15 July – Plus Walk – Great West walk Section 1 (in reverse) Blacktown to Parramatta
Twelve plus walkers converged at Blacktown eager to explore the first section of the Great West Walk on such a gloriously sunshiny day.
The walkers
Heading eastwards back along the railway line, we passed through parks and playing fields alongside Blacktown Creek. At Seven Hills we crossed a weir over Blacktown Creek, then followed green verges beside the railway line before crossing over it to McCoy Park. This is where Blacktown Creek joins Toongabbie Creek before it flows across an impressively extensive flood basin designed to mitigate flooding in the western suburbs and Parramatta. From this point onwards the route (first as Settlers Walk and later Redbank Walk) meanders alongside Toongabbie Creek through Toongabbie, Old Toongabbie, Northmead and Westmead where it meets Darling Mills Creek. We took a short side trip to see the Head of Parramatta River, although sadly this spot is now poorly maintained, where there are information signs about Samuel Marsden Mill and Governor Phillip’s Camp (somewhat defaced). The final stretch of the walk was a stroll through the Cumberland Hospital complex (including the Edwardian splendor of Glengariff), wisteria gardens (which will be glorious in spring) and historic Parramatta Park.
The map of the walk
The weir near Seven Hills Station The weir on the recce, July 5th
Darling Mills Creek joining Toongabbie Creek to form the Parramatta River
Nick managing to squeeze into his boot (expertly repaired by Peter)
Overall, a relatively level walk through Cumberland River Flat forest, reserves, and parklands with a heartening evidence of regeneration and bush care activity and a pleasing diversity of birdlife. The track was muddy in places, which is hardly surprising as the (mostly plastic) flotsam and jetsam clearly showed that that we were often walking well under recent tumultuous flood water levels. It also encompassed a couple of short forays into suburban streets, while it was interesting to see the remnants of Rogans Hill Railway over Toongabbie Creek shortly before we crossed the new light rail lines over the Parramatta River at Cumberland Hospital.
Barbarba R on the reccie
Parramatta Park
We had morning tea at picnic tables in Reynolds Park Playground, lunch on a boardwalk overlooking Toongabbie Creek and a welcome end-of-walk coffee at The Bean Chamber. A big thank you to all the walkers for sharing this journey of discovery and your convivial company.
Walkers: Wendy C, Barbara C, Jenny C, Carol, Kas, Rick, Hazel, Steve, Nick S, and Peter
Leaders: Polly and Barbara R
Words: Polly
Photos: Barbara C (11, 12, 13), Barbara R (1, 3, 4, 5, 8), Peter T (2, 6, 7, 14,1(), Polly (9,10)