Jacaranda Cruise with the Sydney Heritage Fleet

Twenty-three members of the NSW Rose Society enjoyed a charming harbour cruise along the Parramatta River to admire the stunning jacarandas blooming along this prominent historical waterway. We boarded a small heritage vessel, The Harman, a Royal Australian Navy motor launch built in 1944.

Volunteers from the not-for-profit Sydney Heritage Fleet delivered a fascinating talk about the heritage vessels they lovingly restore and maintain. Patricia Hale and Jan Larsen shared their knowledge as we enjoyed our 1.5-hour cruise along the river. Although the water became choppy near the river mouth, it soon settled as we travelled deeper into this remarkable waterway.

During the cruise, the volunteers explained the significant Aboriginal waterway boundaries that mark the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Dharawal peoples. This was especially meaningful, as many of us had never been exposed to such rich First Nations history.

The Gadigal people’s traditional lands cover the area around modern-day Sydney, south of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), stretching from South Head to Petersham. To the south, the Dharawal people’s lands border the Gadigal just below Botany Bay and extend further south toward Wollongong and the Shoalhaven River. We were also given historical accounts of how riverfront and waterfront areas were colonised by the First Fleet in 1788. The volunteers highlighted the original Aboriginal place names of key sites along the river and the names those places are known by today.

The stunning purple blooms of Jacaranda trees along the Parramatta River were a sight to behold. These trees were introduced to Sydney in the 1850s as part of the early beautification projects and private plantings. Though native to Brazil, they have become a beloved feature of Sydney’s spring landscape. We also spotted many Australian natives—vibrant orange-bloomed Silky Oaks and bright red flowers of the Illawarra Flame Trees—putting on their own amazing colourful display; forming, as volunteer Patricia described it, “a charming trifecta” of purple, orange and reds along picturesque Parramatta River.

Our cruise was made even more delightful thanks to our wonderful NSW Rose Society Secretary, Stefica Bikesh, who kindly prepared tea and coffee for everyone and treated us to delicious cream biscuits.