"Thompson Square is the only remaining civic space laid out by Governor Macquarie and is a crucial precinct in the preservation of the early colonial character of Windsor." Government Architect's Office, 2011, p 13.
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Thompson Square is located in the heart of Windsor, the third-oldest place of British settlement on the Australian continent. It lies 55 km north west of Sydney and is a little over an hour by train or car from the CBD.
Thompson Square spans several roads: George Street, Thompson Square, Old Bridge Street and Bridge Street. See map. Thompson Square is Australia's first public square. It is the only town square that remains from the original five towns planned and designed by Governor Macquarie (the ‘Macquarie towns’). The open grassy reserve and the surrounding buildings are together known as Thompson Square (or alternatively the Thompson Square Precinct or the Thompson Square Conservation Area). |
The heritage values of Thompson Square come not just from the park contained within the central reserve but from the combination of open space, the road intersections and the large number of surrounding colonial buildings.
The Precinct is listed on the Register of the National Estate, the National Trust and also on the NSW State Heritage Register as being of State heritage significance as a square.
Most of the buildings in Thompson Square are also listed individually for their own particular historical and architectural merit on heritage lists including; the Register of National Estate, National Trust of Australia Register, Local Environment Plan for Hawkesbury, s.170 Registers for both the RTA and Police Department and the Cumberland County Council List of Historic Buildings.
As a consequence of this long history and minimal development within the local area, Windsor is a well-known heritage area/town. This is due to its intact layout from the initial Macquarie plan, the large number of early Georgian and Victorian period buildings remaining within the town, Thompson Square as a rare early colonial civic space, its undeveloped rural setting and the sympathetic scale of most modern infill architecture.
For further information as to the boundaries and inclusions of Thompson Square see the NSW Heritage Office listing sheet here.
The Precinct is listed on the Register of the National Estate, the National Trust and also on the NSW State Heritage Register as being of State heritage significance as a square.
Most of the buildings in Thompson Square are also listed individually for their own particular historical and architectural merit on heritage lists including; the Register of National Estate, National Trust of Australia Register, Local Environment Plan for Hawkesbury, s.170 Registers for both the RTA and Police Department and the Cumberland County Council List of Historic Buildings.
As a consequence of this long history and minimal development within the local area, Windsor is a well-known heritage area/town. This is due to its intact layout from the initial Macquarie plan, the large number of early Georgian and Victorian period buildings remaining within the town, Thompson Square as a rare early colonial civic space, its undeveloped rural setting and the sympathetic scale of most modern infill architecture.
For further information as to the boundaries and inclusions of Thompson Square see the NSW Heritage Office listing sheet here.
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