Richmond

Pugh's Lagoon

As home isolation restrictions have now been lifted, Ken and I decided to drive down to Pugh's Lagoon yesterday to enjoy a walk in the Autumn sunshine around this beautiful Reserve, which is also a sanctuary for the local waterbirds.  It was also an ideal opportunity to try out my new camera.  I have bought the latest Sony digital compact cyber-shot 30x up to 60x optical zoom with wi fi connect to my smartphone.  It replaces my old Sony camera, with similar features, which I wore out after 5 years of constant use.  It simply wasn't worth trying to get it fixed as I figured technology would have superseded my old camera. 

Smith Park, opposite the Lagoon.  It seems a rather plain name for such a beautiful place.  However, I guess it was named after somebody historically important to the area.  Pugh's Lagoon is named after Edward Pugh, a convict transported to NSW in 1787 and later granted 100 acres west of Richmond, including this Lagoon.

Three Geese stepping out and getting ready to cross the road in the car park.  There are lots of Geese and Ducks wandering around, also Purple Swamphens and Eurasian Coots. 

It was not a good day to try out my new camera as the sun was very bright and I couldn't see the image on my digital screen. 

More Ducks waddling along on the banks of the Lagoon.  There are grassy banks and mature trees creating a peaceful recreational space.  There are also many picnic sheds and a concrete path around the lower section of the Park.

I love the reflection of the trees in the beautiful blue water of the Lagoon.  Pugh's Lagoon is considered an ecological wetland and is home to many plant and bird species. There are normally many black swans on the water, but we did not see any yesterday.

These trees, in full Autumn splendour, made a lovely reflection in the water.

Many of the mature trees in the Park are not native species, but more suited to English parklands and were probably planted at a time when the early settlers wanted to create a landscape more familiar to them.

Up on a hill overlooking the Lagoon I spied this interesting looking house.  I love the twin chimneys and the high pitched roof, reminiscent of a house in the English countryside.

Pugh's Lagoon is part of the Hawkesbury Artists trail and has been depicted in art by many artists in the Hawkesbury region.  The Lagoon has been painted by Charles Conder, impressionist artist, during his time in Richmond.  The oil on cardboard painting "A Shady Hollow by a Dusty Road" depicts the area in 1887.

We enjoyed our visit to the Lagoon as it is one of our favourite places.  We drove back along Springwood Road and up the bends to Hawkesbury Road, pausing to look at the view from Hawkesbury Heights Lookout.  There were lots of visitors to the Lookout, everybody eager to get out for a while.