The colony flourishes during Governor Macquarie’s leadership

The colony flourishes during Governor Macquarie’s leadership (1810-1822). He arrives in 1810 and creates new positions including Andrew Thompson as the Hawkesbury’s Justice of the Peace and Magistrate. He provides government-funded boats to freight grain from the Hawkesbury to Sydney markets and he tours the Hawkesbury district. He encourages exploration. Macquarie crosses the Hawkesbury River near Windsor by ferry and writes: “Mrs M. and myself were quite delighted with the beauty of this part of the Country; its great fertility and its Picturesque appearance” (Nichols 12-13). His party explore the Hawkesbury River as far as Portland Head and are impressed with the farms and orchards.