The Hawkesbury is sitting on a potential tourism gold mine, but are we allowing our colonial heritage to crumble before we realise its true value?
The Hawkesbury is one of Australia’s most historically significant regions, with a colonial history stretching back to the earliest years of European settlement.
From the historic streets of Windsor to the old inns, public buildings, water infrastructure and rural homesteads scattered throughout the district, our region tells a story of Australia’s development.
Yet, despite this rich history, some of our most recognisable heritage sites appear to be suffering from a phenomenon often described as “demolition by dereliction”.
It is a simple concept: allow a building to deteriorate through neglect, inadequate maintenance and the passage of time until restoration becomes increasingly expensive, difficult or, ultimately, impossible.
And the question must be asked: Is this what is happening to parts of the Hawkesbury’s heritage?
The Fitzroy Hotel: A Windsor Landmark Waiting for a Future
Take a walk through Windsor Mall and one historic building that attracts attention for all the wrong reasons is the Fitzroy Hotel.
Once part of Windsor’s thriving hospitality and commercial history, the building now presents a very different picture.
Recently, during an interview on The Common Point, I spoke with Darren P, the local businessman behind Guy Stuff, Delicious Desserts and the Windsor Lolly Shop.
Our conversation explored Windsor’s commercial future, tourism opportunities and the need to make better use of the town’s historic character.
The Fitzroy Hotel was one of the buildings discussed.
Scott Hinks has also raised concerns in conversations about the building’s condition and future.
The Fitzroy represents more than an ageing structure. It is part of Windsor’s identity, and its deterioration raises questions about what role such buildings could play in revitalising the town centre.
Imagine a restored historic hotel operating as a family-friendly hospitality venue, attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and adding another reason to spend an afternoon or weekend in Windsor.
Of course, the Fitzroy is privately owned, and the responsibility for maintenance and restoration cannot simply be placed on Hawkesbury Council.
But private ownership should not mean the community has no interest in protecting a historically significant building.
There are heritage planning controls, conservation mechanisms and opportunities for collaboration that deserve to be explored before deterioration becomes irreversible.
The Windsor Waterworks: History Still Serving a Purpose
Just a short distance away, another historic site has become the centre of a very different struggle.
At 11 Fitzgerald Street, Windsor, Hawkesbury Radio is fighting to preserve its home at the historic Sydney Water site.
The old Windsor waterworks are a reminder of the infrastructure that helped support the growing township.
These structures are not simply remnants of outdated technology. They are physical evidence of how the Hawkesbury developed and how essential services were delivered to its residents.
Today, the site has another important community function, providing accommodation for local community radio.
But Hawkesbury Radio members have raised longstanding concerns about the maintenance and condition of the property.
According to members, requests for maintenance and improvements have repeatedly encountered difficulties, leaving the organisation concerned about the suitability and future of its facilities.
Sydney Water’s position on those specific requests should also be heard.
Now, with the station facing the prospect of leaving the property, the question is no longer simply where Hawkesbury Radio will broadcast from.
What happens to the historic Fitzgerald Street site if the community organisation that occupies it is forced to leave?
Will the property be maintained and preserved?
Will another community organisation be given the opportunity to use it?
Or will another piece of Windsor’s history be left vacant, deteriorating behind a locked gate?
These are questions that deserve answers before the station loses its home.
Allambie and the Wider Heritage Picture
The Fitzroy Hotel and Windsor Waterworks are not the only reminders of the district’s historic significance.
Properties such as Allambie also form part of the Hawkesbury’s broader heritage story, reflecting the area’s development through generations of settlement, agriculture and changing land use.
Each heritage place has its own history, ownership arrangements and conservation challenges.
They should not automatically be treated as having the same condition or facing the same risks.
However, taken together, they illustrate why heritage protection must extend beyond simply recognising a building’s historical significance.
A heritage listing may recognise the importance of a place, but it does not, by itself, repair a leaking roof, restore damaged timber or guarantee an ongoing use for the property.
Preservation requires maintenance, planning, funding and cooperation.
Where Is the Leadership on Heritage?
Hawkesbury Council has access to heritage expertise and advisory processes intended to help protect the district’s historic character.
But what happens when heritage advice conflicts with competing financial, commercial or operational priorities?
Is heritage preservation being treated as a consistent responsibility, or something that receives attention only when convenient?
These are legitimate questions for our elected representatives.
It is also important to acknowledge that councils do not have unlimited powers over privately owned buildings or properties controlled by state government agencies.
However, that does not mean local government is powerless.
Council can advocate, facilitate discussions, consider available heritage enforcement mechanisms, encourage adaptive reuse and work with property owners and other levels of government.
In the case of Hawkesbury Radio, there is an opportunity for Hawkesbury Council, Sydney Water and our local representatives to demonstrate that collaboration can achieve more than confrontation.
Rather than allowing the matter to become another dispute between a community organisation and a government agency, why not bring everyone to the table?
Hawkesbury Radio: More Than a Building
Hawkesbury Radio is not simply fighting for office space.
Community broadcasting provides a platform for local voices, volunteer organisations, community events, businesses and issues that might otherwise receive little attention.
The Fitzgerald Street site also has a history that deserves protection in its own right.
There is an opportunity here to develop a practical solution that preserves the historic property while supporting a community organisation that continues to contribute to the Hawkesbury.
That could involve a conservation and maintenance plan, a negotiated occupancy arrangement or a longer-term strategy for appropriate community use.
Whatever the outcome, the heritage future of the property should not be overlooked in discussions about the station’s tenancy.
The Hawkesbury’s Untapped Tourism Gold Mine
During my recent interview with Darren P, one point became increasingly clear.
The Hawkesbury has enormous potential as a tourism destination, but we are not necessarily making the most of what we already have.
Windsor is uniquely positioned as a gateway to the Hawkesbury’s historic villages, rural landscapes, waterways, local wineries, farm experiences and accommodation.
Combine these attractions with a properly promoted heritage tourism strategy and the economic opportunities become significant.
Imagine visitors arriving in Windsor to experience a restored historic town centre, then travelling through the surrounding district to explore local heritage sites, food producers, accommodation and natural attractions.
That means more customers for local cafes, shops, restaurants and tourism operators.
It also means more employment opportunities and a stronger local economy.
But visitors need reasons to come, and importantly, reasons to stay.
Our historic buildings should be an asset in that strategy, not an embarrassment hidden behind temporary fencing.
The Hawkesbury does not need to manufacture history to attract tourists. We already have it.
We simply need to recognise its value.
A Call for Cooperation, Not Another Political Fight
At The Common Point, we have consistently argued that the Hawkesbury achieves more when community organisations, businesses and elected representatives work together.
The current situation involving Hawkesbury Radio presents an opportunity to put that principle into practice.
We would like to see Hawkesbury Council, Sydney Water, local state and federal representatives, heritage advocates and Hawkesbury Radio representatives work towards a practical outcome for 11 Fitzgerald Street.
That should include a clear understanding of the site’s heritage significance, its current maintenance needs, the future intentions of Sydney Water and whether continued community use is possible.
The same cooperative thinking should be encouraged for other important heritage buildings, including the Fitzroy Hotel.
We cannot expect every historic property to be restored overnight, and we must acknowledge the financial realities facing both private owners and government agencies.
But doing nothing is not a heritage strategy.
And allowing buildings to deteriorate until restoration is no longer economically viable should never become the default outcome.
Once It’s Gone, It’s Gone
The Hawkesbury has survived floods, fires, economic changes and generations of development.
Our historic buildings have helped tell that story.
They are not merely old bricks, timber and mortar. They represent the people, industries and communities that shaped the region we call home.
If we are serious about protecting that history, our elected officials, government agencies and property owners need to demonstrate it through practical action.
The fight to preserve Hawkesbury Radio’s Fitzgerald Street home is an opportunity to show that the Hawkesbury can protect its past while planning for its future.
Because once these buildings are lost, no amount of tourism advertising or heritage signage will bring them back.
The question is not whether the Hawkesbury can afford to protect its heritage.
It is whether we can afford to keep losing it.
— Sparky Sean and The Common Point Team
The Common Point — Bringing community voices, local issues and practical solutions together.
