Lower Portland, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lower Portland Sydney, New South Wales
Lower Portland Location in New South Wales
Population	552 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	2756
Elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Location	80 km (50 mi) northwest of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Hawkesbury The Hills Shire
State electorate(s)	Hawkesbury
Federal Division(s)	Macquarie Berowra
Suburbs around Lower Portland: Cumberland Reach Webbs Creek Leets Vale Cumberland Reach Lower Portland Maroota Sackville North South Maroota South Maroota

Lower Portland is a quiet country suburb in New South Wales, Australia. It's about 80 kilometres northwest of Sydney, a big city. This peaceful place sits where the Colo and Hawkesbury rivers meet. It's known for its beautiful scenery, interesting history, and as a great spot for water skiing.

The suburb is split between two local government areas. The land east of the Hawkesbury River is in The Hills Shire. The area west of the river is part of the City of Hawkesbury.

History of Lower Portland

The first people to live in the Lower Portland area were the Dharug people. They were the traditional owners of most of the land that is now Greater Sydney. The Dharug people were made up of different family groups or 'clans'. Sadly, not much information remains about how they used the local area after Europeans arrived.

In 1799, the area by the Hawkesbury River was first settled. Governor Hunter named it Portland Place. Convicts worked there, clearing trees and building a large fenced area for animals. The name Portland Place came from a street in London.

Lower Portland got its name from William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland. He was the Prime Minister of Great Britain twice, in 1783 and again from 1807 to 1809. The name "Lower Portland" was first used in 1805. It's thought that a rock on a high area above the river looked like the Duke of Portland. Lower Portland was the area settled downstream from a place called Portland Head.

Getting Around Lower Portland

The Lower Portland Ferry is a special way to cross the Hawkesbury River. It's one of only four ferries that carry cars across the river. The River Road, which the ferry is part of, is a very popular drive because of its amazing views.

The Lower Portland Ferry runs all day, every day of the week. It only closes for a short time on the first Wednesday of each month, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, for maintenance.