Richmond, New South Wales

Town in New South Wales, Australia

Richmond
Sydney, New South Wales

Richmond Oval

Richmond

Coordinates| 33°36′S 150°45′E﻿ / ﻿33.600°S 150.750°E﻿ / -33.600; 150.750
Population| 5,418 (2021 census)[1]
Established| 1794
Postcode(s)| 2753
Elevation| 20 m (66 ft)
Location|

* 5 km (3 mi) W of Windsor
* 65 km (40 mi) NW of Sydney
* 78 km (48 mi) ESE of Lithgow

LGA(s)| City of Hawkesbury
State electorate(s)| Hawkesbury
Federal division(s)| Macquarie
| Mean max temp | Mean min temp | Annual rainfall

|
|

24.0 °C
75 °F | 11.0 °C
52 °F | 738.5 mm
29.1 in
| Localities around Richmond:

North Richmond | Cornwallis and Richmond Lowlands | Cornwallis and Clarendon
Agnes Banks | Richmond | Clarendon and Windsor
Agnes Banks | Hobartville and Londonderry | South Windsor

Richmond is a historic town in north-west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Richmond is in local government area of City of Hawkesbury and comes under Sydney Metropolitan area. It is located 20 metres above sea level on the alluvial Hawkesbury River flats, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. It is about 65 km by road from Sydney, 22 km from Penrith, 26 km from Blacktown, 40 km from Parramatta , 78 km from Lithgow and 5 km from Windsor. Richmond Town is now part of Sydney urban area, with access to amenities including Shopping Malls, Service NSW, Schools, TAFE, University, Post Office, Restaurants, Railway Station, Cafe, Hotel and Supermarkets.

## History

[edit]

The Darug people were the Aboriginal peoples in the area in 1788.

The area was originally explored by British settlers in 1789 and the nearby eminence to the west of the Hawkesbury River was known by them as 'Richmond Hill'. The name was given by Governor Arthur Phillip, in honour of Charles Lennox, the third Duke of Richmond who was Master General of Ordnance in the Pitt administration. Richmond was the fifth oldest area to have European settlement in Australia after Sydney, Parramatta, Kingston and Windsor. The first 22 European settlers came to the area in 1794 and established town. They came to farm a total of 12 hectares (30 acres) in what is now Pitt Town Bottoms. They needed good farming land to help overcome the desperate need for food in the new colony. By 1799 this region was producing about half the grain produced in the colony.

The Battle of Richmond Hill took place in May and June 1795 between the Darug people and British Marines.

Around 1811 Macquarie officially established the five Macquarie Towns in the area: Windsor, Richmond, Castlereagh, Wilberforce and Pitt Town. One of the early settlers, James Blackman, built Bowman Cottage from brick nog, a common construction technique in the colony, using money borrowed from William Cox. The house was constructed between the years 1815 and 1818. James was unable to pay his debts and was forced to sell the property to George Bowman. The building was restored by the NSW Public Works Department and then became a Division of the Australian Foundation for the Disabled, providing employment for the disabled.[2]

During WWII the RAAF operated a top secret operations bunker from somewhere in Richmond. It was either half or completely underground. The location of this bunker is unknown but it has been reported that this bunker was identical to the Bankstown Bunker which is currently buried under a public park in Bankstown. It has also been reported that this bunker could still be intact.[3]

RAAF Base Richmond is a Royal Australian Air Force base at Richmond which was established in 1923. The air base is currently the home to the RAAF's transport squadrons. During the Vietnam War, logistic support and medical evacuations were supplied by the C-130 Hercules aircraft from RAAF Richmond.

Hawkesbury Agricultural College was the first agriculture college in NSW started in 1891 later amalgamated into Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus.

## Attractions and Heritage listings

[edit]

Major Attractions in Richmond are Richmond Oval, Pughs Lagoon, Smith Park, Richmond School of Arts, St Andrews Church, Yarramundi Reserve, Hawkesbury Race Club, Richmond Club, Polo Club, Richmond Good Food Market on Saturday morning and Hawkesbury Valley Way Visitor Centre with view of RAAF Base Airport and Maple Trees.

Richmond has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

* Blacktown-Richmond railway: Richmond railway station[4]
* 24 Bosworth Street: Seymours House[5]
* 49–51 Bosworth Street: New Inn[6]
* Bounded by East Market, Windsor and March Streets: Richmond Park[7]
* 135 Francis Street: Clear Oaks[8]
* 22 Inalls Lane: Mountain View[9]
* Kurrajong Road: Hobartville[10]
* 126 Windsor Street[11]
* 157 Windsor Street: Toxana[12]
* 257–259 Windsor Street: Allison's Pharmacy[13]
* 286 Windsor Street: Richmond Post Office[14]
* 368–370 Windsor Street: Bowman House[15]
* 38 Bourke Street: Old St Monica's Catholic Church Richmond
* 384 Windsor Street: St Peter's Anglican Church[16]
* 145 Windsor Street: The Regent Richmond (cinema)
* Hawkesbury Agricultural College, now known as Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus[17]

## Population

[edit]

According to the 2021 census of Population, there were 5,418 people in Richmond. Richmond Town is considered to combination of Richmond (population 5,418) and Hobartville (population 2,712) suburb. As Richmond is an established town, people from North Richmond, Agnes Banks, Bligh Park, Londonderry, and Kurrajong also comes for shopping and day to day activities.

* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 4.4% of the population.
* 72.5% of people were born in Australia.
* Median Age is 43
* 1,242 families is there in town and 2,479 private dwellings was registered.
* The most common responses for religion were No Religion 31.1%, Catholic 19.2% and Anglican 17.2%.[1]

## Education

[edit]

Richmond has a range of educational facilities, from primary and high schools to Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and the Hawkesbury Campus of Western Sydney University originally Hawkesbury Agricultural College.

There are three primary schools in Richmond: Richmond Public School, Hobartville Public School and St Monica's Catholic Primary School. High Schools located in Richmond are Richmond High School and Centre of Excellence in Agriculture Education (Richmond Agriculture College-partnered with TAFE and WSU).

## Geography

[edit]

The expansion of the Sydney suburban area has almost reached Richmond and it is now considered to be an outer suburb of Sydney. Bells Line of Road which leads into, over and across the Blue Mountains, finishing in Lithgow, starts in Richmond. Richmond railway station is the terminus of the Richmond branch. Richmond is surrounded by the 329 km2 Richmond Woodlands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of the importance of the patches of remnant eucalypt woodland it contains for endangered regent honeyeaters and swift parrots.[18] Numerous times Richmond area has been flooded as its staying near to Hawkesbury River.

Richmond is surrounded by 1327 hectares land of Western Sydney University Hawkesbury campus, 270 hectares land of RAAF Base Richmond Airport and Ricmond Lowlands near Hawkesbury River. So it is the one and only isolated town in Sydney without having high density housing and population.

## Transport

[edit]

Richmond is connected with Road, Rail, Water ( Hawkebury River) and Air (RAAF Base Richmond) network. Major roads are Richmond Road to Blacktown, M7 and Sydney; Hawkesbury Valley Way to Windsor, A2, M2 and Sydney; Bells Line of Road to Kurrajong, Bilpin and Lithgow; Londonderry Road to Penrith and Castlereagh Road to Blue Mountains and Penrith.  Richmond Railway Station which is a Terminus serves T1 and T5 Sydney Train Networks in Richmond railway line with every half an hour service to Sydney Central or Leppington. RAAF Base Richmond is a Defence Airport whereas nearby public airports are Sydney Airport and Western Sydney Airport. Frequent bus services are to Windsor, Penrith (via Londonderry and Agnes Banks), Kurrajong, Bligh Park, Grose Vale, Berambing and night bus service to Sydney (Town Hall Park St). Hawkesbury River is the main reason settlement happen in Richmond area with boats and cruises. Still people are using river for recreational purposes.

## Climate

[edit]

Richmond has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa/Cwa) with hot summers and cool winters. Due to its inland location, Richmond has hotter summer days than Sydney CBD, with temperatures sometimes reaching highs of 42 °C (108 °F). Richmond's extreme summer temperatures are also credited to föhn wind sweeping off the Central Tablelands down into the foothills of the suburb.[19] Winter nights are colder than Sydney CBD's and they can drop below 0 °C (32 °F) with significant frost. Richmond has 91.5 days of clear skies annually, in contrast to Sydney CBD's 104 days. On 14 January 1939, Richmond recorded a temperature of 47.8 °C (118.0 °F), the highest in the Sydney region. Its lowest maximum winter temperature was 7.6 °C (45.7 °F), recorded on 6 July 1957.

After Mitchell, Queensland, Richmond has the second largest overall temperature range recorded in Australia; −8.3 °C (17.1 °F) to 47.8 °C (118.0 °F), a range of 56.1 °C.[20][21]

Richmond area is considered as a flood prone area as its staying near to Hawkesbury River and when Warragamba Dam opens water will fill around Richmond area.

Climate data for Richmond RAAF (>1928)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 47.8
(118.0)  | 43.7
(110.7)  | 41.9
(107.4)  | 38.2
(100.8)  | 30.0
(86.0)  | 26.8
(80.2)  | 27.6
(81.7)  | 32.8
(91.0)  | 35.9
(96.6)  | 40.4
(104.7)  | 45.3
(113.5)  | 43.6
(110.5)  | 47.8
(118.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 30.3
(86.5)  | 29.0
(84.2)  | 27.0
(80.6)  | 23.9
(75.0)  | 20.3
(68.5)  | 17.6
(63.7)  | 17.2
(63.0)  | 18.8
(65.8)  | 21.5
(70.7)  | 24.5
(76.1)  | 26.8
(80.2)  | 28.8
(83.8)  | 23.8
(74.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 17.6
(63.7)  | 17.7
(63.9)  | 15.6
(60.1)  | 11.6
(52.9)  | 7.6
(45.7)  | 5.1
(41.2)  | 3.6
(38.5)  | 4.4
(39.9)  | 8.0
(46.4)  | 11.0
(51.8)  | 14.2
(57.6)  | 16.0
(60.8)  | 11.0
(51.9)
Record low °C (°F)  | 8.9
(48.0)  | 6.4
(43.5)  | 3.9
(39.0)  | 1.1
(34.0)  | −2.4
(27.7)  | −6.7
(19.9)  | −8.3
(17.1)  | −4.8
(23.4)  | −1.2
(29.8)  | 1.7
(35.1)  | 3.6
(38.5)  | 5.0
(41.0)  | −8.3
(17.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 75.7
(2.98)  | 122.9
(4.84)  | 75.8
(2.98)  | 48.6
(1.91)  | 48.9
(1.93)  | 47.5
(1.87)  | 28.5
(1.12)  | 33.2
(1.31)  | 48.4
(1.91)  | 50.6
(1.99)  | 82.7
(3.26)  | 82.7
(3.26)  | 719.0
(28.31)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 11.3  | 11.8  | 11.3  | 9.6  | 10.2  | 9.1  | 8.1  | 6.4  | 7.3  | 8.9  | 12.1  | 10.6  | 117.5
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)  | 50  | 54  | 52  | 53  | 54  | 55  | 49  | 45  | 42  | 45  | 45  | 48  | 49
Source 1: [22] (averages)
Source 2: [23] (humidity and records only)

## Notable Personalities

[edit]

Some of the notable personalities born or lived in Richmond are:

* Ashton Irwin
* Kevin Rozzoli
* Ray Martin
* Norman Leslie Smith
* Grigor Taylor
* Mike Walsh
* Doug Mulray
* Reg Lye
* Breaker Morant
* Steve O'Keefe
* Aaron Jeffery
* Stuart Smith
* Michelle Goszko

## Gallery

[edit]

* Bowman Cottage 1815–1818, built in the Colonial style

* Richmond Court House

* St Peter's Church

* Park Mall, Richmond

* Pugh's Lagoon

* Old Post Office Richmond

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Boughton, Samuel. Reminiscences of Richmond - From the Forties Down. Cathy McHardy, 2010.
* Lewis, Judith. ‘A History of the Richmond Railway Line: 1864- 2014.’ Riverstone & District Historical Society and Museum. https://www.riverstonehistoricalsociety.org.au/blog/?page_id=1966

## See also

[edit]

* Towns in New South Wales
* Climate of Sydney

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Richmond (Hawkesbury) (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
2. ^ Bowman Cottage Page:Retrieved 22 March 2009
3. ^ Treseder, Peter (January–March 1994). "Backyard adventure uncovers a wartime secret". Australian Geographic. pp. 17–18. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
4. ^ "Richmond Railway Station and yard group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01236. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
5. ^ "Seymours House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00681. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
6. ^ "Building, outbuildings, grounds, trees". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00753. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
7. ^ "Richmond Park". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01808. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
8. ^ "Clear Oaks Moxey's Farm House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00058. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
9. ^ "Mountain View". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00044. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
10. ^ "Hobartville, including outbuildings". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00035. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
11. ^ "House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00045. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
12. ^ "Toxana". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00014. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
13. ^ "Building". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00610. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
14. ^ "Richmond Post Office". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01410. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
15. ^ "Bowman House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00468. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
16. ^ "St Peter's Anglican Church Group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H02028. Retrieved 24 October 2019. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
17. ^ "Administrative Block, Blacksmith Shop and Stable Square | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
18. ^ "IBA: Richmond Woodlands". Birdata. Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
19. ^ Sharples, J.J., McRae, R.H.D., Weber, R.O., Mills, G.A. (2009) Foehn-like winds and fire danger anomalies in southeastern Australia. Proceedings of the 18th IMACS World Congress and MODSIM09. 13–17 July, Cairns.
20. ^ [1] Climate statistics for Mitchell Post Office, Bureau of Meteorology
21. ^ Climatic Extremes by Geoscience Australia from the Australian Government
22. ^ "Climate Statistics: Richmond RAAF (1993–present)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
23. ^ "Climate Statistics: Richmond RAAF (1928–1994)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 5 September 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Hawkesbury City Council

* v
* t
* e

Hawkesbury River region, New South Wales, Australia

Islands|

* Dangar
* Lion
* Long
* Milson
* Peat
* Spectacle

National parks and nature reserves|

* Bouddi
* Brisbane Water
* Cattai
* Dharug
* Ku-ring-gai Chase
* Marramarra
* Muogamarra
* Popran

European explorers of the region|

* Arthur Phillip
* Watkin Tench

Bridges and ferries|

| Bridges|

* Brooklyn Bridge
* Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge
* Hawkesbury River railway station
* Mooney Mooney Bridge
* Peats Ferry Bridge
* Windsor Bridge

|

Ferries|

* Berowra Waters
* Hawkesbury River Ferries
* Lower Portland
* Sackville
* Webbs Creek
* Wisemans

Adjoining rivers, bays,
reservoirs, and creeks|

| Rivers|

* Colo
* Grose
* Macdonald
* Nepean
* Warragamba
* Wolgan
* Wollangambe

|

Bays|

* Brisbane Water
* Broken Bay
* Pittwater

Reservoirs|

* Mangrove Creek Dam
* Warragamba Dam

Creeks|

* Badgerys
* Bells
* Berowra
* Blaxland
* Breakfast
* Coal and Candle
* Cowan
* Eastern
* Mangrove
* Mooney Mooney
* Reedy
* Ropes
* South
* Webbs
* Wollemi

Local government areas|

* Central Coast
* Hawkesbury
* Hornsby
* Penrith
* Northern Beaches
* The Hills

Education|

* Colo High
* Richmond High
* Windsor High

Major attractions|

* Hawkesbury Canoe Classic
* RAAF Base Richmond

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Suburbs and localities within the City of Hawkesbury, Sydney

* Agnes Banks
* Berambing
* Bilpin
* Blaxlands Ridge
* Bligh Park
* Bowen Mountain
* Bucketty
* Cattai
* Central Colo
* Central Macdonald
* Clarendon
* Colo
* Colo Heights
* Cornwallis
* Cumberland Reach
* East Kurrajong
* Ebenezer
* Fernances
* Freemans Reach
* Glossodia
* Grose Vale
* Grose Wold
* Higher Macdonald
* Hobartville
* Kurmond
* Kurrajong
* Kurrajong Heights
* Kurrajong Hills
* Leets Vale
* Lower Macdonald
* Lower Portland
* Maraylya
* McGraths Hill
* Mellong
* Mogo Creek
* Mountain Lagoon
* Mulgrave
* North Richmond
* Oakville
* Perrys Crossing
* Pitt Town
* Pitt Town Bottoms
* Putty
* Richmond
* Richmond Lowlands
* Sackville
* St Albans
* Scheyville
* South Windsor
* Ten Mile Hollow
* Tennyson
* The Devils Wilderness
* The Slopes
* Upper Colo
* Upper Macdonald
* Vineyard
* Warawaralong
* Webbs Creek
* Wheeny Creek
* Wilberforce
* Windsor
* Windsor Downs
* Wisemans Ferry
* Womerah
* Wrights Creek
* Yarramundi

List of Sydney suburbs

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