HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT IND 188 January 2026 | Page 10

HAWKESBURY HISTORY

with Michelle Nichols & Jonathan Auld

A short history of Buttsworth Bridge

The Hawkesbury’ s many rivers and creeks have long necessitated a wide variety of bridges and crossings across the district. Some are grand and imposing, while others are modest, functional structures that simply get the job done.

In the early days of settlement, bridges were crude constructions built by settlers who often lacked engineering knowledge, materials, and proper tools. As the district developed, these early crossings were gradually replaced with stronger and more sophisticated structures.

For tens of thousands of years, the ancestors of the Darug and Darkinjung people lived in and around the Hawkesbury River which they called Dyarubbin. Located north west of what is now known as Windsor, land was first granted to Europeans in this area from 1794. In 1810, Lachlan Macquarie, the Governor of NSW toured the Hawkesbury district and named the‘ Macquarie Towns.’ He recorded in his journal,“ the Township for the Phillip District; on the North or left Bank of the Hawkesbury, I have named Wilberforce – in honor of and out of respect to the good and virtuous Wm. Wilberforce Esqr. M. P. – a true Patriot and the real Friend of Mankind.”

The Wilberforce locality was popular amongst the emancipated convicts and settlers with farms usually 30 acres in size and large town blocks acquired. In later years the town boasted several shops, hotel, blacksmith, butcher, school, police station, two churches, school hall and the impressive park originally selected as a town square by Macquarie.

The waterway known as Buttsworth

Buttsworth’ s Mill at Wilberforce prior to being demolished. Courtesy National Library of Australia.

Creek, on the outskirts of Wilberforce, was named after the settler Henry Buttsworth, an early resident of Wilberforce. Henry was a convict who arrived in the colony in 1812, onboard the Guildford. He was assigned to Sarah Rose, youngest daughter of Thomas Rose, with the couple marrying in 1813 then later attained land holdings on the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Wilberforce. The small shallow waterway in question, flowed from Bushells Lagoon, winding through agricultural land before discharging into the Hawkesbury River.

Henry was responsible for establishing a timber building on his property used as a mill in the 1830s. The original timber mill was replaced in the 1840s with a sandstone building which included elevated chimney stacks on the banks of what became known as Buttsworths Creek. The mill, powered by steam, required a good supply of water to operate, and was used to grind wheat. Henry Buttsworth died in 1853 aged 62 and is buried in the Wilberforce Cemetery. After his death, the mill was operated by different family members and eventually demolished sometime after 1915.

During floods, the rivers and creek levels rise, and Wilberforce is isolated from Windsor with no access along Wilberforce Road. Macquarie had the right idea back when in 1810, he planned a church, cemetery and park to be established along a ridge in Wilberforce.

There have, over the years, been several bridges crossing the waterway which later became known as Buttsworths Creek, a watercourse which flows from Bushells Lagoon in a south

Buttsworth’ s Bridge at Wilberforce. Courtesy Marj Clarke Archives.

easterly direction of 1km before joining the Hawkesbury River. In 1874, the local newspaper recorded a new bridge at Buttsworths Creek was promised by the politician Henry Moses.

By 1889 a dam and bridge at Buttsworths Creek were washed away in heavy rain and the Secretary for Public Works approved the sum of £ 250 to erect a new bridge and culvert. The construction was delayed until 1890 as it was“ found desirable to increase the span, which necessitated further provision to the extent of £ 200 being made for this work.” It appears there were two bridges advertised.

In 1890 Mr J. Alderson was successful in“ winning” the tender to construct a wooden bridge on Wilberforce Road at what was known at the time as Buttsworth’ s Crossing. The bridge was completed and opened shortly after with much fanfare by the local community and was captured with the accompanying photograph.

There were reports of community concern in the newspaper calling for the bridge to be replaced. It was reported to be very narrow and dangerous, having been built prior to the motor vehicle becoming so prevalent in using the roads,

plus reports of several accidents and near misses. The community were keen for a wider bridge or at least signage suggesting vehicles must not pass on the bridge. In 1927 a serious accident was avoided when a driver purposely hit the rail guard dodging a head-on.

The bridge lasted for over 40 years until it became necessary to replace it. Colo Shire Council called for tenders in 1937 for the“ construction of a timber bridge to replace the existing bridge at Buttsworth’ s Crossing, on the main Windsor- Wilberforce Road.” The Department of Main Roads who was responsible for the road, estimated it would cost in the vicinity of £ 870.

The timber bridge was replaced with a concrete bridge as part of a project between Colo Shire Council and the Department of Main Roads in 1942. The road approaching the bridge was also straightened to improve access. In 1953, a request was made to Colo Shire Council to place a street light near the bridge. The request was approved and the light installed.

This small insignificant bridge has weathered many inundations, carrying residents across Buttsworths Creek, and serving the Hawkesbury community well.

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