Residents and visitors are being invited to step back in time this autumn, with a series of guided tours opening the doors to some of the Hawkesbury’s most historic and rarely accessible sites.
Hawkesbury City Council’s Arts and Culture team is marking the 2026 Australian Heritage Festival with a program of immersive experiences, running from April 18 to May 18.
Now in its 45th year, the Australian Heritage Festival is the country’s largest celebrations of history and culture, with this year’s theme, Change, encouraging communities to reflect on how the past continues to shape the present.
Rare access to historic sites
As part of the program, Hawkesbury Regional Museum will host weekly guided tours of:
- Howe House at Thompson Square
- The Old Hawkesbury Hospital site and mortuary
Held each Wednesday throughout the festival, the tours offer behind-the-scenes access to 19th century buildings that are rarely open to the public.
Participants will hear stories of early settlement, community life and the evolution of the region, with both morning and afternoon sessions available.
Bookings are essential, with enquiries through the museum on 02 4560 4655 or via hawkesburymuseum.eventbrite.com.
Stories from the past come to life
The Hawkesbury Library Service will also host its popular cemetery tours, with guided walks scheduled for:
- Sackville (Thursday, May 7)
- Wilberforce (Saturday, May 16)
These tours delve into the lives and stories of early Hawkesbury residents, uncovering tales that range from the tragic to the extraordinary.
Among those featured are:
- First Fleet convict Matthew Everingham, who drowned in 1817
- Captain Manning, a river boat operator
- Sarah Cobcroft, a prominent midwife and matriarch of the Cobcroft family
Bookings can be made through the library on 02 4560 4460 or via hawkesburylibrary.eventbrite.com.
Connecting community with heritage
The events form part of the national Australian Heritage Festival, coordinated by the National Trust of Australia, which aim to bring communities together through shared stories and cultural experiences.
For the Hawkesbury, a region rich in colonial and Indigenous history, the program provides an opportunity to reconnect with places that have shaped the community over generations.
A chance to rediscover local history
With limited access to some of these sites throughout the year, organisers say the festival offers a unique opportunity for locals to rediscover the stories in their own backyard.
As interest in heritage tourism continues to grow, initiatives like this are helping to showcase the Hawkesbury’s historical significance while strengthening community connection to place.
For more information on the full program, visit australianheritagefestival.org.au.
