RICHMOND RAMBLE - Jul 2026
On a fairly grey Monday morning in July, 21 Westleigh Probians met at the Spears café in the main shopping complex of Richmond for the obligatory morning coffee before embarking upon our historic walk visiting some of the historic sites of Richmond.
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Former Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Ltd (CBC)
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The Richmond Branch was completed in 1880 and included banking chamber, stables, and a residence on the first floor. In 1981 the CBC Ltd merged with the National Commercial Banking Corporation of Australia Ltd (now NAB) and in subsequent years the branch was closed.
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St Andrews Uniting Church Group
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Originally constructed as a Free Presbyterian Church in 1854, St Andrews was built on land donated by George Bowman. He also funded most of the building costs, including the tower erected in 1877 and the clock installed after his death in 1878. Restoration work was undertaken in 1987, took five years to complete, and by 1992 St Andrews was reopened for worship. The adjacent Sunday School Hall was built in 1860.
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Guided ably (as always) by Don, some of our stops included the following:
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The former Court House and Police Station
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Designed by James Barnet in 1877, it replaced The Watch-house built by William Cox in 1827. The rear of the site was set aside for the first stock pound in the Town. The Court house is still in use however the Police Station is now located in Windsor.
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So much history, so interesting. Not to be missed!
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St. Peter’s Anglican Church and Cemetery
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Designed by architect Francis Clarke in the Colonial Georgian style, the church was consecrated in 1841. The bricks were made locally by hand, varying in size and shape.
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Opposite the church lies the cemetery which was in use by 1811. Notable citizens have been interred here including members of the Cox, Bowman, Pitt, Onus, Town, Sly and Boughton families.
After viewing the town, we strolled down to Pughs Lagoon – what an beautiful and peaceful spot!
Back up the hill and into town where the outing concluded with lunch at the historic Royal Hotel followed by a train trip back home.
