By the time those who had travelled on the 9.07am ferry from Circular Quay had disembarked at Parramatta Wharf, to be met there by another two walkers, there were sixteen HVB members and four visitors ready to begin this easiest of EZY walks.
Setting off on the ferry Sailing class waiting for the wind
The day was fine, warm and partly cloudy as the walk crossed the weir by the ferry wharf and proceeded along the Riverside Walk on the northern bank of the river passing several interesting features:
- The new Powerhouse Museum, causing interesting conversations;
- Under (or, more correctly, through the inner workings of) the historic Lennox Bridge;
- The Riverside Theatre complex;
- The site of the first Female Hospital (later the Kings School before the school relocated to the Burnside estate in the 1960s);
- The site of the first Government Farm, set up in 1788 following the establishment of Old Government House across the river;
- The "Old Kings Oval";
finally running out of Riverside Walk pathway behind the new Parramatta Stadium.
Today's leaders Michael and Sue The whole gang
From there, another pathway crossed back over the river on Button's Bridge, with its huge accompanying Flying Fox colony, into Parramatta Park, winding its way to the Wisteria Garden at the Park's northernmost boundary.
Walking past the new Power House Museum Let sleeping bats lie
Crossing the Parramatta River at Buttons Bridge
The Wisteria Garden was a popular small picnic ground for many years and boasts plantings of ornamental peach trees, several shrubs and, of course, Wisteria. An April walk through the Garden, unfortunately, was not a good time to appreciate the Wisteria in bloom however - September being the ideal time.
Previous versions of this walk have then proceeded northwards through the grounds of Cumberland Mental Hospital, to the Governor Philip Walk and along Toongabbie Creek on the Redbank Track, behind Westmead Hospital, however the recce for today's walk showed both tracks to be currently overgrown and wet, rendering them unsuitable for an EZY walk. Parramatta Council is renovating the Redbank Track, working back from its northern end in Northmead. The hope is that this work (& a later renovation of the Governor Philip Walk) will be completed within the next few years.
Today's walk instead, on exiting the Wisteria Garden, turned south and west to explore the open western parklands of Parramatta Park, culminating in a lunch stop at the shelters closest to the railway on the Parks' south western boundary.
Lunch Robyn Mi prepares lunch
From there it was a short walk up to the coffee stop on Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, and then on to Westmead Station for the train home.
Enjoying coffee
Michael & Sue F (Leaders) were accompanied by: Christine McA, Claude & Margaret P, David S, Dennis, Don W, Elaine, Lyn, Lyndy, Nick B, Robyn Mi, Sue B, Sue K & Wendy P, together with visitors Suzanne (3rd walk), Hae Sook (2nd walk) & Jill & Linda (1st walks).
Thanks, as always, to our co-office bearers: Lyndy (First Aider) & Claude (Tailender).
Photography: Christine M (2, 4, 5, 11), David S (9), Don Wo (1, 3, 6, 7, 8), Margaret P (10).
Words: Michael