McQuade Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McQuade Park
Fountain in lake in McQuade Park, Windsor, New South Wales. The park is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register
Location	361 George Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1811–1994
Architect	Governor Macquarie; 1810-1811; James Meehan; surveyor 1811; G.B. White; surveyor 1827
Owner	Hawkesbury City Council
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: McQuade Park; The Great Square; Church Green; Windsor Park
Type	state heritage (landscape)
Designated	14 January 2011
Reference no.	1851
Type	Urban Park
Category	Parks, Gardens and Trees
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McQuade Park is a special park and sports area in Windsor, Australia. It's known for its history and is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register. Governor Lachlan Macquarie first set aside this land in 1810. It was surveyed by James Meehan in 1811 and later made much bigger in 1827. People have also called it The Great Square, Church Green, and Windsor Park. Today, Hawkesbury City Council owns and looks after the park.

A Look Back: Park History

Early Days and First Peoples

Long before Europeans arrived, the Dharug people lived in the Hawkesbury area. The Hawkesbury River (which they called 'Dyarrabin' or 'Deerubbin') was a vital source of food for over 50,000 years. The river's floods made the land very fertile. This area was also important for their culture and beliefs.

When the first European settlers came to New South Wales, they saw how good the Hawkesbury River banks were for farming. They started growing lots of food there. However, the river often flooded, causing big problems for the farmers.

Governor Macquarie's Vision

In 1810, Governor Macquarie created six new towns. Five of these, including Windsor, were built to help farmers who kept losing their crops to floods. Macquarie wanted these new towns to have a central square. Windsor already had a public area called Thompson Square. But Macquarie planned another, more central square, which he called "The Great Square." This square eventually became McQuade Park.

Designing The Great Square

In 1811, surveyor James Meehan began planning The Great Square. He imagined it as a huge open space, like a parade ground or park for the town. It was meant to connect different parts of Windsor. Meehan noted it was for "a parade or park for the use of the Town." This "parade" likely referred to the soldiers stationed there.

By 1816, the area was clear of houses and trees. It was probably used for grazing animals, military parades, and even cricket games.

Growing the Park

In 1827, the square was made more than twice as big and changed its shape. It became an irregular five-sided area, which is mostly how it looks today. Roads like Hawkesbury Valley Way (then Richmond Road) and Moses Street were built around it.

Even though streets surrounded the square, people often walked across it to get to St Matthew's Anglican Church. By the 1840s, the park was often called "Church Green" because it was so close to the church. It was still mostly open land, used for cricket, with Aboriginal men sometimes playing for the town.

Becoming a Public Reserve

In the 1860s, the government started creating more public parks. In 1868, Church Green became a Public Reserve. In 1874, the government officially gave the land to the Windsor Town Council. The park was to be used "for Public Recreation and for no other use or purpose whatsoever."

A small part of the park was later taken for the Windsor Bowling Club in 1972. The Council then received a new land grant for the remaining part of the park.

Naming the Park

Before the Council officially owned the land, they decided to name it McQuade Park in 1872. This was after John McQuade, who was the mayor at the time. His family was very important in Windsor. The Council put up a sign, but it was vandalized.

The name of the park was debated for years. In 1873, the Council tried to change it to Windsor Park. But the Department of Lands said no. Even though the Council voted again in 1878 to call it Windsor Park, the name McQuade Park stuck. It seems the McQuade family won the "name war" in the end!

Developing the Park's Features

After 1874, the Council started to improve the park. They fenced parts of it and planted about 250 trees. They also made roads and leveled some areas. A fountain was added at the George Street entrance in 1891.

Over the years, McQuade Park became a place for many activities:

• Cricket: The first cricket pitch was created in 1891. A grandstand was built in 1937. A second cricket pitch was added in 1945.
• Football: Goal posts were put up in the 1890s, but cricket was more popular for a long time.
• Cycling: Bicycle races were very popular in the late 1800s. A proper cycling track was built in 1945.
• Tennis: The local tennis club formed in 1923, and courts were built. A new clubhouse opened in 1987.
• Bowling: The Windsor Bowling Club built a green in 1931. This area later became separate from the park in 1972.

The Country Women's Association (CWA) also opened its hall in the park in 1938.

Remembering History and Heroes

McQuade Park has always had a connection to the military. It was planned as a parade ground. Several memorials have been placed here:

• Boer War Memorial: Erected in 1903, this beautiful memorial honors local men who served in the Boer War. It features detailed carvings.
• World War I Memorial: Large gates were opened in 1923 to remember those from World War I. Later, names from World War II, Vietnam, and Korea were added. ANZAC parades are still held here.

In 1970, an old swampy pond was replaced by a modern ornamental lake. This lake, with a small island and a bridge, became a lovely spot for relaxing and events.

In 1994, to celebrate 200 years of European settlement in the area, many trees were planted. These trees honor early families, with their names on small plaques. A bronze statue of Governor Macquarie was also placed in the park in 1994, facing St Matthew's Church. More work was done in 2010 to celebrate Macquarie's 200th anniversary.

What You'll See: Park Description

McQuade Park has an irregular five-sided shape. It's bordered by Tebbutt Street, George Street, Hawkesbury Valley Way (Richmond Road), and Moses Street.

Sports Areas

The northern part of the park is mainly for team sports. There are two large ovals, mostly used for cricket. The main field has a grandstand and parking. A white picket fence surrounds it. The other cricket pitch is known as the "Don't Worry" field.

Memorials and Statues

Between the two ovals is a memorial area created in 1994. The main feature is a bronze statue of Governor Macquarie. He stands on a stone base, looking at St Matthew's Anglican Church and plans of his towns. Red brick pillars and a triangular area surround the statue.

Play and Relaxation

South of the grandstand, you'll find a playground and a bandstand.

The southwest part of the park is for relaxing. There's a modern lake near George Street, often covered with water-lilies. A small grassy island in the lake can be reached by a short bridge. This lake was built over a natural swampy area.

Next to the lake, near George Street, is the Country Women's Association (CWA) meeting hall. It's a brick cottage within a small fenced area.

East of the CWA hall are the Tennis Clubhouse and courts, also accessed from George Street.

The Windsor Bowling Club, with its clubhouse and two greens, is north of the tennis courts. This area became separate from the park in 1972.

War Memorial Park

The southeast corner of McQuade Park is called Memorial Park. It's dedicated to war memorials. You enter through an opening between two tall brick walls with granite plaques. These plaques remember those who fought in the World Wars, Vietnam, and Korea. Behind each wall is a field-gun.

Inside, there's a formal garden around the impressive Boer War Memorial. This memorial is a marble obelisk on a sandstone base. It honors three local men who died in the Boer War. It has beautiful carvings of mounted soldiers. A separate marble plaque remembers a local nurse who also served in South Africa.

Trees and Plants

Five crepe myrtle trees are planted around the Boer War Memorial. The main trees in McQuade Park are narrow-leaved ironbark trees, mostly around the edges. You can also find three bunya pines near Moses Street and Tebbutt Street. Other older trees include stone pine, Monterey pine, and white cedar. Younger trees include kurrajong, Chinese elms, silky oak, sweet gum, paperbark, turpentine, and bottle brush.

Many of the newer trees were planted in 1994 to remember early European settlers. These trees are along a pathway that crosses the park.

The park has changed a lot over 200 years, but it's well-kept. The old war memorials are in great condition. The park still feels like the "Great Square" Governor Macquarie planned.

Park Changes Over Time

Here are some of the main changes McQuade Park has seen:

• 1811: The 'square' was first defined.
• c. 1827: The park was made much bigger, more than double its original size, and changed shape.
• 1874: Fences were added, trees planted, roads made, and parts of the park were leveled.
• 1891: The main cricket oval was formally created, and over 100 trees were planted around the park's edge.
• 1903: The Boer War Memorial was built.
• 1923: The World War I Memorial was added, and the first tennis courts were built.
• 1931: The bowling green was built.
• 1937: A grandstand was built for cricket.
• 1938: The Country Women's Association hall opened.
• 1945: The "Don't Worry" cricket oval's concrete pitch was created.
• 1970: Part of the park was taken for the Bowling Club.
• 1972: The Bowling Club land was officially removed from the park.
• 1987: The current tennis clubhouse opened.
• 1994: The statue of Governor Macquarie was put up, and trees were planted to honor early settlers.

Why McQuade Park is Important

McQuade Park is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's a rare example of Governor Macquarie's plan for a country town from 1810. A central square was key to his town designs, and McQuade Park still serves this purpose. It's also closely linked to one of the oldest churches and cemeteries in New South Wales (St Matthew's). Its connection to Governor Macquarie and his surveyor, James Meehan, is also very significant.

The way the park's shape changed early on is important. It shows how colonial governments worked with landowners to respect existing property rights. Even with new additions like sports areas and memorials, the park's original purpose as Macquarie's Great Square is still clear. The Boer War Memorial is especially important because it's rare and has beautiful carvings.

McQuade Park was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 14 January 2011.

Historical Significance

McQuade Park shows the first steps of town planning in New South Wales. This large open green space in the center of Windsor has survived and grown for over 200 years. It's still a vital place for public recreation and sports. Its location next to St Matthew's Anglican Church and cemetery makes both the park and the church even more historically important.

The change in the park's shape from a simple rectangle shows the challenges of planning new towns while respecting existing land boundaries. The park's current five-sided shape is a rare visible example of how colonial governments and landowners found solutions.

The park became a major sports venue after the local government took ownership in 1874. The creation of formal ovals and tennis courts is important for local history.

The park was chosen for Windsor's war memorials. The Boer War memorial is notable because it's rare and has high-quality carvings of mounted soldiers. The larger World War I memorial, which also honors later conflicts, is very important to the local community.

Connections to Important People

McQuade Park is directly linked to Governor Macquarie. The 1812 plan of Windsor, drawn by James Meehan (an important surveyor), was signed by Macquarie himself. Macquarie personally chose the location for the Anglican church and the park next to it. The bronze statue of Macquarie in the park, built in 1994, highlights this connection.

The McQuade family, after whom the park was named, were important in Windsor and Sydney. However, their connection to the park is more significant at a local level.

Beauty and Design

McQuade Park has high aesthetic value, especially the Boer War memorial with its O'Kelly carvings and formal garden. The park, with its many trees, makes the town beautiful. It's the green heart of modern Windsor and a crucial setting for St. Matthew's Church and other key buildings. The park's design shows how an early town square could be used for many things over time, including sports, relaxation, public events, and remembering wars.

Community Connection

McQuade Park has strong social significance. The people of Windsor have chosen it as the place to plant trees to remember early European settlers. It's also where war memorials and the important statue of Governor Macquarie are located.

Rarity and Uniqueness

McQuade Park is a rare example of a town square that still exists and serves its original purpose from Governor Macquarie's time. He founded and planned only a small number of country towns with such squares.

The Boer War was remembered by only a few public monuments in New South Wales. The excellent memorial in McQuade Park is therefore very significant.

Representing a Type of Place

McQuade Park shows the main features of an early town square over a long period. It demonstrates how such a space can be used for different sports, quiet relaxation, public celebrations, and honoring those who served in wars.