Pughs Lagoon

Pughs Lagoon is a small freshwater lake located at the north-westerly end of Francis Street, Richmond New South Wales. It covers an area of about 3.68 hectares and is about 900 metres in length and was gazetted on the 26 March 1886 as a Crown Reserve. It is one of a system numerous small bodies of water scattered across the floodplain of the Hawkesbury River below the town of Richmond.

View of Pughs Lagoon, Richmond looking north. Cathy McHardy April 2021

The lagoon was named after Edward Pugh, a free settler who arrived in New South Wales with his wife Ann Howells aboard the Perseus on the 4 August 1802. On his arrival he was granted 100 acres bordering on the lagoon on the 15 September that year. By 1806 he had constructed a house and had amassed 200 acres of land on which he had planted wheat, maize and barley and kept sheep, oxen, pigs and goats. Their household at the time of the muster included his wife and two children as well as three convict servants and one free employee.

Excerpt from the Parish of Ham Common map 1958 showing the location of the 100 acre grant to Edward Pugh in 1802

Pugh was robbed and murdered on the night of the 9 January 1815 by Philip McGee, Henry Laycock and Patrick Dawson who were convicted and executed for their crime. The fourth member of the group, Andrew Callaghan was spared the death penalty under the provisions of King’s Evidence as he testified against his three accomplices. Pugh was buried in St Peter’s Church of England Cemetery and lies in an unmarked grave.

Today, the lagoon and wetland is a significant breeding ground for many bird species including ducks, swamp hens and swans. Together with Smith Park which was named after J W Smith Mayor of Richmond 1938-1948, the location is a popular picnic spot for locals and visitors alike and provides facilities such as picnic shelters, gas barbecues and public toilets. It is also a regular location for artists who enjoy ‘plein air’ painting and sketching.

The lagoon and reserve is managed by Hawkesbury City Council. The Plan of Management was adopted in 2014.

Location of Pughs Lagoon

Topographic Map: KURRAJONG

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