“Water skiing delight” That’s what they call Lower Portland. Lower Portland is a rural suburb near Sydney. It is in New South Wales, Australia. We’re about 80 kilometers northwest of Sydney’s central business district. Lower Portland is at the junction of the Colo and Hawkesbury rivers. It is a peaceful hamlet with historical significance.
The original inhabitants of Lower Portland were the Dharug people. They were the custodians of most of Greater Sydney. The Dharug were divided into clans. Sadly, little information remains on how they used this local area.
In 1799, Governor Hunter settled convicts here. They cleared timber and built a stock yard. The area below the junction of the Colo River with the Hawkesbury was named Portland Place. It was named after a street in London.
Lower Portland got its name from William Henry Cavendish Bentinck. He was the 3rd Duke of Portland. He was also Prime Minister of Great Britain. That was in 1783 and again from 1807 to 1809. The name “Lower Portland” was first used in 1805. It might be because a rock looked like the Duke of Portland. Lower Portland was settled downstream from Portland Head.
The Lower Portland Ferry is one of only four vehicular ferries on the Hawkesbury River. The River Road is a popular scenic drive. The Lower Portland Ferry operates 24 hours a day. It runs 7 days a week. However, it closes the first Wednesday of each month from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Lower Portland offers a unique escape. It is a place to discover history. Its nature is majestic. It is both captivating and romantic. It is a water skier’s delight.