John's Blue Mountains Blog

VICTORIA PASS BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW

The Victoria Pass (Pass of Victoria) is one of the places on the NSW highway network where traffic can be delayed by sections of 2 lane highway and steep grades.

A good starting point in understanding the pass is the monument raised to commemorate its construction. The turnoff to Mitchell's Ridge is on the left (descending) immediately before the traffic control unit.

The reserve was probably used to house convicts during

the construction of the Pass. Much later it became a camping area run by the NRMA. Today it is a popular rock climbing location. Watch this video on the reserve: https://youtu.be/1vMFnQkSUNQ .

The basic layout of the pass is the same as when it was constructed nearly 200 years ago. The major obstacle which had to be overcome was the deep gully about half way down. This was filled by convict labour and is in good order today. This "bottleneck" is what prevents the highway being expanded to four lanes.

Alternative descents into the Hartley Valley.

The first Europeans to cross the sandstone plateau (the Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson party in 1813) reached the western end of Mt York, west of the present day town of Mt Victoria. This turned out to be a bad place to descend and over the next 20 years efforts were made to improve it. Major Mitchell located a better route in 1830 which lead to the construction of the Pass of Victoria (1830-38).

Watch this video about Mt York: https://youtu.be/l0galH5HAXo

With the introduction of motor vehicles in the 20th century it was soon discovered that most could not cope with the grade. The local council (Blaxland Shire) constructed an alternative road known as Berghofer's Pass after the Shire President who lived close to the foot of Victoria Pass. You can walk this route and look up at the massive roadworks at Mitchell's Bridge.

Watch this video about Berghofer's Pass: https://youtu.be/wkunvkvzZtQ

The Convict Workers

Not much has been said about the convicts who did the physical work to construct Victoria Pass. Here is a comment written about 50 years later. (Blue Mountains Guide 3rd Edition 1892-93)