 The Crown land, released for sale under the recently enacted Crown Lands Alienation Act, 1861, offered a total of 18 lots.The public auction was undertaken by Messrs W. Dean and Co. of Pitt and O'Connell Streets.Lots 1, 2, 11, part 3 and part 10 of Section 8 (being a total of 11 acres which formed the Aston Estate) was purchased by John Watkins.