Thompson Square Conservation Area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thompson Square Conservation Area
Location	Thompson Square, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1811–
Architect	Governor Macquarie
Owner	Alkyen Pty Ltd; Hawkesbury City Council
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Thompson Square Conservation Area; Thompson Square Precinct; New Windsor Bridge Project
Type	state heritage (conservation area)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	126
Type	Townscape
Category	Urban Area
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The Thompson Square Conservation Area is a special heritage site in Windsor, Australia. It's a historic area that includes Thompson Square and the old buildings around it. This place is very important because it shows what early colonial towns in New South Wales looked like. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's protected for its historical value.

History of Thompson Square

Thompson Square is one of Australia's oldest public squares. It was designed by Governor Macquarie in 1811. He was a very important governor who planned many towns in the early colony. The square was meant to be a central gathering place.

Unfortunately, a main road now cuts through the middle of the square. This road was built later and changed the original design. Even with the road, the area still has many old buildings that show its early history.

Important Buildings in the Area

The Thompson Square Conservation Area includes several historic buildings. Many of these buildings were built a long time ago, some even in the early 1800s!

• The Doctor's House (1-3 Thompson Square): This building was once an inn called the "Freemason's Arms" and later the "Lord Nelson." It has a classic colonial style.
• Hawkesbury Museum (7 Thompson Square): This building was built around 1843. It now houses the Hawkesbury Museum, which tells the story of the local area.
• Macquarie Arms Hotel (corner of Thompson and George Streets): Governor Macquarie himself asked for this hotel to be built in 1811. It was finished in 1815 and named after him. It was designed to be a large, impressive inn.
• Cottage (62 George Street): This small house was built between 1830 and 1840.
• Former School of Arts (corner of Bridge Street and George Street): This building was completed in 1861. It was a place where people could learn and enjoy arts and culture.
• Other notable buildings include houses and shops at 5 Thompson Square, 6 Bridge Street, 10 Bridge Street, 17 Bridge Street, and various shops on George Street.

What Thompson Square Looks Like

Thompson Square is made up of several streets: George Street, Bridge Street, Thompson Square itself, and The Terrace. These streets surround a grassy area with nice trees. This green space helps keep the area looking attractive, especially with the old buildings around it.

Trees and Plants

There's a very old hoop pine tree (Araucaria cunninghamii) near the road cutting. It's thought to be one of the last trees from the original plantings in the 1800s. In the past, there were also Norfolk Island pines (Araucaria heterophylla) and native fig trees. Today, you can also see silky oak trees (Grevillea robusta) and a kurrajong tree (Brachychiton populneus) around the square.

Architectural Styles

Many of the buildings around Thompson Square are built in the Colonial Georgian style. This was a popular building style in the early days of the colony.

• The Doctor's House is a large, two-story building made of sandstone brick. It has fancy details like columns and a beautiful fanlight above the front door.
• Hawkesbury Museum is a two-story brick house with a wide verandah. It has a lovely cast iron balcony that was added later.
• Macquarie Arms Hotel is a two-story brick inn. It's a very grand building, though some parts have been changed over time.
• Many of the other cottages and houses in the area also show the simple, strong design of Colonial Georgian architecture, often with brick walls and corrugated iron roofs.

Pioneer Families Memorial

There is also a memorial called the Pioneer Families Bicentennial Memorial. It has an anchor, which reminds us how important the river was to the town's history. A plaque lists the names of many of the first families who lived in the area.

Why Thompson Square is Important

Heritage map of the area

Thompson Square is very important for several reasons:

• One of the Oldest Public Squares: It is one of the oldest public squares in all of Australia.
• Colonial History: It has many Colonial Georgian buildings around it, which helps us understand what towns looked like in the early days of the colony.
• Governor Macquarie's Vision: It's the only public space that still exists from Governor Macquarie's original town plans. He had great ideas for town planning in the new colony, and Thompson Square shows this vision.
• Preserving the Past: The square and its surrounding buildings help preserve the early colonial feel of Windsor.

Because of its unique history and the many old buildings, Thompson Square Conservation Area was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's recognized as a very special place that needs to be protected for future generations.

Images for kids

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  Heritage map of the area