On a wet and misty mountain morning we set off for the Hawkesbury. The weather really didn’t improve, but we had a wonderful day. After morning tea and a toilet stop at Richmond, we headed for Wiseman’s Ferry.
The countryside through which we travelled, wet though it was, showed why our ancestors settled this area. Lush paddocks, with scattered cattle grazing.
At Wiseman’s Ferry we were lucky to visit the Wiseman’s Inn hotel. Upstairs is both accommodation and a museum to Soloman Wiseman.
The museum was fascinating. Although the whole hotel was originally Wiseman’s home, this upstairs museum has been created as an example of their home. The kitchen displayed all the utensils you would expect, with an array of guns over the fireplace. I particularly loved the hip-tub. It was difficult to imagine an adult bathing in it as it was so small.
The sitting room or parlour would have been warm and comfortable in winter, with the 1826 fireplace there to keep you warm. A door led into the dining room, small but beautifully set out willow-pattern service. The matching buffet displayed other fascinating China.
After we had explored the museum we went up three stairs to the accommodation level and explored a beautiful bedroom The four-poster was dramatic., but, thankfully, it had a 21st century mattress.
From the hotel we headed for the ferry. Sitting on a ferry, with absolutely no sense of movement, we watched the opposite shore gradually move closer.
We followed the MacDonald River along Settlers Road, which soon became dirt. It rained and the bus pottered carefully along as the road ran right beside the river, There was evidence of the rock falls which had closed the road for a while.
We stopped at the St Albans Old General Cemetery. So sad, so many little children who died. It was evidently surveyed in 1833. The floods of 1889 and 1949 inundated the cemetery. It was raining, so our visit was short.
A few more kilometres and we arrived at St Albans, and the Settlers Arms Inn where we had a lovely lunch, in the Governor’s Den.. it rained constantly but we were warm and dry. Even the peacocks were hiding from the rain.
We returned via St Albans Road through constant rain,. Luckily, Yarramundi was still safe to cross. Thanks to Chris for organising our day and Mick for his wonderful driving.
Images of the Excursion are posted below.
