area: The Ponds and Hunts Creek

Leader: Regina Haertsch Date: 24th May 2019 Participants: Regina Haertsch, Steven Sim, Jon Hestelow, John Hungerford, Walter Baer, Laurie Olsen and Margaret Rozea

Remnant vegetation can be seen along both creek corridors.

After leaving the Reserve we walked past the colonial gaol and Female Factory complex before joining the and green way to the railway.

We all had fun exploring further parts of hidden .

the area and farming commenced. The Ponds ends at Walk description: Mobbs Hill at Carlingford and the morning tea views were We will start from Rydalmere station and follow Subiaco marred by the seasonal airborne burn-off detritus. Creek to commence The Ponds Walk to Carlingford. A little street walking to Hunts Creek and a track to Lake After a little street walking we joined Hunts Creek and its Parramatta. The excursion is concluded with some street beautiful valley. In 1856 the Creek was dammed to walking to Parramatta station. Map: Street directory. provide a water supply for Parramatta. At 15 metres high, it was the first large dam constructed in Australia. The Report: dam was decommissioned in 1909. Unlike Manly Dam it To reach the start of our walk, the majority took the train is not possible to walk across the dam wall. Quaint to Rydalmere for their first ever trip on the Carlingford Line. stepping stones below the wall enable continued hiking. Our walk followed part of Subiaco Creek upstream and then Reserve, which was our lunch stop, is a the entire length of The Ponds, tributaries of the beautiful place where there is even a lifeguard service in Parramatta River. By 1791 former convicts were settled in summer to support people to enjoy swimming.

Report by: Regina Haertsch Photos: Steven Sim