Macquarie Arms Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macquarie Arms Hotel |
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Macquarie Arms Hotel, Windsor
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| Location | Thompson Square, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Macquarie Arms Hotel; Royal Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 41 |
| Type | Hotel |
| Category | Commercial |
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The Macquarie Arms Hotel is a very old and important hotel in Windsor, Australia. It is located in a historic area called Thompson Square. Sometimes, people also call it the Royal Hotel. This building is so special that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. It's a great example of early Australian architecture.
Contents
A Look Back: Hotel History
Early Days in Hawkesbury
Before Europeans arrived, the Dharug people lived in the lower Hawkesbury area. The Nepean River and South Creek were very important to them. These waterways provided food and ways to travel. The Dharug and Darkinjung people called the river Deerubbin.
In 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip explored this area. He was looking for good land for farming. He named the Hawkesbury River after Baron Hawkesbury. European settlers started living here by 1794. This region was vital for the new colony. It was known for its rich farmland. The area, originally called Green Hills, helped feed the colony. However, the river often flooded, which was tough for farmers.
How Windsor Began
In 1794, Samuel Wilcox received a land grant for what became Wilcox Farm. This land included the future hotel site. Farming and some building likely happened then. Later, it became part of a larger farm called Peninsula Farm.
Governor Lachlan Macquarie became governor in 1810. He helped the colony grow a lot. He wanted a strong community for free settlers. He also started many public building projects. He built 265 public buildings and improved roads. Under his leadership, the Hawkesbury district did very well.
In 1810, Governor Macquarie visited the area. He wrote in his journal about naming new towns. He named the town in the Green Hills district "Windsor". He named the town in the Richmond district "Richmond". These names reminded him of towns in England. Castlereagh, Pitt Town, and Wilberforce were named after English leaders. These five towns are known as Macquarie's Five Towns. Windsor and Richmond became more permanent towns with streets and public buildings.
Building the Macquarie Arms
On 15 July 1815, a public notice appeared in the Sydney Gazette. It announced that a large new inn, "The Macquarie Arms," would open. It was located in Windsor and would be run by Thomas Ranson. The hotel officially opened two weeks later. Governor Macquarie himself was there for the opening.
Governor Macquarie had planned for this hotel. After visiting the area in 1811, he wrote in his diary. He gave Richard Fitzgerald a large piece of land in the town square. This was on the condition that Fitzgerald would build a "handsome commodious inn." It had to be made of brick or stone and be at least two stories high.
Richard Fitzgerald built the Macquarie Arms Inn. He had arrived in New South Wales in 1791 as a convict. Andrew Thompson, whose name is on Thompson Square, also arrived as a convict. By 1800, Governor Hunter made Fitzgerald a superintendent of agriculture. Richard Fitzgerald and his family lived in a house next to the hotel.
In the late 1830s, army officers used the hotel. It was known as the Mess House then. From 1872 to 1900, the Bushell family ran it as a hotel. The Macquarie Arms Hotel is still a hotel today. Its important history and central location make it a very significant colonial building.
What the Hotel Looks Like
The Macquarie Arms Hotel is a large and impressive building. Its walls are made of sandstock bricks. These bricks are covered with stucco and painted white. The hotel has two big Georgian doorways. These doorways feature beautiful semi-circular fanlights and sidelights. The glass in the George Street doorway is painted over. However, the one facing Thompson Square still looks original.
Inside, the hotel has lovely cedar wood details. It has a cedar circular staircase. There are also large stone-flagged cellars. Outside, the veranda has turned wooden columns. The ground is also covered with stone flagging.
Around the 1930s, some changes were made. Box-like additions were put on the corners of the building. The upstairs veranda was added. Some upstairs windows were replaced with French doors. Most of the attic windows in the roof were also added then. Even with these changes, the building still has a lot of its original charm. It is an important part of the Thompson Square Conservation Area.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Macquarie Arms Hotel is very important to Australia's history. It opened in 1815. Richard Fitzgerald, who was once a convict, built it. He followed specific instructions from Governor Macquarie. This makes it one of the most impressive and best-preserved commercial buildings from before 1820.
The hotel was a key part of Governor Macquarie's plan for Windsor. It is the biggest building in Thompson Square. Thompson Square is considered the best Georgian town square in mainland Australia. The hotel has many rare and beautiful features. It helps us understand how towns were settled and designed long ago. It also shows us what society and government were like in colonial times. Many historians agree on its importance. It also plays a big role in the social life of Windsor today.
The Macquarie Arms Hotel was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. It met several important criteria.
Connections to Important People
The Macquarie Arms Hotel is strongly linked to many important people. These people shaped the Hawkesbury District in its early years.
- Governor Macquarie: He made it a condition that Richard Fitzgerald build a "handsome, commodious" hotel. It had to be made of brick or stone and be at least two stories high.
- Andrew Thompson: Thompson Square, where the hotel is located, was named by Governor Macquarie after Andrew Thompson. He was a Justice of the Peace and a main leader of the district. He is often called the "father" of Green Hills. Andrew Thompson also arrived in New South Wales as a convict.
- Richard Fitzgerald: He built the hotel exactly as Governor Macquarie wanted. Fitzgerald arrived in New South Wales as a convict in 1791. By 1800, Governor Hunter made him superintendent of agriculture. In 1810, Governor Macquarie appointed him as the Government Storekeeper. Fitzgerald was a successful farmer and stayed active in local affairs. He was even elected president of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society, which ran the hospital in Windsor. Richard Fitzgerald and his family lived right next to the Macquarie Arms Hotel.
