In 1797, Rowland and Elizabeth Hassall arrived in Tahiti as members of the London Missionary Society’s inaugural mission to the Pacific. However, the challenges they faced there proved overwhelming, and by 1798, they sought refuge in the fledgling penal colony of New South Wales, arriving in Sydney with their young family.

Despite the uncertainty that lay ahead, the Hassalls gradually established themselves in the growing colony. They opened a general store in Parramatta and began farming in Camden to the south and across the Blue Mountains to the west—laying the foundations of a life rooted in faith, resilience, and hard work.

Over the years, Rowland and Elizabeth raised eight children—four sons and four daughters—whose own families would go on to shape communities across Queensland, Victoria, and New Zealand. Their legacy grew to encompass more than sixty grandchildren and an estimated 300 great-grandchildren by the fourth generation.