1938 MAP (Part 8) FLORABELLA PASS WARRIMOO AND BLAXLAND

1938 MAP (Part 8) FLORABELLA PASS WARRIMOO AND BLAXLAND

Florabella Pass lies between Warrimoo and Blaxland in the lower Blue Mountains. The map shows its location clearly; however urban development since 1938 has been considerable so a modern street directory and walks guide is essential.

The name "Florabella" basically means "beautiful flowers".

The Pilgrim Inn at Blaxland was destroyed in a bush fire about 60 years ago

Some suggested references and videos:

Wild Walks information

Sydney Excursions

Secrets of Florabella Pass (Shaz BookOwl)

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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

1938 MAP (PART 3) BLUE POOL GLENBROOK CREEK

1938 MAP (PART 3) BLUE POOL GLENBROOK CREEK

This walk includes what is now the main vehicle access point into the Glenbrook section of the Blue Mountains National Park. You will definitely need a current street directory and modern walks guide book. A lot has changed since 1938.

Here is a link to a "Wildwalks" map and information site.  

Here is a link to a video by Yoshisaurus Rex of a visit to the Blue Pool.

Since Route 3 is near enough the same as Route 2, here is the information on it, to help your planning

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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

MARK’S TOMB: MEDLOW BATH, BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

MARK’S TOMB: MEDLOW BATH, 

BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

      The story of Mark’s Tomb is a fascinating one. So that there is no misunderstanding, this is not a real tomb, but would have been if Mark Foy had had his way.

Mark Foy (1865-1950) was a successful Sydney businessman. Along with his brother Francis, the department store was commenced in 1885 in Liverpool St, in what was then the heart of the Sydney retail district. Fashionable clothing one was one of the store’s specialties. The business (named for their father, Mark Foy Senior) thrived but eventually went the way of similar retailers in that part of the city, closing its doors in 1980. The building survives as the Downing Centre, a group of courthouses.

Apart from the business, the name of Mark Foy will forever be associated with two of his major interests – sailing and the Hydro-Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath. It is with the second of these that we are, of course, now concerned.

To understand the story of the famous Medlow Bath landmark, I suggest that you download a copy of a guide to the Hydro-Majestic Hotel, from around 1910. Go to Trove here, select “Books”, tick “Available Online” and type in the key words: Hydro Majestic Medlow Bath. Press Enter, and a short list will come up. Select the second of these, which you can now download as a PDF file. It will only take a few minutes at most. You will be amazed at the opulence of the place.

The Hydro was undoubtedly a pet project of Mark’s. The “hydro” in the name refers to the idea of 

water treatments in alleviating – even curing – a wide range of ailments. The “Bath” in Medlow Bath takes us back to the same idea in Europe, notably “taking the cure” in places like the hot springs in Bath, England, and the many spas across Europe. It is still widely practiced today, the hot springs of New Zealand are extensively used for the same purpose and Sue and I appreciate the hydrotherapy pool here in Lithgow where we live.

I can’t say that the idea was as successful as Mark Foy would have liked, but the hotel certainly grew in fame as one of the places to be seen at in the Blue Mountains, at the top of the list with the Carrington in Katoomba, in fact. Foy lived to see his dream hotel managed by others who probably didn’t share his vision for the place, and to see it taken over as a military hospital for American servicemen in World War 11. Since then it has had many ups and downs and at the moment (May 2014) there is major construction and refurbishment going on there. Hydrotherapy will again be available at the Hydro. One thing will never change, though, and that is the superb views of the cliffs and valleys from the rear hotel balconies and lawns. Visit this site here for information on the hotel today and into the future.

Foy was so taken with the area that he wanted to be buried there, selecting the eroded sandstone cave we know as “Mark’s Tomb” as his final resting place. I don’t know what his family thought about the idea, if they even knew about it before his will was read. As things turned out, the courts overturned the instruction to build the tomb there and now all that remains is the sign pointing down the hill from the Wonderland Track reading “Mark’s Tomb”, and even this looks like it won’t last much longer.

You can read the newspaper articles from the Sydney Morning Herald (Mark Foy Left £68,981) and (Elaborate Mark Foy Tomb Need Not Be Built), both from 1951.

To find Mark’s Tomb, go to the end of Belgravia St, follow the “TRACK” sign on the tree and take the first track to the right. About 15 minutes along this (the Wonderland Track) you will see a track branching off down the hill to the left. This is where the “Mark’s Tomb” sign is nailed to a tree on the left side of the track. My video about the Wonderland Track and Mark’s Tomb 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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

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 . 

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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

THE OVERCLIFF TRACK, WENTWORTH FALLS BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

THE OVERCLIFF TRACK, WENTWORTH FALLS 

BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

In the period 1880-1910, a maze of walking tracks and lookouts was developed in the Wentworth Falls Reserve under the supervision of a local group of trustees. They were determined to provide access to as many points of interest as possible and today’s tracks and lookouts are essentially those developed at that time.

The present day Undercliff and Overcliff Tracks meet at the bridge over Den Fenella Creek, a point easily reached from the western end of the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has spent a lot of time and effort in rebuilding and restoring these historic tracks and it is only a few months since the Den Fenella track was reopened with many good improvements.        

Restored track

For information on Den Fenella and the Undercliff Track, see this blog entry.

From the bridge over the creek the track ascends to Lady See’s Lookout, then to Breakfast Point Lookout.

There is a link here to Murphy's Lane near the Conservation Hut. The Overcliff track continues to Lyre Bird Lookout, from which  another track ascends to the Short Cut Track. Close by is Queen Victoria Lookout, near the point where the descent into the Valley of the Waters begins. Otherwise, continue up the hill to the Conservation Hut (for a well earned break at the café) or return to the Picnic Area along the Short Cut Track.

Sir John and Lady See bought "Yester Grange" at Wentworth Falls in 1902 as their country residence. At that time Sir John was the Premier of New South Wales. Sadly, Lady See (born Charlotte Mary Matthews) died in March 1904. Sir John resigned soon after and died in 1907. The lookout was opened in 1904 at a ceremony attended by Sir John. It had previously been known as “Picnic Point”.

Lady See's Lookout is closed

At the time of writing, the lookout was closed and in need of repair. It is to be hoped that the NP&WS will soon attend to this and the repair and upgrading of the entire Overcliff Track, which is in need of some serious maintenance work. Note 2024. Much good work has been done on this and nearby tracks

For my video of this walk, click 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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

View Near Lady See's Lookout

MINNEHAHA FALLS KATOOMBA BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

MINNEHAHA FALLS KATOOMBA 

BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

There are quite a few variations in the spelling of this attractive waterfall in North Katoomba. The one in the title is the correct one. 

The article below is from  the "Blue Mountain Echo" of Tuesday 15th May 1928, page 2 (courtesy of Trove).

The line from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “The Song of Hiawatha”, first published in 1845, reads as follows: “And he named her from the river, from the waterfall he named her, ‘Minnehaha, Laughing Water.’” If you would like to read the poem, which has a beautiful rhythm, you can download a copy here.  Now most of us would understand from that that the word Minnehaha means “laughing water”. Not so – in the Dakota language Minnehaha actually 

Early twentieth century photograph

means “water waterfall”. No, I’m not repeating myself, there are two “waters” (the haha part I suppose).

Now why our Katoomba waterfall has this name I don’t know. It has been called that since at least 1895. The original waterfall and river are in the US state of Minnesota and are somewhat grander than ours, though for sheer beauty of surroundings the Blue Mountains version scores pretty well.

One last complication is the fact that the creek which goes over Minnehaha Falls (our version) is Yosemite Creek. Yosemite Valley is in the state of California, a long way from Minnesota.                                  

A major attraction of these falls is the plunge pool at the bottom. (A plunge pool is the term used for a pool gouged out in solid rock by a waterfall.) All the early guide books say it is “bottomless”, which simply means that no-one had succeeded in diving in and touching bottom. Whether they ever did or not I don’t know, but as the twentieth century rolled on and urban development increased in North Katoomba, the pool filled up with sand, which must have been a great disappointment for the people who liked to swim and dive in it. This state of affairs continued into the twenty first century and even the information board at the beginning of the track deplores this fact, though it holds out hope for a return to the former condition of the pool.

Well, it has happened! Just when I don’t know though I suspect it was a gradual process, greatly encouraged by the construction of sediment traps by the Blue Mountains City Council but particularly by violent thunderstorms during the summer of 2012/13. You can once more enjoy the best swimming hole in the Blue Mountains and appreciate the grandeur of the scenery at Minnehaha Falls.

My video of the walk is here.  Another is 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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

Sundews seen along the Minnehaha Falls track

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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

THE WENTWORTH FALLS PICNIC AREA

THE WENTWORTH FALLS PICNIC AREA

The Wentworth Falls Recreation Reserve (one of the various names given to the area) was established in the 1870’s as the focal point of a network of walking tracks and lookouts. In those days it was administered by a trust of local people who used the limited funds made available to them by the state government and from donations to set up what is arguably the best track network in the Blue Mountains.

The map forms part of Jim Smith’s story of the Stonehaven Pass. You can download it here and read about the Reserve Trust and its work. NOTE 11th November 2017. This reference has been removed from the Internet. 

You will find my video on the picnic area here. 

You will find a limited amount of parking, toilets, picnic tables, barbecues and shady green spaces. What you won’t find is a children’s play area (there was one here years ago, but I haven’t been able to find a photo of it) or a kiosk (also long since vanished). For better or worse, this is one of the differences between management by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (today) and by a local Reserve Trust or Council (formerly).

John and mother Vera 1958

Sue in 2004

You can take a walk around the picnic area by following the concrete path overlooking the Jamison Valley, with its two lookouts (Jamison and Wentworth Falls) both of which are well supplied with information boards. By crossing the rather busy road (Sir Henry Burrell Drive) at the far end, you can return down the path shown on the video. Jim Smith’s map locates some of the interesting structures which survive from earlier times.

The second map dates from 1938 (a NSW Railways publication). Note the word “kiosk” at one end and “gates” at the other. Both have vanished. The tracks shown are all still there and are well used today. They lead to: The Valley of the Waters by the Short Cut track, Den Fenella and the Undercliff and Overcliff tracks, Princes Rock and the Undercliff track and Fletcher’s Lookout, Darwin’s Walk and the top of Wentworth Falls by the final track. From these, many other tracks lead off.

I hope you find time to visit this pleasant spot and plan some great trips using it as a base. You will find a list of my walks and videos here. Quite a few are based around this spot and I expect to add more in the future.

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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

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 

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

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

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

.