The Blue Mountains were originally named "Carmarthen Hills" and "Landsdowne Hills" by Governor Phillip. The distinctive blue haze surrounding them though meant that the name 'Blue Mountains' stuck.
The Blue Mountains is densely populated by oil bearing Eucalyptus trees. The atmosphere is filled with finely dispersed droplets of oil, which, in combination with dust particles and water vapour, scatter short-wavelength rays of light at the blue end of the spectrum.
The Blue Mountains were thought to be impassible at first. Then, in 1813, the famous explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson successfully found a route across. They were accompanied and assisted by convict labour from New South Wales. They had been sent from Great Britain to serve their time either working for the Government or as free labour for wealthy gentry.
Many had been convicted for relatively minor, but repeated offences. The journey by ship took many months, and when they got here the weather was in hospitable and the conditions harsh.
As Sydney Town grew, the need for grazing and farmland became increasingly urgent. So crossing of the Mountains became imperative to open up fertile acres of land beyond. Convicts were to play a vital role in this development, in particular the building of a road mountains. In 1814, William Cox, an engineer, assembled a team of thirty convicts and eight guards to build the road. Starting at Emu Plains in four months they had completed the 47 mile road to Mount York. Chain gangs, guarded by the soldiers, toiled in the sun and freezing winter to build and maintain the Coxs Road over to Bathurst. The 101 mile road was completed in just six months.
Later, from the early 1820s, still using convict labour, large colonial properties were developed in the Mountains. The oldest surviving buildings being those of what was known as the Woodford Academy between Springwood and Hazelbrook, and Collitt's Inn (1823) at the base of Mt York in Hartley Vale. Several colonial Governors, including Lachlan Macquarie, stayed there on their travels.
In the 1850’s Gold was discovered in the Bathurst district.The Gold Rush attracted many prospectors. Many Chinese also came, not so much interested in gold as trading across the Blue Mountains. Springwood, with it’s pleasant climate, became the camping ground for people around this time. As hundreds of people flocked to the gold fields, the need for better and faster transport became clear. In the early 1860s a survey was under-way for the Blue Mountains railway.
Along the Blue Mountains railway line there is an area, called the "Crushes", where stone was quarried to provide ballast. It was at this point that trains stopped to adjust the brakes of the carriages to allow them to descend safely into Springwood. The name "Crushes" was changed to Katoomba in 1877.
In 1879 J.B. North opened the Katoomba Coal Mine. Coal was obtained from the side of the mountain near Orphan Rock using a cable car to bring the coal to the top. The now famous Scenic Railway operates in the original cutting in the mountain side. The steepest fenicular in the world, it descends of 415 m.
The first hotel, the ‘Great Western Hotel’, in Katoomba was erected in 1882. It attracted many visitors and tourists to the area. In 1886 it was renamed "The Carrington" after the then Governor.
As the Blue Mountains developed, wealthy businessmen and landowners built some spectacular homes and hotels. As well as the Carrington Hotel at Katoomba there is the Hydro Majestic Hotel, The Chalet Guesthouse and the Old Post Office - all at Medlow Bath; the old Fairfax home and the Hotel Imperial at Mt Victoria; the Comet Inn at Hartley Vale; Caves House at Jenolan; the Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum at Faulconbridge and Abercrombie House just outside Bathurst. Colonian flamboyance was alive and well. It was built on cheap convict labour. We went to the Norman Lindsay House and park and had lunch. Lovely.
Nearby, Hartley is a fine example of a convict village. It dates from the 1840s. We called into the village and went into the heritage centre. It has been preserved for posterity and school educational trips.
Convicts who behaved themselves were able to be attached to free men and used as cheap labour. Opposite is a photo of the Harley Court House where convicts out on parole would be taken if they transgressed. Punishment was severe. The rest of the village consists of two churches, one Catholic and the other Anglican. The rest are small shops and pubs. The convicts were dressed in uniform so they could be identified when they went into the village. When they had served their time they were released as 'free convicts' and given land to establish a new life. They built homes and were themselves able to use convict labour. Women convicts were also about, but some women came to Australia for a better life than they had in Britain, for example single mothers or those abandoned by their families for what ever reason. It was easy to find a husband in these parts.
At Lithgow, in the Western foothills are also the ruins of Australia's first blast furnace, plus the glorious Esbank House and the towering sandstone viaducts of the Zig Zag Steam Railway. On the edge of Bathurst are the amazing old gold towns of Hill End and Sofala. Many of the fabulous Gold Rush era buildings remain intact.So there ends my little trip around Blue Mountain history and heritage, and back safely in Vivians house. I hope you enjoyed the trip.
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