Everything about Picton New South Wales totally explained
Picton is a small town (2,924 in 2,001) in
New South Wales,
Australia, in the
Wollondilly region in foothills of the
Southern Highlands, 80 kilometres south west of Sydney. It is also the main town and administrative centre of
Wollondilly Shire.
History
Picton was first explored by Europeans in 1798 and remained beyond the limits of legal settlement until 1821. Following the discovery of good land in the interior and the settlement of
Bong Bong (
Southern Highlands) and the
Goulburn areas,
Governor Macquarie authorised the building of the new
Great South Road between Sydney and the Southern Highlands in 1819. who established a property in 1822.
Picton developed when a new line of the Great South Road was cut over the Razorback Range from Camden, and especially after the railway arrived in 1863. Picton is the only town in the Southern Hemisphere where you can pass through it twice when travelling by train. It was established as
Stonequarry in 1841 and was renamed Picton in 1845. It remained a stopping point on the Great South Road, later renamed the
Hume Highway, until it was bypassed in the 1970s.
Bushfires destroyed several homes in the Nangarin Estate located on the Eastern outskirts of Picton, from a fire front originating from Lakesland in September 2006.
Attractions
Picton is home to many historic buildings, including two types of bridges not found easily anymore elsewhere in the state -
Victoria Bridge a timber trestle bridge that crosses Stonequarry Creek, opened in 1897, and the 'Picton Railway Viaduct' a stone
viaduct opened in 1863 to also cross Stonequarry Creek. The viaduct is still in use by the railways.
Ghost tours are conducted in Picton. Many local residents and visitors claim they've experienced paranormal activity in some of the historic buildings and inside the disused railway tunnel on Redbank Range. The abandoned tunnel was used to store mustard gas spray tanks during
World War II .
The largest skydiving dropzone called Sydney Skydivers is located just outside of Picton. Many of the skydivers venture into Picton's restaurant and pubs boosting the local economy.
Transport
Picton railway station is on the
Southern Highlands line with a relatively infrequent service with trains running every 1.5 - 2 hours.
Pop Culture
In October 2007, radio station
Nova 96.9's
Merrick and Rosso programme played a parody song called "The Picton song" which depicted Picton teenagers as promiscuous and engaging in underage sex in an attempt to get pregnant and claim the Australian Government's baby bonus scheme. This caused community outrage and many residents rang the station and complained.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Picton New South Wales'.
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