It’s a privilege to be able to visit this
interesting spot in the Blue Mountains. For years access was not permitted
because the place lies within the catchment area of Greave’s Creek Dam, which
supplies water to towns within the Sydney Water region. In fact it is a short
distance below another dam on the same creek. This explains the strict
conditions imposed on those visiting the spot.
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| "Path to Wall's Cave" Kerry & Co. Powerhouse Museum |
Quite apart from the beauty of the location, there
is the added interest of the indigenous history of the Cave (actually a large
sandstone overhang rather than a cave). You can read about this in “Blackheath Today From Yesterday”
published by the Rotary Club of Blackheath, pages 143-144. If you can’t get
hold of a copy of this fine book, go to this site
where you will find photographs by JC Merriman. Read especially the comments on
geology and archaeology.
It would appear that the spot was discovered by a
Mr Wall who actually owned the land at the time; this happened around 1892. As
things turned out, access was easier from Medlow Bath in those days than from
Blackheath, but today no other route is permitted than that specified by Sydney
Water, which is to go to the end of Wall’s Cave Road Blackheath (off Evan’s
Lookout Road) and then stay on the track down to the creek, returning the same way. The image on the right is from the Evening News (Sydney) 21 December 1901 (courtesy of Trove). I can remember visiting the place several times
between 1950 and 1970, but whether we were there legally or not I don’t know.
My uncle owned property nearby in the 50’s so we would have started from there.
I’m sure you will enjoy a visit to this special
place. Allow an hour or so and obey all signage.
View my Blue
Mountains videos on my YouTube site here . This includes a video on the Wall’s Cave and the Underground River, found here . I have three other playlists - on gem hunting/geology, Glen Innes and New Zealand.
https://johnsbluemountainsblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/links-to-all-blog-entries-and-relevant.html
All Blue Mountains blogs and videos
All New England and other Geology blogs and videos
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