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About 45 minutes North of Sydney by intercity train, flows The Hawkesbury River which empties into the Pacific Ocean through the Brisbane Waters and Broken Bay. As it meanders inland, the Hawkesbury and its tributaries provide much of the fresh water that irrigates the crops that feed the city.
Many of the settlements on the Hawkesbury are isolated and, being within the confines of the Brisbane Waters National Park, are not accessible by car. A private charter company runs a series of ferries much used by locals and tourists alike. Ann, (Sydney Meandering) and I hopped aboard the Riverboat Postman as he made his deliveries.
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As these images show, the people of the Hawkesbury are a special breed who would shrivel and expire in the hustle, bustle and competitiveness that is today's Sydney. And this is not just a recent phenomenon.
The Secret River by Kate Grenville provides a fictionalised appreciation of the grit and determination required of the early settlers of our colony AND the early explorers of the Hawkesbury. For those interested in the historical background to this novel, Searching for the Secret River is also extremely rewarding.
Tomorrow, we shall see where these folk live and take a closer look at the glories that are the Lower Hawkesbury.
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Part of the Sundays in my City community.