The Hawkesbury is well known well for its floods, which were a shock to the early colony and still surprise. Yet these and the rich alluvial floodplain soils meant this was an early and successful supplier of grain and produce to the struggling 1788 colony. Governor Phillip had discovered the Hawkesbury in 1789 and remarked on Richmond Hill’s good soil in 1790. It wasn’t thin sandy flats as near the coast: but clay-based soils, enriched by silt. Mixed farms & dairies have ceded to turf farms.

Governor Macquarie chose the site for both 1810 Richmond town and St. Peter’s Anglican Church, on its western edge, as a landmark and town planning element. Both were carefully sited above flood level, sensibly. Some settlers who had lost houses in earlier floods, rebuilt higher up – one such was John Dight. He built its oldest part in 1812 on a rise and owned farmland adjacent, on river flats. Dight’s daughter Elizabeth would later marry explorer and farmer, Hamilton Hume.

Richmond’s Market Square was laid out by Macquarie as the town’s commercial and social hub, a rare example of his town planning, reserving 10 acres (4ha) for community use. From the 1840s it took on recreational uses, and with the railway arriving in 1868, was gazetted as a park. Rail tracks crossed the first Hawkesbury-Nepean River bridge (1860) to North Richmond, cutting through the park. Its grandstand (1883) and mature plantings reflect Sydney Botanic Gardens links and gifts.

Meet at Durham Bowes, 22 Inalls Lane, Richmond  ( Off Richmond Road )

Please note that luch will not be provided.  Please bring your own picnic lunch.  Cold drinks and biscuits will be provided at the conclusion of the event.

Users of Google Maps beware.  Entering 'Durham Bowes' gives an incorrect location.  Please enter '11 Inalls Lane' and note that Google Maps thinks it is in Hobartville, not Richmond.

Members $20, Non Members $30, Students $5.