Riversdale excited to celebrate two anniversaries in 2020

The National Trust (NSW) will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. The first committee of the National Trust was formed in 1945 to protect, educate the community and celebrate our heritage. From its earliest days the National Trust in NSW worked to conserve historic natural and built sites and to protect historically significant places. One of the first tasks undertaken was to compile a list of Sydney's historic natural and built sites and one of the first advocacy campaigns led by the National Trust (NSW) was to oppose the proposed redevelopment of Macquarie Street. It was successful. The National Trust (NSW) has evolved to care for over 20 properties. Today the National Trust is a leading guardian of Australia's built, cultural and national heritage. Riversdale will be celebrating 75 years of the National Trust (NSW) later in the year.

In the middle of October 1820 Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his party travelled from Liverpool to inspect the "New Country some time since discovered to the south west of the Cow Pastures" and "the great lake discovered by Joseph Wild" (Lake George). Travelling west of the current motorway, and partly following the rivers systems, on October 22 Macquarie and his party reached the left bank of the Wollondilly River and crossed to the right in the vicinity of Riversdale. They then travelled along the river to the junction of the Wollondilly and Mulwaree rivers. From the junction they travelled south easterly and camped that night near the present site of the Lansdowne Bridge. On October 30 the party travelled back, retracing the same route, from their camp at Lake Bathurst. They passed though Goulburn Plains and crossed to the left bank of the Wollondilly River and camped that night near the river before making their way back, via the Cookbundoon Ranges, to Sydney. Riversdale will be part of the Goulburn 2020 celebrations, later in the year, with our "Goulburn 1820" exhibition depicting the topography, history and early settlement of Goulburn Plains. The exhibition will run September 11 to December 20, 2020.

The Wollondilly Walking Track has now reached Riversdale and can be accessed from Twynam Drive near the Riversdale entrance. Earthmoving equipment and cement trucks have been busy on the western side of the property and the work has not taken long. Our neighbours, two elderly horses, have taken all this activity in their stride and luckily their stables were not in the way of the new track but they have had to move paddocks. Their new paddock is on the Riversdale property. We were happy to give the horses a new home it would not be the same without them!

Our popular Devonshire Tea is scheduled to be held on Sunday January 19, pending weather and safety in the region. Come and enjoy a delicious jam and cream scone treat and while at Riversdale visit the house and shop or perhaps wander the garden.