Section 1 Northbound
Carnes Hill to Ashfield
Directions
| Marker | Diretions | Distance from previous point |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Veer left onto Hume Highway at Cross Roads. Proceed along Hume Highway through Liverpool | 18 km |
| 72 | End of Hume Highway at Ashfield | 30 km |
Approximate distance: 35km
Along the way
Liverpool
Collingwood House, built in 1810. It is the oldest house still standing in Liverpool.
The Darug people and their neighbouring tribes the Tharawal and the Gandangara called this land their home. The first Macquarie Town was named by Governor Macquarie on 7 November 1810 when he proclaimed ‘Having surveyed the ground and found it in every respect eligible and fit for the purpose, I determined to erect a township on it, and named it Liverpool, in honour of the Earl of that title'.
The Old Hume Highway once followed Macquarie St, the main street of Liverpool. In 1968 the highway route shifted to the new Liverpool Bypass, and part of Macquarie Street was sold to Westfield for a large retail shopping complex.
The historic Pioneers' Memorial Park, a former cemetery on the western side of the intersection of Macquarie Street and the Hume Highway, contains the graves of many notable early settlers including Charles Throsby, James Badgery, Rev. Robert Cartwright, Capt. William Campbell, Murdoch Campbell (shot by a convict), Capt. Eber Bunker (who built historic Collingwood House) and members of the Hordern family. Originally known as St Luke's Cemetery, it operated as a burial ground from 1821 to 1958.
Governor Macquarie Statue, Macquarie St
Point of interest - A
Remembrance Driveway plantings at Bass Hill
The Great War of 1914-1918 fostered an enormous community need to establish permanent memorials to those who served their country, and today most Australian towns have a war memorial to commemorate their efforts and sacrifice. After World War Two however, planting trees was seen as a symbol of hope for the future, and Mrs Margaret Davis MBE, the Founding President of the Garden Clubs of Australia, suggested planting a living memorial to those Australians who had served in World War Two.
A preliminary committee was formed in April 1952 to investigate planting avenues of trees and establishing groves and memorial parks along the Hume and Federal Highways between Sydney and Canberra to honour those who had served. This committee became the Remembrance Driveway Committee, which continues its work to this day.
The wide Remembrance Driveway plantings along the Hume Highway through Bass Hill and beside Prospect Creek are among the most prominent plantings in the Sydney area and give this length of the Hume Highway a very distinctive appearance.
Further south on the corner of the Hume Highway and Elizabeth Street is Apex Park, site of the first Liverpool Cemetery dating from circa 1811. It closed in 1821.
St. Luke's Anglican Church, one of the oldest churches in Australia, is on the corner of Elizabeth Street and the Macquarie Street Mall. On the corner is the carved monument of the Winged Bull of St. Luke, carved in Appin stone by May Barrie.
Point of interest - B
The ‘Meccano set'
This landmark structure was opened in 1962. It was intended to provide advance direction signage for the large volumes of traffic using this busy intersection, plus a gantry from which to attach the traffic signals. Its resemblance to a child's toy made from Meccano pieces gave it its popular name, which survives in common usage to this day.
The church was designed by Francis Greenway and the foundation stone was laid by Governor Macquarie in 1819. It held its first service on 18 October 1819.
The very modern Macquarie Street Mall beside the church is a place of recreation for young and old and is a multicultural area, with people from 157 different nationalities living in the vicinity.
At the eastern end of Elizabeth Street is Liverpool District Hospital, and the heritage listed Old Liverpool Hospital (now Liverpool TAFE), also a Greenway building from circa1825 and described as one of the finest colonial buildings remaining in Australia. For many years it served as an Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute.
Bigge Park, opposite, was originally the town square. It was named after John Thomas Bigge, an opponent of Governor Macquarie's administration. The barracks were opposite, and in 1812 Lieutenant William Lawson was in charge.
The Old Liverpool Courthouse, on the western corner of Moore Street and Bigge St, was built in the 1850s. Next door is Liverpool Primary School, built in 1863.
Lansdowne Bridge
Point of interest - C
Lansdowne Bridge
Lansdowne Bridge is considered to be one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in Australia as well as David Lennox's masterpiece of design and the most intact example of all his bridges.
After earlier bridges over Prospect Creek had been destroyed by flood, Lennox designed a single-span 33.5-metre stone arch bridge which was erected by convict labour. The foundation stone was laid by the Governor on 1 January 1834. The bridge was built with stone which was quarried 11 kms downstream on the banks of Georges River and conveyed to the site by punt. The bridge opened on 26 January 1836.
The sandstone arch has the largest span of any surviving masonry bridge in Australia. Its size, appearance and durability make this bridge an outstanding example of colonial engineering and this fine heritage-listed structure remains in use today carrying traffic northward to Sydney.
Plaque on historic Lansdowne Bridge
Point of interest - D
Berryman Park Reserve, Warwick Farm
This reserve is named after distinguished Army officer Sir Frank Horton Berryman (1894-1981). After serving with distinction in both World Wars, he directed his considerable planning and organisational skills to a wide range of community activities. Among these was his involvement with the Remembrance Driveway Committee, which he served as founding President from its inception in 1952 to 1981.
The objective of the Committee is to plant avenues of trees and groves to commemorate all those who served in the Australian Defence Forces in World War Two and subsequent wars, or who have served since then in defence of the nation's interests in operational theatres around the world. During the mid-1990s the Committee decided to develop the Victoria Cross Rest Areas and Memorial Parks. These honour the 25 Australian World War Two and Vietnam War Victoria Cross recipients.
Historic St Luke's Church, Liverpool, built 1819
Point of interest - E
Pioneers' Memorial Park, Liverpool
The historic Pioneers' Memorial Park contains the graves of many notable early settlers. Originally known as St Luke's Cemetery, it operated as a burial ground from 1821 to 1958.
Junction of Hume Highway (left) and Terminus Street (right) in Liverpool, October 1961