“Can you hear it?” That’s the echo of history resonating through McQuade Park. It is a place where the past whispers to the present. McQuade Park stands as a testament to Windsor’s rich heritage. This park was set aside by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1810. It was originally known as the Great Square.
James Meehan surveyed the park in 1811. G. B. White significantly expanded it in 1827. For a time it was also called Church Green and Windsor Park. Today McQuade Park is a cherished space. Hawkesbury City Council owns it.
Imagine McQuade Park in its early days. It was a vast open area. It was likely used for grazing and military parades. Cricket matches took place between the military and farmers. This was the genesis of the sporting venue we know today.
The park’s layout evolved over time. By 1827, it had more than doubled in size. It transformed into an irregular pentagon. This shape largely remains today. The road to Richmond became Hawkesbury Valley Way. This follows William Cox’s original line.
In the 1840s, cricket became a regular feature. Even Aboriginal men played for the town. In the 1860s, the government moved to create public reserves. In 1868, Church Green became a Public Reserve.
John McQuade was the mayor in 1872. The council voted to name the reserve after him. But the Department of Lands refused. The name remained McQuade Park. The council fenced the reserve for the first time that year. They added a few seats for the public.
In 1873, the council rescinded the motion. They renamed the area Windsor Park. But the Department of Lands still refused. In 1874, John McQuade was again mayor. He restored the name McQuade Park. A signpost was vandalised. In 1878, the council voted to restore the name Windsor Park. The Department of Lands did not intervene.
The name should technically be Windsor Park. But McQuade Park has de facto acceptance. The park evolved as a public amenity. It has a variety of sporting facilities and tree plantings. A lake adds to its charm.
In 1891, the present cricket pitch was created. In 1937, a grandstand was constructed. A second cricket wicket was laid in concrete in 1945. Cycling became popular in the late Victorian period. Bicycle races were common.
The local tennis club formed in 1923. The Windsor Bowling Club formed in 1931. The Country Women’s Association opened its hall in 1938. The park was also associated with the military. A Boer War Memorial was erected in 1903. A World War I Memorial followed in 1923.
In 1970, the swampy pond became an ornamental lake. In 1994, a bronze statue of Governor Macquarie was commissioned. It stands opposite St Matthew’s Church. The park occupies an irregular pentagon today.
Team sport dominates the northern sector. There are two ovals. The principal playing field has a grandstand. A memorial area features the statue of Governor Macquarie. The south-west sector is used for passive recreation. The lake is a focal point.
McQuade Park is more than just a park. It’s a living chronicle of Windsor’s story. From its origins as the Great Square to its present-day form, it remains a vibrant and essential part of the community. So next time you stroll through McQuade Park, remember you’re walking through history. You are experiencing a place shaped by governors, surveyors, and generations of Hawkesbury residents.