Ben's Point

Also known as Old Ben’s Point, Ben’s Point is a geographical feature located in Macquarie Park on Windsor Reach across the Hawkesbury River from the junction of Rickabys Creek and is about 700m upstream from the Windsor Bridge at Windsor, New South Wales.

Excerpt from Parish of Wilberforce County of Cook map 1893.

According to the Windsor and Richmond Gazette of 19 November 1892, the point was named for Old Ben the Fisherman (Benjamin Burgoyne) who lived there tending his orchard which was regularly raided by local youths.

The land amounting to 19 acres described as Portion 71 Parish of Wilberforce County of Cook was granted to John Cunningham after being advertised for sale on the 16 July 1832 with a Quit rent of one peppercorn. The grant was registered on the 6 December 1832. The land passed to several members of the Cunningham family before being sold to James Rochester in September 1864 and then to Alfred Robinson in February 1879. Burgoyne’s name does not appear in the chain of title for the block. His name does not appear in the title for the adjacent portion 69 nor portion 70 so perhaps Ben was renting the land from Cunningham?

From the 1870s, Windsor Reach was the scene of rowing races with the “three mile” course commencing at the mouth of South Creek, heading for a buoy moored off Ben’s Point and the finishing line back down the river at South Creek.

The point has always been a popular swimming spot however many drownings occurred and it was suggested that bathing in this area be banned in 1889 partly due to the fatalities and in addition, due to the proximity to the source of the water supply for Windsor. Swimmers were undeterred and water sports are still popular in this area today.

During the 1890s fishing was also a popular recreational persuit in the area with reportedly large hauls being reeled in from the point.

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