April 2015 Report
Venue
Windsor
Participants
Ron, Chris, Richard, Helen, Colin and Natalie
The start
The group caught the train from either Redfern or Strathfield to Windsor. We walked into the shopping area for morning tea noting several original buildings on the way as well as The War Memorial remembering local soldiers from the Boer War through to Afghanistan.
Highlights
Windsor Reservoir, a very tall cast iron water tank constructed in 1889 with a capacity of about one million litres.
Sunnybrae, a Victorian style home of stuccoed brick built in 1875 for Robert Dick, the first Mayor of Windsor. The spacious garden includes many mature trees and a variety of shrubs and flowers.
The Hawkesbury River, with such high banks on the Windsor side of the river to prevent flooding and wide plains opposite, occasionally flooding.
Windsor bridge, opened 1874 and raised by 2.5 m in 1897 after repeated flooding. Locals are presently fighting to prevent a motorway being built in this area.
Old Government House site, a house was built here in 1796 for the commanding officer of the garrison of soldiers stationed at Green Hills (later renamed Windsor by Governor Lachlan Macquarie)
John Tebbutt Observatories, first built 1863 and added to in 1874 to accommodate a larger telescope. Tebbutt discovered the great comet in 1861 and has a crater on the moon named after him.
Peninsula House, John Tebbutt inherited the home, built 1844, from his father. A large two storey home with many original features is situated next to the Observatory.
Windsor Courthouse, completed 1822 by convict labour and designed by Francis Greenway, it is still in use today.
The Tollhouse, built 1834 and in use until 1887, it was designed so the tollkeeper could observe the thoroughfare from both directions.
Thompson Square, named after Andrew Thompson, a convict, who was appointed to the police service in 1793 and became one of the colony’s most successful businessmen.
George Street, several buildings built in the 1800’s and early 1900’s still stand along this shopping street. There is a mall section in the middle of the street.
The finish
After lunch in the Macquarie Arms hotel we walked back to Tebbutt Street and around to both the Catholic and Anglican St Matthew’s churches, the latter designed by Francis Greenway. The interior of this church contained many plaques to famous people of the area and the grounds held the remains of Andrew Thompson. Opposite the church is a statue of Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Distance walked A good few K’s, Peter not here to tell us the exact number
Venue
Windsor
Participants
Ron, Chris, Richard, Helen, Colin and Natalie
The start
The group caught the train from either Redfern or Strathfield to Windsor. We walked into the shopping area for morning tea noting several original buildings on the way as well as The War Memorial remembering local soldiers from the Boer War through to Afghanistan.
Highlights
Windsor Reservoir, a very tall cast iron water tank constructed in 1889 with a capacity of about one million litres.
Sunnybrae, a Victorian style home of stuccoed brick built in 1875 for Robert Dick, the first Mayor of Windsor. The spacious garden includes many mature trees and a variety of shrubs and flowers.
The Hawkesbury River, with such high banks on the Windsor side of the river to prevent flooding and wide plains opposite, occasionally flooding.
Windsor bridge, opened 1874 and raised by 2.5 m in 1897 after repeated flooding. Locals are presently fighting to prevent a motorway being built in this area.
Old Government House site, a house was built here in 1796 for the commanding officer of the garrison of soldiers stationed at Green Hills (later renamed Windsor by Governor Lachlan Macquarie)
John Tebbutt Observatories, first built 1863 and added to in 1874 to accommodate a larger telescope. Tebbutt discovered the great comet in 1861 and has a crater on the moon named after him.
Peninsula House, John Tebbutt inherited the home, built 1844, from his father. A large two storey home with many original features is situated next to the Observatory.
Windsor Courthouse, completed 1822 by convict labour and designed by Francis Greenway, it is still in use today.
The Tollhouse, built 1834 and in use until 1887, it was designed so the tollkeeper could observe the thoroughfare from both directions.
Thompson Square, named after Andrew Thompson, a convict, who was appointed to the police service in 1793 and became one of the colony’s most successful businessmen.
George Street, several buildings built in the 1800’s and early 1900’s still stand along this shopping street. There is a mall section in the middle of the street.
The finish
After lunch in the Macquarie Arms hotel we walked back to Tebbutt Street and around to both the Catholic and Anglican St Matthew’s churches, the latter designed by Francis Greenway. The interior of this church contained many plaques to famous people of the area and the grounds held the remains of Andrew Thompson. Opposite the church is a statue of Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Distance walked A good few K’s, Peter not here to tell us the exact number