Wilberforce, New South Wales

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.

Wilberforce
New South Wales
Wilberforce
Coordinates33°33′34″S 150°50′26″E
Population3,007 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2756
Location62 km (39 mi) from Sydney CBD
LGA(s)City of Hawkesbury
State electorate(s)Hawkesbury
Federal Division(s)Macquarie
Suburbs around Wilberforce:
East Kurrajong East Kurrajong Ebenezer
Glossodia and Freemans Reach Wilberforce South Maroota
Freemans Reach Pitt Town Maraylya

History

Wilberforce is one of the original settlements established as a township by Lachlan Macquarie, colonial governor of New South Wales 1810-21. It is known locally as "Macquarie Town",[2] a title given to townships established by Governor Macquarie on 6 December 1810 [3] in and around the Sydney metropolitan area. It was named after William Wilberforce (1759–1833), who was a British politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.

Heritage listings

Wilberforce has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Key sites and points of interest

Macquarie Schoolhouse (1819) and St John's Church (1859)
Main article: St John's Anglican Church and Macquarie Schoolhouse

The historic St John's Anglican Church was designed by Edmund Thomas Blacket[10] and built by J. Atkinson of Windsor. Construction was started in 1856 and the building was not completed until 1859 at a cost of £1500. The grounds of the church and contains the Old School House building (Built 1819), which was used as a school, a church, and a residence of the school master until the church was completed. The school house was replaced in 1880 by a Public School.[11] The original church building is still used for the church's 8 am service with the modern education centre used for later services.

Howorth Grave (1804, relocated 1960)

Relocated to a position in front of the schoolhouse, the grave marks the death of a child bitten by a snake on a nearby property. Grave moved on 5 December 1960 by the Hawkesbury Historical Society.[12]

Wilberforce un marked is on north side of River opposite Pitt Town

Wilberforce Park (1810)

Main article: Wilberforce Park

This is the original town square proclaimed by Macquarie, and still retains its original relationship with the schoolhouse, cemetery and townships. In the park itself is the War Memorial, erected by local residents in 1918.[13] In 1966, it was relocated within the park, and new plaques were added at this time.[14][15]

Australiana Pioneer Village
Main article: Australiana Pioneer Village

Opened around 1970, the village contains a number of buildings from the surrounding area which were physically transported to the site. Among them is 'Rose Cottage'; the oldest timber slab cottage in Australia standing on its original site.[16][17]

Wilberforce Cemetery (1815 onwards)
Main article: Wilberforce Cemetery

This cemetery sits on Old Sackville Road, near the intersection with Singleton Road (Putty Road). There are a number of graves of the area's pioneers; notably the somewhat unusual Table Slab Grave.[18]

Notable residents

Wilberforce is the birthplace of bushranger Captain Thunderbolt.

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References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wilberforce (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  2. The Macquarie towns | State Library of New South Wales
  3. Policies to Consider before Buying a Car
  4. "Wilberforce Cemetery". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01837. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. "Wilberforce Park". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01868. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  6. "Macquarie Schoolhouse/Chapel and St. John's (Blacket) Church". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01836. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. "Australiana Pioneer Village". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01683. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. "Rose Cottage". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00358. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. "Stannix Park House, cattle tanks and site". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00598. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  10. http://www.wilberforce.anglican.asn.au/html/st_johns.html Archived 15 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Baker, Helen (1967). Historic Buildings. Windsor and Richmond (1st ed.). The State Planning Authority of New South Wales.
  12. Wilberforce, St Johns Churchyard (Howorth Grave)
  13. Wilberforce, Wilberforce Park War Memorial
  14. http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/6302/WilberforceParkCMP.pdf
  15. Hawkesbury Tourism - Other Hawkesbury Heritage Tours
  16. Rose Family Cottage
  17. The Australiana Pioneer Village History
  18. Wilberforce, Wilberforce Cemetery
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