DOWNLOADING THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AND JENOLAN CAVES MOTOR GUIDE (1934)
This is a little book of 66 pages charged with the “spirit
of the age” – the Great Depression was slowly lifting, private car ownership
was growing apace and the tourist areas close to Sydney were all chasing the pounds,
shillings and pence.
Katoomba was in the forefront of the chase. It was an era of
house parties in the many guest houses (with more and more people arriving in
motor cars) and the opening of some of the Blue Mountain’s greatest
attractions, including the Scenic Railway, The Prince Henry Cliff Walk, floodlighting
at Leura and Katoomba, the Giant Stairway and the Projecting Platform at Echo
Point.
The NRMA (National Roads and Motorists Association) is still
the most influential motoring organisation in Australia. It operated a camping
ground at Katoomba Falls (still there today, but controlled by the Blue Mountains
City Council). It produced a series of strip maps of highway routes for its
members, some of which are contained in this booklet). These were still
around when I was a boy and I learned a lot from them. I wonder how many
children study maps today like I did then!
There are also maps produced by the firm of HEC Robinson Ltd
which are full of interesting details. Another pleasure of mine when I was at
University was to visit their shop in lower George St Sydney, not far from Circular
Quay.
You will find my video which illustrates what’s to be found
in the book here.
You can download it from Trove here. Select the download link at the bottom of this page.
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
Limestone Caves of NSW
Song Studies. Bible studies based on hymns and songs
Shoalhaven District Geology
