Historic Riverpark Walk Explore many historic sites within Macquarie River Bicentennial Park and discover interesting facts about the birth of the city. The walk covers around 2.25kms and takes approx 1.5 hours. Parking is available at the end of William St or in the Domain Car Park in Stanley St. 1. Start on the corner of William and Stanley Sts. conducted over the past few years it has been The stone cairn was erected by Bathurst City determined that this is the site where the original Council and the Royal Australian Historical flag staff was raised when Governor Macquarie Society (1929-30) at what was thought to be the declared the townsite of Bathurst on 7 May 1815. spot where Governor Macquarie had proclaimed The new Bathurst Flag Staff was re-installed the townsite of during the city’s bicentennial celebrations on 7 Bathurst on 7 May May 2015. Under the glass pyramid below the 1815. It was 10 metre flag pole is the plaque from the first flag dedicated on 4 May staff. Around the viewing platform are etched 1930 and annual glass panels proclamation days featuring hand prints were held here until of local Aboriginal 1941 then from children and elders 1947 to 1966 and and Wiradyuri again after 1978. designs of Girawu (the Tree Goanna) 2. Surrounding the cairn is the Heritage Wall and Biladurang that was an Australian Bicentennial project to (Platypus) develop the riverside area. Plaques on this wall dreaming. commemorate citizens who have contributed to The whole area Bathurst’s growth including prominent local looks beautiful when identity James Rutherford, who established lit up at night. Cobb & Co headquarters in Bathurst. In May 2015 a new plaque was installed bearing the 6. Return to the path names of the 10 settlers who received the first and continue to walk land grants in the area. to the left alongside the Macquarie River. In 1813 George Evans was the first European to 3. Return to the path where off to the right you’ll see the river that he named for Governor see the large Stephen Hart sandstone sculpture Macquarie. Along the left hand side of the path ‘Conversation’ commissioned by the Regional are plaques dedicated to Citizens of the Year. A Art Gallery in 1988. As you continue along the little higher up the bank is Governor path take the time to look at the interpretive Macquarie’s Chair, an imposing structure of panels that document the river’s catchment area, river rocks marking the gazetting of Bathurst as a its history and fauna. Just beyond this is a small city on 20 March 1885. Facing the road is a rock garden and flowering cherry trees planted to plaque commemorating this. commemorate the Sister City Agreement with the Japanese town of Ohkuma. 7. At the roundabout cross Stanley St, then George St to the corner where No 1 George St 4. Continue along the path and take the left fork stands. This house was built in 1860 by local to the Peace Garden. In 1956 the Indian banker John Ford. The style of house is Government donated 19 teak seats for the Victorian, with its iron lace regarded as a typical original gardens, which were opened by the High example of Victorian Bathurst cast. Commissioner of India. When this area was redeveloped as part of the Bicentennial program At the rear of the house is a small building some of these seats and the bust of India’s first referred to as Old Government House. It is Prime Minister Nehru were incorporated in the possibly of one of the oldest brick buildings in design. The curved brick walls are decorated Bathurst dating back to the early settlement. with designs made by local children. The historic kitchen garden restored by Bathurst Gardeners’ Club as a bicentenary project, was 5. Continue along the path to the Flag Staff* officially opened on 29 March 2015. and Viewing platform. Through surveys 8. Cross over Stanley St to the as Bathurst. By 1825 the eastern popular swimming spot it was called Ohkuma Garden. This is a symbol side was being called Kelso having 'Manly' and by 1884 bathing sheds of the sister city relationship between developed as a free settlement with were erected nearby. Large crowds Bathurst and Ohkuma in Japan. farms, pubs and shops established of spectators were attracted to the Built in traditional Japanese style the and the western side was called area and it was widely used until the idea of the garden was first Bathurst where only Government city pool was opened in the 1950s. conceived in 1995 to mark the 5th buildings were allowed. Initial land anniversary of the friendship and grants were made in Kelso in 1818 was completed in 1998. A but it was not until 1833 that plans commemorative plaque was added were drawn up for the town and the to the garden after the 2011 first blocks of land were sold. earthquake and tsunami that devastated the region and severely 10. Keep to the path until you reach damaged the nearby Fukushima the Denison Bridge. This two lane Nuclear Reactor causing the bridge was part of the Great Western Ohkuma townspeople to be Highway from Sydney providing evacuated. To the right of the entry into Bathurst until it was garden is an azumaya (resting place) decommissioned when the Evans 11. To the right is the Bathurst that was erected to celebrate the Bridge was built in 1990-91. Showground. This site was first 10th anniversary of the relationship. used by the Agricultural, Horticultural Halfway across the Denison Bridge & Pastoral Association in 1878 after Beside the garden and azumaya are is a plaque noting the builder and other locations had been tried. By the Pillars of Bathurst*, constructed date of construction - 1870. The 1896 the Annual Show had become from restored cast iron verandah original timber structure built on this a social event, featuring evening posts that have an historic link to the site had been destroyed by floods in concerts with a full orchestra. In Royal Hotel in William St. The Pillars 1867 and before that travellers had later years the entertainment were installed in 2015 to honour to ford the river or catch a flat- expanded to include acrobatic past Bathurstians who have added bottomed ferry from Kelso. groups and nightly vaudeville something special to the city's story. entertainment. Attractions like ‘The This point also marks the beginning As you cross the bridge Morse Park Globe of Death!’ were seen in the of ’A Delightful Spot - The to the left of the highway was the site ring daily alongside hunting, jumping Bathurst Government Settlement of the Agricultural Experimental Farm and trotting events. Heritage Trail.* that commenced production in 1895. It remained an Irrigation Farm for 12. Continuing along the path you 9. Take care when crossing back to experimental and educational should now be able to see the Kelso the other side of the road and follow purposes until 1952. floodplain across the river to the the path over the Gordon Edgell right. This was the scene of an Bridge. From the parking area take 11. At the end of the bridge follow incident in March 1824 triggering the walking path alongside the river. the path to the left along the other war between white settlers and the Note the weir in the river that may side of the river. This area of the Wiradyuri, the local Aboriginal tribe. have been the spot where the river has changed shape over the As a result martial law was declared convict Ralph Entwistle was caught years but at one time it was such a in the area. bathing just as Governor Darling and his party 13. Follow the path crossed one of the fords. 8 KELSO back to the start and He received a flogging 9 note the steamroller in 7 6 and in an act of revenge 12 the playground. The formed a convict gang 5 Aveling & Porter roller 3&4 that had up to 80 has been located in members at any one Bicentennial Park for time. They fled to 1&2 decades. It was used Abercrombie Caves 13 to carry rubble and where they were aggregate in trailers eventually captured. during the building of Entwistle and nine others the Mount Panorama were tried and hanged in Denison Bridge Circuit. November 1830 ending Showground 11 the Bathurst Rebellion. * Brochures available 10 at Bathurst Visitor In the days of the early BATHURST Information Centre. settlement both sides of Evans Bridge the river were referred to Reviewed July 2015 BATHURST VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE Freecall: 1800 68 1000 visitbathurst.com.au .