Toxana

Toxana is a two-story brick residence in Richmond featuring sandstone quoins and a curved entrance staircase with iron railings. The upper verandah displays decorative lacework metalwork along its length.

William Bowman, the first Hawkesbury delegate to the New South Wales Legislative Council, built the house around 1842 on land originally granted to John Bowman. From 1891 to 1896 it served as the first location of Hawkesbury Agricultural College.

The residence blends Georgian and Regency design traditions from the mid-1800s colonial period in New South Wales. The ironwork railings and decorative posts on the upper verandah show the craftsmanship valued during that era.

The house is located at 147 Windsor Street and remains in private ownership, though it can be viewed from the street. Its inclusion on the New South Wales State Heritage Register means it is legally protected.

The building played a key role in starting agricultural education in the region by serving as lodging and administrative headquarters for Hawkesbury Agricultural College in its early years. This connection to educational history made the house an important cultural landmark beyond its architectural significance.