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
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| 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.
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| 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 18th 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 13th, 1940, page 10. Clarence died in 1956
aged 69 and Trix in 1972.
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
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| Christmas bush is plentiful along this track |
