Battle of wills: This re-enactment picture was taken by Danielle Smith in Sydney to mark the 1804 Castle Hill rebellion.
BEFORE the Eureka Stockade and the Rum Rebellion there was the Castle Hill Rebellion.
This rebellion will be re-enacted by the 73rd Regiment Re-enacters on Saturday, March 2, 5pm-9pm, at the site where it all happened — Castle Hill Heritage Park, Heritage Park Drive, Castle Hill.
Historians say it began on the evening of March 4, 1804, when a hut at Castle Hill was set on fire as the signal for a rebellion to begin.
A group of 200 rebels broke into the Government Farm's buildings, taking firearms, ammunition and other weapons.
"It was the first European rebellion in Australia, which nobody knows about," said Pam Wilson, secretary of the Hills District Historical Society, who will take visitors on guided walking tours of the convict farm site on March 2.
It ended with nine rebel leaders being executed and hundreds more punished.
Other activities of this The Hills Council event include old-fashioned children's games and a free screening of the movie Sapphires.
Details: Pam Wilson, 9634 2670.