#OnThisDay 26 April 1800 William Balmain received a land grant of 550 acres on the west side of Cockle Bay, an area which was to become the suburbs of Balmain and Rozelle.
Balmain was an Assistant Surgeon on the First Fleet, arriving on the Alexander. He was Senior Assistant Surgeon at Norfolk Island from 1791 to 1795 and returned to Sydney in August of that year to act in the position of Principal Surgeon. He was appointed to the position in 1796 and remained in the Colony until 1801 when he returned to England. Balmain also worked as a magistrate.
Source: NRS-13836 [7/445], Register 1, p.100; Reel 2560
Related
Browse digitised copies of the Colonial Secretary's papers for William Balmain
See the Australian Dictionary of Biography entry for William Balmain
![Dr William Balmain NRS-4481-3-[7/16362]-St4648](../../../sites/default/files/Collection/Photos/Dr%20William%20Balmain%20NRS-4481-3-%5b7-16362%5d-St4648.jpg "Dr William Balmain NRS-4481-3-[7/16362]-St4648")
![CROPPED Willoughby - Survey of part of the north Shore shewing the boundaries of the land grant to Alfred Thrupp and Robt, 20 Sep 1828. Digital ID NRS13886[X751]_a110_000031](../../../sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/Collection/Maps%20and%20Plans/NRS13886%5bX751%5d_a110_000031454f.jpg?itok=vkqQBF8h "Willoughby - Survey of part of the north Shore shewing the boundaries of the land grant to Alfred Thrupp and Robt, 20 Sep 1828. Digital ID NRS13886[X751]_a110_000031")