Hillview has had a few ‘firsts’ but not sure a mechanical problem on our transport is one of them! Fourteen EZY walkers happily set off on the 606 bus when there appeared to be a longer than expected stop at North Parramatta. Was there a problem? Yes, there was…..the temperature gauge was very high and the bus wasn’t going anywhere.
Deidre asks the driver what is wrong with the bus..........and decides we should get off All aboard the replacement bus.......hurray we're on our way!
Arriving about half an hour later than anticipated, it was a short walk to the start of the Redbank Track. It was unanimously agreed we have morning tea before setting off. The Redbank Track traverses Toongabbie Creek through the open vistas of Northmead and Wentworthville. Before leaving the track at Redbank Road we came across the few remnants of the Rogans Hill Railway Line (1923-1932). The concrete piers that are located on either side of Toongabbie Creek are one of the last remaining physical features of the former Rogans Hill Line.
As we leave the quarry, Deidre explains the next part of the walk After a good spell of rain 'Casuarinas all have babies.....'
.......and the banks of the creek take a battering In the mountains or the cities, Deidre finds stiles.........
Pittosporum
Kangaroo Apple Solanum laciniatum
Our second and final track, Governor Philip Walk completes the last leg of the greater Toongabbie Creek walk and runs from the confluence of Toongabbie Creek and Darling Mills Creek which forms the head of Parramatta River. In 1812 the Reverend Samuel Marsden purchased the 30 acre property from Charles Smith. Marsden built a water-driven flour mill upstream on Darling Mills Creek. He also made a small dam to channel water from the creek to control the water flow needed to operate the mill. Marsden named the property “Mill Dam Farm”. He also planted a large part of the property with grapevines known as “The Vineyard”. Marsden operated the Mill successfully until his death in 1838. The farm was subdivided and auctioned in 1841 when it was bought by Gregory Blaxland and continued to operate until 1866.
We followed the river for a short time into the grounds of Cumberland Hospital. The leaders had organised for a tour of Glengarriff Cumberland Hospital’s Museum with exhibits dating back to the 1830s. Glengarriff was designed by the Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon and constructed in 1906 as a residence of the Medical Superintendent. It continued to function as such until 1963 when the house was renamed “Wisteria House” utilised for the treatment of drug and alcohol addictions.
With the tour completed, we enjoyed lunch in a cool shady spot in the hospital grounds.
After lunch we wandered through the gardens before exiting into Parramatta Park. The gardens for which the house was famous were probably designed by Vernon in consultation with the then Superintendent, Dr Williamson who planted wisteria cuttings collected by him during a trip to Japan in 1907. Disappointingly for the first time in eighty eight years, the very popular Wisteria Festival isn’t being held this year.
The fourteen of us (taken by a very patient bystander) Under the wisteria
Parramatta Female Factory Entrance c.1870. [Government Printing Office Collection, State Library of New South Wales] The Female Factory opened in 1821and closed in 1848. The half ball in the rose garden came from one of the balls at the gates of the Female Factory.
The Dairy Cottage was built between 1796 and 1800 by ex-convict George Salter. The Cottage was purchased by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1813. The surrounding farm was converted into a dairy and amalgamated into the Governor’s Domain. In 1858, the Governor’s Domain was gazetted as a public park.
Exiting Parramatta Park we walked to Café 31 on Macquarie which was a very welcome respite on a warm Spring day.
Deidre and Martin (as well asTail End Charlie) led twelve walkers:- Helen A, Margaret B, Annette, Andy and Sue K, Helen L, Rex and Robin, Bert, Leone, Jim and Don Wo.
Thank you to First Aiders: Annette and Andy
Words by Deidre
Photos (plus captions) Helen A (1, 2, 4-11, 15, 25), Deidre (3, 13, 17-19, 23, 24, 26), Don Wo (12, 14, 16, 21), Bystander (Deidre's camera) (20), Government Printing Office Collection State Library of NSW (22)