjoyed by Australians since the 1870s. Although it was largely male dominated, females began playing the Hawkesbury district from at least the 1890s. Competition tennis commenced in the early twentieth century and night competition tennis was also very popular. The lights were turned on in 1936 on courts near the old Presbyterian church in Windsor. One of the finest tennis players was William "Bill" Walker who won many state and national titles during the 1920-1930s. Today tennis is still very popular and played throughout the district at various locations. Richmond Tennis Centre is the largest site where many significant competitions.

Wilberforce Tennis Team 1895

Source: Hawkesbury Library Service

Other activities

A wide range of other sporting activities took place in the Hawkesbury including bowls, skating, pugilism, tennis, cockfighting and ratting.

Ratting

This sickening diversion involved the placing a dog into a pit confined with and see how many the dog can kill in a certain time. An example from the Windsor & Richmond Gazette in 1888 follows:

Windsor & Richmond Gazette, 1 September 1888, p. 3

Newspapers of the time also advertised that rats were bought in any quantity, from Humphrey Douglas at the Royal Hotel, Windsor, at 2d each. He also sold rats and terriers. Douglas ran a Pit where ratting took place regularly.

Skating 

Skating was all the rage in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Windsor. 

Skating carnivals were regularly held in the 1880s including one conducted by Mr Hesford in 1888 at the Windsor School of Arts. The local newspaper reported that the Skating Carnival on Monday evening was a decided success. The attendance was very good, the weather delightful for such exercise, and the costumes selected by those in attendance were pleasing in the extreme. The hall of the School of Arts was made to assume a brighter aspect than usual by the introduction of a large collection of Chinese lanterns, which were suspended from the ceiling, and made quite a pretty show. 

During the early 1950s Charles Main requested permission to establish a skating rink in the district. Eventually permission was granted and Windsor Roller Skating Rink was erected in Brabyn Street, close to the railway station. Later renamed Windsor Skatel, it was a popular venue, particular for the youth of the district. By the late 1980s interest in skating declined and the business eventually closed in 2003.

Rose "Babe" Payten- Campbelltown's Sporting Heroine

Rose Hannah Payten, known to her friends as "Babe", is considered by many to have been Campbelltown's most outstanding sporting personality.
Born at "Woodbine", which stood on Campbelltown Road at Leumeah, in 1880, Rose Payten was the only girl in the family of five boys. Her brothers were all keen sportsmen, and although she participated in cricket, golf, horseriding and shooting, tennis proved to be her main delight. Whilst a pupil at Normanhurst private school in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield, Rose's natural ability at tennis enabled her to beat any of the other girls.
In 1898, whilst still a school girl, she competed in the New South Wales Open Tennis Tournament, but was defeated in the semi-finals. The Sydney Week by Week magazine said of her:

"Miss Payten is a bright, lively, little lady ... tanned and freckled with the sun, with pretty fair hair, laughing light eyes and very white teeth. She wore an ankle-length dark blue serge dress, tan shoes, black stockings, a large sailor hat with a Katoomba ribbon, and a free and unembarrassed manner."

In 1899 she again competed in the New South Wales Open, but was narrowly defeated in the final by reigning champion, Miss P. Hewitt, the score being 3-6, 10-8, 7-5. In 1900, she won the New South Wales singles championship, defeating Miss Dight 6-0, 6-2 in the final, and Mrs. Cater 6-1, 6-1 in the Challenge Round.
The Sydney Morning Herald described her style as free and graceful, and said that her play off the ground or on the volley was invincible.
In 1901 Rose again won the singles title, partnered H.M. Rice to win the mixed doubles title, and partnered Miss Dransfield to win the women's doubles title. To have won all three titles was an unprecedented feat, but Rose repeated her successes in 1902, 1903 and 1904. She also won all three titles at the Victorian Championships in 1903 and at the Queensland Championships in 1904.
It was at this Queensland Tournament that Rose Payten performed a most remarkable feat. She competed in the handicap event and in the final she played a Miss Goodwin, who at the time was classed as one of the three best Queensland players. Miss Goodwin was placed on a handicap of +40 and Rose on a handicap of -40. This meant that Miss Goodwin had only to win one point to take a game, whereas Rose had to win eight consecutive points. With an exhibition of accurate power tennis, Rose was able to win the handicap event as well.
There was no New South Wales Open held in 1905, and at the time of the 1906 championships, Rose was too ill to defend her singles title. So as not to let her partners down, however, she competed in the women's and mixed doubles. Of the women's doubles, the Sydney Morning Herald reported:

"... Misses Payten and Jones are still the champion pair of the state. Miss Payten though out of health and too week to run, was too skilful for her opponents who were compelled to cramp their game so as to get everything to Miss Jones. The latter's play was very strong, and her hard drives continually compelled her opponents to lift the ball to Miss Payten who skilfully put it out of reach."

Of the mixed doubles, the Sydney Morning Herald said:

"This year Miss Payten was but a pale image of her usual self, and to those who know her play it was almost painful to see her reduced by sickness to an absolute inability to run for a ball out of her reach. Still she played a fine skilful game, and she and her partner were only just beaten after two close set."

In the same year, Rose Payten competed in the Strathfield Tournament, which in New South Wales was rated almost as important as the New South Wales Open, and again she won the three titles. She also won the triple crown at the Western Australian Open in 1906.
In 1907, Rose Payten repeated her performances of 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904. The Sydney Morning Herald, in its report of the mixed doubles, said:

"Miss Payten's play was as effective as ever. She and A.B. Jones had an easy win from S. Jones and Miss M. Jones ... Miss Payten's skill in volleying (she follows her service to the net, and with good effect) made her and Jones as good as any men's doubles pair."

When it is considered that at this time Australasia held the Davis Cup, this was indeed very high praise for Rose Payten.

Immediately after the New South Wales Championships of 1907, Rose Payten announced her retirement from competitive tennis, acting on doctor's advice. From 1900 to 1907, she was never once beaten in singles play, and was without doubt the best woman player in Australia during this time. The Town and Country Journal said of her:

"The Ladies Championship again went to Miss Payten, and this young lady is classed above all her opponents ... Certainly no better lady player has ever been seen in Australia."

After retiring from competition tennis, Rose joined her two brothers, Percy and Jim, in breeding and training harness ponies. For many years her ponies won major prizes at the Campbelltown and Camden shows. In 1922 she took two of her ponies to the Royal Easter Show in Sydney, where she won three second prizes. In subsequent years her awards were as follows:
1923 Two first prizes and champion harness pony.
 1924 One first prize, one second prize, one third prize.
 1925 One second prize, two third prizes.
 1926 Three first prizes, one second prize.
 1927 Three first prizes, one second prize, one third prize and champion harness pony.
Although she continued to exhibit at the Campbelltown Show for several more years, 1927 was the last year that Rose entered her ponies at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
During these years Rose had also developed a keen interest in the game of golf. She was a member of the Kensington Club (now The Australian Golf Club), and in the 1920s she was instrumental in the formation of the Campbelltown Associates Golf Club, which played on the golf course at the corner of Camden and Menangle Roads.
With her knowledge of the game and its rules, she was selected Club Captain at the initial meeting, a position she held for a number of years. In 1930, Rose Payten won the Ladies Championship. A Sydney paper, "The Evening News", reported her victory.

"Back in 1900 a girl from the country flashed into the tennis firmament of the Metropolis and trailed a path of glory for several years. She was Miss Rose Payten of Campbelltown, who won the Ladies Singles Championship of that year, and triple honours - singles, doubles and mixed doubles - In 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1907; unprecedented achievements that have never been repeated. This week Miss Payten came back into the limelight by winning the Ladies Golf Championship of Campbelltown Club."

Having won the championship in 1930, she repeated her effort in 1931, 1934, 1936, 1938 and 1939. She was also successful in winning the foursomes championship in 1934 and 1938.
Rose Payten was also an Associate member of the Australian Golf Club, and for a number of years she served on the committee of the Ladies Golf Union of New South Wales. She was also very active in organising the Ladies Country Week Tournament.
At the age of 71 years, Rose Payten died at "Woodbine" on 9th May, 1951 and is buried in St. Peter's Anglican cemetery, Campbelltown. The Campbelltown Golf Associates still play annually for two trophies in her memory - the Rose Payten Cup and the Rose Payten Salver.
Not only was Rose Payten an extremely talented sportswoman, but she was also a very capable sports administrator, who during her life endeavoured to promote good sportsmanship and friendship. She remains one of Campbelltown's finest ever sporting personalities, having enjoyed a career that was truly remarkable.