Richmond
Heading west from Windsor through the avenue of mature London Plane trees you will discover the rural town of Richmond. Take the opportunity to relax in historic Richmond Park with its pavilion built in 1883-84, which today serves as a grandstand for sporting functions and events. You may be lucky enough to catch a local game of cricket on the village green.
On Saturday mornings the park is home to the Richmond Good Food Markets where you can sample some of the finest food from the Hawkesbury region. A twin town to Windsor, Richmond beckons you with its sandstone lined streets and all the charm you would expect from a country town. There are cafés offering exceptional hospitality, stores enticing shoppers with decorator pieces, homemade handicrafts, as well as vintage and antique collectables.
Whilst visiting Richmond take the opportunity to admire the town’s many historic homes, churches, cemeteries and commercial buildings; Richmond is another of our towns named by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in December 1810.
If you drive to the end of town through the arbour of trees, you will find Pugh's Lagoon, which is an idyllic spot for picnics and relaxing activities such as photography and bird watching - see black swans, geese, coots, moorhens and their young plus the occasional pelican fishing the lagoon. Seating, shade and toilets are available here and the large grassed areas are ideal for the children to exercise on or to run off some of their excess energy. Disability groups often enjoy this area as it offers shade, water views and tranquility.
Perched on the slopes above the lagoon you will find the historic St Peters Anglican Church (1841). Across the road from the church is the cemetery which was in use by 1811. Margaret Catchpole (1762-1819) is buried here in an unmarked grave. She was a horse thief, convict and a pioneer. She died in 1819 as a free woman after being pardoned in 1814. Her letters describe, as an eyewitness, the Hawkesbury River floods of 1806 and 1809. She worked as a midwife, store keeper and generally helped others.
From Richmond you can drive through the surrounding farmland area with polo fields and visit river farms selling seasonal produce. For the horse enthusiast Hawkesbury Valley Equestrian Centre is now located at nearby Yarramundi. Ride their horses or bring your own - private and group riding lessons provided. Try some recreational cycling in Hawkesbury around the Richmond lowlands and quieter back streets. For the younger riders Ham Common has a shared riding and walking pathway- 4km return. There is an off road circuit of the RAAF Base for the young riders too - 2.8km return - it begins in Percival Street.
Richmond has a train station which suits walking groups heading here. A Richmond self-guided heritage walking tour brochure is available for these groups to help them, or anyone, navigate the town and find the heritage 'goodies'.
For the golf enthusiasts there is the Richmond Golf Club, established in 1897. Richmond Golf Course is believed to be the oldest golf club on its original site in Australia. It has the stunning backdrop of the Blue Mountains and is situated in the heart of historic Richmond.