City of Hawkesbury

City of Hawkesbury is in the far north west of outer Sydney in New South Wales.

Understand

The City of Hawkesbury is actually a large semi-rural area to the north west of Sydney. Some of Australia's oldest colonial settlements are to be found here, and actually have remained somewhat underdeveloped in the years since. In recent years the outward development of Sydney's suburbs have reached the area, and it could now be considered part of Sydney proper.

The Windsor area represents the third-oldest area of European settlement in New South Wales (after Sydney and Parramatta). Originally known as "Green Hills", settlers first arrived here in 1791. The town itself was inaugurated in a drive by Governor Macquarie to build cities worthy of the thriving new colony - it was named after Windsor in England, site of a royal castle.

Windsor can make an interesting trip into Sydney's history, well off the beaten path for most visitors. You can find graveyards and sandstone among the car-yards and supermarkets.

Richmond Post Office building

The town of Richmond was first settled by europeans in 1794 to set up farms and feed the new colony of Sydney.

Kurrajong is further to the north in the area, a very rural town that acts as an entrance to the Blue Mountains.

Get in

By train

The Richmond line has train services from central Sydney to Windsor & Richmond every 30 minutes.

See

Windsor town centre

• 1 Peninsula House, Tebbutt's Observatory, Palmer Street, Windsor, NSW 2756. (updated Nov 2016)

• Windsor Town. Many 19th century buildings, including the Macquarie Arms Hotel, St Matthew's Church and Windsor Court House. (updated Nov 2016)

Sleep

• Windsor Motor Inn, 54 George Street, Windsor NSW 2756, ☎ +61 2 4577 3626, fax: +61 24577 2708. A budget hotel offering comfortable accommodations conveniently situated in the heart of historic Windsor. Best rates on official website start at AU$72. 

• The Sebel Resort & Spa Hawkesbury Valley, 61 Hawkesbury Valley Way, ☎ +61 2 4577 4222. Hawkesbury accommodation located 45 minutes from Sydney and only 50 minutes from Sydney airport. Windsor hotel offering contemporary accommodation and home to the largest day spa in the Sydney region, Villa Thalgo. 

Go next

• The Blue Mountains to the east
• The Wollemi National Park to the north east
• Wisemans Ferry to the north west