Richmond Park (New South Wales) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richmond Park
Location	Bounded by East Market, Windsor and March Streets, Richmond, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia
Architect	Lachlan Macquarie and James Meehan (park); George Matcham Pitt jnr. (pavilion)
Owner	Hawkesbury City Council
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Richmond Park; Market Place; Square
Type	state heritage (landscape)
Designated	5 March 2010
Reference no.	1808
Type	Urban Park
Category	Parks, Gardens and Trees
Builders	Samuel Boughton (Pavilion)
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Richmond Park is a special public park and sports area in Richmond, Australia. It's surrounded by East Market, Windsor, and March Streets. Governor Lachlan Macquarie officially set aside this land in 1810. A surveyor named James Meehan mapped it out in 1811. The park's historic pavilion was designed by George Matcham Pitt Jr. in 1882 and built by Samuel Boughton in 1883–84. Today, the Hawkesbury City Council owns the park. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2010 because of its important history.

Discovering Richmond Park's Past

Before Europeans arrived, the Dharug people lived in the Hawkesbury area. The land along the Hawkesbury River was a rich source of food for them for over 50,000 years. Regular floods made the soil very fertile, providing plenty of food.

Early European Settlement and Floods

When Europeans settled, they quickly saw how good the Hawkesbury River banks were for farming. They grew a lot of food to help the new colony, which often didn't have enough to eat. But floods in 1799, 1800, 1806, and 1809 made life very hard for farmers. These floods could destroy their farms and homes.

Governor Macquarie's Plan for New Towns

In 1810, Governor Lachlan Macquarie was given an important job. The British Government told him to find five safe places along the Hawkesbury River for new towns. These towns would help grow more food and make the colony stronger. Macquarie wanted farmers to move from the flood-prone areas to these new, safer towns.

Richmond was the first town Macquarie chose. It was officially marked out in December 1810. James Meehan, the government surveyor, laid out the town on January 10, 1811. Macquarie set aside ten acres (four hectares) in the town's center for "the great square," which is now Richmond Park. This area was meant to be a central marketplace and a place for community activities.

How the Park Changed Over Time

The "Market Place" was originally larger. After 1821, some land was used for other buildings like a courthouse and post office. This made the park its current size of 3.2 hectares. Even though it was called a market, it quickly became a popular spot for sports like cricket and football. Cricket has been played there for over 160 years!

By the 1840s, most of the original trees were gone. The park became uneven and muddy after rain. Cattle and horses grazed freely, making the ground even worse. All the original native trees have disappeared over the years.

Improving the Park for Everyone

In 1864, a railway line connected Richmond to Sydney. This brought more people and interest in improving the town. A group called the Improvement Committee worked to make the park better. They leveled the ground, laid new grass for the cricket pitch, and planted many different trees. They also added wooden seats for visitors.

Because of these efforts, the park's status changed. In 1868, it was officially set aside for public recreation and became known as Richmond Park.

In 1873, the Richmond Municipal Council became responsible for the park. They asked the Sydney Botanic Gardens for trees to plant. These included both Australian native trees and trees from other parts of the world. Some of these trees, like African olives and river oaks, still help define the park's look today.

A Park for Learning and Fun

Many parks in Sydney during the 1800s were designed by experts like Charles Moore and Joseph Henry Maiden from the Botanic Gardens. They wanted parks to be beautiful and educational. Richmond Park became like an "arboretum," a place with many different types of trees. Some trees even had plaques with their names, helping people learn about them.

By the 1880s, the park had a more detailed design. It had three main areas:

• The "Outer Park" with trees around the edges.
• The "Inner Park" with flower beds, shrubs, and paths.
• The "Central Area" with a large grassy oval for sports.

This design made the park a lovely place for both relaxing and playing sports.

The Historic Pavilion and Sports

In 1882, people decided the park needed a permanent building. They held a competition to design a pavilion that could seat about 300 people. George Matcham Pitt junior won the competition, and Samuel Boughton built it. The pavilion was finished in early 1884.

This pavilion has been a key part of the park ever since. It was damaged by fire in 1980 but was restored by 1994. It still gives the park a historic feel. The cricket ground also got improvements, like a fence and a concrete wicket. Cricket has always been the most popular sport here, even when football was also played.

The Water Fountain and War Memorial

In 1892, a water fountain was installed to celebrate the opening of the Richmond Waterworks. It had three statues of winged cherubs with mermaid tails. Sadly, these statues were stolen, but the fountain still stands today, surrounded by a garden.

A war memorial was added to the park in the early 1900s. It honors local soldiers from World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and other conflicts. Two old cannons from 1855, found buried near the pavilion, now stand next to the memorial.

The Railway Line That Came and Went

In 1924, a railway line from Richmond to Kurrajong was built. It cut across the south-east corner of the park, meaning some trees had to be removed. Many people were upset about this. The train carried goods and passengers, but it wasn't very profitable. In 1952, a flood damaged the line so badly that it was closed. The rails were removed, and that part of Richmond Park was restored to its original size. Today, a brick pathway and signs show where the railway line once ran.

Modern Changes and Continued Use

Over the years, more trees were planted, including many from other countries. In the 1970s, the park's ownership changed to the local council. The park has seen more changes, like a new rotunda (a round, open building) in 2002 and a modern children's playground.

Even with all these changes, Richmond Park remains a very important and popular place for the community. It continues to be a central green space, just as Governor Macquarie intended over 200 years ago.

Other Parks Like Richmond Park

Governor Macquarie planned other towns with central parks too.

• McQuade Park in Windsor is another public park used for recreation for about 200 years. It also has a war memorial and sports oval.
• Wilberforce Park is another example of Macquarie's town planning. It's unique because it's still the exact same size as when Macquarie first set it aside in 1810.
• Bigge Park in Liverpool was also planned by Macquarie in 1810 and surveyed by James Meehan.

These parks are rare examples of Macquarie's town planning that still exist in New South Wales today.

What Richmond Park Looks Like Today

Richmond Park covers 3.2 hectares in the middle of town. It's bordered by Windsor, March, and East Market Streets. Next to it are buildings like the Richmond School of Arts and the Court House.

The park's soil is special for Western Sydney. It's rich and deep, and there's plenty of water close to the surface. This helps many different types of trees grow well, even some from Europe that usually prefer a milder climate.

The park's open green space is a key part of the town. Even though it has changed over 200 years, it's still a much-loved place in Richmond.

The park is designed with three main parts:

• Outer Park: The border areas with many trees.
• Inner Park: Areas with shrubs, flower beds, public seating, and pathways.
• Central Area: A large grassy oval used for sports.

This design helps the park be a beautiful place for relaxing and also a great spot for sports.

Trees and Plants in the Park

While none of the original native trees remain, the park has many large, mature trees today. These include river oaks, swamp mahoganies, and river red gums, which were planted later.

The park also has a mix of other interesting trees. You can find hoop pines and Bunya pines, which were planted for their dramatic look. Some Bunya pines were removed in 1946 because their huge cones could be dangerous if they fell!

Other trees include white cedar, Cape chestnut, jacarandas, English oaks, and various types of cypress. There are also California fan palms and Canary Island date palms. These trees make the park a green and shady place, especially in summer.

Buildings and Features in the Park

• Rotunda: In the north-west corner, there's a rotunda built in 2002. It looks similar to the old pavilion and is next to a modern children's playground.
• Fountain: On the Windsor Street side, you'll find an old iron fountain. It was installed in 1892. The original cherub statues are gone, but a sign explains what it once looked like. Today, the fountain is dry and surrounded by flowers.
• Sundial: A small plinth with a sundial is also along the northern boundary. It has a plaque thanking a local jewelry family for their service.
• Richmond Sign: At the corner of Windsor and East Market Streets, a large "RICHMOND" sign stands. It honors Samuel Boughton, who built the park's pavilion.
• War Memorial: Along East Market Street, an obelisk war memorial honors local soldiers. It's flanked by two old cannons that were found buried in the park.
• Railway Pathway: In the south-east corner, a brick pathway and signs show where the old Richmond to Kurrajong railway line once crossed the park.

The Rod McConville Stand

The large grassy oval in the center is mainly used for cricket. The historic pavilion overlooks this oval. Since 1999, the pavilion has been called the Rod McConville Stand. A plaque explains it's named after Rod McConville for his great service to local sports, especially cricket. Another plaque mentions the restoration work done after the 1980 fire.

Park Condition and Changes

Richmond Park is in very good condition. The trees and plants, even if not original, make the park beautiful. The buildings like the pavilion, rotunda, war memorial, and fountain are also well-maintained.

The pavilion was carefully restored after the 1980 fire to look like its original design. The rotunda, built in 2002, was made to match the historic style of the pavilion. While the fountain is missing its cherub statues, it's still an important feature.

Some of the older pine trees show signs of stress, possibly from soil or air pollution. However, the park still looks much like Governor Macquarie intended. It has its three distinct areas: the "Outer Park," "Inner Park," and the "Central Area" for sports. Even with modern additions like the playground, the park continues to be a popular and valuable place for the community.

How the Park Has Changed Over Time

Richmond Park has changed a lot in its 200-year history. Old photos show how the plants and design have evolved. For example, an 1879 photo shows fenced areas with hoop pines, silky oaks, and poplars. Many of these trees, like silky oaks and hoop pines, are still important parts of the park today.

The railway line that cut through the park in 1924 was a big change. Trees were removed, but after the line closed in 1952, that area was replanted. The brick pathway and signs now remind us of this part of the park's history.

More recent changes include the rotunda and playground in the north-west corner. While these are modern, they show that the park is still actively used and loved by the community. The war memorial also changed with the addition of the old cannons in the 1990s.

Why Richmond Park is Special

Richmond Park is very important to New South Wales history. It's a rare example of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's town planning from 1810. Richmond was the first of five towns he chose along the Hawkesbury River. He set aside this central green space for the community, and it still serves that purpose today.

The park's central location has meant it's been used by the community for 200 years. Its design, which started in the mid-1800s, shows what early public parks in NSW were like. It still looks much like Macquarie imagined in 1810.

Richmond Park is important because:

• It shows history: It was specifically reserved by Governor Macquarie in 1810. It shows its early use as a marketplace and later as a place for sports like cricket. It also shows how the community worked to make the park beautiful in the 1880s.
• It's linked to important people: It's strongly connected to Governor Lachlan Macquarie, who planned it.
• It's beautiful: As a green space in the town center, it's always been a lovely public area. The trees and design make it a pleasant place for everyone to enjoy. The pavilion and war memorial also add to its beauty and history.
• It's important to the community: It has been a valuable place for the community for two centuries. People use it for active sports like cricket and for relaxing. The war memorial also allows the community to honor local soldiers.
• It's rare: Richmond Park is a rare example of Macquarie's town planning that still exists and is used for its original purpose as a public green space.
• It's a good example: It shows how a municipal park can grow and change to meet the community's needs over 200 years. Like many early parks, it has a long history of cricket and includes a war memorial. Its design, influenced by the Sydney Botanic Gardens, also shows how parks were created in the 1800s.