Hawkesbury River

2025-11-02T08:43:57Z

175.32.213.30: Included west reference

{{short description|River in New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Hawkesbury-Nepean River
| native_name ={{native name|xdk|Dyarubbin}}
| name_other =
| name_etymology =

| image = Hawkesbury River, Northern Sydney aerial.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Aerial photograph showing the mouth of the Hawkesbury River as it flows into [[Broken Bay]] and out into the [[Tasman Sea]], as seen looking across [[Sydney]]'s [[Northern Beaches]]

| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]]
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = [[New South Wales]]
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sydney|Greater Sydney]]
* [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]]
}}
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 =

| length_km = 120
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location= Near mouth
| discharge1_min = {{convert|0|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg ={{cvt|150.2|m3/s|GL/year|abbr=on}}<ref name="East Coastal Watersheds">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/MAPS/AUSTRALIA/AUSTRALIA%20SE%20COAST_EAST/index.html|title=East Coastal Watersheds}}</ref>
{{convert|95|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max = {{convert|15,000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}

| source1 = [[Nepean River]]
| source1_location = north of [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]]
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_elevation =
| source2 = [[Grose River]]
| source2_location =
| source2_coordinates=
| source2_elevation =
| mouth = [[Broken Bay]]
| mouth_location = west of [[Lion Island (New South Wales)|Lion Island]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|33|33|53.9994|S|151|18|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression =
| waterfalls =
| river_system =
| basin_size_km2 = 21624.1
| tributaries_left = [[Colo River]], [[Webbs Creek]], [[Macdonald River (St Albans)|Macdonald River]], [[Mangrove Creek (New South Wales)|Mangrove Creek]], Popran Creek, [[Mooney Mooney Creek]]
| tributaries_right = Cattai Creek, [[South Creek (New South Wales)|South Creek]], [[Berowra Creek]]
| custom_label = Islands
| custom_data = [[Milson Island]], [[Peat Island]], [[Spectacle Island (Hawkesbury River)|Spectacle Island]], [[Long Island (New South Wales)|Long Island]], and [[Dangar Island]]
| extra =
}}

The '''Hawkesbury River''', or '''Hawkesbury-Nepean River''' ([[Dharug language|Dharug]]: '''Dyarubbin''')<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2021 |title=Dyarubbin |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/dyarubbin |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.sl.nsw.gov.au}}</ref> is a [[river]] located northwest of [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main [[tributary]], the [[Nepean River]], almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney. The river between [[Wisemans Ferry]] and the [[Pacific Ocean]] marks the boundary of [[Sydney|Greater Metropolitan Sydney]] in the south and the [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]] region to the north.

The Hawkesbury River has its origin at the confluence of the Nepean River and the [[Grose River]], to the north of [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]] and travels for approximately {{convert|120|km}} in a north–easterly and then a south–easterly direction to its [[river mouth|mouth]] at [[Broken Bay]], about {{convert|15|km}} from the [[Tasman Sea]]. The Hawkesbury River is the main tributary of Broken Bay. Secondary tributaries include [[Brisbane Water]] and [[Pittwater]], which, together with the Hawkesbury River, flow into [[Broken Bay]] and thence into the [[Tasman Sea]] north of [[Barrenjoey, New South Wales|Barrenjoey Head]].

The total catchment area of the river is approximately {{convert|21624|km²}} and the area is generally administered by the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority.

The land adjacent to the Hawkesbury River was occupied by [[Aboriginal Australian|Aboriginal]] peoples: the [[Darkinjung people|Darkinjung]], [[Darug people|Darug]], [[Eora]], and [[Kuringgai]]. They used the river as a source of food and a place for trade.<ref name=aabr>{{cite web |url=http://www.aabr.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=74 |author=Bear, Virginia |title=Aboriginal People of the Sydney Region |publisher=Australian Association of Bush Regenerators |year=2010 |access-date=27 December 2012 }}</ref> In the languages of the traditional custodians the river is '''''Deerubben''''' or '''''Dyarubbin'''''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Citation|last=McGarvie |first=John |author-link=John McGarvie |title=Reverend John McGarvie papers, 1825-1847|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/235989078|publication-date=1847 |access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Karskens|first=Grace|title=Life and death on Dyarubbin|url=https://www.griffithreview.com/articles/life-and-death-on-dyarubbin/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-21|website=[[Griffith Review]] |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205523/https://www.griffithreview.com/articles/life-and-death-on-dyarubbin/ |archive-date=2021-06-24}}</ref>

In March 2021, the river level rose, and many areas were flooded as part of the [[March 2021 Australian floods]].<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-23/heroic-rescue-averts-houseboats-being-hit-by-shipping-container/100021970 Rescue in floodwaters on Hawkesbury River averts collision between shipping container and houseboats] ABC News 23 July 2021</ref>

==Course==
[[Image:2007 0817klklk0035.JPG|thumb|270px|upright|Looking north-east across the Hawkesbury River, with [[Dangar Island]] to the right of the image.]]
[[Image:2007 0817klklk0030.JPG|thumb|270px|upright|Looking south-east across the Hawkesbury River, from near Brooklyn.]]

The headwaters of the Hawkesbury River, the [[Avon River (Wollongong)|Avon River]], the [[Cataract River (Wollondilly)|Cataract River]], and the [[Cordeaux River]], rise only a few kilometres (miles) from the sea, about {{convert|80|km}} south of Sydney. These streams start on the inland-facing slopes of the plateau which forms the escarpment behind [[Wollongong, New South Wales|Wollongong]]. Flowing north-west, away from the sea, these streams combine to form the Nepean River, and flow north past the towns of [[Camden, New South Wales|Camden]] and [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]]. Near Penrith, the [[Warragamba River]] emerges from its canyon through the [[Blue Mountains (Australia)|Blue Mountains]] and joins the Nepean. The Warragamba, formed by the joining of the [[Wollondilly River]], the [[Nattai River]], the [[Kowmung River]] and [[Coxs River]] drains a broad region of New South Wales on the eastern side of the [[Great Dividing Range]]. The other principal component of the upper Hawkesbury river system, the [[Grose River]], rises in the area of [[Mount Victoria, New South Wales|Mount Victoria]] in the Blue Mountains.

Once formed, the Hawkesbury River proper flows generally northwards, albeit with a significant number of [[meander]]s. Initially the river passes the towns of [[Richmond, New South Wales|Richmond]] and [[Windsor, New South Wales|Windsor]], which are the largest settlements on the river. At Windsor, the river is joined by [[South Creek (New South Wales)|South Creek]], which drains much of the [[urban runoff]] in Sydney's western suburbs that does not fall into the Parramatta River catchment. As it flows north, it enters a more rural area, with only small settlements on the river. On this stretch it passes [[Sackville, New South Wales|Sackville]] and [[Lower Portland, New South Wales|Lower Portland]], where it is joined by the [[Colo River]]. The Colo River and its tributaries drain the northern section of the Blue Mountains.<ref>{{Citation|author1=New South Wales. Department of Lands.|title=Map of the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Broken Bay including tributaries, also embracing Brisbane Water, Pitt Water, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase, Terrigal and Tuggerah Lakes entrance, New South Wales, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232998574|year=1953|edition=7th|location=Sydney|publisher=The Department|id=nla.obj-232998574|access-date=23 June 2021|scale=Scale [ca. 1:63,360]|section=1 map : col. ; 73 x 102 cm., on sheet 76 x 105 cm.|via=Trove}}</ref>

From Lower Portland, the Hawkesbury River continues flowing northwards to the small community of [[Wisemans Ferry]] where it is joined by the [[Macdonald River (St Albans)|Macdonald River]]. Here its course turns eastwards and the surrounding landscape gradually becomes steeper and more rugged. At [[Spencer, New South Wales|Spencer]], [[Mangrove Creek (New South Wales)|Mangrove Creek]] joins the river from the north. From here to the river mouth, road access to the river is limited to a few points.

At [[Milsons Passage, New South Wales|Milsons Passage]], the river is joined by [[Berowra Creek]] from the south. In the area around [[Brooklyn, New South Wales|Brooklyn]] the river is crossed by the major road ([[Pacific Motorway (Sydney–Newcastle)|M1 Pacific Motorway]]) and rail services ([[Central Coast & Newcastle Line]]) that follow the coast north from Sydney. The river finally reaches the ocean at [[Broken Bay]].

From the confluence of the Nepean and Grose Rivers to the sea, the Hawkesbury River has a total length of some {{convert|120|km}}.<ref name=gndb>{{NSW GNR |id=MaIOlMtLIt |title=Hawkesbury River |access-date=19 December 2008 |date=3 October 1969 }}</ref>

==Islands==
Islands in the Hawkesbury River include, in order going downstream are [[Bar Island]], [[Milson Island]],
[[Snake Island (New South Wales)|Snake Island]], [[Peat Island]], [[Spectacle Island (Hawkesbury River)|Spectacle Island]], [[Long Island (New South Wales)|Long Island]], [[Dangar Island]] and [[Lion Island (New South Wales)|Lion Island]].

==Crossings==
Despite forming the effective boundary of the metropolitan region of Sydney for its entire length, there are very few fixed crossings of the Hawkesbury River proper. Going downstream, these comprise:

{| class="wikitable"
!width="150pt" |Crossing name<br><small>(Unofficial name)</small>
!width="90pt" |North bank crossing location
!width="90pt" |South bank crossing location
!width="1050pt" |Comments/use
!Image
|-
|[[Richmond Bridge, Sydney|Richmond Bridge]] ||align="center"|[[North Richmond, New South Wales|North Richmond]] ||align="center"|[[Richmond, New South Wales|Richmond]] || A bridge that carries the historic [[Bells Line of Road]] and formerly carried the [[Kurrajong railway line]] ||align="center"|[[File:North.richmond.bridge.1986.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Windsor Bridge, New South Wales|Windsor Bridge]] ||align="center"|[[Freemans Reach]] ||align="center"|[[Windsor, New South Wales|Windsor]] || A bridge that carries the [[Windsor Road]]. ||align="center"|
|-
|[[Sackville Ferry]] || ||align="center"|[[Sackville, New South Wales|Sackville]] || A vehicular [[cable ferry]]. ||align="center"|[[File:Sackville ferry gnangarra-15.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Lower Portland Ferry]] || ||align="center"|[[Lower Portland]] || A vehicular cable ferry. ||align="center"|
|-
|[[Webbs Creek Ferry]] || ||rowspan=2 align="center"|[[Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales|Wisemans Ferry]] || A vehicular cable ferry just upstream of the settlement of Wisemans Creek. ||align="center"|[[File:Webbs creek ferry-1w.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Wisemans Ferry]] || || A vehicular cable ferry at the settlement of Wisemans Creek that carries the old [[Great North Road, New South Wales|Great North Road]]. ||align="center"|[[File:Wisemans Ferry.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Brooklyn Bridge (Sydney)|Brooklyn Bridge]] ||rowspan=2 align="center"|[[Mooney Mooney, New South Wales|Mooney Mooney]] ||rowspan=2 align="center"|[[Brooklyn, New South Wales#Kangaroo Point|Kangaroo Point]] ||Carries the [[Pacific Motorway (Sydney-Newcastle)|M1 Pacific Motorway]] parallel to Peats Ferry Bridge. ||rowspan=2 align="center"|[[Image:Hawkesbury River road bridges.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Peats Ferry Bridge]] ||An older bridge that carries the [[Pacific Highway, Australia|Pacific Highway]].
|-
|[[Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge]] ||align="center"|Cogra Point||align="center"|[[Brooklyn, New South Wales|Brooklyn]] ||A bridge that carries the [[Main Northern railway line]]. ||align="center"|[[Image:Hawkesbury River rail bridge.jpg|120px]]
|}

In the lower reaches of the river there are also a few passenger ferries that cross the river. These include the [[Palm Beach Ferry]] service from [[Palm Beach, New South Wales|Palm Beach]] to [[Ettalong]] and [[Wagstaffe, New South Wales|Wagstaffe]], and the [[Hawkesbury River Ferries]] service from [[Brooklyn, New South Wales|Brooklyn]] to [[Dangar Island]] and [[Little Wobby]].

==History==
===Aboriginal Australian history===
A list from 1829 made by Reverend [[John McGarvie]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=McGarvie's list and Aboriginal Dyarubbin {{!}} The Dictionary of Sydney|url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/mcgarvies_list_and_aboriginal_dyarubbin#ref-uuid=51376e17-646d-4e62-9fd4-440cf340385e|access-date=2021-06-21|website=dictionaryofsydney.org}}</ref> includes the place names used by the Aboriginal people along the river, including the name of the river itself ''Dyarubbin''.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Real Secret River: Dyarubbin project {{!}} The Dictionary of Sydney|url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/artefact/real_secret_river_dyarubbin_project|access-date=2021-06-21|website=dictionaryofsydney.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=State Library of New South Wales|first=Sydney|date=2019-11-12|title=Exploring Dyarubbin|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/exploring-dyarubbin|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-08|website=State Library of NSW |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727020206/https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/exploring-dyarubbin |archive-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> An alternative spelling of the Aboriginal name for the river was published as ''Deerubbun'' in 1870.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13223058/1458813?searchTerm=Deerubbun#pstart1458813 |title=The River System, Geographical Outline |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=7 |access-date=6 August 2011 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513082540/http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13223058/1458813?searchTerm=Deerubbun#pstart1458813 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The two main Aboriginal tribes inhabiting the area were the [[Wannungine]] of the coastal area on the lower reaches (below Mangrove Creek) and the [[Darkinyung people]], whose lands were extensive on the lower Hawkesbury to Mangrove Creek, upper Hawkesbury, inland Hunter and lower Blue Mountains.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/handle/2123/7745/GE%20Ford%202012%20Darkinung%20Brief.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y |format=PDF |title=Darkiñung Recognition |year=2012 |publisher=University of Sydney |access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref> Also known on the banks of the river were the Eora and Guringai people.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Power|first=Julie|date=2021-03-26|title=Putting Aboriginal names and places back on the map starts by the river|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/putting-aboriginal-names-and-places-back-on-the-map-starts-by-the-river-20210323-p57ddo.html|access-date=2021-06-30|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref>

===Australian history since colonisation===
[[Image:Australia nsw brooklyn obelisk.jpg|thumb|upright|The Hawkesbury River was renamed by [[Arthur Phillip|Governor Phillip]] in 1789]]
In 1789 two expeditions explored the Hawkesbury to the northwest of Sydney and the Nepean River to the southwest. It took about three years to realise they had discovered the same river system.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Hawkesbury River was one of the pivotal positions of the [[Hawkesbury and Nepean Wars]], a series of skirmishes and battles between the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] and the resisting Indigenous clans that took place between late 1780s and late 1810s.<ref>{{Cite book | last= Connor | first= John | title= The Australian frontier wars, 1788–1838 | publisher= UNSW Press | location= Sydney | year= 2002 | isbn= 0-86840-756-9 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=JWE5r39Ed1oC }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ryan|first=Lyndall|date=June 2013|title=Untangling Aboriginal resistance and the settler punitive expedition: the Hawkesbury River frontier in New South Wales, 1794–1810|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14623528.2013.789206|journal=Journal of Genocide Research|language=en|volume=15|issue=2|pages=219–232|doi=10.1080/14623528.2013.789206|s2cid=108777720|issn=1462-3528|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The Hawkesbury River was one of the major transportation routes for transporting food from the surrounding area to Sydney during the 1800s. Boats would wait in the protection of Broken Bay and Pittwater, until favourable weather allowed them to make the ocean journey to [[Sydney Heads]]. With the opening of the railway from Sydney to Windsor in 1864, farm produce could be shipped upriver for onward transportation by train. However, by the 1880s the river had become silted up between Sackville and Windsor, and Sackville became the head of navigation for sea-going vessels. Until the end of the 19th century coastal steamers linked Sackville to Sydney.<ref name=bfop>{{Cite book |title=Martin Burke: The Father of Pittwater |first=James J |last=Macken |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name=rtasf>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=heritage.show&id=4305034 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825021513/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=heritage.show&id=4305034 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 August 2006 |title=Sackville Ferry |publisher=New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority |access-date=18 November 2008 }}</ref><ref name=purtell>{{Cite book| first = Jean | last = Purtell |title=The Mosquito Fleet: Hawkesbury River Trade and Traders 1794-1994 |year=1995 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=11 November 1893|title=Sackville.|volume=6|page=8|newspaper=[[Windsor and Richmond Gazette]]|issue=279|location=New South Wales, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72544217|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=30 June 2021}}</ref>

The Hawkesbury River was given its present name by [[Arthur Phillip|Governor Phillip]] in June 1789, after [[Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool]], who at that time was titled Baron Hawkesbury, after the [[Cotswolds]] village of [[Hawkesbury Upton]] in England, where the Jenkinsons still live.<ref name="gndb"/> An obelisk was unveiled in 1939 at [[Brooklyn, New South Wales|Brooklyn]] to commemorate the naming. In 1794, 22 families were granted land at Bardenarang, now known as Pitt Town Bottoms, near Windsor. In that same year, confrontations between Aboriginal people and settlers broke out.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nma.gov.au/advancedSearchResultsItemDetail.jsp?irn=263 |publisher=National Museum of Australia |title=Hawkesbury River |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003850/http://www.nma.gov.au/advancedSearchResultsItemDetail.jsp?irn=263 |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nma.gov.au/advancedSearchResultsItemDetail.jsp?irn=188 |publisher=National Museum of Australia |title=Conflict at the Hawkesbury |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003100/http://www.nma.gov.au/advancedSearchResultsItemDetail.jsp?irn=188 |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}</ref>

==Controversy==
===Raising of Warragamba Dam===
In May 2017, the New South Wales state government released the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Risk Management Strategy,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/expert-advice/hawkesbury-nepean-flood-risk-management-strategy/ |publisher=Infrastructure New South Wales |title=Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Risk Management Strategy}}</ref> that proposed raising the height of [[Warragamba Dam]] by an additional 17 metres, using the Climate Change Mitigation Fund. It was claimed that this would reduce the risk of flooding to homes downstream along the Hawkesbury-Nepean river, that is the most at-risk region of Australia to devastating flooding, exacerbated by [[Global warming|Global Warming]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cmar.csiro.au/e-print/open/2007/prestonbl_b.pdf |publisher=CSIRO |title=Climate change in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment}}</ref> A large public opposition campaign culminating in the GIVE A DAM movement began to protect the ecological, historical and Indigenous heritage of the additional area prone to flooding due to the raising of the dam wall. A significant portion of the land to be inundated is located within the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area designated by [[UNESCO]], which stated that this status could be revoked if parts of the world heritage area were to be submerged.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Heritage Committee |date=2019 |title=Decision 43 COM 7B.2 Greater Blue Mountains Area (Australia) (N 917) |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/7430/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=UNESCO}}</ref> Activists also claim that the raising of the dam wall will give rise to additional developments downstream, which are currently not allowed to build on floodplains with a risk of a one-in-hundred-year flood. They also claim that any raising of the dam wall will be ineffective at flood mitigation, as the [[Warragamba River]] only contributes around 15% of water volume to the Hawkesbury-Nepean system. This issue has again been raised after the [[March 2021 Australian floods]], with government ministers disagreeing on what needs to be done.<ref name = abc>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-22/nsw-weather-ministers-warragamba-dam-stoush-amid-flooding/100020672 NSW government ministers in stoush over Warragamba Dam management amid flooding] by Antonette Collins from ABC News. 21 March 2021</ref><ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/bitter-dispute-between-nsw-ministers-over-warragamba-dam-spilling-20210321-p57cnn.html Bitter dispute between NSW ministers over Warragamba Dam spilling] by Alexandra Smith from The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 March 2021.</ref>

===Windsor Bridge Replacement===
Plans to replace the [[Windsor Bridge (New South Wales)|Windsor Bridge]], and direct traffic through the historic Thompson Square caused significant community opposition culminating in the Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB) movement. Despite this opposition, work on the replacement bridge was completed in May 2020.<ref name=opened>[https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/windsor-bridge-replacement/index.html New Windsor Bridge] Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime</ref>

===Third Crossing===
Plans for a third crossing at Navua Reserve in [[Yarramundi, New South Wales|Yarramundi]], and at [[North Richmond, New South Wales|North Richmond]], 50 metres from the current Richmond Bridge Site are causing public opposition. Activists do not believe that these bridges will alleviate traffic, citing that a North Richmond and [[Richmond, New South Wales|Richmond]] by-pass is required.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Richmond Bridge Survey Results |url=https://www.susantempleman.com.au/news/speeches/north-richmond-bridge-survey-results/#:~:text=Traffic%20around%20North%20Richmond%20Bridge%20is%20nearly,so%20far%20received%20seeking%20input%20into%20the |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=www.susantempleman.com.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=NSW Government |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/documents/rww/projects/01documents/richmond-area-projects/richmond-bridge-options-appendix-1.pdf |title=Richmond Bridge and approaches congestion study. Community issues report |date=2012 |publisher=Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport |isbn=978-1-922041-17-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2021 |title=New Bridge And Bypass For Richmond and North Richmond |url=https://www.hawkesburyphoenix.com.au/new-bridge-and-bypass-for-richmond-and-north-richmond/ |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=www.hawkesburyphoenix.com.au |language=en}}</ref>

==River usage==
[[Image:2007 0817klklk0037.JPG|thumb|upright|Hawkesbury River Marina]]
[[Image:A seaplane on the Hawkesbury River.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[seaplane]] on the Hawkesbury River]]

===Navigation===
The Hawkesbury River is navigable from Windsor to the sea. There are no [[dam]]s or [[Lock (water transport)|lock]]s on the river, and the effects of the tide are felt as far west as Windsor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hawkesbury River - Windsor Tide Times |url=http://www.tide-times.com.au/forecast_NSW/Sydney_Northern_Beaches/Other/Hawkesbury_River_-_Windsor.html |publisher=www.tide-times.com.au |access-date=19 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731063309/http://www.tide-times.com.au/forecast_NSW/Sydney_Northern_Beaches/Other/Hawkesbury_River_-_Windsor.html |archive-date=31 July 2008 }}</ref>

Whilst use of the river to carry farm produce and other goods has now largely been superseded by road transport, the river remains the only form of access to a significant number of isolated homes and communities. This is especially true in the lower reaches of the river, where the steep and rugged terrain inhibits road construction. One consequence of this is the operation of [[Hawkesbury River Ferries|Australia's last riverboat postman]], a river service that delivers [[mail]] to properties on the river between Brooklyn and Spencer.<ref name=hrflrp>{{Cite web |url= http://www.hawkesburyriverferries.com.au |title=Australia's last Riverboat Postman |publisher=Hawkesbury River Tourist Services Pty Ltd |access-date=19 December 2008}}</ref>

===Sporting activities===
The [[Hawkesbury Canoe Classic]], a 111 km [[canoe]] race, is held annually in October or November. The race starts at [[Windsor, New South Wales|Windsor]] and finishes at [[Brooklyn, New South Wales|Brooklyn]]. The [[Bridge to Bridge]] is a [[water skiing|water ski]] race that is run in the opposite direction, from [[Dangar Island]] to [[Windsor Bridge, New South Wales|Windsor]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = Hawkesbury Canoe Classic | url = http://www.canoeclassic.asn.au/ | publisher = Hawkesbury Canoe Classic | access-date = 2008-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = Bridge to Bridge Ski Race | url = http://www.waterskinsw.com.au/bb_history.html | publisher = NSW Water Ski Federation | access-date = 2008-12-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719125411/http://waterskinsw.com.au/bb_history.html | archive-date = 2008-07-19 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Windsor and also Dargle ski park on the Hawkesbury river each year hold a Circuit Boat race meeting with boats travelling from all over country

===Commercial fishing===
According to the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, the Hawkesbury River estuary supports the second-largest commercial coastal fishery of estuary prawns, oysters (prior to the outbreak of [[QX disease]]) and fish in New South Wales, with a wholesale value of $6.3 million annually.<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/topics/2068.html | title = Hawkesbury River Subcatchment | publisher = Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority | access-date = 2007-01-05}}</ref>

==Cultural references==
[[Image:William Charles Piguenit00.jpg|thumb|upright|''Hawkesbury River'' by William Piguenit (1881)]]
* Australian novelist [[Kate Grenville]]'s award-winning historical fiction novel ''[[The Secret River]]'' is set on the Hawkesbury.
* The 2004 film ''[[Oyster Farmer]]'' is set mostly on the Hawkesbury.
* Artists [[William Piguenit]] and [[Arthur Streeton]] painted the Hawkesbury River in the late 19th century.
* Australian television shows like ''[[A Country Practice]]'' and ''[[Home and Away]]'' have used the Hawkesbury in exterior shots.
* Australian musician [[John Williamson (singer)|John Williamson]] sings about Hawkesbury River in his 1982 song “''Hawkesbury River Lovin”''

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Environment|Water}}}}
* [[Rivers of New South Wales]]
* [[List of rivers of Australia]]
* [[Geography of Sydney]]
* [[Mangrove Creek (New South Wales)]]
* [[Popran Valley]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Hawkesbury River}}
* Satellite photo [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Hawkesbury+River&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&z=11&ll=-33.53052,151.241913&spn=0.390938,0.63858 Hawkesbury River on Google Maps]
* [http://www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/ The Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914064733/http://www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/ |date=14 September 2009 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140226014845/http://www.hawkesburyhistory.net.au/index.html Hawkesbury Historical Society website]
* [http://www.hawkesbury-river.com A 50's Classic Riverside Hawkesbury Boathouse]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060830094900/http://hawkesburyweb.com.au/media/factfiles.asp?ID=6 Hawkesbury web]
* {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/natural_feature/hawkesbury_river | title = Hawkesbury River | access-date = 6 October 2015 | author = Niall Clugston | date = 2008 | work=[[Dictionary of Sydney]]| publisher = Dictionary of Sydney Trust}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Creative Commons license|CC-By-SA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>

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{{Rivers of the Sydney Basin |state=autocollapse}}
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{{Waterways of Sydney |state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of New South Wales |state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Hawkesbury River| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Hornsby Shire]]
[[Category:City of Hawkesbury]]
[[Category:Rivers of Sydney]]

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Hawkesbury River