January 2020 report
Venue
To Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury
Participants
Ron, Chris, Richard, Helen, Colin, Natalie, Peter, Yvonne
The start
We met, at various points, on the 8.45am train from Central to Hawkesbury River and then caught the Dangar Island ferry (via Wobbly) $4.30 one way. We enjoyed morning tea at the island café before wandering around the roads of the island.
Points of Interest
-the island is a forested island of 29 hectares and is a suburb of the Hornsby shire. Approximately 300 people live here. The Guringai Aborigines knew of the island for thousands of year, however, many died of smallpox by 1790. It was purchased by Henry Dangar in 1864 and he leased it to the Union Bridge Company while they constructed the original Hawkesbury rail bridge between 1886-1889. In the 1920’s the island was divided into residential plots.
-there are no private cars on the island, a wheelbarrow is often used for hauling goods from the ferry, there is one café/shop and the Bowling Club is available on the weekend .
-it is very much a community with locals sharing duties such as the buggy service, some gardening and first responders roles. We noted the bowling green, the playground and park, the area on the top of the Kiparra hill and walked along the very peaceful Bradley’s beach area
-we saw parrots, two kookaburras and hear the drone of the cicadas. Gardens are unstructured and contain many bromeliads, palms and ferns. The houses are nestled amongst the forest greenery.
The finish
-we caught the 1.15pm ferry back to Brooklyn and had lunch at the hotel. The train left at 14.57
Distance walked
-3.63 k around the island plus comings and goings
Venue
To Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury
Participants
Ron, Chris, Richard, Helen, Colin, Natalie, Peter, Yvonne
The start
We met, at various points, on the 8.45am train from Central to Hawkesbury River and then caught the Dangar Island ferry (via Wobbly) $4.30 one way. We enjoyed morning tea at the island café before wandering around the roads of the island.
Points of Interest
-the island is a forested island of 29 hectares and is a suburb of the Hornsby shire. Approximately 300 people live here. The Guringai Aborigines knew of the island for thousands of year, however, many died of smallpox by 1790. It was purchased by Henry Dangar in 1864 and he leased it to the Union Bridge Company while they constructed the original Hawkesbury rail bridge between 1886-1889. In the 1920’s the island was divided into residential plots.
-there are no private cars on the island, a wheelbarrow is often used for hauling goods from the ferry, there is one café/shop and the Bowling Club is available on the weekend .
-it is very much a community with locals sharing duties such as the buggy service, some gardening and first responders roles. We noted the bowling green, the playground and park, the area on the top of the Kiparra hill and walked along the very peaceful Bradley’s beach area
-we saw parrots, two kookaburras and hear the drone of the cicadas. Gardens are unstructured and contain many bromeliads, palms and ferns. The houses are nestled amongst the forest greenery.
The finish
-we caught the 1.15pm ferry back to Brooklyn and had lunch at the hotel. The train left at 14.57
Distance walked
-3.63 k around the island plus comings and goings