The following text and photographs have been kindly supplied by Mrs Joan Edwards for use by the Blue Mountains Family History Society Inc.

Early Exploration

The Blue Mountains, then known as Camarthan Hills, blocked the westward expansion of the early settlement. Various attempts to cross the mountains were thwarted when intrepid explorers were faced with almost vertical sandstone cliffs. William Patterson reported the need to carry their goods up 5 waterfalls within 10 miles.

The problem lay in their traditional approach. Elsewhere in the world, mountains had been explored by following the rivers but our Blue Mountains are not like other 1b mountains. It is a plateau which rose very slowly, allowing the creeks and rivers to cut down and maintain their courses. Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson crossed the Nepean River at Emu Ford then followed the ridges, rather than the valleys. They heard Aborigines and saw their fires. The Dharug tribe inhabited these lands.

Their journey was not easy due to thick vegetation, rocks and yes, they too, came across cliffs. Saturday, May 22nd, 1813. ” .. progress was stopped either Westward or south West by an impassable Cliff of Rocks which appeared to divide the interior from the Coast as with a Stone Wall rising immediately perpendicular, out of the side of the Mountains. ….” Gregory Blaxland’s diary

However they were unable to descend, from the cliff tops, so changed their route. They reached what we now call Mt York, descended and proceeded to Mt Blaxland. Hunger, exhaustion and illness forced their return.

The route was surveyed by William Evans in 1813-14, and the road constructed by William Cox with convict labour the following year. The route of the present highway and railway vary little from the original survey. The first road was contructed across the Mountains by William Cox and convict labour in 1814. Lachlan Macquarie was the first Governor to cross the Mountains to Bathurst.

Early Settlements in the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains became the transport route to the more fertile hinterland. As well as stockades, services were needed for travellers, so rough inns were established. Two of these were The Valley Inn (Valley Heights) 1832 and The Weatherboard (Wentworth Falls) 1833. The latter had the famous Charles Darwin as a guest.

Many more services were needed to cater for those heading for the goldfields in the 1850s. Some on foot, others with barrows or carts wended their way across the rough track to the west. Many Chinese made the trek, slower than most, as they sold their wares along the way.

The railway terminus was at Weatherboard (Wentworth Falls) in 1867 but 10 months later the line had been extended to Mt. Victoria. The elegant stone station was constructed in 1872.

The more affluent members of Sydney society obtained homes where Hordern, Arnott, Sweetacre and other business families were able to escape Sydney’s hot and humid summers.

Other home owners included Sir Alfred Stephen, NSW Chief Justice 1845-73, then Lieutenant Governor in 1875 and Sir James Martin, three times Premier of NSW and Chief Justice in 1873, were neighbours on the south side between Faulconbridge and Linden. In 1877 Henry Parkes moved into the first of four homes he built and named Faulconbridge after his Mother, Martha Faulconbridge. The name has remained. Five times Premier Henry is buried nearby

Henry Parkes’ grave.

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Yester Grange

Other identities include the famous geologist Sir Edgeworth David at Woodford, Premier John See who bought Yester Grange at Wentworth Falls, His Excellency Sir Frederick Darley at Lilianfels, Katoomba and the Fairfax family of the Sydney Morning Herald at Mt Victoria in 1876. The Fairfax residence became the well known Coopers Grand Hotel.

Robert Matcham Pitt, of Pitt, Son & Badgery Stock & Station Agents, built Coorah at Wentworth Falls in 1889 and commuted to Sydney by train daily.

‘Coorah’, build by Robert Matcham Pitt in 1889

Two of the best known buildings on the Mountains are the Hydro Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath. Originally known as Belgravia it was built in 1891 and sold to Mark Foy in the early 1900s. Another is the 1880 built Carrington Hotel at Katoomba. Both have undergone extensive restoration and are still operating.

Storekeepers, packsaddlers, poultry farmers, Chinese market gardeners, shale miners and labourers provided the goods and services to residents and travellers.

To the north, the high altitude and rich volcanic soils, became the ideal site for the wealthy to build homes and develop beautiful gardens. The area is still renowned for spectacular cold climate gardens.

One of the gardens at Mt Wilson

Development in the 1900s

Increasingly ‘The Mountains’ was recognised as a desirable place to live and the population increased. A Pioneer Register of the Blue Mountains was compiled with a cut off date of 1920 and a second edition has been compiled up to 1930, reflecting the transition from affluent holiday residences of the wealthy few and those servicing travellers to a more settled general population.

Copies of the 1930 Pioneer Register are still available for sale from the Society.

The Morris family at Blackheath. Photo:Sydney Morris 1922

Three generations of a Blackheath family at the back of the residence in 1922. Note the enclosed verandah and the water tank. None of the services such as electricity, water or sewerage were available.

The Blue Mountains became a desirable holiday destination for Sydney people easily accessible by train. ‘The Bush’ was ideal for camping and shooting of wildlife, none of which was protected then. Some set up semi-permanent camping sites.

Kanimbla Valley camp site accessed on foot from Blackheath. Photo:Sydney Morris 1909

The clear air, spectacular scenery, waterfalls, newly made tracks and steps were attractive and new guesthouses provided comfortable accommodation, food and entertainment. Katoomba was THE place to holiday.

During World War 2 many of the guesthouses suffered staff shortages, some became R & R sites for servicemen and others were temporary boarding schools for children evacuated from Sydney. Unfortunately the war’s end did not bring revitalisation. As elsewhere shortages of labour and materials did not allow adequate maintenance or renovation and many declined. At the same time private ownership of cars became more affordable and the nature of tourism changed from the week long stay in guest houses to day trippers.

The post WW2 era saw the rapid expansion of residential areas, fanning out from railway stations, along the ridge tops. Gradually services expanded, additional shopping facilities including specialist shops, new cafes, restaurants and take away food centres catered for the visitors and locals alike. More importantly additional schools, TAFE college, sporting clubs, service clubs, support services groups, dramatic & musical societies, etc etc helped the Blue Mountains to develop into the vibrant community it is.

And do not forget the Blue Mountains Family History Society 😉

We are an environmentally aware society with our 26 townships within the Blue Mountains City Council area fringed to the north and south by the 247 000 ha of the Blue Mountains National Park which, with its adjacent National Parks, make up the 1000 sq. km. of the World Heritage area.