Wisemans Ferry is a town in the state of New South Wales, Australia, located 75 kilometres north north-west of the Sydney central business district in the Local government in Australia, local government areas of Hornsby Shire, The Hills Shire, City of Hawkesbury and . The town is a tourist spot with picnic and barbecue facilities. As well as a rich convict and colonial heritage in the area, the Dharug National Park and Yengo National Park are close by.

History

The town was originally called Lower Portland Headland, but the name was eventually changed to Wisemans Ferry, named after Solomon Wiseman, a former convict (1777–1838), who received a land grant in the area from Governor Macquarie in 1817. Wiseman established a ferry service on the Hawkesbury River in 1827 for the transport of produce and provisions to the convicts building the Great North Road (Australia), Great North Road and was known to many as King of the Hawkesbury.Reed, A.W. (1969) ''Place-Names of New South Wales: Their Origins and Meanings'', p. 151. Sydney: A.H & A.W. Reed Wisemans Ferry Post Office opened on 1 January 1857. There is information on the early history of Wisemans Ferry in Ball, John and Pam, 'Early Wisemans Ferry: George Mollison, Solomon Wiseman, Bushrangers and Land Title Confusion', Oughtershaw Press, Riverview, 2014 - .

Heritage listings

Wisemans Ferry & Mount Manning has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: * Old Great North Road (Devine's Hill to Mount Manning Section)

Schools

Wisemans Ferry Public School
was established in 1867.

Transport

Today, two ferry services cross the Hawkesbury River from the town of Wisemans Ferry. The eponymous Wisemans Ferry crosses the river to a point down-stream of its confluence with the Macdonald River (St Albans), Macdonald River, connecting with the old Great North Road. Webbs Creek Ferry crosses to a point upstream of the confluence, connecting with the St Albans Road that follows the west bank of the Macdonald River.

References

External links

*
Great North Road - Convict TrailWisemans Ferry bus timetable
Suburbs of Sydney City of Hawkesbury Towns in New South Wales 1827 establishments in Australia The Hills Shire Hornsby Shire {{Sydney-geo-stub