Pitt Town, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Pitt Town
state = NSW


caption =
lga = City of Hawkesbury
postcode = 2756
est =
pop = 1,311 (2006 Census)
elevation=
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov =
fedgov = Division of Greenway
dist1 = 59
location1= Sydney CBD
near-nw = Wilberforce
near-n = Wilberforce
near-ne = South Maroota
near-w = Freemans Reach
near-e = Maraylya
near-sw = Pitt Town Bottoms
near-s = Pitt Town Bottoms
near-se = Oakville

Pitt Town is a historic town and suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Pitt Town is located 59 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury.

Pitt Town is one of the five 'Macquarie Towns' established by Governor Macquarie in 1810. It is named after William Pitt the Elder, the 18th Century British Prime Minister. A site for a village was laid out in 1811 but developed very slowly. By 1841 there were only 36 houses in the town due to its location being too far from the rich river flats and the consequent long daily trek for farmers to their holdings.

Historic buildings and sites

There are still many old buildings in excellent condition standing in the back streets as they did over 100 years ago.

*Pitt Town Bottoms was the location of the first settlements in the district. It was here, in 1794, that Lieutenant-Governor Francis Grose granted fifteen 30 acre (12 hectare) farms to free settlers. From here fresh produce for the infant Sydney town was shipped down the Hawkesbury River.

* The former 'Maid of Australia Inn', a typical street corner inn located at 87 Bathurst Street which operated between the 1850s and 1890s. At 104 Bathurst Street are the remnants of the 'Blighton Arms'. The original owner, Henry Fleming, lost his license in 1819 but re-opened in 1830, renaming it the 'Macquarie Arms'. Next door is 'Mulgrave Place, a house built in 1823; the verandah in about 1860, and the north wing in 1913.

*'St James' Anglican Church' on Bathurst Street is in a typical Early English stone church style and was designed by Edmund Blacket. It was built by Thomas Collison for £1050 in 1857-58. Blacket also designed the 24 pews, pulpit, reading desk and communion rail. 'Scots Presbyterian Church, a much simpler building than St James, was built and dedicated in 1862.

Also at 120, 126 and 132 Bathurst Street there are some late nineteenth century weatherboard houses. At 132 Bathurst Street there are some very old slab cottages and outbuildings.

*'Bona Vista' is a very impressive building in Johnston Street, built in 1888. It has a long entrance drive with Norfolk Island pines and camphor. 'The Old Manse' is at the bottom of Bathurst Street overlooking the Pitt Town Bottoms is The Old Manse, which in fact belonged to the oldest Presbyterian Church in Australia situated down the river at Ebenezer. This illustrates that the early communities were not divided by the Hawkesbury River but united by it.

Population

Its population was 1 579 (including Pitt Town Bottoms) in the 2001 Census.

Pop Culture

The television drama series "A Country Practice" used this village for many external scenes. The heritage house opposite Pitt Town Public School appeared in the opening credits and was used as the home of characters Frank and Shirley Gilroy.

ee also

External links