Windsor Sydney, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 33°36′49″S150°48′42″E / 33.61361°S 150.81167°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 1,915 (Greater Windsor is 17,000) (2021 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
Established | 1791 | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 2756 [2] | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 21 m (69 ft) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | City of Hawkesbury | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Hawkesbury | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
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Windsor is a historic town in north-west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is the council seat of the Hawkesbury local government area. The town sits on the Hawkesbury River, enveloped by farmland and Australian bush. Many of the oldest surviving European buildings in Australia are located at Windsor. It is 56 km (35 mi) north-west of the Sydney CBD, on the fringes of urban sprawl.
At the 2021 census, Windsor had a reported population of 1,915 people, with a median age of 41. The most common ancestries in Windsor were English (38.4%), Australian (37.7%), Irish (12.7%), Scottish (10.7%), and Australian Aboriginal (6.3%). Most people from Windsor were born in Australia (77.2%), followed by England (2.9%) and India (2.2%). [1]
The most common religious group in Windsor was Christianity (55.5%), including 19.1% Catholic and 19.1% Anglican. The second largest group was No Religion (34.7%). [1]
The most common occupations in Windsor included Professionals (17.4%), Technicians and Trades Workers (15.9%), Clerical and Administrative Workers (13.4%), Managers (12.9%), and Labourers (10.6%). The median weekly household income was A$ 1,679. [1]
The Greater Windsor area includes South Windsor, Bligh Park, Windsor Downs, McGraths Hill and Mulgrave suburbs.
Windsor's proximity to the Hawkesbury River has resulted in numerous disastrous floods. A horseshoe on the outside wall of the Macquarie Arms pub marks the level the flood peaked at in 1867. During the 1867 flood, beaches along the Hawkesbury River to Barrenjoey were littered with the debris from the town.
The Windsor area was originally inhabited by the Dharuk (also Darug) nation of indigenous aboriginal peoples.
Windsor is the fourth oldest place of British settlement on the Australian continent. Settlement at the location was first established circa 1791, near the head of navigation on the Hawkesbury River (known as Deerubbin in Dharuk). European settlers utilised the fertile river flats for agriculture. The area was originally called Green Hills, but renamed Windsor (after Windsor in England). The town was officially proclaimed in a Government and General Order issued from Government House, Sydney, dated 15 December 1810. Governor Lachlan Macquarie "marked out the district of Green Hills", which he "... called Windsor", after Windsor-on-the-Thames.
While in Windsor, Governor Macquarie ordered the main institutions of organised settlement to be erected, including a church, school-house, gaol and "commodious inn" (Macquarie Arms Hotel). Of these new buildings, the most outstanding was Francis Greenway's St Matthew's Anglican Church. Governor Macquarie himself chose the site for the church. Samuel Marsden, principal chaplain of the colony, consecrated the church on 8 December 1822. [3]
Windsor was chosen during settlement because of its agricultural potential and accessible location. In 1813 a report was given to Governor Macquarie from Earl Bathurst detailing a proposed invasion of the Hawkesbury River by France. [4] This planned invasion that did not eventuate targeted the Windsor granary in order to cut off supply to Sydney, demonstrating the relative importance of this new settlement on a global scale. Windsor is 56 km (35 mi) north-west of Sydney, and easily accessible by coastal shipping from Sydney along the Hawkesbury River. It was known as the "bread basket", ensuring the survival of the starving colony. The extensive agriculture caused major silting in the Hawkesbury River; by the 1890s the Hawkesbury River had become so blocked with silt, ships could not travel up to Windsor from the coast. By then, a railway (in 1864) and road (in 1814) had been built to compensate.
On 1 January 1803, Daniel Egan was born in Windsor. He went on to become Mayor of Sydney in 1853.
Major attractions of Windsor are The Windsor Mall (Water Wheel), Windsor Mall Sunday Market, Hawkesbury Regional Museum, Howe Park, Windsor Beach, Macquarie Park, Governor Philip Park, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, St Matthew's Anglican Church, Windsor Bridge and Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler.
Windsor has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
The studios of local community radio station, Hawkesbury Radio, are located in Windsor.
Pitt Town, which is 9.3 km (5.8 mi) north west of Windsor, was a filming location for the Channel 7 television series A Country Practice. It was the set of the fictional town of Wandin Valley. The opening credits featured the former Court House Hotel, Windsor at 37-39 North Street as the doctor's clinic. Windsor High School at Mulgrave was also used as the fictional Burrigan High School in the series
Urban sprawl of metropolitan Sydney has almost reached Windsor. The town is now regarded as an outer suburb which has retained its appeal as a small country town. Growth in the Hawkesbury area has created an increased need for public transport and roads. Most people from Windsor traveled to work by car in 2016 (68.9%). [29] Only 9.0% of people used public transport. [29]
Windsor railway station opened 1 December 1864. [30] It is on the Richmond branch.
Located in the town centre is the Windsor Bridge which was constructed in 1874. It is the oldest existing crossing of the Hawkesbury River. [31] There was a proposal in 2013 by the Government of New South Wales to demolish the existing bridge and replace it with a safer bridge. It was suggested by the political activist group Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB) that a bypass is a better option to preserve history, ensure safety, and better manage the congestion of Windsor Road. [32] Nevertheless, the new bridge was constructed despite the protests. On 18 May 2020 the replacement bridge was opened to traffic within Windsor, NSW. [33]
The new bridge has a centreline height of 17.8 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD) (ie significantly higher than the typical water level – peak flood levels at Windsor bridge are 11.1 metres AHD and 17.2 metres AHD for the five year and 100 year ARI events respectively. [34] ). In 2021 the bridge was closed due to flooding in March 2021, [35] and further work on the new bridge was completed [36]
Windsor is also connected to Parramatta via the 31-kilometre-long (19 mi) Windsor Road cycleway, with much of its route via the North-West T-way. [37]
The Windsor Mall Sunday Market are held weekly on Sunday between 9.00am to 3.00pm. The markets contain stalls selling jewellery, books, arts and crafts, paintings, fashion items, fresh locally grown produce, locally produced jams and many food and drink stands.
Parramatta is a central suburb of the City of Parramatta and a major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney. Parramatta is located approximately 24 kilometres (15 mi) west of the Sydney CBD, on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is commonly regarded as the secondary central business district of metropolitan Sydney.
Richmond is a historic town northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Richmond is in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury and is part of the Sydney metropolitan area. It is located 20 metres above sea level on the alluvial Hawkesbury River flats, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. It is about 62 km by road from Sydney, 22 km from Penrith, 25 km from Blacktown, 39 km from Parramatta, 78 km from Lithgow and 7 km from Windsor. Richmond is now part of the Sydney urban area, with access to various amenities.
Francis Howard Greenway was an English-born architect who was transported to Australia as a convict for the alleged crime of forgery. He became known as the ‘forefather of Australian architecture’. In New South Wales he worked for the Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, as Australia's first government architect. He became widely known and admired for his work displayed in buildings such as St Matthew's Church, St James' Church and Hyde Park Barracks.
The Hills Shire is a local government area in the Greater Sydney region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The area is north-west of the Sydney central business district, and encompasses 401 square kilometres (155 sq mi) stretching from the M2 Hills Motorway in the south to Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River in the north. The Hills Shire had a population of 191,876 as of the 2021 census.
The City of Blue Mountains is a local government area of New South Wales, Australia, governed by the Blue Mountains City Council. The city is located in the Blue Mountains, on the Great Dividing Range at the far western fringe of the Greater Sydney area. Major settlements include, Katoomba, Lawson, Springwood and Blaxland.
The City of Campbelltown is a local government area in the Macarthur region of south-western Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. The area is located about 55 kilometres (34 mi) south west of the Sydney central business district and comprises 312 square kilometres (120 sq mi).
Wilberforce is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It is just beyond the outer suburbs of north-west Sydney and lies on the western bank of the Hawkesbury River.
Millers Point is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the north-western edge of the Sydney central business district, adjacent to The Rocks and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.
Bridge Street is a street in the central business district of Sydney, Australia. Bridge Street runs for 500 metres (1,600 ft) in a west–east direction with traffic flowing in both directions. It is situated in the northern portion of the central business district. The western terminus of Bridge Street is at George Street, with the eastern terminus at Macquarie Street, adjacent to the Chief Secretary's Building. From west to east, Bridge Street crosses Pitt and Phillip streets.
York Street is a street in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. York Street runs 1.050 kilometres (0.652 mi) in a north to south direction only.
The Dubbo Regional Council is a local government area located in the Central West and Orana regions of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 through a merger of the City of Dubbo and Wellington Council as part of a widespread council amalgamation program. It was initially named Western Plains Regional Council for almost four months, and its name was changed to Dubbo Regional Council on 7 September 2016.
Windsor Police Station Stables is a heritage-listed former military barracks and now police building at 32–34 Bridge Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1836 by Major Barney. The property is owned by the New South Wales Police. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Thompson Square Conservation Area is a heritage-listed precinct centred around Thompson Square in Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The North Street residences are a group of individually heritage-listed residences in North Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as the North Street Group. The cottages were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. They are often grouped with the adjacent former Court House Hotel building. The residence, along with the hotel, had previously been listed both jointly and individually on the former Register of the National Estate on 21 March 1978.
The Johnston Street terraces consists of heritage-listed attached terraced houses located at 23–27 Johnston Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Mackenzie House is a heritage-listed house located at 29 Fitzgerald Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
5 Thompson Square is a heritage-listed residence and now offices at 5 Thompson Square, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Windsor Methodist Parsonage is a heritage-listed clergy house at 49 Macquarie Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Chantons Chambers. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Reverend Turner Cottage is a heritage-listed clergy house at 360 George Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Rev. Peter Turner Cottage and Oxalis Cottage. The property is owned by Hawkesbury City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Allison's Pharmacy is a heritage-listed commercial building at 257-259 Windsor Street, Richmond, New South Wales, an outer suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
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