Hawkesbury River
Encyclopedia
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales
, Australia
. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney
.
and the Grose River
, to the north of Penrith
. Both these two tributaries are substantial rivers by the time they join to form the Hawkesbury River.
The headwaters of the Hawkesbury River, the Avon River
, the Cataract River
, and the Cordeaux River
, rise only a few miles from the sea, about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) south of Sydney. These streams start on the inland-facing slopes of the plateau which forms the escarpment behind Wollongong
. Flowing north-west, away from the sea, these streams combine to form the Nepean River, and flow north past the towns of Camden
and Penrith
. Near Penrith, the Warragamba River
emerges from its canyon through the Blue Mountains and joins the Nepean. The Warragamba, formed by the joining of the Wollondilly River
, the Nattai River
, the Kowmung River
and Coxs River drains a broad region of New South Wales on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range
. The other principal component of the upper Hawkesbury river system, the Grose River, rises in the area of Mount Victoria
in the Blue Mountains.
Once formed, the Hawkesbury River proper flows generally northwards, albeit with a significant number of meander
s. Initially the river passes the towns of Richmond
and Windsor
, which are the largest settlements on the river. As it flows north, it enters a more rural area, with only small settlements on the river. On this stretch it passes Sackville
and Lower Portland
, where it is joined by the Colo River
. The Colo River and its tributaries drain the northern section of the Blue Mountains.
From Lower Portland, the Hawkesbury River continues flowing northwards to the small community of Wisemans Ferry
where it is joined by the Macdonald River
. Here its course turns eastwards and the surrounding landscape gradually becomes steeper and more rugged. At Spencer
, Mangrove Creek
joins the river from the north. From here to the river mouth, road access to the river is limited to a few points.
At Milsons Passage
, the river is joined by Berowra Creek
from the south. In the area around Brooklyn
the river is crossed by the major road and rail services that follow the coast north from Sydney. The river finally reaches the ocean at Broken Bay
.
From the confluence of the Nepean and Grose Rivers to the sea, the Hawkesbury River has a total length of some 120 kilometres (74.6 mi).
Despite forming the effective boundary of the metropolitan region of Sydney for its entire length, there are very few fixed crossings of the Hawkesbury River proper. Going downstream, these comprise:
In the lower reaches of the river there are also a few passenger ferries that cross the river. These include the Palm Beach Ferry
service from Palm Beach
to Ettalong and Wagstaffe
, and the Hawkesbury River Ferries
service from Brooklyn
to Dangar Island
and Little Wobby
.
to the north and west and Darkinjung peoples on the opposite side of the river covering the area of Gosford north to Lake Mcquarie and west to Wollombi.
to the southwest. It took about three years to realise they had discovered the same river system.
The Hawkesbury River was one of the major transportation routes for transporting food from the surrounding area to Sydney during the 1800s. Boats would wait in the protection of Broken Bay
and Pittwater
, until favourable weather allowed them to make the ocean journey to Sydney Heads
. With the opening of the railway from Sydney to Windsor
in 1864, farm produce could be shipped upriver for onward transportation by train. However, by the 1880s the river had become silted up between Sackville
and Windsor, and Sackville became the head of navigation for sea-going vessels. Until the end of the 19th century coastal steamers linked Sackville to Sydney.
The Hawkesbury River was named by Governor Phillip
in June 1789, after Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool
, who at that time was titled Baron Hawkesbury. An obelisk was unveiled in 1939 at Brooklyn
to commemorate the naming.
In 1794, 22 families were granted land at Bardenarang, now known as Pitt Town Bottoms, near Windsor. In that same year, confrontations between Aboriginal people and settlers broke out.
s or lock
s on the river, and the effects of the tide
are felt as far as Windsor.
Whilst use of the river to carry farm produce and other goods has now largely been superseded by road transport, the river remains the only form of access to a significant number of isolated homes and communities. This is especially true in the lower reaches of the river, where the steep and rugged terrain inhibits road construction. One consequence of this is the operation of Australia's last riverboat postman
, a river service that delivers mail
to properties on the river between Brooklyn
and Spencer
.
, a 111 km canoe
race, is held annually in October or November. The race starts at Windsor
and finishes at Brooklyn
. The Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic is a water ski
race that is run in the opposite direction, from Dangar Island
to Windsor.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Geography
Course
The Hawkesbury River has its origin at the confluence of the Nepean RiverNepean River
The Nepean River is a river in the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia.The headwaters of the Nepean River rise near Robertson, about 100 kilometres south of Sydney and about 15 kilometres from the coast. The river flows north in an unpopulated water catchment area into Nepean Dam, which...
and the Grose River
Grose River
The Grose Valley is a rugged valley in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has been formed by the Grose River, the headwaters of which are in the Mount Victoria area...
, to the north of Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
. Both these two tributaries are substantial rivers by the time they join to form the Hawkesbury River.
The headwaters of the Hawkesbury River, the Avon River
Avon River (Wollongong)
The Avon River, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, has its source about 4 km W of Calderwood and flows generally north into the Cordeaux River.This river is in the City of Wollongong Local Government Area and the Camden County, New South Wales....
, the Cataract River
Cataract River (Wollondilly)
The Cataract River is a tributary of the Nepean River, and hence of the Hawkesbury River, in New South Wales, Australia. The headwaters of the river are in the Wollondilly Shire local government area....
, and the Cordeaux River
Cordeaux River
The Cordeaux River is a tributary of the Nepean River, and hence of the Hawkesbury River, in New South Wales, Australia.The headwaters of the river are located on the west slopes of the coastal escarpment some west of Wollongong and the Pacific Ocean. The upper reaches of the river are impounded...
, rise only a few miles from the sea, about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) south of Sydney. These streams start on the inland-facing slopes of the plateau which forms the escarpment behind Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
. Flowing north-west, away from the sea, these streams combine to form the Nepean River, and flow north past the towns of Camden
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
and Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
. Near Penrith, the Warragamba River
Warragamba River
The Warragamba River is a tributary of the Nepean River, and hence of the Hawkesbury River, in New South Wales, Australia. It is best known for being the location of the Warragamba Dam and Lake Burragorang, which form a major part of the water supply to the Sydney region.Prior to the creation of...
emerges from its canyon through the Blue Mountains and joins the Nepean. The Warragamba, formed by the joining of the Wollondilly River
Wollondilly River
The Wollondilly River is a perennial river in New South Wales, Australia. It was originally a tributary of the Warragamba River, and hence of the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers...
, the Nattai River
Nattai River
-References:...
, the Kowmung River
Kowmung River
-References:...
and Coxs River drains a broad region of New South Wales on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
. The other principal component of the upper Hawkesbury river system, the Grose River, rises in the area of Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria, New South Wales
Mount Victoria is a small township in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It is the westernmost village in the City of Blue Mountains, located approximately 120 kilometres via road from Sydney and 1043 metres above sea-level...
in the Blue Mountains.
Once formed, the Hawkesbury River proper flows generally northwards, albeit with a significant number of meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
s. Initially the river passes the towns of Richmond
Richmond, New South Wales
Richmond is a town in New South Wales, north-west of Sydney, in the Local Government Area of the City of Hawkesbury. It is located at a latitude of 33° 35' 54" South and a longitude of 150°45' 04" east, 19 metres above sea level on the alluvial Hawkesbury River flats, at the foot of the Blue...
and Windsor
Windsor, New South Wales
Windsor is a town in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Windsor is located in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It sits on the Hawkesbury River, on the north-western outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area. At the 2006 census, Windsor had a population of...
, which are the largest settlements on the river. As it flows north, it enters a more rural area, with only small settlements on the river. On this stretch it passes Sackville
Sackville, New South Wales
Sackville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the City of Hawkesbury and in the census of 2001 had a population of 410....
and Lower Portland
Lower Portland, New South Wales
Lower Portland is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lower Portland is located 80 kilometres northwest of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of The Hills Shire Lower Portland is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales,...
, where it is joined by the Colo River
Colo River
The Colo River is a river in New South Wales, Australia.The Colo River begins at the confluence of the Wolgan River and the Capertee River, which respectively drain the Wolgan and Capertee Valleys north of Lithgow. The river flows eastwards and then south through a deep gorge in the northern...
. The Colo River and its tributaries drain the northern section of the Blue Mountains.
From Lower Portland, the Hawkesbury River continues flowing northwards to the small community of Wisemans Ferry
Wisemans Ferry
Wisemans Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry operates from the eponymous community of Wisemans Ferry on the south bank, to a point on the north bank downstream of the Hawkesbury River's confluence with the Macdonald River, connecting with the...
where it is joined by the Macdonald River
Macdonald River (St Albans)
There are two rivers named Macdonald River in New South Wales, Australia. See Macdonald RiverThe Macdonald River is a tributary of the Hawkesbury River. It rises near Putty and flows about 60 kilometers generally south-east to where it joins the Hawkesbury River near Wisemans Ferry.The upper...
. Here its course turns eastwards and the surrounding landscape gradually becomes steeper and more rugged. At Spencer
Spencer, New South Wales
Spencer is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the north bank of the Hawkesbury River just upstream of that rivers confluence with Mangrove Creek. Spencer is part of the City of Gosford local government area....
, Mangrove Creek
Mangrove Creek (New South Wales)
Mangrove Creek is a tributary of the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia.Mangrove Creek rises about to the south-west of Mount McQuiod. The headwaters of the creek are impounded by the Mangrove Creek Dam, which forms a major part of the water supply to the New South Wales Central Coast...
joins the river from the north. From here to the river mouth, road access to the river is limited to a few points.
At Milsons Passage
Milsons Passage, New South Wales
Milsons Passage is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Hornsby Shire local government area. According to the 2006 census, the population is 43.-See also:*Dangar Island*Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge...
, the river is joined by Berowra Creek
Berowra Creek
Berowra Creek is a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, situated to the north of the city of Sydney in the Australian state of New South Wales....
from the south. In the area around Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
the river is crossed by the major road and rail services that follow the coast north from Sydney. The river finally reaches the ocean at Broken Bay
Broken Bay
Broken Bay is a large inlet of the Pacific Ocean located about 50 km north of Sydney on the coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the first major bay north of Sydney's Port Jackson.- Geography :...
.
From the confluence of the Nepean and Grose Rivers to the sea, the Hawkesbury River has a total length of some 120 kilometres (74.6 mi).
Islands
Islands in the Hawkesbury River include, in order going downstream:- Milson IslandMilson Island, New South WalesMilson Island is located in New South Wales, Australia. It was first settled over 100 years ago and has been used as a mental hospital, a jail, and now a sports and recreation centre....
- Peat IslandPeat IslandPeat Island is a small island in the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, Australia. It lies west of the Pacific Highway, in a suburb called Mooney Mooney. Originally called Rabbit Island, it was renamed Peat Island after George Peat, a local ship builder who established a ferry across the Hawkesbury...
- Spectacle IslandSpectacle Island, Hawkesbury RiverSpectacle Island is a island located in Australia's Hawkesbury River near its junction with Mooney Mooney Creek, to the north of Sydney, New South Wales....
- Long Island
- Dangar IslandDangar IslandDangar Island is a small forested island in the Hawkesbury River, just north of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It has a permanent population of about 250, which swells dramatically during holiday seasons. The island is serviced regularly by the Dangar Island Ferry service that departs from...
- Lion IslandLion Island, New South WalesLion Island is located at the entrance to the Hawkesbury River inside Broken Bay and is considered part of the Gosford local government area. It is a descriptive name because it resembles a Sphinx, a mythical figure of a crouching lion.-Original Name:...
Crossings
- Richmond Bridge, a bridge at RichmondRichmond, New South WalesRichmond is a town in New South Wales, north-west of Sydney, in the Local Government Area of the City of Hawkesbury. It is located at a latitude of 33° 35' 54" South and a longitude of 150°45' 04" east, 19 metres above sea level on the alluvial Hawkesbury River flats, at the foot of the Blue...
that carries the historic Bells Line of Road and formerly carried the Kurrajong extension of the Richmond railway line - Windsor Bridge, a bridge at WindsorWindsor, New South WalesWindsor is a town in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Windsor is located in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It sits on the Hawkesbury River, on the north-western outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area. At the 2006 census, Windsor had a population of...
that carries the Putty RoadPutty RoadPutty Road is a New South Wales country road linking Windsor, on the fringes of Sydney, to Singleton. It is designated as State Route 69 and is about 150 kilometres long. It is the northern end of State Route 69, connecting with Metroad 9 in Windsor and New England Highway in Singleton... - Sackville FerrySackville FerryThe Sackville Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry connects the communities of Sackville, on the north/west bank of the river, and Sackville North, on the south/east bank...
, a vehicular cable ferry at SackvilleSackville, New South WalesSackville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the City of Hawkesbury and in the census of 2001 had a population of 410.... - Lower Portland FerryLower Portland FerryThe Lower Portland Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry is situated in the community of Lower Portland....
, a vehicular cable ferry at Lower PortlandLower Portland, New South WalesLower Portland is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lower Portland is located 80 kilometres northwest of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of The Hills Shire Lower Portland is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales,... - Webbs Creek FerryWebbs Creek FerryWebbs Creek Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry operates from the community of Wisemans Ferry, to a point up-stream of the Hawkesbury River's confluence with the Macdonald River, thus connecting with the St Albans Road that follows the west...
, a vehicular cable ferry just upstream of the settlement of Wisemans FerryWisemans Ferry, New South WalesWisemans Ferry is a town north of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wisemans Ferry is located 75 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, The Hills Shire, City of Hawkesbury and City of Gosford.The town is a... - Wisemans FerryWisemans FerryWisemans Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry operates from the eponymous community of Wisemans Ferry on the south bank, to a point on the north bank downstream of the Hawkesbury River's confluence with the Macdonald River, connecting with the...
, a vehicular cable ferryCable ferryA cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
at the settlement of Wisemans Ferry that carries the old Great North RoadGreat North Road (Australia)The Great North Road is a historic road in Australia built by convicts between 1825 and 1836, being New South Wales's first road to traverse the rugged terrain hindering early agricultural expansion, effectively linking Sydney with the fertile Hunter Valley.The road is of such cultural... - Hawkesbury River Freeway Bridge, a bridge between Kangaroo PointKangaroo Point, New South WalesKangaroo Point is a tiny, picturesque suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kangaroo Point is located 22 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire....
and Mooney MooneyMooney Mooney, New South WalesMooney Mooney is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the north bank of the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area.-Profile:...
that carries the Sydney-Newcastle FreewaySydney-Newcastle FreewayThe Sydney-Newcastle Freeway is a stretch of motorway linking Sydney to the Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter regions of New South Wales. It is part of the AusLink road corridor between Sydney and Brisbane, carrying the route designation....
parallel to Peats Ferry Bridge - Peats Ferry BridgePeats Ferry BridgeThe 'Peats Ferry Bridge' is a road bridge which crosses the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.The Peats Ferry Bridge was opened in 1945 and was the first direct road link between Sydney and Newcastle, New South Wales and the north of the State. Before the bridge was...
, an older bridge next to the Freeway Bridge that carries the Pacific HighwayPacific Highway (Australia)The Pacific Highway is a major transport route along part of the east coast of Australia and is part of Australia's national route 1.It is 960 km long and links Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, along the coast, via Gosford, Newcastle, Taree, Port... - Hawkesbury River Railway BridgeHawkesbury River Railway BridgeThe Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge spans the Hawkesbury River just north of the town of Brooklyn on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia...
, a bridge at BrooklynBrooklyn, New South WalesBrooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
that carries the Newcastle and Central Coast railway line
In the lower reaches of the river there are also a few passenger ferries that cross the river. These include the Palm Beach Ferry
Palm Beach Ferry
Fantasea Palm Beach is a ferry boat company which is based in Palm Beach, a northern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The company operates scheduled ferry services, whale watching cruises and charters.-Fleet:...
service from Palm Beach
Palm Beach, New South Wales
Palm Beach is a northern beachside suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Palm Beach is located 41 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Pittwater Council, in the Northern Beaches region. Palm Beach sits on a peninsula at...
to Ettalong and Wagstaffe
Wagstaffe, New South Wales
Wagstaffe is a south-eastern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the Bouddi Peninsula. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area. It is named after Captain Wagstaffe , one of the first settlers in the area. It has a general store, which is also...
, and the Hawkesbury River Ferries
Hawkesbury River Ferries
Hawkesbury River Ferries is a ferry and cruise boat operator based at Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River in the northern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
service from Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
to Dangar Island
Dangar Island
Dangar Island is a small forested island in the Hawkesbury River, just north of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It has a permanent population of about 250, which swells dramatically during holiday seasons. The island is serviced regularly by the Dangar Island Ferry service that departs from...
and Little Wobby
Little Wobby, New South Wales
Little Wobby is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the north bank of the Hawkesbury River. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area.-History:...
.
Aboriginal history
The Aboriginal name for the river was published as Deerubbun in 1870. The two main Aboriginal tribes inhabiting the area were the Dhurag or Darug peopleDarug people
The Darug people are a language group of Indigenous Australians, who are traditional custodians of much of what is modern day Sydney. There is some dispute about the extent of the Darug nation. Some historians believe the coastal Eora people were a separate tribe to the Darug...
to the north and west and Darkinjung peoples on the opposite side of the river covering the area of Gosford north to Lake Mcquarie and west to Wollombi.
European history
In 1788 two expeditions explored the Hawkesbury to the northwest of Sydney and the Nepean RiverNepean River
The Nepean River is a river in the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia.The headwaters of the Nepean River rise near Robertson, about 100 kilometres south of Sydney and about 15 kilometres from the coast. The river flows north in an unpopulated water catchment area into Nepean Dam, which...
to the southwest. It took about three years to realise they had discovered the same river system.
The Hawkesbury River was one of the major transportation routes for transporting food from the surrounding area to Sydney during the 1800s. Boats would wait in the protection of Broken Bay
Broken Bay
Broken Bay is a large inlet of the Pacific Ocean located about 50 km north of Sydney on the coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the first major bay north of Sydney's Port Jackson.- Geography :...
and Pittwater
Pittwater
Pittwater is a body of water extending south from Broken Bay, New South Wales, Australia parallel to the coast.The waterway was surveyed by crew members of HMS Sirius in 1788, and named Pitt Water after British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger...
, until favourable weather allowed them to make the ocean journey to Sydney Heads
Sydney Heads
Sydney Heads , is the entrance to Port Jackson in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.North Head and Quarantine Head are to the north, South Head and Dunbar Head are to the south. Middle Head, Georges Head and Chowder Head are to the west and within the bay...
. With the opening of the railway from Sydney to Windsor
Windsor, New South Wales
Windsor is a town in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Windsor is located in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It sits on the Hawkesbury River, on the north-western outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area. At the 2006 census, Windsor had a population of...
in 1864, farm produce could be shipped upriver for onward transportation by train. However, by the 1880s the river had become silted up between Sackville
Sackville, New South Wales
Sackville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the City of Hawkesbury and in the census of 2001 had a population of 410....
and Windsor, and Sackville became the head of navigation for sea-going vessels. Until the end of the 19th century coastal steamers linked Sackville to Sydney.
The Hawkesbury River was named by Governor Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
in June 1789, after Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool
Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool
Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool PC , known as the Lord Hawkesbury between 1786 and 1796, was a British statesman. He was the father of Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool....
, who at that time was titled Baron Hawkesbury. An obelisk was unveiled in 1939 at Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
to commemorate the naming.
In 1794, 22 families were granted land at Bardenarang, now known as Pitt Town Bottoms, near Windsor. In that same year, confrontations between Aboriginal people and settlers broke out.
River usage
Navigation
The Hawkesbury River is navigable from Windsor to the sea. There are no damDam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s or lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
s on the river, and the effects of the tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
are felt as far as Windsor.
Whilst use of the river to carry farm produce and other goods has now largely been superseded by road transport, the river remains the only form of access to a significant number of isolated homes and communities. This is especially true in the lower reaches of the river, where the steep and rugged terrain inhibits road construction. One consequence of this is the operation of Australia's last riverboat postman
Hawkesbury River Ferries
Hawkesbury River Ferries is a ferry and cruise boat operator based at Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River in the northern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, a river service that delivers mail
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
to properties on the river between Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
and Spencer
Spencer, New South Wales
Spencer is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the north bank of the Hawkesbury River just upstream of that rivers confluence with Mangrove Creek. Spencer is part of the City of Gosford local government area....
.
Sporting activities
The Hawkesbury Canoe ClassicHawkesbury Canoe Classic
The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic is an annual marathon canoe race taking place on the Hawkesbury River in Northwest Sydney usually at the end of October. The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic consists of a 111 km paddle downstream starting in Windsor and finishing in Brooklyn...
, a 111 km canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
race, is held annually in October or November. The race starts at Windsor
Windsor, New South Wales
Windsor is a town in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Windsor is located in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It sits on the Hawkesbury River, on the north-western outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area. At the 2006 census, Windsor had a population of...
and finishes at Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
. The Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic is a water ski
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
race that is run in the opposite direction, from Dangar Island
Dangar Island
Dangar Island is a small forested island in the Hawkesbury River, just north of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It has a permanent population of about 250, which swells dramatically during holiday seasons. The island is serviced regularly by the Dangar Island Ferry service that departs from...
to Windsor.
Commercial fishing
According to the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, the Hawkesbury River estuary supports the second largest commercial coastal fishery of estuary prawns, oysters (prior to the outbreak of QX disease ) and fish in NSW with a wholesale value of $6.3 million annually.Cultural references
- Australian novelist Kate GrenvilleKate GrenvilleKate Grenville is one of Australia's best-known authors. She's published nine novels, a collection of short stories, and four books about the writing process....
wrote an award winning historical fiction novel The Secret RiverThe Secret RiverThe Secret River, written by Kate Grenville in 2005, is a historical fiction about an early 19th century Englishman transported to Australia for theft. The story explores what may have happened when Europeans colonised land already inhabited by Aboriginal people. The book is also one of careful...
set on the Hawkesbury.
- The 2004 film Oyster FarmerOyster FarmerOyster Farmer is a 2004 Australian romantic comedy / drama film about a young man who runs away to the Hawkesbury River and gets a job with eighth generation oyster farmers...
is set mostly on the Hawkesbury.
- Artist William PiguenitWilliam PiguenitWilliam Charles Piguenit was an Australian landscape painter.-Early life:Piguenit was born in Hobart, Tasmania, to Frederick Le Geyt Piguenit and Mary Ann née Igglesden. Frederick had been transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1830, with Frederick's fiancee, Mary Ann, following him...
painted the Hawkesbury River in the late 19th century.
- Australian TelevisionAustralian televisionTelevision in Australia began experimentally as early as 1929 in Melbourne with stations 3DB and 3UZ using the Radiovision system by Gilbert Miles and Donal McDonald, and later from other locations, such as Brisbane in 1934....
shows, like A Country PracticeA Country PracticeA Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
and Home and AwayHome and AwayHome and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, have used the Hawkesbury in exterior shots.
External links
- Satellite photo Hawkesbury River on Google Maps
- The Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority website
- Hawkesbury Historical Society website
- Hawkesbury web