Up to 700 convicts worked on the Great North Road at any one time. Some of the blocks of stone that they moved weighed up to 660 kg. Daily food rations for each convict were 450gms fresh or salt meat, 650gms of flour or corn meal, 30gms of sugar and 15gms salt.

 There are 11 car ferries still in operation in New South Wales . 5 of these are located on the Hawkesbury River.

 The leg irons worn by the convicts who had committed another offence since they arrived in the colony of NSW, weighed up to 6kg and required the services of a blacksmith to add or remove.

 Wisemans Ferry Inn was the home of Solomon Wiseman the first ferry operator and person after whom the village of Wisemans Ferry was named. It was known as Cobham Hall.

 The Hills region figured early in Sydney 's history with the Battle of Vinegar Hill, named after a battle fought in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Most of the convicts who were involved in the Irish battle had been transported to Australia . In 1804 two hundred of these convicts broke out of Castle Hill Government Farm, their plan was to travel to Windsor, gain arms and ammunition, set other convicts free and then attack Sydney and sail to freedom. Authorities learned of the escape and dispatched troops under the command of Major George Johnston. The military met the convicts at Rouse Hill and defeated them. Subsequently ten of the rebel leaders were hanged, many others received up to 150 lashes. A plaque commemorating the site of the battle is located in the Castlebrook Cemetery near Schofields Road and adjacent to the site of the battle.

 The graves of first fleeters are located in this region. First fleeter William Douglas is buried in the old St Albans cemetery on Settlers Road while others lie in Wiseman's Ferry Cemetery alongside pioneers like Solomon Wiseman. At St.Matthews church in Windsor William Cox, the man who forged the first road over the Blue Mountains , is buried as well as many famous pioneers including the Rouse family.

 There are around 100 houseboats operating on the Hawkesbury River system, ranging from economical 2 berths right up to luxurious 12 berths.

 An estuary is that portion of a river located at its mouth, where it is subject to tidal influences.

 The Castle Hill rebellion resulted in the first martial law being proclaimed in Australia

 The Hills is known as the Bonsai capital of Australia . The art of bonsai was brought to Australia by the Koreshoff family who still operate their Bonsai Nursery at Castle Hill.

 The Hills is the undisputed garden capital of Sydney with 62 retail nurseries providing everything for your garden.