City of Hawkesbury

The City of Hawkesbury is a large semi-rural area to the north west of Sydney. Some of Australia's oldest colonial settlements are to be found here, and have remained underdeveloped in the years since. The outward development of Sydney's suburbs has 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). Settlers arrived here in 1791 and called it "Green Hills". The town 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.
The town of Richmond was 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.

By train

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

Although one of the earliest settled parts of Sydney, the area is largely rural with limited public transport.

• Peninsula House, Tebbutt's Observatory

  address: Palmer Street, Windsor, NSW 2756

• Windsor TownMany 19th-century buildings, including the Macquarie Arms Hotel, St Matthew's Church and Windsor Court House.

• The Australiana Pioneer Village

  phone: +61 438 751 775
  address: 10 Rose St, Wilberforce NSW 2756
  Collection of historical buildings from the era. Run by volunteers on Sundays. Featuring rides on historical equipment, historical tours of the buildings and animals.

• Hawkesbury Regional Museum

  address: 8 Baker St, Windsor NSW 2756
  Small but high quality museum about the long history of this region of Sydney

• Trees Adventure - Grose River Park

  phone: +61 2 4776 1226
  address: 200 Springwood Rd, Yarramundi
  Soar through the treetops at the foothills of The Blue Mountains on an array of flying foxes, tight ropes and tunnels. Arrive 30 minutes prior to the time you book so you have enough time to get ready. All of the treetop platforms are built on more than 70 Sydney Blue Gums (eucalyptus saligna), which borders both sides of the river.

• Tutti Fruit

  address: 1917 Bells Line of Rd, Bilpin
  A nice cafe on the way into the Blue Mountains that serves local apple pies and ice cream.

• Windsor Motor Inn

  address: 54 George Street, Windsor NSW 2756
  A budget hotel offering comfortable accommodations conveniently situated in the heart of historic Windsor.

• The Sebel Resort & Spa Hawkesbury Valley

  phone: +61 2 4577 4222
  address: 61 Hawkesbury Valley Way
  Hawkesbury accommodation 45 minutes from Sydney and 50 minutes from Sydney airport. Windsor hotel offering contemporary accommodation and home to the largest day spa in the Sydney region, Villa Thalgo.

• Macquarie Arms Hotel

  phone: +61 2 4577 2206
  address: 99 George St, Windsor
  Heritage-listed hotel and pub on the banks of the Hawkesbury River.

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