Macquarie Arms Hotel: Windsor, NSW, Opened in 1815

The heritage-listed Macquarie Arms Hotel opened in Windsor, NSW, in 1815.
Windsor is on the lands of the Boorooberongal clan of the Darug people 

Windsor, NSW, is the third-oldest place of British settlement on the Australian continent.

The heritage-listed Macquarie Arms Hotel opened in Windsor, NSW, in 1815. 

Emancipist Richard Fitzgerald constructed the hotel on orders from Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

The hotel, a two-storeyed stuccoed brick inn with an attic storey and cellar, is part of Thompson Square, a village square planned by Governor Macquarie in 1811 when the town of Windsor was known as Greenhills.

Thompson Square is named after Andrew Thompson, who, like Richard Fitzgerald, arrived in the colony as a convict in 1791.

Governor Hunter made Fitzgerald superintendent of Agriculture in Toongabbie in 1800. And Andrew Thompson became a respected chief constable, farmer and businessman. He also built the first bridge in the area in 1802. 

Around Thompson Square, there are a large number of Colonial Georgian buildings, such as the Doctor's House at 1–3 Thompson Square, completed in 1845, where a series of doctors resided. The first building on the site, is believed to have been an inn called The Lord Nelson (1819).
Thompson Square, Windsor, NSW, in the 1870s, Hawkesbury Library
Windsor Bridge (built 1874) - Looking north to south across Hawkesbury River. Source: State Library of NSW
There are a. great many other historic buildings around Windsor, and these can be seen by following a self-guided heritage walk.  There are various heritage precincts. See here

Some Buildings to See

Windsor Courthouse, built in the Georgian style, still has the original cedar joinery from 1822. The courthouse was commissioned by Governor Macquarie, was designed by a former convict, architect Francis Greenway, and built by William Cox, using convict labour.

On the corner of Catherine Street and Little Church Street, Windsor, John Primrose opened the Bell Inn in 1845. The building is now a private residence.

The waterwheel situated at the Baker Street end of the mall design is based on a waterwheel used by settlers James and Benjamin Singleton to power their grain mills in the 1800's at Wisemans Ferry.

The corner stone of St Matthews Anglican Church was laid by Governor Macquarie in October 1817. The church was also designed by Francis Greenway and built by convict labour. Samuel Marsden conducted the opening services 1822.
St Matthew's Church Windsor, NSW, in 1906
The Richmond Literary Institute was established in 1861, and in 1866, the foundation stone was laid. In the same year, The School of Arts, on the corner of West Market and March Streets, was officially opened by the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes on 27 August.

By 1895, frontier violence had broken out in the Hawkesbury region. The most significant scribe of the time, David Collins, recorded that "the natives at the river" attacked a man "who had been allowed to ply with a passage-boat between the port of Sydney and the river and wounded him (it was feared mortally) as he was going with his companion to the settlement.". (Stephen Gapps)

Settlers’ huts were attacked, robbed, and burnt down. Settlers and colonial authorities retaliated with violence. The New South Wales Corps were sent to the area.

Aboriginal people had their hunting, gathering and fishing way of life severely disrupted, and were devastated by diseases to which they had no immunity. 

Interesting Facts

In June 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip led a boat expedition north, which resulted in the discovery of the Hawkesbury River.

Yarramundi, a Boorooberongal Elder, met Governor Phillip on the banks of the Hawkesbury in 1791.

One of the earliest buildings at Windsor was Old Government House, which was constructed in 1791. Sadly the building was demolished in 1922.
Government Cottage also known as Old Government House was located at 41 George Street, North in the Peninsula area of Windsor, New South Wales.
The original Windsor Road, which opened in 1794, was the second main road built for the colony of Sydney to connect Parramatta and Windsor.

Windsor has the biggest network of gas lamps in Australia, with 24 of them in. The Mall.

Around Windsor

The heritage-listed Macquarie Arms Hotel opened in Windsor, NSW, in 1815.

Fairfield House, an 1830s Georgian mansion built by William Cox in Windsor, NSW
The waterwheel situated at the Baker Street end of the Windsor Mall, is based on a waterwheel used by settlers James and Benjamin Singleton to power their grain mills in the 1800's at Wisemans Ferry.
Windsor, NSW
House near Thompson Square, Windsor, NSW, which was set to be demolished with the historic bridge
The first Post Office in Windsor, NSW, opened in 1828 and was housed in a number of different private buildings, including The Doctors House in Thompson Square. This building designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and built by Michael Leeds was opened in 1880
John Howe' house, Windsor, NSW. He was a, bridge builder, store-keeper, auctioneer, coroner, chief constable
Windsor Mall, NSW
The Doctor's House, Windsor, NSW, Built in 1840s. An inn called The Lord Nelson originally occupied this site

Things To Do



Hawkesbury Regional Museum. 8 Baker Street, Windsor NSW

Butterfly Farm and Museum 446 Wilberforce Rd. NSW 

Australiana Pioneer Village open-air museum at Rose Street, Wilberforce, City of Hawkesbury