Fitzroy is a popular name here on the Highlands, where the former governor of New South Wales has left his mark. But if you wander through Government House in Sydney you will see the crest of Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy marked with a baton sinister, a line drawn diagonally across the crest, indicating this bloke was a bastard, a right royal bastard to be precise.
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Yes Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, governor of New South Wales from 1846 to 1855, the man who gave his name to Fitzroy Falls and the FitzRoy Ironworks in Mittagong, sprung from the loins of Frances Mundy, after a steamy affair with his father, General Lord Charles FitzRoy.
As well, the once popular mineral springs at Mittagong - Lady Mary Springs - was named after FitzRoy's wife. Unfortunately poor Lady Mary was killed when in a carriage crash, but good old FitZroy certainly earned an amazing reputation for womanising.
One of his more notable dalliances was at the Berrima's Surveyor General Inn. In 1850 FitzRoy popped down to Mittagong to see the ironworks and booked into the Surveyor General Inn for the night where he cracked onto the publican's eighteen year old step-daughter, Mary Ann. Nine months later she gave birth to a bouncing boy, perpetuating the bastardry into another generation.
Queen Victoria later banned royal bastards from court as ‘ghosts best forgotten,’ but we have kept the ghost of FitzRoy well and truly alive around these parts.
And while we are on this subject, I should mention Old Dud, who on his eightieth birthday, went for a check-up. He told the doctor he had never felt better. “In fact I’ve just got my new 20 year old wife pregnant. What do you think about that?"
"Let me tell you a story Old Dud," said the doctor, smiling.
“A bloke was walking through a forest in Canada, when a grizzly bear suddenly jumped out in front of him. With no time to think, he lifted up his walking stick, pointed it at the bear and blam!…the bear dropped dead."
"That's impossible!" said Old Dud. "Someone else must have pumped a couple of rounds into it."
"You’re right, Old Dud, exactly right.”