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| The road to Razorback
Mountain near Picton |
Picton (including Mowbray Park, Tahmoor, Thirlmere,
Lakesland, Buxton, Couridjah, Douglas Park and Hilltop)
Quiet township on the edge of the Southern Highlands
Picton is located on fertile land 68 km south-west of Sydney
and 171 m above sea-level in the foothills of the southern
highlands near Stonequarry Creek, a tributary of the Nepean
River. It was once a thriving township servicing the traffic
between Sydney and Melbourne. With the rerouting of the Hume
Highway the town has become a quiet centre of considerable
historic interest at the centre of a dairying and mixed
farming area. Its current population is 3589.
Once occupied by the Gundungura and Tharawal Aborigines,
the first Europeans to investigate the area around Picton
were the party of ex-convict John Wilson who passed through
in 1798. They had been sent by Governor Hunter to accumulate
data about the southlands to discourage convicts who were
escaping and heading south in the belief that China was only
150 miles away.
There was already a very small European presence to the
north around present-day Camden, consisting of stockmen sent
to tend the cattle on the Cowpastures, although all other
settlement of that area had been forbidden in order to
ensure the development of the herd (see entry on
Camden for further information on the Cowpastures).
By 1819 Governor Macquarie had authorised the
construction of a road from Picton through to the Goulburn
Plains. The first land grant in the area was 'Stargard', a
gift to Christian Carl Ludwig Rumker, Governor Brisbane's
astronomer, in honour of his rediscovery of Encke's Comet.
Nearby Major Henry Antill established a 2000-acre property
in 1822 which he first named 'Wilton', subsequently renaming
it 'Jarvisfield' after Jane Jarvis, the wife of his friend,
Governor Macquarie. The station stretched from Stonequarry
Creek to Razorback. The family home still stands although
now it is used as the clubhouse for the Antill Park Golf
Club.
The township of Stonequarry was officially established in
1841 and offered for sale as a private village. In 1845 it
was renamed Picton (already the name by which the district
was known) after Sir Thomas Picton, who had been one of the
Duke of Wellington's generals at the Battle of Waterloo.
Around this time another site was surveyed near Redbank
Creek and it was here that the government village of Upper
Picton was established, though it was locally known as
Redbank. When the railway arrived in 1863 a further
settlement developed around the station. Subsequent growth
saw the three villages incorporated.
Things to see:
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| The Imperial Hotel
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Historic Buildings in the Town
Picton has a number of notable historic sites. At the
northern end of town, overlooking Picton, is Vault Hill, so
named as it is apparently where early settler Henry Antill
is buried, allegedly upright at his own request, so that he
could better overlook his domain. It is currently on private
property.
Just south of the intersection of Argyle St (the name
given to the old highway as it passes through town) and
Margaret St, at the bottom of Vault Hill, is the old
courthouse, built in 1864. Some of the sandstone for its
construction came from the old gaol which was hit by
floodwaters in 1860.
The Victorian Classical stone post office, on the corner
of Argyle and Menangle Sts, with its impressive clock tower,
is a typical, prominent late-nineteenth century building
dating from 1892.
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| The CBC Bank (now the
National Bank) |
Opposite is the CBC Bank (now the National Australia
Bank) built in 1885. It is notable for its pointed Gothic
arch windows, its cast-iron railing and the original coach
house and barn behind the building (visible from the side
fence). The coach house has been converted into a local
historical museum and is open Thursdays from 10.00 a.m. -
2.00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.
Turn right into Menangle St. St Mark's Church of England,
to the left, is a simple small stone church designed by the
prolific architect Edmund Blacket and completed by 1857. It
was started in 1850 but, with news of the discovery of gold,
most of the workmen left the site and headed for the
goldfields. The graveyard is also of historic interest.
A little further along, around the corner in Elizabeth
St, is Larkin Cottage, one of the oldest surviving buildings
in town. Thomas Larkin owned a mill which was located where
the carpark now stands between St Mark's and the hotel on
the corner.
Return to Argyle St and continue south. Just before the
Stonequarry Creek Bridge is the information centre, open
weekends and public holidays, subject to volunteers. The
first bridge across the creek was built in 1834 but was
destroyed in the 1860 floods. The current span dates from
1899.
Just across Stonecutter Creek, to the left, is the George
IV Inn, one of the oldest hotels in the country. Said to
have been built in 1819 but not licensed until 1839 it is a
large and rambling building in Argyle Street on the southern
side of Stonecutter Creek. The innšs verandah, stables and
courtyard capture an earlier time when the journey from
Sydney was a long and uncomfortable coach ride. Today there
is an adjoining and independent brewery, named Scharer's
Little Brewery, which is well-known for the quality of its
beer.
Behind the inn is One Man and a Dog where there is an art
gallery and a 4WD charter service which offers tours of the
local bush, tel: (018) 222 149.
Turn right, following the highway (not Oaks Rd).To the
right, just before the underpass, is a restaurant. The
building was originally the Railway Hotel, dating back to
the 1860s.
Picton Tunnel
Go through the underpass. The road bends south again. Just
around the corner, to the right, is the Anglican rectory,
also, ironically, built as an inn during the 1860s.
Proceed south along Argyle St. To the right is the road
that takes you to the original Picton tunnel, which was
opened on 28 February 1867 and used for over 50 years until
the double track was constructed. It was used for a time as
a mushroom farm. Just past it, to the right, is the old
gatehouse erected in 1867 for the keeper of the level
crossing when the railway was extended from Picton to
Mittagong.
More Historic Buildings
Around the corner in Lumsdaine St is the 1886 sandstone
Presbyterian (now Uniting) Church, with fine views back down
to Picton.
Continue along Argyle St and take the second right into
Thirlmere Way. Virtually on the corner is the Wesleyan
Chapel, built in 1849 and now extended and functioning as
the Uniting Church Redbank. The stone derived from
Stonequarry Creek.
Return along Argyle St and take the second right into
Prince St and cross Victoria Bridge. Built in 1897 it is 80
m long and classified by the National Trust. On the other
side of Victoria Bridge, across Stonequarry Creek, is an old
house which was originally a creamery (1899), a reminder of
the days when the district was noted for its butter and
cream.Behind this building, further downstream from the
bridge, is the site of the old sandstone quarries.
Turn left into Campbell St and have as look at the
historic railway station. Steam trains were first used in
the colony in 1855. Picton's first train arrived in 1863.
The original platform was nearly 80 m long.
Return to and proceed along Prince St. To the left is a
two-storey house built in 1877 as a stationmaster's
residence and, except for the porch, unchanged. The land was
sold by the Antills. At the end of the road is the Imperial
Hotel, originally known as the Terminus and licensed as the
Terminus Hotel in 1863. The iron lacework was added in the
1880s when it reverted to a hotel after usage as a
sanatorium.
Turn left into Menangle St. This section of the street,
with buildings dating largely from the turn of the century,
has been classified by the National Trust as "representing a
typical country town street".
Take the first left into Webster St. Some of the houses
in Webster St date back to the 1860s when they were
constructed to house those helping to build the railway. The
building on the corner, known as 'the Cheese Factory', was a
feather and fur factory built in 1920 which has also been
classified by the National Trust. The iron gates derive from
the Customs House in Sydney.
The Viaduct
The end of Webster St is the access point to the old
viaduct, which consists of five massive arches made of stone
quarried 200 m downstream. 83 m in length it is now the
oldest stone archway over water in NSW. It has been in
continuous use since it was opened in 1863. During its
construction two workers lost their lives.
Return north along Menangle St. At no. 83 is Wendover
House (c.1880). A little further along, opposite Colden St,
is Walton's Butcher Shop (1894). Just past Colden St is the
shire hall (1869), originally a public school. Opposite is
St Anthony's Catholic Church.
Regreme Rd, which runs west off Argyle St at the northern
end of town is a good access point to the Hume Oval and the
2-ha Picton Botanical Gardens. There are cycle and walking
tracks through the gardens, a lovely pergola, picnic and
barbecue facilities and the 'Bottlebrush Maze'.
North of the Town
2 km north of town of Picton is the impressive Victorian
stuccoed brick country house 'Jarvisfield' (1865), now the
Antill Park Golf Club.
3 km north of Picton, near Brookside Bridge on
Remembrance Drive, is the Razorback Inn (built either in the
1830s or 1849 depending on your source). Erected on the
Jarvisfield estate it was first used as a convict overseeršs
residence. It was licensed as an inn in the 1850s and became
a popular coach stop on the Great South Road. This
attractive two-storey colonial Georgian building has been
considerably altered over the years but retains its original
shape. Adjoining it is the Wool-Away Woolshed (1880s) where
entertainment and food are on offer.
Razorback Lookout and Razorback Range
About halfway to Camden, at the corner of Remembrance Drive
and Mount Hercules Rd, is the Razorback Lookout from whence
there are excellent views of Menangle, Camden and the Sydney
skyline beyond. The Razorback Range was named after a type
of wild pig which has serrated bristles atop its back. The
first road over the range was cut in 1825 by convict gangs.
The current route was cleared in 1830.
At 70 Mulhollands Rd is Over The Road. It provides the
opportunity to explore the local bush, partake of some
country cooking in the restaurant, go for a ride in a
tractor train into a deep and forested ravine, do a circuit
around a water canal in a boat and enjoy the landscaped
gardens, or purchase something from the gift shop. They are
open weekends and public holidays from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00
p.m. and at other times for group bookings. Head out of town
along Barkers Lodge Rd (opposite the George IV Inn) for 3.5
km and Mulhollands Rd is to your left, tel: (02) 4677 2340.
Around Picton
On The Oaks Rd at Picton is Abbotsford (c.1827-1841), an
early brick farmhouse with outbuildings which has remained
virtually unaltered since its completion.
6 km north-west of Picton via Oaks Rd, is Mowbray Park,
an historic estate which has been run as a cattle stud,
riding holiday farm and conference centre since 1972, tel:
(02) 4680 9243. The homestead was built in 1884 on a land
grant issued in 1822.
5 km south-west of Mowbray Park is the tiny village of
Lakesland, noted for its orchards, where, on Fergusson Rd,
you will find Bell Bird Cottage where you can stroll through
5 acres of gardens and listen to the tuneful sounds of,
well, bellbirds. The house has a collection of memorabilia.
They are, however, open by appointment only, tel: (02) 4680
9255.
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| Thirlmere Rail Transport
Museum |
Thirlmere
One of the great attractions of the district is the Rail
Transport Museum in Barbour Rd at Thirlmere. The oldest and
largest such museum in the country it features 60
locomotives (steam, diesel and electric) and 100 carriages,
including a No 18 built in 1864 and a huge 260-tonne Garratt
No 6040 built in 1956. It is open 9.30 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.
Monday to Friday and 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. on weekends, tel:
(02) 4681 8001. There are picnic and barbecue facilities and
every Sunday there are rides to Buxton along the disused
single-track Picton-Mittagong Loop Line which was built in
1867 when the railway first came through the area. This was
the railway line which opened up the whole of the Southern
Highlands. The construction of a new double track after
World War I meant that the Picton-Thirlmere-Buxton Loop was
by-passed. It operated as a local line until 1976 when it
was closed down. Craft markets are held at Buxton on the
third Sunday of each month.
Thirlmere is located 7 km south-west of Picton. Turn off
Argyle St into Thirlmere Way at the southern end of Picton.
A Festival of Steam is held every March. Thirlmere Memorial
Park in Oaks St has picnic, barbecue and play facilities. A
little further along Oaks St crosses Matthews Creek and
becomes Oaks Rd. Lin Gordon Reserve is to your right. There
you will find a car park, barbecue facilities and a
bushwalk.
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| Thirlmere Lakes National
Park |
Thirlmere Lakes National Park
While in the area the Thirlmere Lakes National Park is well
worth a visit. These five interconnected freshwater lakes
are unusual in the Sydney region. It is the lakes which
provided the inspiration for the town's name - Thirlmere
being a lake in Cumberland, England. These lagoons are ideal
for swimming and canoeing. Barbecue and picnic facilities
have been developed on the shorelines of two lakes and there
is a boat ramp. The eucalypt forests make for some pleasant
bushwalking and there are waterfowl aplenty. From Thirlmere
cross the railway, turn left and proceed south-west on the
Thirlmere-Buxton Rd (Barbour Rd) and turn off either into
Slades Rd (2 km south of Thirlmere) or take the next road to
the right (4 km south), just after the Couridjah Station and
Couridjah Rd (to the right). This second road will take you
to Middleton Memorial Drive which bisects the park. At its
end is a 16-km return walk through the Nattai wilderness to
Little River, a lovely swimming hole near Buxton. For those
who think a 16-km walk is too arduous, the swimming area can
be accessed by driving to the quarry at the end of Boundary
Rd at Buxton and parking your car. From there it is about a
1-km walk to the river. Cross over the waterway and follow
the old farm road to the right.
Hilltop
11 km south of Buxton is Hilltop. There is a lovely 2.6-km
marked walking track through a cave to Cave Creek. Access is
via Wilson Drive. There is a car park with picnic, barbecue
and toilet facilities. A 12-km return walk commences from
Wattle Ridge Rd west of Hilltop. Contact the local ranger on
(02) 4659 6133 for more details. There are also markets held
at the Hilltop Memorial Hall in Wilson Drive on the second
Saturday of each month.
Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council
Couridjah (an Aboriginal word said to mean 'home of the
white ants'), located on the Old Loop Line Railway, was once
the railhead for an extensive area. At West Parade,
Couridjah, is the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council
where you can partake of bush tucker and inspect some
Aboriginal art and crafts, but only by prior arrangement,
tel: (02) 4681 0059.
Tahmoor
8 km south of Picton via the old Hume Highway is Tahmoor
(population 4368), named after an Aboriginal word referring
to a bronze-winged pigeon. The Pot Holes on Rockford Rd are
a good access point for canoeists wanting to explore the
Bargo River. A walking track meanders along the right-hand
bank for about 3 km past See Through Pool to Mermaid Pools.
Tahmoor House at Myrtle Creek on the old Hume Highway is an
old weatherboard inn built in 1821 and extended by
subsequent owners in 1824 and 1835. It is the oldest
building in the shire and an important surviving remnant on
the South Road. A cycleway links Tahmoor to Thirlmere. There
is a collectables swap meet on the first Friday of each
month.
Douglas Park
15 km east is the small village of Douglas Park. Canoeists
can find easy access to the Nepean from the Camden Rd
causeway. Just south of Douglas Park, in Mt Keira Rd, is the
grand Gothic Revival country residence now known as St
Mary's Towers. Originally named Parkhall it was built
between 1842 and 1844 by surveyor-general Sir Thomas
Mitchell who was given the 1000-acre grant in 1830. Of quite
some architectural distinction it has a fine stone turret
and stone staircase with cast-iron balusters and Mitchell's
coat-of-arms on the eastern gable. The Gothic chapel and
crenellated colonnade were added by the next owner in the
1870s. They were designed by Edmund Blacket. It is now owned
by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is a
retreat centre and a novitiate. Also in Douglas Park is Mt
Batten homestead (1865) on land originally granted to a
Spanish free settler after whom nearby Spanish Hill is
named.
Maldon Suspension Bridge
South-east of town, off the road to Wollongong, is the
Maldon Suspension Bridge, one of the few surviving
structures of its type in the country. 4 km from the Picton
post office you will come to the cement works. Turn right
there and follow this road to the bridge which spans a spot
originally known as Harvey's Crossing where the road
connecting Wilton to the Great Southern Railway traversed
the Nepean. Because the river gorge was deep here the
approach roads were steep, often flooded, expensive to
maintain and caused difficulties for road traffic - hence
the construction of the bridge. 188 m in length it was built
in 1903, partially rebuilt after a bushfire in 1939 and
closed to traffic in 1980 when a cantilever bridge was built
2 km downstream. The area around the bridge is highly
picturesque and both walking trails and picnic facilities
have been established. The riverside location also makes it
a good spot for swimming and canoeing.
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Picton
