A celebratory event first held on August 20, 1874, will be re-created this Sunday to mark the 140th anniversary of Windsor Bridge.
For the opening, there was a parade from Macquarie Street to Dight Street then along George Street and across the bridge and back with more than 600 people involved, including all district clergy, followed by town and district businesses, the Fire Brigade, members of the Legislature, Minister for Lands, Commissioner of the Railways, mayor McQuade, and aldermen, lodges and 570 school children.
All groups in the parade carried banners and flags. Houses in the vicinity of the celebrations were decorated with flags and flower arches, as well as on the bridge.
Now it’s up to the locals of 2014 to re-create that historic moment.
The Community Action for Windsor Bridge group will host a parade across the bridge this Sunday, August 24, from 1pm, in a partial re-enactment of the original.
It will start at Thompson Square.
‘‘The parade will include local businesses, dance students, vintage cars, bikes and tractors,’’ group chairman Dail Miller said.
‘‘There will also be a troop of Lighthorsemen and NSW Marines led by a piper and marching bands, all accompanied by members of the public in period costume with flags and bunting
‘‘There will even be a long boat on the river with mast and sail from the Replica Bounty to witness the occasion.’’
A ceremonial ribbon will be cut by the ‘‘mayor of the time Mr McQuade’’.
And like the original, luminaries will then adjourn to Thompson Square to indulge in ‘‘the roasting of a fine bullock’’.
‘‘The event will not only celebrate the significance of the role that the current bridge has played in the development of the Hawkesbury, but will also demonstrate the great affection in which the bridge is held by the local community,’’ group member and long-time local resident, Harry Terry said.