SUBLIME POINT, LEURA NSW AUSTRALIA

Rear view of the Three Sisters

While the Sublime Point Lookout doesn’t attract the crowds of many other Blue Mountains lookouts, it still has much to offer.

Sublime Point seems to have first come to public notice (at least, under the present name) around 1890-95. Mr WH Copeland, a Katoomba businessman, found a way into the Jamison Valley from the Point (Copeland Pass). This way into the valley is used today by rock climbers, who have developed many routes on the imposing cliffs in the area.

The path and picnic facilities probably date from the 1950’s and resemble those at Cahill’s Lookout, which dates from the same period.   One unexpected feature is the tap at the end of the path, several hundred metres from the parking  

Distant view of the Katoomba skyline

area, which also has one. The provision of a shelter shed and picnic tables near the lookout is very welcome, though it is quite a way to carry your picnic gear from the car.

You will need to follow your road maps carefully to find the way out to Sublime Point. Basically, the route is the same as for Fairmont Resort and the Leura Golf Course, where Sublime Point Road actually commences.

The area has seen many cases of lost bushwalkers and a number of fatal climbing accidents. It came to prominence in September 2013 when the body of a missing guest from Fairmont was discovered wedged in a tree part way down the cliff on the western side of Sublime Point.

An article in the Sydney Morning Herald about the discovery of the body may be found here.

Gary Tweddle disappeared from Fairmont in the early hours of July 16^th 2013. There is a memorial plaque to Gary along a track which branches off to the right about half way between the car park and the picnic area. This track leads around the cliff top to Golf Links Lookout, if you succeed in following it through the scrub and across people’s backyards.

My video on Sublime Point will be found here. 

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From a 1905 Katoomba guide book.

Distant view of Mt Gibraltar, Bowral

LILLIANS BRIDGE WENTWORTH FALLS, 

BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

Taken before 1927

It’s a matter of opinion whether we locate this celebrated bridge in Leura or Wentworth Falls, it is in fact on the boundary between the two. Its presence across the gorge known as Lillian’s Glen makes it possible to walk conveniently from Fairmont Resort in Leura down to the Glen and then follow the tracks up or down the Valley of the Waters, returning the same way or by bus (if you can work out the times and routes). A simpler way would be to leave cars at both ends of the walk, if you are going with a group.

Who was the Lillian (or should it be Lilian ?) after whom the bridge and glen were named? The obituary of Elizabeth Lilla Murray (Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 20^th September 1916, page 5) tells us that she was the wife of Captain Murray, who was for many years Chairman of the Wentworth Falls Reserve Trust. According to this obituary, “Lilian’s Glen and Lilian’s Bridge, above the Valley of the Waters, are associated with Mrs Murray’s name”.

I believe the bridge was built around 1895. “The Bridge, which consists of an iron framework with wooden fittings, is only 21 feet wide, and yet it spans a gorge over 200 feet deep, and miles in length.” So says an article in the 1905 Katoomba and Leura Guidebook. No doubt repairs were made to the structure many times over the years, but by the early 21^st century it was in a state of disrepair.

Photo taken in 2007

The 2007 photograph shows it as being closed to all traffic. (I’m sorry, I don’t know the source of this photo so please forgive me whoever took it.)

The approach from the Leura side 2013

The top photo was taken before 1927 (from the Mountaineer tourist guidebook of that year) and could be at least 20 years older than that. It gives a good impression of the structure of the bridge. 

Point of entry to the gorge below the bridge

The bridge has now been restored by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and should last for many years to come. If you are bold, follow the Nature Track until you reach the creek in Lillian’s Glen and then go downstream until you are underneath Lillian’s Bridge.

The approach from the Wentworth Falls side 2013

My video of the walk from Fairmont Resort may be found here . 

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FAIRMONT RESORT TO INSPIRATION POINT, LEURA BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

FAIRMONT RESORT TO INSPIRATION POINT, LEURA BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

The walk to Inspiration Point is a comparatively easy one. Being in a quiet corner of Leura, you will probably not meet up with other walkers. The track is in good condition but the two lookouts at the track’s end are in their natural state – no guard rails, wire netting, handrails or whatever.

The name “Inspiration Point” is a common one in scenic areas around the world. In fact there is another one on the road to Jenolan Caves. There is nothing commonplace about Leura’s Inspiration Point, however. The older references, both newspapers and guide books give no indication about how or by whom the place was named.

From the Mountaineer Tourist Guide 1927

Attention was drawn to the area in the 1880’s when the Gladstone Colliery was opened in the valley below with great fanfare. Heaps of money was spent in developing the mine, putting in an aerial ropeway and constructing a coal loading area on the railway between Leura and Wentworth Falls. You can read about it in newspapers of the day, the Sydney Morning Herald of 13^th July 1885 being typical. ( See Trove here for a list of references.) . Despite all the hype, the whole operation soon folded and about all you will see today is some rusty metal, odd bits of coal and the miner’s path down Gladstone Pass into the valley.

Our track to Inspiration Point does not go near Gladstone Pass, however you will see the track to Roberts Pass near Moya Point lookout. This track descends steeply into the valley below, with the left track at the bottom connecting to the Vera Falls track in the Valley of the Waters and the right track becoming Lindeman Pass which leads below the cliffs ultimately joining the Federal Pass near Leura Falls.                                                                

These tracks should not be taken by inexperienced or   

Conglomerate at Moya Point

The National Pass track from Moya Point

under-equipped hikers. Many have become lost and some have died in the attempt.

Stay safe and remain on top. The Moya Point lookout reveals a frontal view of both drops of Wentworth Falls, from a considerable distance of course. Gladstone Lookout provides a great view of the cliffs towards Sublime Point. When you stand there and look below, think of the coal miners who had to descend those gullies daily, probably carrying their tools, to work in the confines of a low, damp and dangerous mine. I don’t think there would be many takers for such a job today.

 My video of the walk may be found 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

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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

Wentworth Falls from Moya Point