Wilberforce, New South Wales

Wilberforce is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It is just beyond the outer suburbs of north-west Sydney and lies on the western bank of the Hawkesbury River.

History
Wilberforce is one of the original settlements established as a township by Lachlan Macquarie, colonial governor of New South Wales 1810-21, and accordingly is locally known as a Macquarie Town, a title given to townships established by Governor Macquarie in and around the Sydney metropolitan area. It was named in 1810 after William Wilberforce (1759–1833) who was a British politician, philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.

The historic St John's Anglican Church was built by J. Atkinson of Windsor. Construction was started in 1856 and the building was not completed until 1859 at a cost of £1500. The grounds of the church and contains the Old School House building (Built 1819), which was used as a school, a church, and a residence of the school master until the church was completed. The school house was replaced in 1880 by a Public School. The original church building is still used for the church's 8am service with the modern education centre used for the 9:30am, 5pm and 6:30pm services.

Notable Residents
Wilberforce is the birthplace of famous Australian bushranger Captain Thunderbolt.