NSWPort & river
Wisemans Ferry
A former convict’s punt carried the Great North Road across the Hawkesbury.
1817Solomon Wiseman granted land on the Hawkesbury
WHAT STARTED IT
Solomon Wiseman, a pardoned convict, settled on this reach of the Hawkesbury River, kept a licensed house on the road north and from 1827 held the lease of the ferry. His punt linked the two sections of the convict-built Great North Road to the Hunter River settlements.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Wiseman supplied rations on contract to the convict road gangs camped nearby, and became known as the “King of the Hawkesbury”. A church, post office and school followed, though the great flood of 1867 swept away the Methodist chapel.
TURNING POINTS
1817Ruined by two shipwrecks, Solomon Wiseman is granted 100 acres on the Hawkesbury River.
1826Wiseman is licensed for his house on the road to Newcastle.
1827Wiseman leases the ferry, carrying government horses and property free, as convict gangs camp nearby to build the road’s descent to the river.
1857Wisemans Ferry Post Office opens.
1867The June flood wrecks buildings from Pitt Town to Wisemans Ferry and sweeps away the Wesleyan chapel near the Macdonald River.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A small riverside village where a vehicle ferry still crosses the river, with a large riverflat park and holiday accommodation. Visitors come for waterskiing, fishing, bushwalking and the old convict road.