Formation of The Blue Mountains

Archaeological studies indicate that the Blue Mountains were formed around one million years ago as part of the Kosciusko Uplift during the Pliocene Epoch. Pressure from the east raised the area upwards in a monoclinal fold, reaching an elevation of around three thousand feet to the top of the Blue Mountains where Mount Victoria is today.

Naming the Blue Mountains

In 1788 the Blue Mountains were originally named "Carmarthen Hills" and "Landsdowne Hills" by Governor Phillip, however, it wasn't long after, that the distinctive blue haze surrounding the area saw the change in name to the Blue Mountains. 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-wave length rays of light which are predominantly blue in colour.

The First Blue Mountains Inhabitants

Australian Aborigines were the first to inhabit the Blue Mountains, however, we are unable to determine how far back in history this occurred. Evidence of the Daruk tribe who inhabited the area in ages past can be seen through aboriginal art carved into rock. Remarkably preserved today is the ancient rock carving known as "the flight of the Great Grey Kangaroo" which is located at the foot of Hawkesbury Lookout, Hawkesbury Heights (near Winmalee).

Crossing The Blue Mountains

Due to the rough terrain and lack of resources, the Blue Mountains were seen as an impassible barrier for future exploration from the time of Captain Cook's landing in 1770 through to 1813. In 1813, Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth, and Lieutenant Lawson, along with four servants, four pack horses and five dogs, set off on an exploration which was to create history. On the 11th May 1813 the explorers departed from Emu Plains reaching the foothills of the Blue Mountains, or Glenbrook as it is known today. For Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson, the trip across the Blue Mountains was a tremendous struggle. Having insufficient food for their journey, they recorded the trek required constant hacking through thick scrub and treading through "damp dew-laden undergrowth". They were also in fear of attack by aborigines. These factors, in combination with sickness, nearly saw the men defeated by the rugged terrain. Eighteen days later, on the 29th May 1813, the Blue Mountains was no longer considered an impassible barrier following the discovery of the gently sloping mountains to the west. Today, just west of Katoomba you can see the remains of a Eucalyptus tree marked by the famous explorers Blaxland Wentworth and Lawson. The Marked Tree, along with Caley's Repulse at Lawson, are the only remaining marks of the early explorers. A cairn of stones was also placed at Linden, however, we can not be certain if the existing cairn at Linden is the original.

A Remarkable Road

In 1814, William Cox, an extraordinary engineer, assembled a team of thirty convicts and eight guards to build a road across the Blue Mountains. Starting at Emu Plains on the 18th July 1814, in just four months the team had completed a road covering a distance of 47 miles to Mount York. In just six months, Cox had crossed the Blue Mountains with a road of one hundred and one miles all the way to Bathurst. (The Bathurst Road).

Blue Mountains - Pathway to the Gold Rush

In the 1850's Gold was discovered in the Bathurst district. This discovery resulted in a lot of travellers across the Blue Mountains. The Gold Rush attracted many Chinese people who were not so much interested in Gold as they were in selling their skills and merchandise across the Blue Mountains. Springwood, with it's pleasant climate, became the camping ground for hundreds of Chinese around this time. And while hundreds of people flocked to the gold fields, the need for better and faster transport became apparent. In the early 1860's a survey was under-way for the Blue Mountains railway.

Katoomba History

Surprisingly enough Katoomba was little known in history until 1879 when 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 first hotel in Katoomba was erected in 1882 by Mr. Harry Rowell. Known as the 'Great Western Hotel' this establishment attracted many visitors and tourists to the area. The hotel was sold in 1886 to Mr. F. Goyder who performed major alterations on the building and renamed it "The Carrington" after the reigning Governor. Along the Blue Mountains railway line in 1874, there an area where stone was quarried to provide ballast. The area was given the name of "Crushes". It was at this point trains stopped to adjust the brakes of the carriages to allow for the descent to Springwood. The name "Crushes" was changed to Katoomba in 1877.

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