CARRINGTON PARK TO THE LEURA CASCADES, KATOOMBA NSW AUSTRALIA

CARRINGTON PARK TO THE LEURA CASCADES, KATOOMBA NSW AUSTRALIA

The first stage of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk was opened at Echo Point in October 1934 by the Hon ES Spooner, Minister for Local Government in the NSW parliament. This covered the section from Katoomba Falls to Echo Point.

It took some time for the second stage to be completed. It was necessary for the Katoomba Council to acquire land in various places without which the track would have been rather too close to houses. It still is in the last sections approaching Gordon Falls. It was here, at Elysian Rock lookout, that Hon EA Buttenshaw, Minister for Lands, officially opened the section from Echo Point to Gordon Falls. Buttenshaw Bridge at this spot is named after

Direction indicator at Kiah Lookout

him.

Between Carrington Park and Leura Cascades there are 7 named lookouts, each with its own special features. All but one of these is relatively close to the walk. The exception is Copeland’s Lookout, which is approached by a 5-10 minute walk out to a point of land far enough away from the comparatively busy Cliff Walk to make it a very peaceful spot. The lookout is surrounded by a rock wall, similar to some at Wentworth Falls.

William Copeland opened one of the first stores in Katoomba and went on to serve on the local council and in many other civic capacities. He died in 1928. Just when the lookout was named after him is uncertain, but like many of the view points along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, it was probably before 1900.

Possibly Copeland's Lookout

Along the track to Copeland’s Lookout are numerous graffiti dating back 100  years or more. I certainly don’t advocate defacing the environment in this way, but it is true that they can be very interesting and occasionally historically important. Two in particular stand out and neither is all that conspicuous, though when they were fresh they probably were.

The first is a painted inscription on a flat section of rock largely protected from the weather. It says, with simple assurance, “GOD LOVES ME”. The second is more complex. Keith Painter refers to it in his excellent booklet on the Prince Henry Cliff  Walk on page 33.

 (You can purchase a copy of this and Keith’s other books from Mountain Mist Books here.) 

The inscription reads: “TRIX CHEERS 20.9.14 C.E.ABBOTT”. Keith then comments “I wonder if Trix and C.E. survived the war?”

We can now say beyond a doubt that they did! We know from the Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 18^th December 1915, page 12, that Clarence Edwin Abbott married Beatrice Cheers at St John’s Church Darlinghurst. Furthermore, the Herald announced their Silver Wedding anniversary on Wednesday 13^th, 1940, page 10. Clarence died in 1956 aged 69 and Trix in 1972.

My video of this walk is here while that of the Carrington Park to Echo Point walk is here. 

https://johnsbluemountainsblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/links-to-all-blog-entries-and-relevant.html All Blue Mountains blogs and videos

https://johnsnewenglandminerals.blogspot.com/2013/12/list-of-all-blog-entries-to-date.html

All New England and other Geology blogs and videos

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

Limestone Caves of NSW

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1147003616874115974/2430103125095714141

Song Studies. Bible studies based on hymns and songs

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1515863000684737715

Shoalhaven District Geology

Christmas bush is plentiful along this track