View of Part of the Town of Windsor, ... / Taken from the Banks of the River Hawkesbury. Drawn and Engraved by P. Slager, Sydney. Dedicated to Mrs Macquarie, ca. 1777-1855. Image No: a990071h, courtesy State Library of NSW
For the past few years residents of the Windsor community have been sending us updates on the proposed and then pushed through plan to remove the historic Windsor Bridge at Windsor. Their updates remind Pittwater that one of our earliest landowners, in Andrew Thompson, the gentleman who was granted the island we call Scotland Island, had a connection with this Hawkesbury village during the formative years of Europeans settling in this place and that the Hawkesbury, still interconnected through their waterways, are one place to those who move by water.
The planned destruction of this bridge is also a reminder that the first version was built by this early Pittwater gentleman:
General Orders.
WHEREAS by the General Orders of May 25, 1802, His Excellency was pleased to grant to Andrew Thompson, settler and Constable at the Green Hills, Hawkesbury, a lease for constructing a Floating Bridge over the South Creek, to facilitate the communication between Sydney, Parramatta and Hawkesbury, which has been of the greatest service to the settlers in that District and to the inhabitants in general, as specified in the said Order. And whereas the Tolls on the said Bridge have not been sufficiently explicit under the different heads of Persons, Carriages, Draught and Stock Cattle, and other Stock, the Governor has judged it necessary, with the consent of the Proprietor Lessee to make the following Reductions and Alterations in the Tolls demandable on passing the said Floating Bridge. per ana. For each Foot Passenger 4s or Per ana £1 10 0 Each Horse, single or draught 2s 6d or £2 10 0
Waggons or four-wheeled Carriages taking more than half a ton lading 1s 6d or £1 10 0 For each Cart or Carriage with two wheels loaded or not 1s 6d or £ 1 10 0 For each head of Cattle whether in draught or not 1s 6d or £1 10 0
Each sheep under a score 2s
Ditto by the score, 2s 6d or £210 0 Swine or Goat the same as 2 Sheep,
It is to be understood that for the above Toll passenger, horses, carts, or carriages are to pass and repass once in the same day on the same Ticket.
Thereafter Regulation of the Order of May 25, 1802, respecting keeping the Bridge in repair Individuals &c. passing the Bridge on Government Service in the actual execution of Public Duty and the penalties prescribed by that Order do remain in force. General Orders. (1806, March 9). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627036
We are further reminded of the connection between our two communities in the naming of Haystack Point at Newport, which also stems from our estuaries connection to the Hawkesbury and a flood during which Andrew Thompson rescued many when the lace was still called Green Hills:
HAWKESBURY, MARCH 27.
The extensive damage done by the flood cannot yet thoroughly be ascertained :—though it is known, that many individuals have lost every thing they possessed, and that several have perished in the deluge, which was never before known to arrive to so great a height by from eight to ten feet. What rendered its progress still more destructive was, a false notion of security which many had imbibed, from the supposed confidence that there never would be another heavy flood in the main river, though without assigning any cause for such an idea ; to which the recent alarms seemed to give a colour, as each succeeding fresh had abated without any damage, save that sustained from the overflow of the South Creek.
The first appearance of this distressing inundation was observable on Thursday the 20th instant ; the River, discoloured, having risen several feet above the high water mark. The settlers on the low grounds, known from former doleful experience to be subject to disaster, were now preparing for the consequences ; but in the course of the night the rise abated, and the next morning apprehension had totally subsided. The incessant rains on Friday and Saturday night gave a new turn to expectation ; and by day-light on Saturday morning a scene of horror presented itself in every quarter. It was by this time nearly as high as on the 2d of March 1801 ; many farms were then under water; the rain continued without intermission, and a rapid rise was in consequence observable. The measures adopted by THOMAS ARNDELL Esq. for the preservation of lives, were actively carried into execution by Mr. Thompson, Chief Constable ; who in one of his boats saved the lives of a hundred persons, whom he took from the tops of houses, and rafts of straw floating on the deluge. He had two more boats employed in the same humane work, and by means of these also a number of lives were saved.
Mr. Thomas Biggers, often at the risque of his own life, saved upwards of 150 men, women, and children ; and others who possessed boats, particularly the District Constables, were very active in this benevolent duty.
In the course of this dreadful day upwards of 200 wheat stacks were swept into the stream and carried down the river with incredible velocity; stock of all descriptions were seen floating about and on the tops of the stacks, but could not be saved for want of boats, those of Messrs. Thompson, Biggers, and others being constantly employed taking the settlers families from the roofs and ridges of the houses, where many had for whole hours clung despairing of assistance, and expecting to be shortly washed into the watery waste. Towards Richmond Hill it seemed to abate on Saturday evening; down the River it still rose—The distress and horror of that evening can neither be described or imagined.—The day heavy and gloomy, the night fast approaching, torrents of rain pauring with unabating fury ; and not a house except at the Green Hills to be seen, the roofs of one or two of the highest on the opposite side of the water being then only visible. Muskets were discharged by the settlers from trees and roofs all day, and great numbers had been taken up, and left safely on the higher grounds; but many were devoted to undergo a night of horror the most inexpressible : in the evening the dismal cries from distant quarters, the report of fire-arms dangerously charged in order to increase the noise of explosion ; the howl-ing of dogs that had by swimming got into trees, all concurred to shock the feelings of the few that were out of the reach, but were sorrowful spectators of the calamity they could not relieve. On Sunday morning the rigor of the weather abated ; and in the course of the day the water on the high lands shewed a disposition to run off. Nearly 300 persons, saved from the deluge by the humane perseverance and incredible exertions of the rescuers, were released from a state of actual famine by a supply sent from the Green Hills in consequence of HIS EXCELLENCY'S request to Mr. Arndell to afford the sufferers every as-assistance and relief.
Five persons are known at present to have lost their lives: one of whom was a labourer at Richmond ; the others at Chalker's farm, viz. Walter Scott, a shoemaker, who has left a large family to deplore his destiny, & James Burns, with two women, one the wife of Benjamin Coolen, the other the wife of J. Cowan. Three of these unfortunate persons had taken shelter in Chalker's house, there hoping safety : but alas ! the highest & the lowest situations seemed alike devoted, and security was no where to be found. Chalker was in turn compelled to fly for safety ; and taking to his boat with a boy five years of age, and the above three, by fatal accident the boat upset, and they instantly perished. The child was the first object of Chalker's care, as an endeavour to save either of the others must have failed, and been at the same time fatal to himself, as the distance he had to swim was little short of a mile. The child at his desire threw his arms about his neck and instead of giving way to terror, endeavoured to embarrass his preserver as little as possible, and occasionally to chear him with the assurance, that they were almost out of danger.
Among some other wonderful escapes was that of William Leeson, settler, who with his mother, wife and two children, and three men, was carried from his farm upon a barley mow. They were driven by the impetuous current nearly seven miles ; and were taken off in the dark by Rich. Wallis, with the greatest difficulty.
The amount of stock lost must indeed be serious and considerable, though a quantity of different kinds was picked up, after the settlers with their wives & children were removed from danger.
Many of the stacks of wheat and barley that were floated off were forced by the current into the ocean; upwards of sixty were seen by one observer to clear Cumberland Reach, and twenty were seen by two lime burners in a very short space of time, drifting towards Pittwater where they had but little obstruction to encounter: upon some of these were many pigs, dogs and prodigious quantities of poultry, a great many of which took flight and got to land as they occasionally approached the banks.
By Wednesday about noon the water had fallen about 12 feet ; but none of the grounds about the back farms were at all fordable. Many of the stacks that had broke loose have been secured: Indeed, nothing but the activity of the Officers of Government, & the readiness with which their commands were generally executed, could have left one single hope to this extensive settlement, which had no other appearance than that of an immense sheet of water. And although distress was visible in every countenance, and universal horror prevailed, yet could there be found beings so destitute of the common feelings of humanity as to refuse their aid in preserving the lives and property of the unhappy sufferers. This inhuman conduct was immediately represented to His Excellency by the Rev. Mr. Marsden and Thomas Arndell Esq. who were on Thursday joined by C. Throsby Esq. with 8 Constables : and in consequence of their representation His Excellency was pleased immediately to issue a General Order to render what was so of itself criminal, viz. refusing assistance at a juncture, when not only lives and property, but the welfare and very subsistance of the whole Colony was at stake. On Wednesday and Thursday 125 Labourers from the Public Works at Parramatta and Castle Hill, were sent under their overseer, together with 27 volunteer Soldiers, to give every assistance the Magistrates might direct, in saving as much wheat and growing maize as possible, by drying the former, and pulling and shelling the latter. The road between Hawkesbury and Parramatta was also in a dreadful state of flood, no communication being practicable but along the elevated grounds, occasioning the prodigious circuit : the Race Ground was nearly covered, and the Ponds, the foot of Lapstone-hill, and various other parts of road were not at all fordable.
Much apprehension was entertained for the fate of the Settlers on the Nepean; from whence some satisfactory intelligence has been received, but no certain accounts of the extent of losses at that place or the Hawkesbury can as yet be depended on ; Yet it is sufficiently obvious, that but little short of the present destruction of private property in that Settlement is the consquence of this uncommon deluge ; which, like those of the nile, may conduce to the abundance of future crops.
HAWKESBURY, MARCH 27. (1806, March 30). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627063
The planned destruction of this bridge is also a reminder that the first version was built by this early Pittwater gentleman:
General Orders.
WHEREAS by the General Orders of May 25, 1802, His Excellency was pleased to grant to Andrew Thompson, settler and Constable at the Green Hills, Hawkesbury, a lease for constructing a Floating Bridge over the South Creek, to facilitate the communication between Sydney, Parramatta and Hawkesbury, which has been of the greatest service to the settlers in that District and to the inhabitants in general, as specified in the said Order. And whereas the Tolls on the said Bridge have not been sufficiently explicit under the different heads of Persons, Carriages, Draught and Stock Cattle, and other Stock, the Governor has judged it necessary, with the consent of the Proprietor Lessee to make the following Reductions and Alterations in the Tolls demandable on passing the said Floating Bridge. per ana. For each Foot Passenger 4s or Per ana £1 10 0 Each Horse, single or draught 2s 6d or £2 10 0
Waggons or four-wheeled Carriages taking more than half a ton lading 1s 6d or £1 10 0 For each Cart or Carriage with two wheels loaded or not 1s 6d or £ 1 10 0 For each head of Cattle whether in draught or not 1s 6d or £1 10 0
Each sheep under a score 2s
Ditto by the score, 2s 6d or £210 0 Swine or Goat the same as 2 Sheep,
It is to be understood that for the above Toll passenger, horses, carts, or carriages are to pass and repass once in the same day on the same Ticket.
Thereafter Regulation of the Order of May 25, 1802, respecting keeping the Bridge in repair Individuals &c. passing the Bridge on Government Service in the actual execution of Public Duty and the penalties prescribed by that Order do remain in force. General Orders. (1806, March 9). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627036
We are further reminded of the connection between our two communities in the naming of Haystack Point at Newport, which also stems from our estuaries connection to the Hawkesbury and a flood during which Andrew Thompson rescued many when the lace was still called Green Hills:
HAWKESBURY, MARCH 27.
The extensive damage done by the flood cannot yet thoroughly be ascertained :—though it is known, that many individuals have lost every thing they possessed, and that several have perished in the deluge, which was never before known to arrive to so great a height by from eight to ten feet. What rendered its progress still more destructive was, a false notion of security which many had imbibed, from the supposed confidence that there never would be another heavy flood in the main river, though without assigning any cause for such an idea ; to which the recent alarms seemed to give a colour, as each succeeding fresh had abated without any damage, save that sustained from the overflow of the South Creek.
The first appearance of this distressing inundation was observable on Thursday the 20th instant ; the River, discoloured, having risen several feet above the high water mark. The settlers on the low grounds, known from former doleful experience to be subject to disaster, were now preparing for the consequences ; but in the course of the night the rise abated, and the next morning apprehension had totally subsided. The incessant rains on Friday and Saturday night gave a new turn to expectation ; and by day-light on Saturday morning a scene of horror presented itself in every quarter. It was by this time nearly as high as on the 2d of March 1801 ; many farms were then under water; the rain continued without intermission, and a rapid rise was in consequence observable. The measures adopted by THOMAS ARNDELL Esq. for the preservation of lives, were actively carried into execution by Mr. Thompson, Chief Constable ; who in one of his boats saved the lives of a hundred persons, whom he took from the tops of houses, and rafts of straw floating on the deluge. He had two more boats employed in the same humane work, and by means of these also a number of lives were saved.
Mr. Thomas Biggers, often at the risque of his own life, saved upwards of 150 men, women, and children ; and others who possessed boats, particularly the District Constables, were very active in this benevolent duty.
In the course of this dreadful day upwards of 200 wheat stacks were swept into the stream and carried down the river with incredible velocity; stock of all descriptions were seen floating about and on the tops of the stacks, but could not be saved for want of boats, those of Messrs. Thompson, Biggers, and others being constantly employed taking the settlers families from the roofs and ridges of the houses, where many had for whole hours clung despairing of assistance, and expecting to be shortly washed into the watery waste. Towards Richmond Hill it seemed to abate on Saturday evening; down the River it still rose—The distress and horror of that evening can neither be described or imagined.—The day heavy and gloomy, the night fast approaching, torrents of rain pauring with unabating fury ; and not a house except at the Green Hills to be seen, the roofs of one or two of the highest on the opposite side of the water being then only visible. Muskets were discharged by the settlers from trees and roofs all day, and great numbers had been taken up, and left safely on the higher grounds; but many were devoted to undergo a night of horror the most inexpressible : in the evening the dismal cries from distant quarters, the report of fire-arms dangerously charged in order to increase the noise of explosion ; the howl-ing of dogs that had by swimming got into trees, all concurred to shock the feelings of the few that were out of the reach, but were sorrowful spectators of the calamity they could not relieve. On Sunday morning the rigor of the weather abated ; and in the course of the day the water on the high lands shewed a disposition to run off. Nearly 300 persons, saved from the deluge by the humane perseverance and incredible exertions of the rescuers, were released from a state of actual famine by a supply sent from the Green Hills in consequence of HIS EXCELLENCY'S request to Mr. Arndell to afford the sufferers every as-assistance and relief.
Five persons are known at present to have lost their lives: one of whom was a labourer at Richmond ; the others at Chalker's farm, viz. Walter Scott, a shoemaker, who has left a large family to deplore his destiny, & James Burns, with two women, one the wife of Benjamin Coolen, the other the wife of J. Cowan. Three of these unfortunate persons had taken shelter in Chalker's house, there hoping safety : but alas ! the highest & the lowest situations seemed alike devoted, and security was no where to be found. Chalker was in turn compelled to fly for safety ; and taking to his boat with a boy five years of age, and the above three, by fatal accident the boat upset, and they instantly perished. The child was the first object of Chalker's care, as an endeavour to save either of the others must have failed, and been at the same time fatal to himself, as the distance he had to swim was little short of a mile. The child at his desire threw his arms about his neck and instead of giving way to terror, endeavoured to embarrass his preserver as little as possible, and occasionally to chear him with the assurance, that they were almost out of danger.
Among some other wonderful escapes was that of William Leeson, settler, who with his mother, wife and two children, and three men, was carried from his farm upon a barley mow. They were driven by the impetuous current nearly seven miles ; and were taken off in the dark by Rich. Wallis, with the greatest difficulty.
The amount of stock lost must indeed be serious and considerable, though a quantity of different kinds was picked up, after the settlers with their wives & children were removed from danger.
Many of the stacks of wheat and barley that were floated off were forced by the current into the ocean; upwards of sixty were seen by one observer to clear Cumberland Reach, and twenty were seen by two lime burners in a very short space of time, drifting towards Pittwater where they had but little obstruction to encounter: upon some of these were many pigs, dogs and prodigious quantities of poultry, a great many of which took flight and got to land as they occasionally approached the banks.
By Wednesday about noon the water had fallen about 12 feet ; but none of the grounds about the back farms were at all fordable. Many of the stacks that had broke loose have been secured: Indeed, nothing but the activity of the Officers of Government, & the readiness with which their commands were generally executed, could have left one single hope to this extensive settlement, which had no other appearance than that of an immense sheet of water. And although distress was visible in every countenance, and universal horror prevailed, yet could there be found beings so destitute of the common feelings of humanity as to refuse their aid in preserving the lives and property of the unhappy sufferers. This inhuman conduct was immediately represented to His Excellency by the Rev. Mr. Marsden and Thomas Arndell Esq. who were on Thursday joined by C. Throsby Esq. with 8 Constables : and in consequence of their representation His Excellency was pleased immediately to issue a General Order to render what was so of itself criminal, viz. refusing assistance at a juncture, when not only lives and property, but the welfare and very subsistance of the whole Colony was at stake. On Wednesday and Thursday 125 Labourers from the Public Works at Parramatta and Castle Hill, were sent under their overseer, together with 27 volunteer Soldiers, to give every assistance the Magistrates might direct, in saving as much wheat and growing maize as possible, by drying the former, and pulling and shelling the latter. The road between Hawkesbury and Parramatta was also in a dreadful state of flood, no communication being practicable but along the elevated grounds, occasioning the prodigious circuit : the Race Ground was nearly covered, and the Ponds, the foot of Lapstone-hill, and various other parts of road were not at all fordable.
Much apprehension was entertained for the fate of the Settlers on the Nepean; from whence some satisfactory intelligence has been received, but no certain accounts of the extent of losses at that place or the Hawkesbury can as yet be depended on ; Yet it is sufficiently obvious, that but little short of the present destruction of private property in that Settlement is the consquence of this uncommon deluge ; which, like those of the nile, may conduce to the abundance of future crops.
HAWKESBURY, MARCH 27. (1806, March 30). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627063
It was as the result of saving more people during an 1810 Hawkesbury flood that this early Pittwater man fell ill and succumbed to his illness.
On November 16th an Upper House Inquiry was announced:
On November 16th an Upper House Inquiry was announced:
INQUIRY INTO THE WINDSOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
16 November 2017: Media Release
An Upper House committee has commenced an inquiry into the Windsor Bridge replacement project. The committee is chaired by the Hon Robert Brown MLC of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and the committee includes representatives of the Liberal and National parties, the Australian Labor Party and the Greens.
Mr Brown said, ‘The Windsor Bridge has considerable historical, economic, and social significance for the people of the Hawkesbury area and the wider Sydney region. This inquiry will examine the NSW Government’s proposals to replace this important piece of infrastructure’.
Mr Brown continued, ‘The committee will consider, among other things, the justification for the replacement of the bridge; the options presented to the community; and the economic, social, and heritage impacts of the proposal’.
The committee is currently accepting submissions and the closing date is 28 January 2018. Submissions should be lodged online on the committee’s website at: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/windsorbridge
The committee will hold public hearings in the new year.
For further information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference and guidelines for making a submission, please visit the committee’s website at: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/windsorbridge
Our Windsor counterparts are asking that we here, who have such a strong passion for heritage and historical spaces, add our own efforts to those of theirs. How effective this may be when Windsor residents have occupied the site for years, sent over 45 000 letters opposing the destruction and even court action being taken by residents in 2015, remains to be seen. A new policy by our current government of the community being told they may only address what is proposed in the documents where feedback or 'having your say' is invited, and that granting licence to ignore all that opposed in the same as 'not addressing the criteria', is feeding a groundswell of anger that will not abate, no matter how many blue ribbons you fly. This is becoming a sticking point, a self-evident failure of the worth of any words issued and a disappointing development for all who hold firm to seeing something noble in and as part of that Australian political party.
Windsor correspondents have stated this week;
"There are 3000 heavy trucks currently passing over Windsor Bridge with no weight limit, and that is expected to rise to 5000 after the Penrith Lakes Scheme finishes in 12 months time, as those trucks will be going up to the Putty sand mining. We were told this by a truckie whistleblower who works on the Penrith site.
"We have put in many submissions for National Heritage Listing, the last was 12 months ago but Josh Frydenberg is stalling, said a decision will be made in April.....the same time as the work will begin. "
"The Windsor Bridge has been checked by independent ex RMS bridge engineers and found to be completely safe. We wish to retain that bridge for local traffic and have a bypass built for the heavy traffic. The loss of heritage value due to the new high bridge destroying the heritage vista, the uniqueness of the Thompson Square conservation area, through which this project is slated to funnel arterial traffic through Australia's oldest square, destroying it's heritage value forever, is not being taken into account. The plan should be modified so the road goes around the heritage area, as it has in other heritage places in New South Wales."
"The find last week by the 'archaeologists' of the brick barrel drain that Macquarie ordered to be built in 1814 which is the "Smugglers Tunnels" of Windsor, underlines what should be saved for those living now and future generations to see and experience. Highly destructive salvage archaeology is being done right now in the lower reserve, where excavators are digging the foundations down to bedrock.
Another media release on this matter from this week:
Windsor Bridge Work Must Stop
Thursday December 14th, 2017
Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, has called for the Windsor Bridge project to cease immediately following the discovery of two sections of brick barrel drain, dating back to 1814.
NSW Roads and Maritime Services uncovered the 200 year old brickwork during preliminary excavation work at Windsor’s historic Thompson Square, the oldest public square in Australia.
“This latest discovery reinforces that the NSW Government’s actions are environmental vandalism of the highest order.
“Giant, mechanical excavators are crushing the remains of Australia’s heritage, and incredibly precious Indigenous artefacts”, Ms Templeman said.
“Works must be stopped immediately so that archaeologists and local Darug elders can assess the historic site and preserve the historic Thompson Square.
“I have written to the Minister on a number of occasions, urging him to grant Emergency Heritage Listing to the Square to prevent the NSW Government from pursuing this short-sighted and incredibly irresponsible project,” she said.
As well as the barrel drain, it’s understood that many Colonial remains and Aboriginal artefacts predating 1811 have been uncovered. An historic Telford-style road, possibly the original road from Sydney to Windsor, and a Francis Greenway-designed wharf are also in the development’s firing line.
Labor supports an emergency heritage listing to Thompson Square, and a feasibility study for the construction of a Third Crossing – a genuine solution to the Hawkesbury’s traffic problems.
“There is no doubt the site hold a number of values that help tell the story of Australia’s heritage. It’s extraordinary that the Government is looking the other way rather than acting to protect the site” Mr Burke said.
“The NSW Government is planning to build a bridge that won’t solve the traffic problems but will destroy unique heritage in the process. The end result will be a modern, concrete structure that still causes traffic congestion through the historic heart of Windsor” said Ms Templeman.
Pittwater Online will be visiting Windsor as part of our Summer investigations into places further afield with Pittwater connections. A followup will run in 2018 - perhaps more follow ups with follow that.
Below runs a more recent Media Release from a sister community residents association, and one by the National Trust, started by Annie Wyatt; yet another Pittwater connection there - and some of our own research, which backs up all being said.
Those who have not read our Andrew Thompson, Pittwater Patriarch page will find it here
RIPPING THE GUTS OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY
The NSW Premier is gleefully spending $2,000,000,000 to upgrade 2 football stadiums.
Yet the Hawkesbury is told there is not enough money to bypass Australia's 3rd oldest town.
This is a media release prepared by HRRA and which has been sent to over 150 media outlets worldwide today.
"RMS is perpetrating vandalism using secretive and draconian measures on a massive scale in Windsor NSW with the full blessing of Gladys Berejiklian.
A concrete wound is to be inflicted upon this significant heritage space, Thompson Square. The scars will never heal.
All for no benefit to the local community, the state or the Nation. The new roadway and bridge are not a traffic mitigation project.
The RMS themselves have stated that the new infrastructure will be “at capacity” when it opens (after 2 years of construction traffic chaos.)
There is no ‘budget’ for the project. It “will be funded until completed” according to the NSW Treasurer. Around $30M has already been spent and construction has not yet begun. Not bad for a project which was initially announced as having a budget of $25M in total.
The Windsor Bridge Replacement Project is a writhing mass of obfuscation, with ruination and erasure of nationally significant heritage and archaeology being perpetrated right now.
There is a ‘salvage’ compound in the Square, ostensibly in order to ‘salvage’ the archaeological remains which are to be destroyed by this politically motivated project. However, the RMS are using backhoes, breaking convict made bricks, digging deep into the colonial layers, and moving on down, further back through time into Aeolian dunes which contain ancient artefacts estimated to be 34,000 years old or more.
They are using backhoes. This is not archaeology. This is wanton, offensive destruction.
The RMS have ramped up the secrecy are now using draconian methods in order to prevent members of the community from even seeing what it is that is being destroyed.
Yesterday (4th December 2017), a 360 degree ‘guard tower’ was installed, fitted with a pan-tilt-zoom camera, multiple fixed cameras, on board DVR recording all camera 24×7, long range movement sensing devices, night vision infrared lighting, VOIP public address system and speakers which are used by remote security guards to ‘warn off’ anyone who approaches the compound. The warning given is that the police have been called. In addition, the RMS have now wrapped the compound fences in full block out material, replacing the shade cloth which was there originally.
What are the RMS trying to hide? Why is the community being treated with such contempt? An Upper House Inquiry was announced into this project on 16th November 2017, yet the destruction and secrecy not only continues, but appears to be getting worse and more desperate.
We know there have been a large amount of finds on the site, including a potential brick barrel drain, constructed in 1814 by John Howe at the order of Lachlan Macquarie, which is unique in terms of being the earliest public infrastructure of its kind in Australia. There is also historical evidence that structures dating back as far as 1795 may be found. This exact site contains some of the oldest and potentially most significant colonial archaeology in the country. This fact is well documented, including by Governors Macquarie, Philip, Bligh and Hunter.
How do we know what’s been found? Because members of the community took photos over and through the fence prior to yesterday’s 1984 Big Brother guard tower installation.
Thompson Square is older than Port Arthur. It is older than Hyde Park Barracks. It is older than most of the remaining heritage in The Rocks. In fact, the earliest known remnants in The Big Dig under the YHA in The Rocks date to the same age as the establishment of the site Thompson Square, 1795.
The RMS and NSW Government are RIPPING THE GUTS OUT of our national history, are using backhoes to do it and are treating the community with contempt.
Dominic Perrottet, the Member for Hawkesbury and Treasurer for NSW, the Minister for Roads and the Premier have repeatedly ignored requests to meet with the community about this issue, despite a 5 year long, 24/7 occupation of the site; 45,000 individually signed letters in opposition to the project, thousands of emails, protest rallies, a Call for Papers, national television coverage and now an Upper House Inquiry.
Our community deserves the representation due to us."
(Photos: supplied by the community)
Written by Venecia Wilson, President of the Hawkesbury Ratepayers and Residents Association.
Save Windsor from the RTA
December 12, 2017: CAWB
Why should we care about the brick barrel drains of Thompson Square? They're just drains, right?
Actually they're probably sewers. At least that's how Macquarie described them in the contract he issued for their construction. In fact, they are the oldest known example of this type of public infrastructure in Australia and for that distinction alone they're pretty amazing.
But let's just have a quick look at their historic context: whilst today we take for granted wastewater systems, deaths from waterborne diseases have been a problem throughout history. Sanitation is necessary for a healthy life, and would be have been necessary for a healthy colony.
In 1858 an Australian commentator describes an absence of drainage in the Rocks, with sewage trickling down walls and soaking into foundations… but there was no trickling sewage in Thompson Square.
Thompson Square had its brick barrel drains, commissioned by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1814: an example of the Governor's interest in good town planning.
The drains, along with the paved roads of Thompson Square, demonstrate the importance of Windsor to Colonial authorities who invested public funds in this port town through which so much of the colony's produce was shipped.
These rare and remarkable archaeological relics may also have much to tell us about life in the early colony and help to identify other early, associated structures. Their construction may reveal much about the technical skills and knowledge of the day, the quality of the brickwork an indication of the level of skills available in New South Wales c1814.
Finally if all this isn't enough, our humble drains, rarely seen over the past 203 years represent an asset that still has the potential to contribute to the economy of the Hawkesbury today, as such increasingly rare archaeological relics attract tourists keen to know more about historic locations, such as Windsor.
They are old, they are important, and they need to be protected from the Government's poor excuse for a new bridge.
Reminiscences of a Visit to the Hawkesbury.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT. )
As the years roll on the venerable personages regarded as the "oldest inhabitants" are passing away, and the first race of "Hawkesbury natives" -a generation of giants-will soon exist only in their numerous descendants who are scattered throughout almost every part of Australia and New Zealand. These descendants of the " giants of those days," and the general public, will perhaps be interested in the following reminiscences of their old home or the homo of their fathers.The most remarkable building in the Hawkesbury district is Windsor church, the oldest place of worship now existing in Australia. There were churches built at an earlier period. For instance, St. Philip's, Sydney, and St. John's, Parramatta, but these have been demolished and rebuilt long since, so that St. Matthew's, Windsor, can unquestionably lay claim to be the most venerable sacred edifice in the country.
" I stood on the bridge at mid-night,
As the clock was striking the hour,
And the moon rose o'er the landscape,
Behind the dark church tower."
I was favoured with an inspection of some old official Hawkesbury records, and find that in the year 1817 there was a Government House at Windsor, and that Governor Lachlan Macquarie sometimes lived there.
I find that on the 11th October of that year the corner stone of St. Matthew's, Windsor, was laid by Governor Macquarie, who, after depositing a "holey dollar"- that is, the rim of a Spanish dollar, with the circular bit cut out, which bit then passed current as a " dump"- said " God prosper St. Matthew's Church," gently striking the stone three times with the mallet. "And," continues the account from which I quote, " the same ceremony was severally performed by the whole of the gentlemen who accompanied his Excellency from the Government House to the spot."
The paper then proceeds to state that through indisposition, the incumbent, the Rev. Robert Cartwright, was not present. The follows this paragraph :
13th October, 1817.
The corner stone having been removed, and the money stolen early on the evening on which it was deposited by the Governor, this evening, about the same time, the corner stone was re-laid, by his Excellency, and a dollar deposited underneath it, by the Rev. Robert Cartwright. This consecration was witnessed by his Honour lieutenant Governor Erskine, Major Antill, D. Allan. Esq., Commissary-General, Rev. Henry Fulton, William Cox, Esq., Chief Magistrate at Hawkesbury, Mr. Surgeon Mileham, J.P., several other gentlemen and the most respectable Inhabitants of Windsor. His Excellency addressed the spectators in a very pathetic manner, passing very high and deserved encomiums on the resident chaplain. He then returned to compliment the magistrates and officers with his presence at the Macquarie Arms inn, where the whole party (except Mr. Cartwright) supped together.
For the second time it -would seem that the dollar placed in the foundation stone -was stolen, for another entry, dated Nov. 18, 1817, runs as follows :
The dollar deposited underneath the corner stone of St. Matthew's Church, bj' the REv. Mr. Cartwright, was again stolen n few nights afterwards. This infamous species of theft could not have been practiced only through the neglect of the contracting builders in not having prepared materials to immediately work over the stone. It was supposed that the corner stone was thrown down each time and the money stolen by some of the men employed at the public works in the town of Windsor.
This and the previously quoted documents, and those I shall presently quote from, are all signed by " Joseph Harpur," who was clerk in the Church and Public School-master. This Mr. Harpur was father of Charles Harpur, the well-known Australian poet.
The next entry relating to the church, bears date June 4th, 1819. It is as follows :
The walls of the church to which the above memorandum refers have been taken down to the very foundation, through some defect in the building, and another structure is now being built on the site, by Government, of much larger dimensions, and of the very best material. It is, I believe, to retain the name of St. Matthew’s given to the first building.
A memorandum is then given of some damage done to the church, in 1821, from a violent gala of wind which blew the lead off the dome, &c., and then follows the account of the opening ceremony :
This day the new Church of St. Matthew's, Windsor, was consecrated and opened for divine worship by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, Principal Chaplain of the Territory, assisted by the Revs. Messrs. Cross, resident chaplain, Cartwright, and Hassall. After the ceremony the Holy Sacrament was administered to a goodly company from various parts of the colony. Scarcely an individual was observed but what appeared deeply attentive during the whole service, and the church was nearly filled before the Communion Service was commenced. (Signed) J, Harpur, Windsor, Wednesday 8th December, 1823.
In these entries we gather the history of the commencement of the fine old church which I shall presently describe. The incumbents, since the establishment, have been about eight in number. The first on record is the Rev. Robert Cartwright, whose ministry extended over ten years. Then followed the Revs., J. Cross, E. Smith, Docker, Meares, and Stiles. The latter gentleman was incumbent for thirty-four years, and died in 1867. He was succeeded by his son-in-law, the present respected incumbent, who has had charge of St. Matthew’s since 1867.
The church, being built on the high ground over-looking the river, is a prominent object from all parts of the Hawkesbury district. The style of architecture is Italian in character, it is built of brick and is still one of the most substantial structures of the kind in the colony. The walls are between three and four feet thick; the dimensions of the building are 126 feet in length and 50 feet in width. The roof is slated ; and the flooring of the centre aisle is of stone ; there is ample accommodation within the building for between 700 and 600 persons. It has a bell and clock tower, porch, chancel, and organ gallery. The organ is a very good one, though one of the first built in the colony (Johnson, builder). It has lately been re-arranged and had two new stops put in.
Ascending the church tower with the Rev. Mr. Garnsey, I had a great treat in the view of the country below and around. The height is about 130 feet. We first reached the clock tower. The clock is a fine old time-piece made by Thwaites and Reed, of London, in 1821. The face of the clock is six foot in diameter. Still ascending and admiring the vast strength of the brick and woodwork of former days, we came to the belfry. The bell is a sister one to that in St. James' Church, Sydney. It was cast in the same foundry and came out in the same ship. The windows of the belfry opened to view panoramas of the finest scenery of the kind in Australia. Eastward of the town, below and in the distance, wore Windsor Road and Pitt Town ; north-east, over green fields waving with corn, were the district of Cornwallis, part of the Richmond Bottoms, Wilberforce, Freeman's Reach, and, South-west : the Blue Mountain Ranges, the Gap, in the first tier of hills being prominent, while immediately below were some old family estates of the Coxes and others, looking very pretty. The view from the church tower will well repay a visit to the town.
The porch at the south-west entrance was erected by the late Captain Roxburgh and the late Mr. Robert Fitzgerald in memory of their daughters. Captain Roxburgh's daughter died at the parsonage, Windsor; and Miss Fitzgerald was killed by a fall from her horse. The chancel is in the form of an apse, with semicircular window with yellow lights in the roof. This window was the gift of Michael Metcalfe, Esq. The communion walls, which were inscribed at the time the church was built, contain four tablets having the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, with the words " Do this in Remembrance of me." The lectern was presented by Mrs. Rouse, and the Communion chairs by Mrs. Coley. On the right hand side of the chancel there are three tab-lets of the Fitzgerald family. On the left of the chancel there is a tablet to the memory of Mrs. Gordon ; and another on the south wall to the memory of Charles Hassall.
ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, WINDSOR.
The graveyard surrounding Windsor church is full of interest to the old inhabitants, their descendants, and the visitor. I copied a few of the epitaphs. One of the most noticable was as follows :—
Sacred to the memory of Andrew Thompson, Esq., Justice of the Peace and Chief Magistrate of the district of the Hawkesbury, a native of Scotland, who at the age of seventeen years was sent to this country, where from the time of his arrival he distinguished himself by the most persevering industry, and diligent attention to the commands of his superiors.
By these means he raised himself to a station of respectability and affluence, which enabled him to indulge in the generosity of his nature in assisting his fellow creatures in distress more particularly in the calamitous floods of the river Hawkesbury in the years 1806 and 1809. At the immediate risque of his life and permanent injury of his health, he exerted himself continually during three successive days and nights in saving the lives and properties of numbers, who, but for him must have perished. In consequence of Mr. Thomp-son's good conduct Governor Macquarie ap-pointed him Justice of the Peace. This act which had restored him to that rank in society which he had lost, made so deep an impression on his grateful heart as to induce him to bequeath to the Governor one-fourth of his fortune. This most useful and valuable man closed his earthly career on the 22nd day of October, 1810, at the House at Windsor of which he was the principal founder, in the 37th year of his age, with the hope of eternal life. From respect and esteem for the memory of the deceased this monument is erected by Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales.
The following lines are not inappropriate to the condition and appearance of the Windsor church and graveyard at the present time :—
See yonder hallow'd church ; the pious work
Of names once famed, now dubious or forgot,
And buried, midst the wreck of things which were ;
There be interred the more illustrious dead.
The wind is up ; hark ! how it howls ! Methinks
Till now I never heard a sound so dreary ;
Doors creak, and windows clap, and night's foul bird,
Rook'd in the tow'r, screams loud : thy gloomy aisles,
Thick plastered, and hung round with monuments.
Strange things, the neighbours say, have happen'd here ;
Wild shrieks have issued from the hollow tombs ;
Dead men have come again, and walk'd about ;
And the great bell has toll'd, unrung, un-touch'd
(Such tales their cheer at wake or gossiping
Blair
Hawkesbury. (1874, January 24).Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 21. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70471956
The Grave, by Robert Blair (in full): https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/blair/robert/grave/thegrave.html
