Heritage Ventures
Afternoon River Cruise
SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER 2024
12.00pm - 5.00pm
$190
​
Experience the beauty of the Hawkesbury River aboard a classic timber ferry the MV Clarence Head. Enjoy history, ideas, and conversation while cruising the waterways where it all happened. Step ashore for a delightful grazing lunch at Dangar Island.
​
Morning and Afternoon river cruises can be purchased together.
Combined tickets at 10% discount
​
​
The Final Link
As we cruise towards and under the Hawkesbury River Bridge, local historian David Reynolds expands on the story of the Southern hemisphere's largest construction project, the building of the Hawkesbury River Bridge. Hear how this last link in a railway network that connected the state capitals Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane became the symbol for the move towards federation. David will talk about the fanfare at the opening party in 1889 on the world's biggest pontoon at Dangar Island and reveal hidden histories associated with the bridge building, its reconstruction, and abandoned pylons.
David Reynolds
David Reynolds, is the President of the Dangar Island Historical Society and a long term resident on the island. David has spent decades researching and delving into the archives to find historical documents relating to this unique Lower Hawkesbury island. His leads tours of Dangar Island and has worked across Sydney and the Lower Hawkesbury as a tour guide and on exhibitions mounted by the Dangar Island Historical Society including documenting and celebrating the construction of the Hawkesbury River Bridge.
Drafting the Constitution
During the Easter weekend of 1891 a group of influential men of the colony gathered on the steam yacht Lucinda and sailed into Broken Bay from Sydney to draft the Australian Constitution. Associate Professor Shireen Morris presents this important moment in Australia’s history from the unique perspective of a constitutional lawyer highlighting key themes of the era such as the role of the British Empire, the support for a white Australia and the implications for the recent referendum for constitutional recognition. Dr Morris will speak about her new book on the Voice referendum, particularly her reimagining of the constitutional discussions aboard the Lucinda had Indigenous representatives been involved.
Dr Shireen Morris
Dr Shireen Morris is Director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab and associate professor at Macquarie University Law School. She is an expert in constitutional law and spent seven years working at Cape York Institute as the senior adviser on Indigenous constitutional recognition. She regularly contributes opinion pieces to The Australian, The Guardian, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Courier Mail, and ABC Religion and Ethics, and often appears on TV and radio. Her previous books include A Rightful Place (2017), Radical Heart (2018), and Statements from the Soul (2023). Her latest book is Broken Heart: A True History of the Voice Referendum (2024).
On Board the Lucinda
With characteristic wit and engaging critique, Elizabeth Farrelly delves into the story of that Easter weekend aboard the luxurious Lucinda as it steamed about the lower reaches of the Hawkesbury River, visiting Brooklyn, anchoring at Refuge Bay and the Basin. The gathering, later dubbed a drafting ‘picnic’ was hosted by Sir Samuel Griffith, Premier of Queensland with a few invited powerful men who headed the drive to nationhood. Actor Chris Haywood takes us behind the scenes into the smoking room of the yacht's first-floor cabin, where whiskey was drunk, tobacco was smoked, and a mammoth 13 hour discussion took place.
.jpg)
Elizabeth Farrelly
Elizabeth Farrelly is a columnist, essayist, novelist, critic and speaker. Trained in architecture, science and philosophy, she is fascinated by how humans engage with nature to make culture. Over thirty years her Sydney Morning Herald column on urbanism, planning, planting, climate, politics and public art has seen city-making go from back-page news to headline material. With a PhD in Sydney urbanism, Farrelly has been Assistant Editor of the Architectural Review in London, a City of Sydney Councillor, Associate Professor (Practice) in the Australian Graduate School of Urbanism at the University of NSW and inaugural chair of the Australia Award for Urban Design. Founder & presenter of The Sydneyist @eastside89.7FM.
Chris Haywood
Chris Haywood is an Australian actor, writer and producer based in Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River. With over 500 screen performances and three AFI acting awards to his name Chris is associated with some of the biggest films and TV shows to come out of Australia since the 70s — including Newsfront, Breaker Morant and The Man from Snowy River – and more recently The Way, My Way. He is deeply associated with the river, its history and ecosystem through tours and as Deputy Captain of VRA Hawkesbury and coxswain of their rescue boat.
Grazing lunch on Dangar Island
Step ashore on Dangar Island for a light lunch specially prepared by river chefs. Join us on 'Mullet Island' so named by Governor Philip in 1788 for the large quantity of mullet caught there when he was exploring Broken Bay weeks after the arrival of the first fleet.
​
Tours
Heritage Ventures pays tribute to the First Peoples, their heritage and contribution to contemporary society and acknowledges the First Peoples as the original custodians of the land and waterways.
​
© 2021 by Heritage Ventures
ABN 72652861795
