(IMAGE: The Huntress; c1855 Circular Quay)
We often tend to forget nowadays that one whole side of Thompson Square is bordered by the mighty Hawkesbury River. Much of the activity and business of the Square was conducted at the wharf with the comings and goings of river craft, ferrying passengers and goods from Windsor to Sydney via places like Wiseman’s Ferry.
Here is one account from The Evening News, Feb. 5, 1855 (re-printed Feb. 1905) which gives us a glimpse into that forgotten world....
WINDSOR
The Steamer
Last Friday afternoon several gunshots were heard, fired in quick succession from the neighbourhood of Thompson Square, and numbers of men, women and children might be seen hurrying towards the River. What was this cause of consternation? Nothing more or less than the anxiously looked for Steamer, the arrival of the Huntress, “walking the waters” of our noble Hawkesbury”like a thing of life”. The Huntress left Sydney the day previous, though under steam only thirteen and a half hours, this being the maiden trip, was performed cautiously. As she hauled alongside the wharf it was amusing to see the excitement amongst the inhabitants, many of whom never beheld such a sight before.
On Tuesday morning, at half past six, the Steamer Huntress made a start at Windsor for Wiseman’s Ferry. Between 20-30 passengers were on board. The tide being favourable, she steamed at a rapid rate. All the residents on each side of the River, from the largest farmhouse to the smallest hut, saluted the Huntress as she passed, some firing a half dozen rounds, which was responded to by guns on board the Steamer. Mr Christie, an old resident, who has been on the River between 20-30 years, was on board, and invited the passengers to his orchard, requesting them to take as much fruit as they could carry away with them. The Huntress again resumed her voyage, and arrived at Wiseman’s Ferry about 2 o’clock. The local residents eagerly flocked on board, many of them never having seen a steamer before.
We often tend to forget nowadays that one whole side of Thompson Square is bordered by the mighty Hawkesbury River. Much of the activity and business of the Square was conducted at the wharf with the comings and goings of river craft, ferrying passengers and goods from Windsor to Sydney via places like Wiseman’s Ferry.
Here is one account from The Evening News, Feb. 5, 1855 (re-printed Feb. 1905) which gives us a glimpse into that forgotten world....
WINDSOR
The Steamer
Last Friday afternoon several gunshots were heard, fired in quick succession from the neighbourhood of Thompson Square, and numbers of men, women and children might be seen hurrying towards the River. What was this cause of consternation? Nothing more or less than the anxiously looked for Steamer, the arrival of the Huntress, “walking the waters” of our noble Hawkesbury”like a thing of life”. The Huntress left Sydney the day previous, though under steam only thirteen and a half hours, this being the maiden trip, was performed cautiously. As she hauled alongside the wharf it was amusing to see the excitement amongst the inhabitants, many of whom never beheld such a sight before.
On Tuesday morning, at half past six, the Steamer Huntress made a start at Windsor for Wiseman’s Ferry. Between 20-30 passengers were on board. The tide being favourable, she steamed at a rapid rate. All the residents on each side of the River, from the largest farmhouse to the smallest hut, saluted the Huntress as she passed, some firing a half dozen rounds, which was responded to by guns on board the Steamer. Mr Christie, an old resident, who has been on the River between 20-30 years, was on board, and invited the passengers to his orchard, requesting them to take as much fruit as they could carry away with them. The Huntress again resumed her voyage, and arrived at Wiseman’s Ferry about 2 o’clock. The local residents eagerly flocked on board, many of them never having seen a steamer before.