1938 MAP (PART 35): HAZELBROOK - SWIMMING POOL - CATARACT FALLS - FEDERAL FALLS - JUNCTION FALLS - ADELINA FALLS - LAWSON

1938 MAP (PART 35): HAZELBROOK -  SWIMMING POOL - CATARACT FALLS - FEDERAL FALLS - JUNCTION FALLS - ADELINA FALLS -  LAWSON

This walk takes in a lot of lookouts and waterfalls as it makes its way from Hazelbrook to Lawson. A road follows the route today, so a current map is essential.

The Baths (near the beginning of the walk) were at one time a well developed site - basically a wreck today (if you can find them).

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/194479621# Here is an extract from the article.

"In answer to the request of the Hazelbrook Urban Committee for a report regarding the possible enlargement of the Hazelbrook Pool, the Shire Engineer reported in a very comprehensive manner."

South Lawson Waterfall Walk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtIeti5FNgE

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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. 

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Christmas bush is plentiful along this track

THE CHARLES DARWIN WALK, WENTWORTH FALLS NSW AUSTRALIA

THE CHARLES DARWIN WALK, WENTWORTH FALLS NSW AUSTRALIA

The Wilson Park entrance

The track alongside Jamison Creek at Wentworth Falls leads from Wilson Park (alongside the Great Western Highway) to the brink of Wentworth Falls. It is approximately the route followed by Charles Darwin on his visit to Australia in 1836 and by thousands of others before and since.

It is a pleasant enough walk, some of it close to houses but most of it through bushland. Weeds are an obvious problem, most of which appear to be garden escapees. It improves in its naturalness as you approach the falls. Following this track reveals lots of things of interest, some good and some bad. Firstly, after years of neglect, in which the quality of the bushland markedly deteriorated, heaps of money has been spent improving the track, building boardwalks where appropriate, and providing good quality information.

 It’s a pity that it took so long and it remains to be seen if these things can be maintained in good condition. 

 Secondly, it is an illustration of bad planning. Looking back over the years since European settlement began, following the construction of the first road in 1815, one can only wonder at what those responsible had in mind by allowing huge areas of bushland to be sold off without regard to the effect on the preservation of the scenery and the natural features of the country which brought people there in the first place.                                                                          

 This isn’t peculiar to Wentworth Falls, of course – there are numerous subdivisions in inappropriate places all over the Blue Mountains and the local council has to do its best to balance development and conservation, which will never be an easy thing to do.

You can begin the walk at either end; if starting at the Wentworth Falls picnic area the starting point is the track down to the top of the falls and if entering at the Wilson Park end, the track commences next to the tennis courts.

Sign at the waterfall end

 Darwin walked from the Weatherboard Inn, which was located near the creek a few hundred metres upstream from the highway. He stayed here on both his outward trip to Wallerawang and Bathurst and on his return. He visited the falls each time, as well as Govett’s Leap, so Blue Mountains scenery obviously impressed him, though he had difficulty in coming to terms with how the valleys had formed. You can download your own copy of the “Voyage of the Beagle” by following this link to Trove and then making your selection. The account of his Australian visit makes interesting reading.

Wilson Park Finds

Extract from "Voyage of the Beagle"

Darwin had a copy of Lyell’s “Principles of Geology” with him on the ship so he was quite familiar with what erosion can do. Even so, he found it hard to believe that small streams like Jamison Creek could carve such huge valleys.

You might find the adjacent article from the Sydney Morning Herald, 11^th

October 1930, of some interest. I wonder what became of these things? The second article (Sydney Morning Herald. March 30th 1908) is about the old Wentworth Falls swimming pool, which is passed during the walk. There is a bridge across the creek at this spot. (Article is at the end of this blog).

The Wild Walks description and map of this walk may be found here. My video is here. Another interesting video on the walk may be found here 

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LEURA CASCADES PICNIC AREAS BLUE MOUNTAINS NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA

LEURA CASCADES PICNIC AREAS BLUE MOUNTAINS NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA

This has been a favourite place for picnics since the Katoomba Baths were opened here in 1913. Before then, many people came down the tracks from both Katoomba and Leura stations to visit the Leura Cascades and Leura Falls, especially after the opening of the Federal Pass track earlier in the century. The completion of the baths, with associated change rooms, toilets and picnic areas brought many more visitors. The area remains popular today, with easy access from the Cliff Drive and regular stops by the coaches which visit the principal tourist spots.

2022 note: The area was closed for several years after heavy rain and landslides.It is now open for pedestrians and cyclists. Park at the Solitary Restaurant.

Just when the baths finally closed I have not been able to discover. The present Katoomba Aquatic Centre dates from 1972, but for at least 20 years before that the pool at nearby Catalina Park was drawing people away from this cold mountain swimming pool. The basic structure of the baths is still visible, having been filled in while the concrete walls were retained, which adds considerably to the interest of the place. 

The Baths around 1920

Mountaineer Tourist Guide 1927

 There isn’t a great deal of parking and the lower area tends to fill up early in the day as people head off on the various bush walks which radiate from here. The upper area isn’t far away, but it’s all up hill from the main facilities which is a bit off-putting if you’ve parked there and carried all your picnic gear down the hill.

The Prince Henry Cliff Walk, The Leura Cascades, The Bridal Veil Falls, the Amphitheatre walk and the Federal Pass are all easily accessed from here.

My video on the Leura Cascades Picnic Area is here . 

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Limestone Caves of NSW

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Song Studies. Bible studies based on hymns and songs

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

Shoalhaven District Geology.