Historic Hawkesbury River Towns

The Aboriginal name for the river was published as Deerubbun in 1870. The two main Aboriginal tribes inhabiting the area were the Wannungine of the coastal area on the lower reaches (below Mangrove Creek) and the Darkinung people. In 1789 two expeditions explored the Hawkesbury to the northwest of Sydney and the Nepean River to the southwest. It took about three years to realise they had discovered the same river system. We follow the river and explore the historic townships along it.

DELIVERY MODE

• Online

SUGGESTED READING

• Exploring the Hawkesbury, R.Ian Jack
• Macquarie Country - A History of the Hawkesbury, D.G. Bowd, Library of Australian History 1979

COURSE OUTLINE

• Windsor – Capital of the Hawkesbury
• Ebenezer – Has the oldest church in Australia
• Richmond – Macquarie named it after Richmond estate in England
• Sackville Reach Aboriginal Reserve – A wonderful parkland
• Wilberforce – Impressive church and school house

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Have a greater understanding of the history and towns on the Hawkesbury River