City of Hawkesbury, Administrative division in New South Wales, Australia
Hawkesbury is an administrative area located northwest of Sydney that combines towns and villages with farmland and rural areas. The region covers approximately 2,776 square kilometers and is shaped by the Hawkesbury River, which flows through the landscape.
The territory was originally home to the Darug people before European settlement began in 1794 with the establishment of farms to support colonial Sydney. These early settlements shaped the foundation of what would become the region's communities and infrastructure.
The Hawkesbury Regional Gallery and Museum display exhibitions that trace the area's story from Aboriginal cultures through to modern times. You can see how the landscape and community have developed through these local perspectives.
Visitors will find a mix of town centers and open landscapes spread across the area, best accessed by car or bus. The region is easiest to explore during mild weather months when roads are in good condition and attractions are accessible.
The area contains five original colonial towns established under Governor Macquarie that still retain their historical street patterns and layouts. These settlements form a remarkable network of early European settlement patterns that remain visible in their organization today.
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