In 2016 two key community members with a long history of conservation across the Hills requested for a group to be formed that would enable the community to do more for the environment. With the support of a Local Landcare Coordinator, and after an Inaugural meeting in October 2016, CHEN became a recognised conservation group.
When we meet
Cattai Hills Environment Network meet on the first Thursday of every month at Annangrove Environment Center. We discuss what has been going in the Network, get an update on current projects and talk about any concerns we may have about the protection of our Catchment and what we can do about it. We often have a presentation from a special guest to teach and inspire us.
When: First Thursday of the month. Start at 6:00pm with snacks and nibbles from 5:30 pm.
Where: Annangrove Environment Center, Currie Lane, Annangrove
Our History
There has a longstanding Landcare group in Cattai formed by people who were passionate about protecting our local flora and fauna and doing what they can to give back.
Cattai History
Cattai National Park – where Cattai Creek joins the Hawkesbury
Thomas Arndell was one of the Hawkesbury’s early settlers and a founder in 1809 of the Ebenezer church, the oldest church building in Australia. Arndell came to the colony with the First Fleet as an assistant surgeon on the Friendship. He was a member of Watkin Tench’s party that explored west from Parramatta in 1789 and subsequently he held the position of surgeon at Parramatta until 1794. He then grew wheat and maize on a farm in the same area. In 1804, Arndell took up a grant of 600 acres at Cattai and later became the first magistrate at Windsor. Arndell remained in the area until his death in 1821 and he is interred in a vault at St Matthew’s, Windsor. His estate now forms part of Cattai National Park.