Blue Mountains Character Statement 2020
March 2020
Acknowledgement of Ngurra (Country)
The City of the Blue Mountains is located within the Country of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples. Blue Mountains City Council recognises that Darug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners have a continuous and deep connection to their Country and that this is of great cultural significance to Aboriginal people, both locally and in the region.
For Darug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners, ngurra (Country) takes in everything within the physical, cultural and spiritual landscape - landforms, waters, air, trees, rocks, plants, animals, foods, medicines, minerals, stories and special places. It includes cultural practice, kinship, knowledge, songs, stories and art, as well as spiritual beings, and people: past, present and future.
For many thousands of years, Traditional Owners have cared for their Ngurra in what is now the Blue Mountains and through this, Ngurra has sustained and nourished them. Caring for Ngurra is central to Aboriginal culture, being recognised as a holistic embodiment of environmental sustainability. Locally, and as a nation, there is much to learn from the special relationship between Aboriginal people and Country.
It is important to recognise and address the as yet largely unresolved issue of Traditional Ownership by Aboriginal peoples, recognised in part by the Native Title Act 1993. The dispossession of Traditional Owners resulting from the European colonisation of Australia, the ongoing disadvantage of Aboriginal peoples, and the deep, strong, unbroken connection to Ngurra (Country) held by Traditional Owners, warrants ongoing consideration.
Blue Mountains City Council pays respect to Elders past and present while recognising the strength, capacity and resilience of past and present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Blue Mountains region.
Thank you
We would like to thank local communities across the Blue Mountains for expressing their proud connection with their local area and sharing with us what they like about their community.
It is important that any changes we are seeing today, and those in the future, reflect the voices of the people who live, visit and work in the area.
To ensure the Mountains identity is protected, consolidated and allowed to evolve, it is important to have a coordinated plan for the future. This Local Character Statement aims to capture those voices, and articulate community values to help guide planning for the future.
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Purpose of the Local Character Statement
This Local Character Statement aims to capture the voices of our community, to showcase what you like about your local area and what you see for its future.
The function of a Local Character Statement is to express what it is about the area that is valued by the community, and what elements are considered important. How we identify character and place requires effective engagement with our community throughout all stages of the planning process.
Our residents, workers and visitors are best placed to provide insight into community values and aspirations – even if there are conflicting perspectives between stakeholders. As part of the finalisation of the Local Character Statement, it’s been important that the community has engaged in the process.
A Local Character Statement does not analyse things such as the demographic mix of people or define in detail the spatial hierarchy of an area. It is not a historical record of the area or of its people. It does not solve technical problems such as pedestrian circulation or other service delivery issues, although all the above things do influence and shape character. The Local Character Statement is not a tool to fix problems.
The Local Character Statement enables communities and governments to understand and define existing valued elements of character and to set a desired future character that aligns with the strategic direction for an area. We are a series of communities within a larger community. How do we want our towns and villages to look and feel in the future?
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Shaping of the Blue Mountains towns The nature of our towns and villages reflects the environment that has shaped them, the primary factor being the dominance of the natural environment.
The topography is a pattern of vegetated ridges and valleys which limit urban expansion. Limits are defined by land slope, water flow and important natural features such as particular tree species, bush rocks and endangered animal habitat. Bushfire hazards and water catchment areas, also influenced by the topography, further limit expansion. Our villages are surrounded by the Blue Mountains National Park and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area which are our spectacular natural assets.
Our urban environments are also the result of social and economic factors – the people who lived here before us and the resources they brought to contribute to the environment we inhabit today.
This Statement does not include Aboriginal history and heritage as this will be the subject of a separate upcoming study.
The historical pattern of European settlement was mostly limited to strategic points along the Great Western Road and railway, which followed a main ridgeline across the Mountains. Today we have a configuration of 29 villages, towns and settlements which make up our urban form. The Great Western Highway and the railway connect most of our towns and villages.
The European settlement of the Blue Mountains has created towns and villages each with a distinctive character. Some towns are of historic significance due to the intact streetscapes of heritage dwellings. Other villages and settlements are nestled within the bushland setting and respond to the cues from the natural environment.
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A string of villages in a World Heritage setting
The Blue Mountains is a series of 29 villages, mostly joined by the Highway and railway line. Elevation above sea level continues to rise when travelling west over the Mountains. Locals feel that the character of each village and locality is different and that the atmosphere of the Blue Mountains is unique (People Place & Partnership, Community Stakeholder & Engagement Report, 2019).
Community concerns about sustainability, development, society and growth are not confined to villages but encompass the whole LGA. Our community sees itself both as part of a village and as part of the Mountains simultaneously. These perceptions are aligned with an awareness of the environment as a whole system, with water, landscapes, space, views, waste and hazards all inter-related.
The layout and villages of the Blue Mountains Local Government Area. Source: Blue Mountains City Council.
The rise in elevation above sea level of each of the towns along the Great Western Highway. Source: Blue Mountains City Council
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Lower, Mid and Upper Blue Mountains
The Bell’s Road towns, The Lower ‘the Mounts’ and the Mountains has a Megalong Valley closer connection share similarities in to Sydney, with their natural setting more people and layout as small commuting to settlements, with a Sydney. There are scattered collection fewer historic of buildings with buildings. Housing is minimal commercial more suburban but and community the presence of facilities. They are bushland is strong, distinguished by with many dominating waterfalls and landscapes of natural natural pools. or semi-rural settings Much housing in and a character of the Lower separation from urban Mountains is post- environments. 1940 and streets The Upper Mountains is a are more loosely tourist destination separate aligned along the from Sydney due to its topography. greater distances and different climate. The climate is characterised by The Mid-Mountains lower winter temperatures has a modest and resulting harsher historic character conditions. The distinctive with an interesting local character is generally mix of residential due to the many historic bushland settings streetscapes. and historic town centres. The Upper Mountains towns are located in a highly dramatic setting that has fostered the development of numerous tourist facilities. The street layout and age of buildings is characterised by a predominance of pre- 1940s buildings and straight roads. 5
Community snapshot
This Local Character Statement should reflect the aspects of the Mountains valued by the community. It aims to showcase what you like about your local area and what you see for its future. We have gathered information from community workshops, online interactive maps, business surveys, the public exhibition process and other direct and indirect forms of engagement to inform this Statement and highlight valued elements.
Community snapshot -A community and a series of
communities -Home to about 80,000 people -Slow population growth -Ageing population
-Lower Mountains has more young families -Upper Mountains has more retirees -High volunteer rates
-Environmentally aware city -High dependence on private transport -High value and appreciation for the Great Western Highway, Blaxland natural environment Leura markets, Leura
Recent engagement activities
The community have been invited to have a say on the future of the Blue Mountains through the following formal and informal events. A thorough and robust engagement process has informed the understanding of local character. The engagement sought to gain a deeper understanding of issues and local needs and explore ideas and opportunities.
Further engagement activities were the public exhibition of this Local Character Statement, with the Local Strategic Planning Statement and Local Housing Strategy. The exhibition sought further feedback from the community and stakeholders on the outcomes of the Statement and made changes in response to that feedback.
Dates Engagement Location Attendees/Responses October – Social Pinpoint Online – Have Your Say website 749 unique users November 2018 Interactive Map 330 comments from 153 individuals 9 submissions October – Social Pinpoint Online – Have Your Say website 134 responses November 2018 Survey 13 March 2019 Community Community Hub Springwood 49 attendees 14 March 2019 Workshops x 3 Mid Mountains Neighbourhood 16 March 2019 Centre, Lawson Blue Mountains Cultural Centre 14 March 2019 Productivity Blue Mountains Cultural Centre 16 business and industry representatives Workshops 2 April – 4 April 2019 Business Surveys 8 key centres – Blackheath, 193 responses and 15 May 2019 Katoomba, Wentworth Falls, Lawson , Hazelbrook, Springwood, Blaxland and Glenbrook 14 May – Housing Survey Telephone, email, website, social 419 responses 31 May 2019 media and face to face 30 September – Public exhibition Council’s website, Facebook page, 171 submissions 15 November 2019 Council offices
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Community perceptions
Responses to targeted questions and activities about the character of the Blue Mountains at workshops revealed positive perceptions of community, lifestyle and environment. The unique character is felt to arise from the different towns and shops, the distinctive landscape, and the passionate community, while the healthy lifestyle is a combination of the pure environment, the friendly community and local handmade production. Bushland setting and a proximity to nature is the biggest driver for why people chose to live in the Mountains, and also what is seen as most important to the Blue Mountains identity and the most critical aspect to protect. Participants considered the local character of town and village centres to be one of the top two future priorities. The design, character and heritage of our urban environments was a major discussion point in the development of village environments. Comments about housing were related to the availability and affordability of different types of housing including housing for older people. Local character was an important priority that needs to be maintained through any master planning, with a balance between character, heritage and development. The following three categories summarise key perceptions about the Blue Mountains local character. Natural Community Lifestyle environment
•Connection to nature •Unique character of each •Dynamic specialty shops and bushland village •Natural handmade food •Healthy air, sunsets and •Accepting and friendly •Cafe and food culture views •Creative clusters •Community markets, •Multi-layered unique •Engaged community cop-ops and organic geography •Diverse and layered food •Strong landscape community •Simple traditional and identity •Intergenerational wholesome lifestyle •Biodiversity
Key housing character themes
Respondents to the housing survey were asked to describe the character of their neighbourhood by providing three words that related to housing character. Left, the 15 most frequently used words from respondents to describe housing character. Responses were then categorised into themes, represented below by the frequency that each theme was raised. Consistent themes about character tended to complement each other and link to the strong identity of the Blue Mountains.
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Shared character of our villages Each Mountains town and village has a unique character. However there are some features of our urban areas which can be found in most villages.
Older residential areas are The natural within walking distance of landscapes of the Blue the railway and Highway, Mountains National with houses mostly Park and World weatherboard or fibro Heritage Area with corrugated iron roofs surround our towns Residential areas of most Most towns remain distinct towns show clear layers of through the presence of earlier, later and recent the natural landscape construction within between them neighbourhoods, creating historically important The experience of travel areas and interesting through the Blue Mountains layers and visual mosaics along the transport corridor has been noted by many There is a transition of people over time as a valued older to contemporary part of the Blue Mountains buildings as the character settlement pattern moves away from the corridor Most villages are dominated by the through corridor of Strong landscape settings road and rail characterise most villages, Larger villages have a particularly large conifers for commercial centre on windbreaks and remnant or just off the Great eucalypt canopy trees Western Highway Newer residential areas are along ridgelines or Older facilities pre-1940 are plateaus separated by usually located along the creeks and valleys further Highway or its former routes, from the town centre, with while newer facilities Post- mostly brick veneer and War are located on spur tile construction ridges such as high schools, Streets become soft- golf and bowling clubs, bush fire brigades and edged and less formal away from the town Council depots centre Bushland is retained at the The edges of town end of spurs, and there provide access points are views of rolling hills to lookouts, waterfalls, and valleys from vantage scenic drives and points walking tracks
Housing
In most towns it is the small and medium-sized houses that predominate. The Mountains has a character of respect for the landscape. This is reflected in smaller or screened dwellings that blend into their setting. This was particularly the case in the Post- War period of development. Housing styles changed slowly and in the Mountains neighbourhoods have remained remarkably consistent for many years.
Buildings from different periods can be differentiated by their design, siting, scale, use of materials and decorative features.
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Village types in the Mountains The following diagrams give an indication of the various village configurations according to their layout, size, type and historic mix. They explore the general type and character of each town, village and settlement/locality, and give an impression of complexity or simplicity of elements that make up each village. Note the diagrams are indicative only, and not to scale. Not all characteristics apply exactly. They are not meant to reflect the spatial hierarchy planning or the zoning pattern.
Village Type 1 – Large/Medium Historic - Large/medium size with Blackheath, large/medium historic areas Katoomba, - Key stop on the Highway Leura, - District and tourist shops Wentworth Falls, - Historic commercial centre Lawson, - Significant areas of historic town Springwood housing - Some have a small industrial area - Outer layer of more recent housing
Village Type 2 – Medium/Small Historic - Medium size with historic Mount Victoria, character/important heritage Medlow Bath, elements Hazelbrook, - On the Highway Woodford, - Particular heritage items of high Linden, significance Faulconbridge, - Intimate village environment Valley Heights, - Smaller historic housing areas Glenbrook - Outer layer of more recent housing -
Village Type 3 – Suburban / Bushland - On the Highway or Hawkesbury Road Bullaburra, - Not a readable historic character Winmalee, (<10 heritage items) Warrimoo, - Small or large size Blaxland - Predominantly mixed/later housing - Suburban and/or bushland character
Village Type 4 – Off the Highway Sun Valley, Mount Residential Settlement Riverview, - Locality or settlement rather than Hawkesbury village Heights, - Off the Highway and main roads Yellow Rock, - No historic housing and <5 Lapstone heritage items - Some community facilities and/or semi-rural industries
Village Type 5 – Rural Settlement Megalong - Mostly off the main roads Valley, Bell, - Historic settlement with Mount Wilson, heritage values Mount Tomah, - Some community facilities and Mount Irvine, rural and semi-rural industry Berambing
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Guiding principles for our villages The Blue Mountains is experiencing significant challenges and opportunities, related to ongoing development pressures emanating from the impacts of proximity to Sydney. Our stewardship of the spectacular and significant natural assets we treasure is of ongoing importance, not only for our own well-being, but as they form part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and are also relied upon for our tourism economy.
We aim to maintain our long-term vision for the preservation and care of the natural environment as a key priority, and secondly, to nurture the distinctive local character of our towns and villages. The evolving character of our villages will be determined by the land uses, building densities and heights, and visual elements we agree will remain or become the character of our towns in the future. Our primary goal is to retain and preserve elements of importance such as village atmosphere and heritage and character values. Council’s planning instruments - the Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan - provide the legislative and guiding framework within which to protect local character.
Each village and locality has a distinctive character, yet all are related, and set within the same sensitive natural setting. Guiding principles will take into account these differences and the need to reinforce each town’s sense of place. A place-based planning approach is necessary to allow a diversity of character, appearance and experiences through each village.
A set of broad principles should guide the expression of the character of our towns. At a more detailed level, urban design responses and specific environmental factors will interact with these principles to create individual place outcomes. Many of our larger town centres have existing desired local character statements to guide specific outcomes for certain town precincts.
The following guiding principles offer a visioning framework for the Local Character Statement:
We as the community have special responsibilities to protect the local ecology and bushland character, and the character of our towns and villages. The emphasis should remain on protection of existing character and environmental values from destruction and erosion. There is a reasonable concern about loss and change, and an awareness of threats to natural and cultural environments. An appreciation for future growth can be fostered without detriment to the overall vision and character of each place. Some change in some places should be accepted as inevitable, but we should work towards positive change, not loss. The villages and towns should remain contained discrete elements each with its own character and individuality. Boundaries should remain firm to prevent sprawling suburban- type development. Visitors appreciate that the Mountains is different from elsewhere. Therefore there is great tourism value in remaining different from Sydney. Tourism is important to the development of existing assets such as the National Park, the local arts community, heritage awareness, significant parks and landscapes, identity, place, and educational tourism, but must be balanced against the needs of the community and against environmental and cultural degradation.
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Enhancing town and village character Most Mountains towns and villages are not predicted to change significantly over time, particularly smaller villages and settlements. The focus for all villages will continue to be the conservation of heritage, character and the environment, and enhanced amenity for residents. The strong inter- relationship between heritage and character will be understood and strengthened. The high quality of our landscapes, both the natural environment and the more formal gardens and trees of our villages, will be preserved and protected.
Environmental constraints will continue to limit the development potential of many lots and areas. Remaining vacant housing lots will slowly continue to be developed with an emphasis on balancing environmental outcomes with safety, amenity and where relevant, built character. Where an area’s character is considered distinctive, new housing design must fit with the established character, including height, bulk and scale, setbacks, site coverage, materials and details. A landscaped setting is usually a key character requirement. Character housing in Katoomba
Consolidation and regeneration of our contained town centres is a key driver of change in larger villages, to encourage more attractive and dynamic environments that serve local needs and support visitors. The provision of housing choice and affordability through increased diversity of dwelling types is a community priority for select town centre areas. This will create affordability for younger residents and the ability for older residents to remain in their local area. Some buildings in town centres provide an opportunity for reuse and adaption for new purposes.
Some towns and villages are likely to face some form of change, or are already experiencing changes that are altering their character:
Glenbrook is experiencing demand for increases in single residential dwelling size and scale, due to increasing land and property values, lifestyle trends and proximity to urban centres in Sydney.
Blaxland is a key Lower Mountains service hub, attractive for its proximity to urban centres in Sydney, and with flat terrain that suits accessible housing. It also has an approved master plan for the town centre. The master plan for Blaxland town centre includes the potential for additional commercial floor space, medium-density or ‘shop-top’ housing and supporting facilities and amenities. Development of the Blaxland town centre will include consideration of an architectural and urban identity that fits with the Mountains style and enhances a vibrant community atmosphere. The master planning process is underway and will continue to evolve with community input.
Springwood is an important Lower to Mid Mountains town of significant size and complexity, with a high level of comfort and amenity for residents. It also has an approved master plan for the town centre. The master plan for Springwood town centre includes the potential for additional medium- density housing near the town centre, public domain improvements, and the renewal of key sites. The master planning process is underway and will continue to evolve with community input.
Lawson continues to undergo transformation following the dramatic changes to the town centre during the Highway widening. The wider Lawson township has a unique and historic character, which will be enhanced and consolidated over time through sensitive infill of sites and potential for limited medium-density housing in currently zoned areas.
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Hazelbrook contains a representative mix of character elements: town centre precincts, small medium-density housing areas, heritage conservation areas, character housing areas, and protected escarpment areas. Ongoing incremental development will continue to consolidate the character of Hazelbrook. Hazelbrook has an approved public domain master plan to improve traffic, circulation and safety in the town centre.
Wentworth Falls is a key tourist village which is experienced tourism pressures in the south village areas due to traffic, parking and congestion. Wentworth Falls has limited medium-density housing opportunities.
Leura is a significant tourist hub, experiencing tourism pressures and opportunities, such as traffic congestion in the Mall. There is potential for limited medium-density housing around the village centre.
Katoomba is the key strategic centre of the Mountains, with potential for ongoing consolidation and revitalisation of the town centre, including commercial and residential redevelopment of key sites. Katoomba is also experiencing tourism pressures and associated opportunities. An upcoming master plan process is planned for Katoomba.
Blackheath is a key Upper Mountains service village and community hub, with potential for public domain improvements to revitalise the village centre.
Mount Victoria is a small but highly significant historic village with a rural atmosphere, with potential for small localised redevelopment and limited increases in tourism. Tourism should not adversely impact the low-density, rural atmosphere of the town centre. The Local Character Statement encapsulates what makes our towns and villages distinctive, and what changes could benefit local character and liveability. The preparation of the Local Planning Statement and the Local Character Statement are an opportunity for the community to be involved in the future direction of our environment and our villages.
Springwood looking northwest 12
Explanation of character statements Information for these village character statements was drawn from a range of sources, including past work by Council on investigating village character and history, and various local tourist websites. Sources are gratefully acknowledged throughout the document. Various changes were made to the draft document following public exhibition and as a result of submissions and feedback. The larger towns and villages are more detailed in scope than those villages where minimal change is likely. The Statement reflects the underlying Blue Mountains City Council’s planning framework that has enabled the retention of character elements and qualities, and heritage values. The planning framework is an existing and sophisticated system of character protections contained with the Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan (LEP 2015) and supported by the Blue Mountains Development Control Plan (DCP 2015). These include: Residential character areas Many villages have distinctive residential character areas protected by a residential character zone. This is currently the Living-Conservation zone of LEP 2005, and is awaiting translation into the current LEP, LEP 2015. Town centre and medium-density housing precincts Larger villages and towns have precincts or areas identified for particular retail, commercial, or residential outcomes, expressed in objectives and desired future character statement in the planning provisions of Part 7 of LEP 2015 and Part G of DCP 2015. Heritage conservation areas and heritage items Some of our town centres and residential areas have high heritage values and are protected as heritage conservation areas or individually-listed heritage items. These are shown in the heritage maps to LEP 2015, with provisions in LEP 2015 and DCP 2015. Escarpment protections Most of our villages are located on the high ridgelines and spurs of the Mountains terrain, developed from the route across the Mountains. To protect sensitive and valuable views from the National Park, escarpment controls ensure buildings do not dominate escarpments and views. The escarpment protections are contained within Clause 6.12 of LEP 2015. Land between towns To maintain the contained nature of our villages, prominent areas of land are protected from urban development. The land between towns protections are contained within Clause 6.13 of LEP 2015.
TOWN NAME Type of village
These are generally the Elevation above TOWN SIGN existing town sign descriptors sea level
Villages in the Blue Mountains range from Locality (the smallest size) to Small Village, Service Village, Population size and District Centre to Strategic Centre (the largest size). Some villages are also Tourist Villages.
The elevation above sea level of a village The population size of each village (from will create a particular climate. The highest the 2016 census) creates a particular villages are ‘cool climate’ and are affected character related to the community’s by extreme weather conditions in winter. needs and land use opportunities.
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List of Villages LAPSTONE ...... 15 GLENBROOK ...... 16 BLAXLAND ...... 19 HAWKESBURY HEIGHTS ...... 23 MT RIVERVIEW ...... 24 WARRIMOO ...... 25 YELLOW ROCK ...... 26 SUN VALLEY ...... 27 VALLEY HEIGHTS ...... 28 WINMALEE ...... 29 SPRINGWOOD ...... 30 FAULCONBRIDGE ...... 34 LINDEN ...... 35 WOODFORD ...... 36 HAZELBROOK ...... 37 LAWSON ...... 40 BULLABURRA ...... 43 WENTWORTH FALLS ...... 44 LEURA ...... 47 KATOOMBA ...... 50 MEDLOW BATH ...... 57 BLACKHEATH ...... 58 MT VICTORIA ...... 61 MEGALONG VALLEY ...... 64 BELL ...... 65 MOUNT WILSON ...... 66 MOUNT IRVINE ...... 67 MOUNT TOMAH ...... 68 BERAMBING ...... 69
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Locality
106m above LAPSTONE sea level ‘BUSHLAND SUBURBAN’ CHARACTER 962 people
Views over Sydney from Lapstone About Lapstone
LAPSTONE HISTORY Lapstone is a quiet residential area, prominently located on the Eastern Escarpment with expansive views over the
Lapstone Hill is part of the Lapstone Cumberland Plain. Monocline, where sandstone and shale meet The town is divided into three precincts by the retention of in a profound event in the creation of the bushland along gullies, and is surrounded by bushland. Sydney Basin, millions of years ago. Remnant eucalypts are complemented by the The Lapstone Hill Hotel, formerly estate ‘Logie’ establishment of large native gardens around many of the
was a fine and grand Art Deco hotel in the houses. 1930s, and is now part of the RAAF. Due to the visual prominence of the settlement on Lapstone The Lapstone Zig Zag Railway was built in 1867 Hill, Lapstone is of considerable landscape importance. and the first of its kind for New South Wales.
LAPSTONE HOUSING
Lapstone is a relatively new locality, mostly brick veneer houses built in the 1960 to 1980s, with a generally high standard of residential development.
Streetscapes are neat with underground electricity transmission lines, fully sealed roads and distinctive brown bullnose brick kerbing.
Photo credits - Lapstone: The John Whitton Memorial Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au Blue Mountains Local Studies bmlocalstudies.blogspot.com
15 The Lapstone Hill Hotel in the 1930s
Small Village Tourist Village
163m above GLENBROOK sea level 5,086 people GATEWAY TO THE THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Glenbrook Gorge, Blue Mountains National Park
About Glenbrook
Glenbrook has a temperate climate, spectacular views of the Cumberland GLENBROOK IS A KEY LOWER Plains and a great community atmosphere. MOUNTAINS TOWN WITH HIGH AMENITY AND DISTINCTIVE The town centre of Glenbrook is contained, with a relaxed, casual feel. CHARACTER VALUES
The emergent character of Glenbrook is changing due to significant development pressure from Sydney. Increases in land values, better access to Sydney and the desirable location of the Lower Mountains to Sydney is seeing rising property prices and ongoing
redevelopment of housing sites.
Newer houses need to adopt a ‘Mountains’ style, through designs that
balance additional scale, bulk and contemporary design with strong landscape outcomes and acknowledgement of traditional forms, to ensure Glenbrook retains a unique identity distinct from Sydney. 16
GLENBROOK HISTORY
Glenbrook was named in 1879 by Sir John Jamieson who believed that the creek was a brook coming from Regents Glen.
There are a number of significant heritage sites including the old
Pointsman's Cottage built by the Government in 1871, visible from the Highway.
Remnants of the Lapstone Zig Zag, the Knapsack Viaduct and the Lennox Bridge on Mitchell’s Pass Road are important evidence of the engineering challenges of the road and rail An early impression of Lennox Bridge, which crossings of the Mountains. was completed in 1833
Lennox Bridge is the oldest stone bridge in mainland Australia.
GLENBROOK VILLAGE
Glenbrook town centre is close to the Highway, at the rear of Glenbrook Park and has a scattering of historic buildings. The village offers lots of facilities for families including tennis, bowling,
an aquatic centre and many parks including Whitton, Mt. Sion, Knapsack and Glenbrook Park. Glenbrook Oval is a popular venue for athletics and cricket. There are also a number of large open spaces such as the Glenbrook Lagoon and Glenbrook
Wildflower Reserve.
The RAAF base exists as a separate community on the eastern side of the Highway. The new Visitors Information Centre opened in December 2018 and is a boost to the local tourism economy. Children’s playground in Glenbrook Park
GLENBROOK HOUSING
Older areas are located adjacent to parkland on both sides of
the Highway and in the inner areas of the village. There are some heritage-listed houses of stone, brick or weatherboard and more modest fibro and weatherboard cottages.
The outer residential areas retain an awareness of the bushland Much of Glenbrook has roads with soft setting beyond the village. Glenbrook has scenic residential edges and tall remnant eucalypt trees roads such as the intimate bush track setting where Glenbrook Road passes Glenbrook Lagoon, and the romantic fairy-dell ferny imagery of bushland and cottages along Burfitt Parade and Bruce Road.
The southwest of Glenbrook contains a system of long lanes with a garden and utility character parallel to main streets. In older areas of north Glenbrook, lanes are shorter and more shaded, connecting across main streets with a country lane character.
Photo credits – Glenbrook: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au NSW National Parks www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Blue Mountains Local Studies Library on Flickr 17 www.flickr.com/photos/blue_mountains_library_ -_local_studies Blue Mountains Gazette www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au
Town Centre Precinct Glenbrook town centre is a small pedestrian friendly Glenbrook Lagoon hub that is surrounded by residential areas and securely located off the Highway behind Glenbrook Park.
The town centre has a character of single-storey shopfronts and converted cottages. Local businesses serve the community and visitors. Public car parking is located in secondary streets. Preserving the modest Residential Character areas single-storey pitched roofed character and Many residential parts of Glenbrook have a generous bush settings significant character that includes a dominance of of residential character the landscape setting. They are characterised by areas larger lots with generous garden areas and smaller Enhancing the dwelling sizes. recreation and tourism To preserve the special character of these areas, opportunities in the the prominence of the landscape setting needs to Glenbrook area be kept or re-established.
Heritage Conservation Area The Glenbrook Tunnel (Lapstone Hill) was previously used as mustard gas storage in World War Two, A small heritage conservation area close to the and could be restored and incorporated into community use town centre preserves buildings and the character of neighbourhoods from demolition and loss. Escarpment Areas
Some north-eastern and south-eastern residential areas in Glenbrook have ‘escarpment’ protections, where views from the National Park are protected from the visual impacts of urban development.
Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan
The Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan seeks to coordinate local planning for recreational facilities. It seeks to provide enhanced recreational opportunities for the community, and to support the local economy and tourism demands.
Transport links and connections are proposed to be improved from Glenbrook town centre to Knapsack Reserve and beyond to Hawkesbury and Penrith Council areas.
Tourism and visitor experiences in the area are proposed to be enhanced, including nature-based tourism, mountain bike trails, and better access18 to heritage including indigenous heritage.
Service Village
234m above BLAXLAND sea level ‘BUSHLAND SUBURBAN’ CHARACTER 7,478 people
Lennox Park About Blaxland
Blaxland is a thriving community with churches, small shopping precincts, BLAXLAND IS A KEY LOWER community groups, a library, children's MOUNTAINS TOWN AND AN play centres, bush fire brigade, chamber IMPORTANT SERVICE CENTRE FOR of commerce and a small industrial THE LOCAL COMMUNITY area.
Blaxland town centre includes level lots close to town with accessibility to services and transport for older residents.
These factors present opportunities for the ongoing diversification of housing choice and housing affordability in the Lower Mountains.
The Blaxland town centre is strongly visible and welcoming at night on the Highway.
The town is now strongly identified with the Canary Island Date Palms lining the Highway.
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BLAXLAND HISTORY
Blaxland was originally named Wascoe but then changed to Blaxland in 1914 after Gregory Blaxland
the explorer.
The location was settled early on, after the construction of the Old Bathurst Road in 1823 and the erection of Wascoes Siding railway platform, and the Pilgrim Inn in 1868.
The Blaxland town centre was destroyed in the bushfires of 1968.
Royal Australian Historical Society visit to the original Pilgrim Inn, Blaxland in 1934 BLAXLAND VILLAGE CENTRE
Blaxland is a larger town which has developed along the crest of the main Blue Mountains ridge. Straight, flat and parallel, the Great Western Highway and rail divide the town.
The town centre is distinctively located alongside the Highway, with newer shops and a less recognisably Blue Mountains character. Blaxland East is also serviced by a commercial centre, with about twenty modern shops.
By Mountains standards, many areas feel modern and open, as they are not characterised by heritage buildings or significant gardens. Blaxland town centre is located on the Great Western Highway
BLAXLAND HOUSING
Blaxland contains a relatively large residential area for the Mountains. Housing is a mix of older modest Medium-density housing in a housing and more substantial recent houses. bushland setting in View Street
Most of Blaxland has a strong suburban character and a flat terrain. Some outer areas have garden bushland imagery.
There are a handful of historic dwellings around Hope Street but overall, Blaxland has a limited heritage presence.
Photo credits – Blaxland: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au 20 Blue Mountains Local Studies Library on Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/blue_mountains_library_-_local_studies Blue Mountains Gazette www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au
Town Centre Precincts Blaxland has a town centre precinct with provisions that ensure that new development retains the compact town centre character, and that future development promotes improved presentation and encourages community meeting places.
Future medium-density housing Lennox Park opportunities are limited to current areas in Layton Avenue and Hope Street close to the town centre, which provide alternate housing forms close to services and public transport.
A number of recently-built medium-density housing developments close to the town centre have contributed to the importance Improving town centre of Blaxland as a district centre that can provide a diversity of housing choice and amenities including parking, enhanced amenities. Many housing sites traffic and public safety benefit from flat terrain and more limited Creating some diversity of bushfire threat. housing but retaining a A new medical centre opened in 2016, Mountains style and improving essential services provided in the character town centre. Revitalisation of the town centre to create a unique Escarpment Areas local identity and character
Parts of Blaxland the eastern and western that reflects a Mountains style edges have ‘escarpment’ protections, and village atmosphere where views from the National Park are protected from the visual impacts of urban Blaxland Library development.
Bushland settings and open space
Blaxland has a bushland setting like many Mountains towns. The town occupies the major ridge and is surrounded by this important natural bush setting.
Blaxland features several small parks and Blaxland Oval. Parks include Blaxland War Memorial Park and Lennox Park. In East Blaxland there are also Thomas Park and Robertswood Park.
The bushland setting is visible from elevated locations within the town and on town borders. Native trees and Water Sensitive Urban Design will be used in the 21 town centre to support native tree plantings.
Blaxland is a service town of considerable convenience. It has a clear and visible identity as a Mountains town, and a strong sense of community. Value is enhanced through town centre living and vibrant village atmosphere.
There is greater employment, with good connectivity and circulation. The town remains connected to its bushland setting.
Blaxland Master Plan
The Blaxland Master Plan was adopted in August 2018. It presents a vision and strategy to guide the future of “Blaxland is vibrant, Blaxland’s town centre, recognising the importance of the revitalisation of this key town centre, including: distinctive and welcoming…
Enhancing Blaxland’s convenience for shopping, with an enhanced variety of including improved amenity and access Improving built character and identity services, facilities and Providing town centre housing Enhancing community facilities such connections to the activities providing a hub for Community Centre Employment opportunities the local community.” Preserving bushland settings Improving pedestrian connectivity, traffic flow and Blaxland Master Plan – vision statement parking.
The Master Plan is supported by the community following positive consultation. Further work and public consultation on future stages is required.
22
HAWKESBURY Locality 264m above HEIGHTS sea level 456 people ‘BUSHLAND SUBURBAN’ CHARACTER
Hawkesbury Lookout About Hawkesbury Heights HAWKESBURY HEIGHTS Hawkesbury Heights is a small, residential settlement located HISTORY at the crest of the Eastern Escarpment. The only road link to
Hawkesbury Heights is associated with the the suburb is Hawkesbury Road, which becomes Springwood Road to the east. scientifically important Lapstone Monocline, an upfolding of the sedimentary rock of the Hawkesbury Heights has high amenity values as a small Sydney Basin. dormitory suburb. It has panoramic views and a bushland Nearby is Shaws Creek Aboriginal Place, a site setting. of significance and colonial conflict located near the Nepean River. Hawkesbury Lookout has expansive views over the Cumberland Plains.
HAWKESBURY HEIGHTS
HOUSING Hawkesbury Lookout Hawkesbur y Heights is a compact cluster of houses situated in a bushland setting.
Housing along Hawkesbury Road represents the older section of housing, whilst along Roberts Parade and Booker Road to the north, contemporary brick veneer houses are predominant.
Photo credits – Hawkesbury Heights: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au 23
Locality
270m above MT RIVERVIEW sea level ‘BUSHLAND SUBURBAN’ CHARACTER 3,027 people
Harley Park About Mount Riverview MOUNT RIVERVIEW HISTORY Mount Riverview is a residential subdivision. Development is bound on the north and west by the steep valley of Cripple In 1931 Bernard Francis Cummings built a Creek and by steep slopes associated with the Lapstone
lookout in a tree on his property at the end of Monocline to the east. Bunbinla Ave, and named it Mount Riverview The town has a small community shopping centre, a local lookout. school and church. Mount Riverview also features Harley
MOUNT RIVERVIEW Park along Emu Plains Road. HOUSING Notable character areas and elements include areas associated with the end of Grand View Drive, and the view Mount Riverview is characterised by housing down Emu Plains Road. of dark coloured buildings between lush bushland gardens on dramatic slopes. This area requires sensitive visual management through the escarpment controls, which have acted as the catalyst for a The slopes have led to some views over the local character to emerge. Emu Plains and the Penrith Plains. The style of buildings responds to the slope, and gardens are the major element of these streetscapes.
Buildings are predominantly circa-1980s brick veneer in construction, with recessive coloured brickwork and roof tiles. Gardens are open with a mix of species and remnant eucalypt canopy. Buildings have innovative responses to slope.
Photo credits – Mount Riverview: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au
24 View over the Nepean River to Sydney
Locality
273m above WARRIMOO sea level BLINKY BILL TERRITORY 2,398 people
The small town centre of Warrimoo
About Warrimoo
WARRIMOO HISTORY Warrimoo is a small Lower Mountains locality, developed mostly adjacent to the Highway and A timber railway platform was erected at Warrimoo in railway ridge. The linear form, bushland setting and 1881. Originally known as Karabar, the town was expansive prospect which characterise Warrimoo are renamed Warrimoo in 1918. Warrimoo developed features which typify many towns in the Blue rapidly after World War Two, and is related to the Mountains and give them high amenity. early stages of expansion of Sydney into outlying bushland suburbs. The town centre consists of a small row of shops along the Highway. The general store also acts as the local Warrimoo is also known as ‘Blinky Bill Territory’ - the Post Office. Warrimoo has its own primary school, Ardill Australian author Dorothy Wall lived in Florabella Park, and a recreation reserve. Street. The town centre has a distinctive local character of
WARRIMOO HOUSING mixed styles and may develop a more Blue Mountains character depending on the success of planting.
Residential areas at Warrimoo have a strong local character, particularly on the southern side where a grid street layout has existed since the 1940s or earlier.
A small residential area in Florabella and Arthur Streets is protected as a distinctive character area, where landscape and built form values are retained.
Streets are narrow and lane-like with an intimate and relaxed atmosphere and the housing mix predominantly older weatherboard and fibro houses set in well-established gardens.
The surrounding bushland is a consistent containing presence, with some remnant eucalypt canopy.
Photo credits - Warrimoo: Google Maps Ardill Park is adjacent the www.google.com.au railway station Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au 25
Locality
245m above YELLOW ROCK sea level 1,488 people ‘BUSHLAND SUBURBAN’ CHARACTER
Views from scenic picnic areas in Yellow Rock About Yellow Rock YELLOW ROCK A small residential settlement located on Singles Ridge and HISTORY Yellow Rock Roads to the east of Winmalee. There are few This area was settled more than 120 years character concerns as much of the fabric is new, and there is ago as small farms producing passionfruit no town centre. and other orchard products. The Yellow Rock is set in bushland off Hawkesbury Road on the significance of the area is related to its long term commercially viable agricultural use, way to Yellow Rock Reserve and lookout. making it unique in the Lower Mountains. The major buildings are a large plant nursery and a Greek Yellow Rock Lookout is located to the east of monastery. the settlement as this provides expansive The 2013 bushfires had a devastating impact on Yellow Rock, view to the north along the Nepean River. and many buildings have since been rebuilt. YELLOW ROCK HOUSING Panoramic views from the Yellow Rock Lookout Residential areas are separated along various ridges. The majority of dwellings are suburban houses of brick veneer and tile construction. Many houses are set within remnants of a tall eucalypt forest, with a large proportion of the natural vegetation being preserved as private gardens and along street verges, developing a distinctive bush -influenced identity. Views are very enclosed.
Photo credits – Yellow Rock: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au NSW National Parks www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
26
Locality
320m above SUN VALLEY sea level 227 people SEMI RURAL / BUSHLAND CHARACTER
The lush landscape of Sun Valley
About Sun Valley
SUN VALLEY HISTORY Sun Valley is a small semi-rural community renowned for its magnificent stands of mountain blue gum trees, Sun Valley was once an extinct volcanic vent. The pretty setting and walking tracks. area has over time been known as The Sun Valley incorporates a pony club, a local produce Valley, Fitzgerald’s Valley, Valley Flats and Deane’s Valley and was used in the 1800s as a vital store and supports a vital fire trail system used to stopover for explorers crossing the Great Dividing protect the area. Range. The creeks, rich soil, open forest and native grassland environment were ideal for farming,
grazing and logging.
The valley was once roamed by wild brumbies but now offers horse riding with Sun Valley Reserve providing a large open space.
SUN VALLEY HOUSING
A contained residential subdivision occurred in the 1960s. A curvilinear street layout supports a subdivision of large semi-rural blocks developed with substantial brick and tile dwellings, some with horse paddocks.
The substantial tree canopy and bush setting is retained as part of the subdivision.
Photo credits – Sun Valley: Google Maps www.google.com.au Creeks, rich soil, open forest and native Blue Mountains Australia grasslands characterise the landscape of www.bluemts.com.au Sun Valley
27
Locality
322m above VALLEY HEIGHTS sea level 1,443 people HISTORIC RAILWAY TOWN
The Valley Heights Mixed ready for action About Valley Heights VALLEY HEIGHTS HISTORY Valley Heights is a small locality strongly contained by the surrounding topography. Expansive views over adjoining The town was originally known as ‘The Valley’ but valleys adds substantially to the amenity of the town. was renamed ‘Valley Heights’ in 1890. Commercial development is confined to a few scattered The historic Locomotive Depot, including premises along the Highway. A small light industrial area Roundhouse and workshops, and Railway has developed on the north side of the Highway, while Museum reflect the importance to the state of the south side is associated with the historic railway the village in the history of the Railway. workshops. There is no defined town centre. There is also a historic stone gatekeeper’s cottage, one of four surviving in the Mountains from the original twelve that guarded the gates The Teddy Bears Express at the level crossings.
VALLEY HEIGHTS
HOUSING
Valley Heights has a mixed residential character, with newer dwellings along ridgelines, and a scattering of older dwellings closer to the Highway. Older dwellings are fibro, weatherboard and brick with established gardens and fencing. Newer dwellings have a suburban character of brick and tile construction. Housing is generally modest in nature.
There is a distinctive character in areas such as Tusculum Road, Green Parade, Russell Avenue and Cambridge Street on the south, and Valley Photo credits – Valley Heights: Road and Wyoming Avenue on the north. The Google Maps distinctive residential areas are contained and www.google.com.au vulnerable to insensitive infill. Museums and Galleries of NSW 28 mgnsw.org.au
Service Village
336m above WINMALEE sea level 6,187 people ‘BUSHLAND SUBURBAN’ CHARACTER
Summerhayes Park About Winmalee
WINMALEE HISTORY Winmalee is a quiet residential area located along the Hawkesbury Road. Conifers and exotics create a distinctive Winmalee contains a number of early historic mixed landscape setting along Hawkesbury Road, set within sites beyond Newgrove Farm house and the overall native landscape setting. Bunya Pines, such as Hartfields, a stone residence and former girl’s school. The local shopping centre has a suburban character with no active frontage to the street due to the surrounding carpark. St Columbas School is also located off Within the shopping centre is the remnant homestead of the Hawkesbury Road. former Victorian-era Newgrove Farm and associated Bunya Pines which are a local landmark. The shopping precinct has
WINMALEE HOUSING town centre provisions to ensure a residential scale is retained and the heritage elements visually enhanced. The centre includes major retailers and is the anchor shopping Residential areas are located in cul-de-sacs area for this part of the Blue Mountains. A small mixed-use and loop roads running off Hawkesbury medium-density area is provided for opposite the shopping Road. Development occurs in district clusters centre to complement retail and community facilities. on spurs which are separated by thickly vegetated valleys giving the suburb a The 2013 bushfires had a devastating impact on Winmalee, bushland setting. Much of the original and many buildings have since been rebuilt. eucalypt forest has been retained in private gardens and along road verges. This has been complemented by the planting of native gardens around houses. Photo credits - Winmalee: Google Maps Housing in the area is predominantly www.google.com.au modern, and of brick veneer and tile Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au construction, having been built between 1960 and 1980. There are some older homes and established garden settings with character along Hawkesbury Road closer to Springwood. Older homes along Hawkesbury Road and bushland areas are important for 29 differentiation of this town.
District Centre
371m above SPRINGWOOD sea level 8,480 people FIRST MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT
Crepe Myrtles in bloom in Macquarie Road About Springwood
Springwood is a substantial town, and a key SPRINGWOOD HAS A RELAXED, service town in the Lower Blue Mountains. It is the district centre for the Lower Mountains. INCLUSIVE ATMOSPHERE AND COMFORTABLE LIVEABILITY. IT IS Springwood has developed on the south side of the railway and is separated from the noise and A COMMERCIAL CENTRE AND activity of the Great Western Highway. CULTURAL FOCUS FOR THE
There is a thriving commercial centre built LOWER MOUNTAINS around the railway station and Macquarie Road which winds parallel to the railway line following the old highway.
Older buildings survive in landmark locations. Martins Lookout Many older shops in Macquarie Road have been replaced by modern shopping arcades.
Beyond the town there are a number of lookouts and a delightful walk to Fairy Dell, an area covered in ferns which was a popular walk for holidaymakers who came to the town in its heyday between the 1880s and 1930s.
The town is a hub for arts, cultural activities and events in the Lower Mountains, supported by the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub. The Hub is a cultural and community precinct including a multi-purpose facility for performing arts, conferences and events. 30
SPRINGWOOD HISTORY
The name Springwood was given to the town by Governor Macquarie in 1815 as it consisted of a wooded area near a spring.
Distinctive historic buildings include: Braemar, built in 1892, now the Local Studies Library Frazer Memorial Presbyterian Church built from local stone in 1895 Springwood Railway Station, built in 1884 Springwood was a popular destination for wealthy Sydneysiders
to build country retreats, including Victorian estates such as Euchora, Silva Plana, Braemar, and Moorecourt.
The Springwood Hotel, built in the 1870s, also served
as a small store and later offered postal services. SPRINGWOOD VILLAGE
The town centre is comprised of low scale buildings, dispersed along Macquarie Road. The curvature of Macquarie Road and the mixture of building ages and types creates a strong local identity.
Streetscape improvements along Macquarie Road create traffic calming and enhance pedestrian activity. The Frazer Memorial Church (right) has important plantings including a conifer and Jacaranda, and a significant Cedar of Lebanon planted by Mrs Frazer in c.1890 from a seed brought back from Lebanon.
SPRINGWOOD HOUSING
Dwellings vary in scale, size and era creating an interesting mix The Frazer Memorial Church is one of the fine stone of housing. Streets are generally quiet and comfortable, with a buildings in Springwood and a key element of the high level of amenity and appeal, partly due to established Macquarie Road streetscape trees and gardens with generous setbacks. Streets are often soft- edged.
Some residential areas are included in a Residential Character zone. Character areas have low site coverage and substantial setbacks to allow established and mature gardens that provide Springwood contains a higher than average a landscape setting for older housing. number of stone buildings for the Mountains
The character of these areas is retained and enhanced, and the prominence of the landscape and garden settings retained or re-established.
Springwood has a strong presence of residential accommodation suitable for the elderly, with significant number of units in a variety of styles and configurations, generally with substantial gardens. Springwood Avenue and the western end of Macquarie Road have more recent unit developments.
Photo credits - Springwood: Google Maps www.google.com.au 31 Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au Aussie Towns www.aussietowns.com.au Springwood Historians springwoodhistorians.blogspot.com Blue Mountains Local Studies bluemlocalstudies.wordpress.com
Town Centre Precincts Springwood has a town centre precinct that preserves the traditional main street pattern and architecture of single and double storey retail frontages with continuous awnings. The Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub in the town centre is a focus for significant artistic and community events The town centre accommodates small retailers, local businesses, and retains the important settings of landmark buildings.
Low-scale forms of alternative housing are currently identified in limited areas. They will be sympathetic to existing character and housing styles, and are Balancing the need to provide close to services and public transport. more medium-density housing for older residents to stay in the Residential Character area whilst maintaining the low- scale and relaxed atmosphere areas Preserving key values, including Residential areas with an identified the connection to the natural character will be retained and environment, and Springwood’s enhanced, and the prominence of the heritage landscape and garden settings retained or re-established. Easing traffic congestion in the town centre
Heritage Conservation Areas Braemar, in Macquarie Road, contains the Local Studies Two new heritage conservation areas Library for the Blue Mountains and a community art gallery were created in 2019 and the existing Macquarie Road heritage conservation area extended, covering housing precincts in the historic town areas.
These protections preserve buildings and the character of neighbourhoods from demolition and loss.
Heritage Buildings
Despite substantial change in Springwood over time, with many older buildings lost or redeveloped, Springwood town centre and older residential areas contain many landmark buildings and character houses that have survived and make an important contribution to the character of Springwood. 32 Substantial houses and gardens, and more masonry than is typical of the Mountains are characteristic of Springwood, lending many residential areas an atmosphere of solidity and security.
Public domain improvements will further activate Macquarie Road and activate secondary streets and public spaces.
Consolidation and rejuvenation of buildings in the town centre will lead to new commercial and retail opportunities,
and provides small-scale centrally-located local housing.
Springwood Master Plan
The Springwood Master Plan was adopted in April 2016. It presents a vision and strategy to guide the future of “A vibrant town centre that Springwood’s town centre, and includes: reflects Springwood’s maintaining a vibrant and commercially viable town centre welcoming community renewal of public domain areas, improving accessibility, traffic and car parking atmosphere and celebrates the provision of a range of open spaces, and future public and private land uses that will maximise public its natural bushland setting of benefit and support ongoing economic vitality in the town the Blue Mountains.” centre.
The Master Plan and vision statement are supported by the Springwood Master Plan – vision statement community following positive consultation. Further work and public consultation on future stages is required.
33
Small Village
447m above FAULCONBRIDGE sea level HEART AND SPIRIT OF SIR HENRY PARKES 4,041 people
Faulconbridge Point About Faulconbridge FAULCONBRIDGE HISTORY Faulconbridge has strong historical associations with Norman Lindsay, Sir Henry Parkes and other important historical figures. The town was named by Sir Henry Parkes, and contains the site of his grave, his former There are a scattering of buildings at the old town centre residence Faulconbridge House and the associated Prime Minister’s Corridor of Oaks with near St Georges Avenue and the railway station. A small a tree for every prime minister. modern strip of shops on the south side of the Highway now denotes the town centre. Other past famous residents have included Sir James Martin, who lived in ‘Weemala’, and Sir Along the Highway, there is potential to enhance the Norman Lindsay whose residence and gallery identity of Faulconbridge. was called ‘Marylands’ and is now the Norman Lindsay Gallery owned by the National Trust. FAULCONBRIDGE HOUSING Residential areas off the Great Western Highway
represent an older inner ring of settlement with strong local character including a good mix of
house styles and a light eucalypt canopy. Norman Lindsay Gallery Construction is modest weatherboard and fibro near the railway stations and along the Highway. Later housing construction is of modern brick veneer and tile construction. Photo credits - Faulconbridge: Google Maps www.google.com.au Upper canopy trees, mainly eucalypts, have Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au been retained in the majority of private gardens Greater Blue Mountains Heritage Trail and along street verges. These have been heritagedrive.com.au supplemented by plantings of exotic trees such as conifers. Consequently, the town does not have the dominant bushland setting that is common elsewhere, despite being well vegetated. 34
The Corridor of Oaks
Locality
526m above LINDEN sea level SEVENTEEN MILE HOLLOW 466 people
View north from the Highway at Linden About Linden
LINDEN HISTORY Linden is a small scattering of dwellings along the Highway and more recent residential subdivisions focused on Glossop
Despite the small size of the settlement, Road in the north and Martin Place in the south. Linden has strong associations with early Linden is characterised by rough terrain and many historical European exploration and construction of the connections to the colonial explorer’s crossings of the Western Road and railway, and there is much Mountains. evidence to illustrate this.
Caleys Repulse, a cairn of rocks, is considered There are extensive bushland views from both sides of the ridge and development is unobtrusive. to be evidence of early exploration, whilst the grave of John Donohoe is a reminder of the Linden is home to the Linden Observatory. bushrangers and is one of the earliest monuments to the original settlers.
Remnants of Cox’s Road and Bull’s Camp relate to the construction of the Western King’s Cave Road. The railway dam, a cutting now used as part of the Highway route, and the station itself, are remnants of the construction of the railw ay line. Linden was originally known as Seventeen
Mile Hollow, but was renamed after the The grave of John Donohoe property Linden Lodge which was built in the theme of country residences.
The building known as Banool is also a part of the early trend of country estates. The construction of Banool was initiated by Sir James Martin but completed by others. Photo credits - Linden: Google Maps LINDEN HOUSING www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au Most housing was built in the 1950s and is of brick veneer construction, apart from a number of important heritage residences. 35
Small Village
607m above WOODFORD sea level 1,959 people HOME OF WOODFORD ACADEMY
Community event at the Woodford Academy About Woodford
WOODFORD HISTORY The village of Woodford has a historic character at its core, with the focus the impressive Woodford The town is associated with the Woodford Academy, Academy on the Highway. which was originally a weatherboard hotel in 1832 and Woodford retains the presence of a town centre developed as a stone inn in 1842. It is considered the along the Highway due to some prominent historic oldest building in the Mountains and is owned by the National Trust. The town centre is some distance east of commercial buildings and the Woodford Memorial
the Academy on the Highway. Park. The sparse sense of a town centre could be consolidated and enhanced through existing town
centre provisions that ensure that the scenically WOODFORD HOUSING distinctive Highway frontage continues to reflect a traditional village character.
Like many Mountains towns, Woodford has a small older core of dwellings, and more recent dwellings on Photo credits – Woodford: spurlines off the main ridge, with many streets a mix of Google Maps new and old. A consistent theme is small modest www.google.com.au houses and open, landscaped settings with a bush Blue Mountains Australia backdrop and remnant native trees. www.bluemts.com.au Greater Blue Mountains The southern section of the village is primarily on a Heritage Trail local highpoint close to the station. It is has a strong heritagedrive.com.au identifiable character with smaller modest Post -War NSW National Parks www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au and earlier infill, narrow roads and views out to rolling ridges. The same period mix is evident in Woodford Avenue vicinity on the north. Whilst the Ridge-Beauford area has much of this character, it also has earlier settlement and narrow roads which add to its rustic character.
Bushland does not dominate but forms a backdrop with good views and outlook from higher areas such as 36 Railway Parade.
Small Village
674m above HAZELBROOK sea level 4,961 people VILLAGE OF WATERFALL WALKS
Hazelbrook has bushwalks to glorious waterfalls About Hazelbrook with many accessible for families
Hazelbrook is a medium-sized quiet residential village. HAZELBROOK IS A QUIET RESIDENTIAL VILLAGE SERVICING THE LOCAL The railway is generally elevated COMMUNITY AND AN ACCESS POINT through the town centre and tends FOR SPECTACULAR NATURAL AREAS to dominate as well as divide the town.
Hazelbrook has well-kept houses and gardens in a bushland setting and with extensive views of the National Park on either side of the Highway.
There is less emphasis on tourism and public parks than in other towns.
Hazelbrook has a heritage conservation area that protects the historic group of shops south of the Highway in Railway Parade.
These protections preserve buildings and the character of the shopping precinct from demolition and loss. 37
HAZELBROOK HISTORY
The town was named after Hazelbrook House, built 1879-81 by Edward Higgs.
The R. T. Hall Sanitorium was built in the early 1900s to accommodate persons suffering from tuberculosis, and is now independent school Korowal. The associated pumphouse and dam provided water to the sanatorium.
Coates Park contains the site of the former public baths, a concrete retaining structure in the upper reaches of Redford Creek.
HAZELBROOK VILLAGE Turn of the century Hazelbrook had a scattering of weatherboard buildings, many of high quality CENTRE
The historic heart of the village is the group of
shops on Railway Parade on the southern side above the railway station, and connected to the newer commercial centre on the north side adjacent the Highway by a pedestrian overpass.
The shopping centre on the north side caters primarily to the local community.
Gloria Park provides recreational facilities including an oval, tennis courts and the bowling The war memorial now located in Gloria Park club. Gloria Park has a stone war memorial.
HAZELBROOK HOUSING
Hazelbrook has a core of older dwellings nearer the Highway, particularly around the Addington Road, Landseer Road, Terrace Falls Road and Railway Parade area and more modest examples
along Winbourne Road and Birdwood Parade. Hazelbrook contains a mix of housing periods with older weatherboard houses closer to the town centre Some historic houses in Hazelbrook have high heritage value as large, comfortable Federation dwellings on established garden lots. A number of larger Edwardian residences are located in Railway Parade, opposite the railway station.
Overall development densities are low, as a result of the natural bushland tracts retained along creek lines separating residential precincts, and the high proportion of undeveloped blocks.
Photo credits – Hazelbrook: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au State Library of NSW archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/home 38
Town Centre Precincts Hazelbrook has two town centre precincts, one on each side of the Highway. The South side precinct is a small historic main street also The Hazelbrook Bowling Club, set in the protected as a heritage conservation area. beautiful surrounds of natural bushland The north side shopping area will be consolidated with potential for shop-top housing.
Medium-density housing is currently limited to two small areas in Glendarrah Street and Addington Road, which provide alternate Revitalisation of the housing forms close to services and public transport. public domain Preserving historic Residential Character areas character and village Some residential parts of Hazelbrook have a atmosphere significant character that includes a dominance of the landscape setting. The character of these areas is retained and The Hazelbrook area is well known for its enhanced, and the prominence of the spectacular waterfalls landscape setting retained or re-established. Public Domain Master Plan
The Master Plan deals with public lands in the village and programs improvements to:
• Traffic and circulation
• Pedestrian safety and amenity
• Parking efficiency
• Urban design
Village of Waterfalls
The area has excellent bushwalking in unspoilt bushland on both the north and south sides of the Great Western Highway. Dozens of waterfalls are accessible scenic attractions.
On the North side, Mount View Road leads to Mabel Falls Reserve, with Mabel Falls, Edith Falls and Hazel Falls. Oaklands Road leads to the Amphitheatre, and Lyrebird Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Oakland Falls, Glow Worm Nook Falls and Burgess Falls.
On the South side, Terrace Falls Road leads to Terrace Falls Reserve, and Victor Falls, Terrace Falls and Bedford Pool. 39
Service Village
732m above sea level
LAWSON 2,613 people THE ORIGINAL BLUE MOUNTAIN
The sandstone memorial in Honour Avenue
About Lawson commemorates the sacrifices of Australians in various conflicts
Lawson is a medium-sized town with an important history, particularly as an early source of water for travellers. The Mechanics Institute and other key historic buildings LAWSON IS A UNIQUE HISTORIC
are dispersed along the Highway and set within generous TOWN AND A KEY COMMERCIAL HUB FOR THE MID-MOUNTAINS. IT HAS A open settings. The low density of built form and the scattered nature of important buildings gives the village a RURAL AND OPEN SETTING WITH rural or country town atmosphere. IMPORTANT LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES The town has evolved positively from the recent changes wrought by the Highway widening. A new compact shopping strip now defines the town centre on the Highway, with the landmark Blue Mountain Hotel as a primary visual cue and link to the historic nature of the town. The rear of the new row of shops provides an activated secondary street of retail and services for the local community.
Lawson has been and remains a commercial hub for the Mid -Mountains. It has one of the few industrial areas in the Mountains. It also contains a former Shire electricity substation, an Olympic sized pool and a reservoir.
Lawson contains a number of rare archaeological sites in the Mountains, the Blue Mountains Inn and Grand Hotel archaeological sites.
40
LAWSON HISTORY
Historically, Lawson was a key tourist destination and civic centre. It provided fresh spring water and was originally named Christmas Swamp. Later it was referred to as 24 Mile Hollow, the distance calculated from the Nepean River at Emu Ford. It was home to the Blue Mountains Council.
A number of inns were built, one being the Blue Mountain Inn, giving the town a new name. Lawson had one of the first permanent railway stations, the
Blue Mountain railway station. In 1879 the name was The official opening of the Map of Australia, changed to Lawson. Wilson Park, Lawson in 1932.
Lawson is home to some of the most substantial and fine early country retreats and estates. Dalmeny, Kihilla and Tahlia are fine surviving residences.
LAWSON VILLAGE CENTRE
Lawson’s village centre is dispersed in layout, separated and changed by the Highway. The new town centre focuses on a smart row of shops set back from the Highway. Important buildings line Douglass Square, Honour Avenue and the Highway.
Honour Avenue is a key component of the townscape and comprises a memorial gardens within a wide median strip, and a monumental sandstone memorial entryway at Douglass Square.
The Blue Mountain Hotel, established 1888, has The Mechanics Institute, the Community Centre, the been substantially restored to its former glory Magpie Markets and the Blue Mountain Hotel are community focal points.
Older parts of Lawson retain a rural and bush
LAWSON HOUSING transition quality, with much unkerbed guttering, more permeable ground surfaces
and a mix of native and exotic plantings, all important to the character of Lawson Residential areas of Lawson have a range of built forms from the late 1880s to contemporary housing. Houses are generally modest in scale and materials, and set within landscaped surrounds.
Occasional larger houses, and early 19th century and Inter-War houses are found closer to the transport corridor, as well as guest houses, and smaller cottages. There is a transition of older to contemporary buildings as the settlement pattern moves away from the corridor.
Photo credits - Lawson: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia 41 www.bluemts.com.au Blue Mountains Gazette www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au Aussie Towns www.aussietowns.com.au
Town Centre Precincts
Lawson has a town centre precinct that continues to evolve following the widening of the Great Western Highway. Public domain areas and Heatherbrae are the focus of a new village centre. The village scale and important historic elements Individual heritage buildings are located around the are retained. town centre in a low-density country town form
Lawson has some areas currently identified for infill medium-density housing in limited areas near the town centre, which provides alternate housing forms close to services and public transport.
Lawson Village Master Plan Continuing to re-establish The predominant objectives of the Master Plan local character following have been achieved following the Highway the Highway widening widening, and the village continues to evolve on a Consolidating the new site-by-site basis. town centre layout Residential Character areas Restoring key heritage sites Retaining rural atmosphere Many residential parts of Lawson have a significant and landscape values character characterised by significant landscape settings. Revitalising Douglass Square The character of these areas is to be retained and enhanced, and the prominence of the landscape setting retained or re-established. Adelina Falls on the Waterfall Loop Walk Heritage Conservation Areas
Lawson has several heritage conservation areas that protect historic groups of buildings and the highly significant Honour Avenue Memorial Gardens. These protections commemorate important values and preserve buildings and the character of neighbourhoods from demolition and loss.
Planned environmental landscapes
Lawson’s distinctive town planning centres around the broad public streets of San Jose Avenue and Santa Cruz Avenue (now Honour Avenue) that link two important public reserves, North Lawson and South Lawson Parks. The parks were originally called San Jose Park (the north reserve) and Santa Cruz Park (the south reserve).
These were named by Joseph Guillermo Hay, a local management trustee for the reserves. The two reserves were established in 1876 in line with broader concerns for ensuring protection42 for environmentally sensitive land in the Mountains. Lawson has particular significance as a Mountain village with close early links between heritage and environmental conservation, reflected in the North and South reserves which provide access to multiple waterfalls.
Locality
769m above BULLABURRA sea level BLUE SKIES VILLAGE 1,233 people
Natural bushland near Red Gum Park About Bullaburra BULLABURRA HISTORY Bullaburra is a small and quiet residential settlement on the Highway’s main ridge line. The National Park comes The former George Haining Coachhouse is a rare close to the town on either side of the ridge and Victorian Georgian cottage and kitchen block provides a bushland setting. Notable character areas which was a vehicle repair depot on the Great and elements are views out from Kalinda Road and the Western Road for horse-drawn carts operated from Kalinda/Boronia Road area, and the row of cottages
a Sydney coach-building firm. along Railway Parade.
Bullaburra has a small town centre of three shops, a BULLABURRA HOUSING community centre and a Village Green. Red Gum Park
is a peaceful bushland park established by Sir Arthur Rickard and dedicated to the public. Bushland has a Residential areas are a classic Mountains mix of strong presence on both the contained northern edge modest weatherboard and fibro dwellings from the and along southern spurs. Inter -War and Post-War periods, with infill of classic 60s and 70s modest brick veneer homes.
Some residential areas south of the Highway are protected as distinctive character areas. These areas have a character that includes a dominance Bullaburra Village Green of the landscape setting, with larger lots and low site coverage through smaller dwelling sizes.
The character of these areas will be retained and enhanced, and the prominence of the landscape setting retained or re-established.
The south side of Kalinda Road has ‘escarpment’ protections , where views from the National Park are protected from the visual impacts of urban development.
Photo credits - Bullaburra: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia 43 www.bluemts.com.au David Noble www.david-noble.net
Service Village Tourist Village
867m above sea level
6,076 people
WENTWORTH FALLS WHERE DARWIN WALKED
The spectacular Wentworth Falls About Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls is the first of the Upper WENTWORTH FALLS IS A SMALL Mountains towns above the ‘snowline’. VILLAGE WITH DISTINCTIVE CHARM. Wentworth Falls has a distinctive charm and character as a small village with IT IS A KEY TOURIST DESTINATION appealing shops, cafes and restaurants AND ACCESS POINT TO UPPER within a contained town centre. MOUNTAINS SCENIC ATTRACTIONS Wentworth Falls is a major tourist destination with excellent bushwalks, waterfalls and creeks and a large number of dramatic views across the Jamison Valley. The town’s setting to the south is
distinguished by dramatic topographic and visual contrasts, with the level plateau ending in vertical cliffs that mark the edge of the Jamison Valley.
One of the village’s most distinctive landmarks is Kings Tableland, which leads to Lincoln’s Rock, and McMahon’s Lookout over Lake Burragorang.
The central area of the village includes the golf course and Wentworth Falls Lake.
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WENTWORTH FALLS HISTORY
The town was originally named ‘Weatherboard’, after William Cox’s weatherboard hut which he built as his second depot during construction of the Western Road. The town was renamed Wentworth Falls in 1879. The site of the Weatherboard Inn remains near Pitt Park.
The former railway dam that provided water for steam engines is now used for recreation as a lake in parklike grounds.
Wentworth Falls is home to grand historic country estates such as Yester Grange and Rhondda Valley, and large sanatoria Bodington and the Queen Victoria Hospital, dating from the turn of the previous century. Jamison’s Valley, Wentworth Falls by John William Lewin c.1815-1816
WENTWORTH FALLS VILLAGE
The town centre is a small main street strip of shops on the
western side of the street, opposite the railway line and Coronation Park and gardens. Solid two-storey brick Federation buildings have retained their traditional projecting verandahs and posts.
This area is separated from the residential sections of the town as it is a thin strip of land between the railway and Highway. The Grandview Hotel is a landmark building on the Highway at the intersection of the main street.
WENTWORTH FALLS HOUSING
Residential development dates back to 1827. Since then the View of Station Street and the town centre from the Great Western Highway town has developed to its current form with four distinct residential precincts. Two of these are south of the transport corridor and are split by the headwaters of Jamison Creek. The other two are to the north of the corridor, located on
either side of Wentworth Falls Lake and the golf course.
Older dwellings dominate local character closer to town, with many fine and substantial examples of period dwellings. One of the grander historic houses in Wentworth Falls, discreetly On the south side in some areas there is an open, almost rural screened from the street within a mature garden setting feeling due to wide streets and lanes, a centrally located open wetland area and park.
Many houses are on larger lots with established cool climate gardens, establishing the dominant character when viewed from main roads. Part of Falls Road and Blaxland Road have distinctive ‘Mountains ‘character.
Photo credits – Wentworth Falls: 45 Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au State Library of NSW digital.sl.nsw.gov.au NSW National Parks www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
Town Centre Precincts
Wentworth Falls town centre is compact and diverse. The architecture and forms of town buildings are enhanced, and future Wentworth Falls Lake stored water for steam trains development consolidates active retail and is and now a popular recreation area. Facilities at the Lake have been recently upgraded. frontages. The town centre is also protected as a heritage conservation area.
Two small areas are currently identified for medium -density housing that is sympathetic to heritage contexts and screened from the Highway. Balancing tourism impacts
Residential Character Areas such as parking and traffic with resident amenity Parts of Wentworth Falls have a significant residential character that includes visually around the Conservation significant streetscapes and garden settings. Hut and the Falls while also ensuring street character is The character of these areas will be retained retained and enhanced, and the prominence of the landscape setting maintained or re- Ensuring a long term established. strategy for tree replacement Heritage Conservation Preserving historic Areas character and village atmosphere Wentworth Falls has three existing heritage conservation areas, with two more recently added. Along with the town centre, some Charles Darwin Walk along Jamison Creek important residential areas and groups of buildings are protected from demolition and loss of character.
Charles Darwin and Darwin’s Walk
Charles Darwin, naturalist, visited Australia in 1836 and followed the course of Jamison Creek from a ‘tiny rill of water’ into its ultimate leap into space at Wentworth Falls. The walk along Jamison Creek was named after Darwin and may have been the first tourist walking track in the Mountains.
Darwin’s Oak near the Weatherboard Inn site near Pitt Park also commemorates Darwin’s visit at the outset of his career, exploring the geology and zoology of the Blue46 Mountains. It was planted by the Naturalists Soc iety of New South Wales in 1936 in memory of his visit a century before.
Service Village Tourist Village
985m above LEURA sea level 4,641 people THE GARDEN VILLAGE
The garden at Everglades in Spring About Leura Leura is renowned for its many cool climate gardens, the most famous being Everglades, LEURA IS KNOWN FOR ITS EXOTIC designed by Paul Sorensen, the highly influential landscape designer and ‘master gardener’. GARDENS AND AS A KEY TOURIST DESTINATION, PARTICULARLY THE Leura contains many iconic images such as shopping precinct Leura Mall, lined with flowering BOUTIQUE SHOPPING PRECINCT cherries, and much residential development of OF LEURA MALL substantial quality and distinctiveness, often with an Edwardian and Inter-War architectural
character and significant garden settings.
The commercial area around the Mall has a special Edwardian character and is protected as a heritage conservation area.
The railway journey includes some views into the larger verandahed houses and gardens of Railway Parade.
Many Leura streetscapes and gardens form impressive collections of European cool-climate plantings. These are a popular tourist attraction, presenting as a mass of colour in spring, and a spectacular autumn display. Elements include substantial tree rows, feature trees, hedges, front 47 fences and sophisticated garden designs. The
Leura Garden Festival is every year in October. LEURA HISTORY
The town was named after Leura Falls, which was believed to be named by Frederick Clissold after his Queensland property, although debate still continues as to the origin of the name. The Leura Estate subdivision occurred in 1881 and the railway station opened in 1890.
Leura is associated with the theme of grand country estates, with many palatial homes and gardens, such as ‘Everglades’ and others near Gordon Falls and Sublime Point.
The high level of tourism is reflected through former large hotels and guest houses such as The Ritz, as well as lookouts, walking trails and scenic drives. Excursion train leaving Leura Station 1902
LEURA VILLAGE
The town centre is located on Leura Mall, just off the Highway and separated by a wide, grassed and planted
median strip with ornamental cherries. One and two storeyed, older brick shops, with varied facades, line both sides of the street and provide a pedestrian-friendly scale.
Town centre streets are softened by tree lines and
established garden settings of exotic plantings. In some streets such as Gladstone Road, tall hedges and line plantings create a strong formal garden character.
There are a number of significant gardens in south Leura, with hedges and distinctive mature deciduous trees and tall conifers. These are complemented by substantial houses Leura Mall is characterised by the median strip lined with cherry trees that provide attractive spring and and cottages many with heritage and character values. autumn displays
LEURA HOUSING
Residential development dates back to the late 1860s and the arrival of the railway. The central residential area is the most established and was developed at the same time as Katoomba. It mainly comprises small to medium-sized cottages of weatherboard and fibro construction. To the Leura contains many substantial heritage dwellings in fine exotic garden settings south, especially around the golf course and along Sublime
Point Road, the character changes to one of large, densely planted blocks where the houses are generally subservient to their setting.
In the south, houses are often modest but share a culture of
gardening which establishes the imagery of the suburb. This is strongest in the south, but includes areas in north Leura such as Victoria Lane, the Wentworth/Mount Street block.
Photo credits - Leura: Google Maps www.google.com.au 48 Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au Aussie Towns www.aussietowns.com.au Leura Gardens Festival leuragardensfestival.com.au NSW State Archives gallery.records.nsw.gov.au
Town Centre Precincts Leura has three town centre precincts that ensure new development retains the existing character and contextual cues. In Leura Mall, some increase in facilities is likely through re-use and development of Everglades in Leura is owned and managed by the upper floor areas. National Trust and one of the finest Paul Sorensen gardens
The town gateway precinct has the potential to be appropriately redeveloped to improve connectivity and display high quality urban design including sympathetic character and landscape outcomes.
Small existing medium-density residential precincts create sympathetic infill with landscaped gardens. Managing traffic and pedestrian flow in Leura Residential Character areas Mall Providing safe parking Many residential parts of Leura have a significant areas for tourist buses character that includes highly appealing Retaining and enhancing streetscapes and established garden settings. They are characterised by larger lots with a low site the unique character coverage and smaller dwelling sizes. and heritage of Leura Mall The character of these areas is to be retained and Preserving gardens, enhanced, and the prominence of the landscape setting retained or re-established. mature trees and distinctive housing Heritage Conservation Areas
Parts of South Leura and North Leura have recently Leura contains many streetscapes of exceptional become heritage conservation areas. These beauty and amenity with colourful deciduous trees protections preserve buildings and the character of and distinctive European forest trees neighbourhoods from demolition and loss.
Exceptional cool climate landscapes
Leura is home to some of the Mountains’ most notable cool climate gardens and considered by the National Trust to be one of the best examples in the state of a township with a strong cool climate garden character.
Particular gardens in Leura are the work of Paul Sorensen, who designed many gardens in the Mountains, particularly in Leura around the 1930s and 1940s. Sorensen was highly influential in creating an aesthetic of European forest trees, such as large conifers, smaller deciduous trees such as maple and birch, bulbs and flowering shrubs.
The Leura Garden Festival showcases some of Leura’s finest gardens every year. Dry stone walling, terracing of sloping land, framing of views, hedging and stone flagging all became popular design features for Mountains gardens due to Sorensen’s influence, set within a broader garden movement.
Popular large tree species include cypresses, pin oak, and copper49 beech. Favoured smaller trees are silver birch, flowering cherries, magnolias and Japanese maples. Underplantings include rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and hydrangeas.
Strategic Centre Tourist Village
1,017m above KATOOMBA sea level 7,960 people HOME OF THE THREE SISTERS
The Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley About Katoomba The Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba is the largest town in the Blue Mountains and the iconic Katoomba landmark the strategic centre for the Mountains. KATOOMBA IS THE KEY BLUE and significant rock formation Katoomba is the quintessential Blue Mountains town for MOUNTAINS DESTINATION. IT IS A visitors, as it is associated with the iconic image of the SERVICE CENTRE AND CULTURAL Three Sisters at Echo Point, and attractions such as FOCUS FOR THE UPPER MOUNTAINS Scenic World. The town is set atop a high ridge with distinctive views of the Jamison Valley and fine district views from key areas. It provides access to and views of the World Heritage Area for millions of tourists.
Historic buildings in Katoomba, from the focal point of the Carrington Hotel in the town centre to heritage shops, cinemas, cafes, churches and flats, many of which were built to serve the tourist market, reflect the importance of Katoomba to the tourist market over time.
Katoomba experiences dramatic climate changes, which in turn influence the flux of locals and visitors. The town can be buzzing with people on a beautiful sunny day, and subdued under winter’s bitter winds. The success of the town and its people is based on working with the climate and the seasons by providing a balance of indoor and outdoor spaces for people to enjoy.
A trip to the Blue Mountains is part of the personal history of many Australians and Katoomba is particularly 50 important for the war years’ generations. KATOOMBA HISTORY
The original name of Katoomba railway station was ‘The Crushers’ as stone ballast was quarried there, but was changed to Katoomba in 1877. Katoomba was a coal-mining town in the late 1800s; however mining was distant and intermittent. At the same time, the Carrington Hotel was built as a luxury resort also defining the town. These factors reflect the origins of the diversity of Katoomba.
The Carrington Hotel, built in 1883 was a popular destination for international travellers and was considered the most popular hotel in the Southern Hemisphere, rivalling the Raffles in Singapore. By 1889 the town was prosperous and populated, with houses, hotels, shops and a school.
In the 1920s and 1930s Katoomba was known as ‘the Honeymoon Historic scenes of Bathurst Road in 1922 above, and Capital of Australia’. A number of venues such as the Niagara and Katoomba Street and Railway Station (1909) below Paragon served as refreshment rooms. Others such as the Savoy demonstrated the evolution of theatres and amusement halls into
cinemas.
KATOOMBA TOWN CENTRE
Katoomba Street and surrounds are an architecturally distinctive Edwardian and Inter-War (1900-1920) town centre set on the hilltop with infinite views to the World Heritage Area beyond. Some larger modern buildings variously disrupt or blend with the historic town fabric.
A network of laneways branch off Katoomba Street adding interest and complexity to the town centre. Mural projects and community art add texture, colour and local meaning, enhancing public spaces. Lanes and lane-like streets contribute interest to the older, western parts of north Katoomba.
Views of the town centre are distinctive upon the approach from Sydney by rail but obscured from the Highway. The town is located on a local highpoint and such features as steep siting of buildings, contained urban form and the dominance of the Carrington building complex and gardens creates a sense of a hill-top village.
Katoomba is a hub for economic and employment opportunities and provides many services that respond to the needs of locals. The Blue The Carrington Hotel (above and below), established Mountains Cultural Centre completed in 2011 has invigorated the 1883, is the most impressive of the 19th century grand hotels town’s identity and provided an artistic edge. Katoomba contains still in use in New South Wales significant facilities and services such as the Council’s headquarters and the Blue Mountains hospital which are also significant employers. There are many other commercial, retail, health and education facilities. There are also significant land holdings utilised for Christian accommodation and events. Photo credits - Katoomba: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au Aussie Towns www.aussietowns.com.au Blue Mountains Local Studies Library on Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/blue_mountains_library_-_local_studies 51 National Museum of Australia http://collecti onsearch.nma.gov.au/object/172378 Blue Mountains Tourist Parks bmtp.com.au Destination NSW www.visitnsw.com The Carrington Hotel thecarrington.com.au
Historic neighbourhoods
Down the hill from the town centre in South Katoomba, a grid-like residential street pattern responds to the more level terrain of the plateau. The south side of the town terminates in the dramatic escarpment complex that includes the Three Sisters at Echo Point. The north side of Katoomba contains a similar historic grid subdivision pattern with a less urbanised environment.
There are key views from exposed and relatively ordinary streets. Other streets contain an interesting diversity of historic houses. The most interesting areas are not necessarily evident to the short stay visitor as they are tucked away off the main streets. Hinkler Park is an important social and historic park in the centre of South Katoomba.
Older South Katoomba is contained on the plateau above the Jamison Valley by an important scenic route, Cliff Drive, which in addition to providing views, allows a sense that tourism is part of the history of Katoomba. This is reinforced by substantial guest houses and hotels throughout southern Katoomba.
There are a number of large open space areas in the town and these include Harold Hodgson Park, Kingsford Smith Park, Lilianfels Park, Melrose Park, and the Katoomba Golf Course.
Housing in South Katoomba is visually prominent because of its relatively high elevation. The streetscapes of historic housing are of great visual interest and diversity. Some areas have consistent patterns of modest and narrow housing on small lots, giving streetscapes a distinctive cottage scale. Typical materials are weatherboards, brick, fibro with corrugated iron or Marseille tiled roofs. Exotic trees particularly conifers continue to grow and establish a mature setting for the streets and houses. Many houses have attractive gardens with smaller trees such as prunus, crab apple, birch, Japanese maple, and cottage garden shrubs.
North Katoomba has a smaller, distinctive older cottage area in the centre and significant newer housing areas of brick veneer dwellings to the perimeter in a more natural bushland setting. In the northern area development is generally less dominating because of the more undulating terrain and the presence of large street trees.
Notable residential character areas include the Alfred, Abbotsford and Warialda Streets area, Bathurst Road Honour Avenue in Lawson residences above The Gully which are visible from the Highway, Waratah Street and Lurline Street. Large parts of Katoomba are now protected as heritage conservation areas, and some areas are protected as special residential character zones. There are many areas and streetscapes52 that include distinctive views, particularly Cliff Drive, Gang Street over Kingsford Smith Park and Lovel Street.
Katoomba is a focal point for a variety of musical, artistic, gastronomic and recreational events, centred on key tourist sites such as the town centre, local bush trails, Scenic World and the Carrington Hotel. Many events are community-based. The town provides an excellent size and layout for small events, with easy access to the town centre
from a variety of locations and venues.
The Scenic Railway at Scenic World
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Desired Future Character Key Sites
Katoomba is the primary strategic centre for the Blue Key sites for revitalisation include:
Mountains. The town is identified strongly with its unique The Renaissance Centre heritage and character which supports a wide range of Goldsmith Place The Savoy tourism. The town is recognised broadly as a hub for arts, The Carrington Parke Street cultural activities and events. Fine arts are supported by frontage the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and many local art The Civic Centre galleries. Mountain Heritage The Katoomba Golf Course and Katoomba is a significant tourist destination and an clubhouse attractive and engaging place to stay. Enhanced Katoomba Falls Kiosk lifestyle, accommodation and entertainment uses will activate streets and support and grow tourism and night- time economies.
There are opportunities to build on local assets to promote economic activity and consolidate Katoomba’s revitalisation. Public domain improvements will further activate the network of laneways and activate secondary streets in town. Street trees along major routes such as Lurline Street will enhance important tourist and scenic areas.
Adaptive reuse and rejuvenation of buildings in the town centre in a way that respects and enhances existing architectural style and historic character is strongly Former Mount St Marys Convent, also known as the supported. This will also lead to new commercial and Renaissance Centre, is awaiting adaptive re-use retail opportunities, and provide small-scale centrally- located local housing. Smart work hubs and small business opportunities will allow residents to work in the area. Artisan premises allow local production of a range of goods supporting the unique Mountains identity. Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in Katoomba is re-emerging as a meaningful and dynamic the centre of Katoomba destination. Hallmarks of Katoomba’s changing fortunes include the revitalisation of Echo Point, the construction of the Cultural Centre, which opened in 2011, and the Street Art Walk in Beverly Lane in 2015. Upgrading of the Pioneer Place area and large supermarkets has seen a slow but steady flow of positive tenancies in town shops and Katoomba holding its own in recent years.
The desired future character of the town is in a substantial sense guided by the outcomes of its identified 54 precincts and important redevelopment sites.
Town Centre Precinct Katoomba town centre commercial areas and nearby tourist precincts are managed to Katoomba Falls is a popular natural area preserve and enhance scale, built form, attraction close to the town centre amenity, public domain and character values. The upcoming master planning process will consider the future of existing precincts.
Some minimal medium-density housing areas are currently identified near the town centre where accessible to services and public Continuing revitalisation of the transport. town centre and Residential Character areas redevelopment of key sites Managing the impacts of Katoomba has small areas where residential large-scale tourism and character is protected through streetscape, associated traffic landscape and building height protections. Preserving key values Heritage Conservation Areas including the connection to the natural environment, and Large parts of Katoomba are now protected by Katoomba’s fine and diverse being within heritage conservation areas that heritage preserve buildings and the character of neighbourhoods from demolition and loss. Easing congestion at the narrow and historic entry Escarpment Areas points to the town centre
Residential areas near Echo Point and around the escarpment edges of South Katoomba have Echo Point Katoomba ‘escarpment’ protections, where views from the National Park are protected from the visual impacts of urban development.
Spectacular natural environment
Katoomba provides easy access to many natural areas with high scenic and environmental beauty and interest. Many sites are of high value for natural recreation, whether walking, trail running, camping, picnicking or relaxing. They include:
Echo Point The Three Sisters Prince Henry Cliff Walk Katoomba Falls The Six Foot Track 55 The Gully Minni Ha-Ha Falls
Katoomba Master Plan
A master planning process is proposed to revitalise the Katoomba town centre. Key sites will contribute to the
revitalisation process, along with the interplay of the proposed Scenic Southern Escarpment Master Plan. Various documents, including the Destination Management Plan 2017 and the Katoomba Town Centre Charette from 1999 will form a basis for an evolving strategy of physical improvement works, funding opportunities and the redevelopment of key sites.
The Strategy will be a wide-ranging blue print, not just for government, but for the community, business owners, community groups and property owners to become actively involved in revitalisation activities in Katoomba. To be successful, this wide community involvement and support will Potential exists to develop and strengthen: be essential. Niche areas of tourism including the education sector, international hospitality, creative, language and environmental related programs. Unique experiences, including combining art, “There are opportunities to build on artisan and regional food events in historic buildings with skills development and nature- the centre’s assets to promote based learning. These sectors offer a valuable market for expanding the visitor economy economic activity and consolidate and generating local employment. Cultural tourism, with an emphasis on Katoomba’s revitalisation.” authenticity, quality, the unique history and lifestyle of the people of the Blue Mountains – Western City District Plan 2018 the arts, architecture, cultural events, cultural heritage, food (including cooking schools and events) and formal garden experiences.
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Small Village
1,050m above MEDLOW BATH sea level 609 people HOME OF THE HYDRO MAJESTIC
The Hydro Majestic perched atop the escarpment About Medlow Bath MEDLOW BATH Medlow Bath is located on a narrow section of plateau near the cliff edge overlooking the Kanimbla and Megalong HISTORY Valleys to the west.
The iconic Hydro Majestic Hotel has made The Hydro Majestic extends along the Highway and can Medlow Bath a notable town. Famous appear to make up the entire town. The railway tracks and businessman Mark Foy constructed this station are visible adjacent the Highway and opposite the remarkable Edwardian folly from 1904 Hydro Majestic, enhancing the experience of the transport
onwards. A sense of history is defined by the corridor which passes through the centre of town. Hydro-Majestic and the character cottages
located across the railway corridor. Medlow Bath has an identified town precinct for the Hydro Majestic which seeks to sympathetically conserve the The Medlow Dam to the north incorporates heritage significance of the Hydro and the related an important bushland water catchment escarpment areas. area.
MEDLOW BATH
HOUSING Looking down into the Megalong Valley from Medlow Bath The village contains a mix of dwellings from various periods, with many houses constructed of weatherboard or fibro with corrugated iron roofs that are generally pre- World War Two age.
The town is distinctive in that the streets and gardens contain a high canopy of mature vegetation . There are many fine gardens in Medlow Bath, including cottage gardens and bushland gardens which contribute to the streetscape.
Photo credits – Medlow Bath: 57 Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au Aussie Towns www.aussietowns.com.au
Service Village Tourist Village
1,065m above BLACKHEATH sea level 4,402 people RHODODENDRON TOWN
Govetts Leap
About Blackheath
Blackheath is the highest village in the Mountains , and has become known for its BLACKHEATH IS A SIGNIFICANT UPPER distinctive garden character. Blackheath is a MOUNTAINS TOWN AND AN popular village for general sightseeing and interaction with the stunning bushland and IMPORTANT TOURIST DESTINATION, valleys nearby. Blackheath is a key access point WITH A WELL-ESTABLISHED GARDEN for the surrounding World Heritage Area. ATMOSPHERE AND A CONNECTED COMMUNITY The eastern side of the Highway reflects the historic Crown Village Plan with a grid-like street pattern. Streetscapes are of exceptional quality with generous road reserves and high aesthetics and amenity
Its many guesthouses reflect the importance of
tourism, recreation and the attractions of bracing mountain air.
Blackheath’s setting is rich in natural landmarks, and is the access point for some of the Mountains’ most dramatic natural features such as Govetts Leap Lookout, Evans Lookout and the Blue Gum Forest.
Unique rural areas the Shipley Plateau and the Hat Hill Plateau adjoin the town. Shipley plateau has spectacular lookouts such as Hargreaves Lookout, and several apple orchards. 58
BLACKHEATH HISTORY
Originally named ‘Hounslow’ by Governor Macquarie in 1815. He renamed it Blackheath 16 days later.
The town centre was the site of a military presence from 1830, and is the former site of the Blackheath Convict Stockade, a centre to establish the road to Bathurst in 1844. Archaeological remains are likely under the town centre.
Andrew Gardener’s Inn is still on the same site on the Highway since 1831 although modified from original form.
Blackheath Village was the first Crown release subdivision in the Mountains in 1879. Blackheath Railway Station circa 1910 BLACKHEATH VILLAGE
CENTRE
The town has an Inter-War character with a fine collection of buildings constructed in the 1920s and 1930s of one and two storeys. These brick buildings were part of an improvement plan by Blackheath Council.
There is a strong village atmosphere of traditional main streets and laneways, and landmark corner buildings.
The Gardener’s Inn, the Ivanhoe Hotel, the Victory Theatre and a number of guesthouses are local landmarks in the town centre.
Blackheath Memorial Park and The Gardens and War Memorial are important civic parks. Blackheath town centre in Govetts Leap Road
BLACKHEATH HOUSING
Many inner residential areas in Blackheath are of high heritage or character value, with a rich range of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century dwellings. Victorian/Federation architecture in town housing Local character includes highly distinctive streetscapes and gardens.
There are consistent and intact neighbourhoods of quality residential buildings and streets. Buildings are diverse, with significant early estates and family retreats mixed with modest cottages.
Houses in the centre areas are mostly single-storey houses of traditional materials such as weatherboard, fibro and corrugated iron with some brick houses.
Photo credits – Blackheath: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au 59 NSW National Parks www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au NSW State Archives gallery.records.nsw.gov.au Aussie Towns www.aussietowns.com.au
Town Centre Precincts Blackheath currently has five individual town centre precincts that ensure new development retains the compact town centre character, and that low-scale forms of alternative housing are The lake at the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens sympathetic to existing cottage housing styles.
The traditional ‘main street’ form of the town centre accommodates small retailers, local businesses, tourist-related activities and permanent residents. Balancing tourism impacts with
Medium-density housing is limited to areas resident amenity in Wentworth Street, which provide Enhancing culture and identity alternate housing forms close to services Preserving historic character and public transport. and village atmosphere Public Domain Master Plan Blackheath is famous for its rhododendrons, culminating in Construction will begin in 2020 to make the annual Rhododendron Festival in October improvements to the town centre, to enhance public amenity and activation of the town centre in keeping with the adopted Plan.
Parking, traffic and pedestrian circulation in the town centre will be improved. Heritage Conservation Areas
Four new heritage conservation areas were created in 2019, covering housing precincts in the historic town areas.
These protections preserve buildings and the character of neighbourhoods from demolition and loss.
Streetscapes and Gardens
Distinctive garden character to residences and exceptional streetscapes of mature exotic street tree plantings along the Great Western Highway and inner northern streets
It has an extensive cultural landscape of complex and mature street trees and private gardens with spectacular autumnal and spring-flowering fruit trees, pine trees and plane trees. 60 Gardening is celebrated with the Flower and Craft Show in September and the Rhododendron Festival in November each year.
Small Village Tourist Village
1,044m above MT VICTORIA sea level 1,007 people EXPLORERS GATEWAY TO THE WEST
The view of Hartley from Mount York, above, About Mount Victoria and view from Mount Piddington, below
Mount Victoria is a small, contained village within a bushland setting. It has a charming rural atmosphere and contains many important historic buildings, as it was MOUNT VICTORIA IS AN a principal tourist destination prior to the Railway IMPORTANT HISTORIC VILLAGE Streetscapes are defined by strong urban forms, notably WITH A RURAL CHARACTER AND landmark historic hotels and shops in Station Street and on the Highway. Some are built close to the road A SIGNIFICANT HISTORY OF creating activation and containment. The village has EXPLORATION AND TOURISM many small historic cottages and churches along the Highway.
Mount Victoria is also a major transport node – the historic intersection of the Great Western Highway and Darling Causeway (Bells Line of Road). It is also at the parting of the parallel route of the Highway and railway.
Expansive views are available from parts of the village. The area along the western escarpment overlooks the Kanimbla Valley.
The town has a collection of fine sandstone buildings including the Railway Station and museum, the former Post Office, the Toll Bar House, the Gatekeeper’s Cottage and other nearby buildings,
Mount Victoria was identified by the National Trust in the 1980s as an important historic town. The town centre is protected as a heritage conservation area. 61
MOUNT VICTORIA HISTORY
Mount Victoria is a historic town of importance in the Mountains and with unique values. It acted as a staging point prior to the descent down Victoria Pass and to Jenolan Caves, and was for many years the terminus for the railway. This resulted in the early establishment of inns and guesthouses for the accommodation of travellers.
The availability of these facilities and the attractiveness of the area meant that Mount Victoria was also closely associated with the themes of recreation and tourism.
MOUNT VICTORIA VILLAGE The Victoria Pass is an amazing engineering
solution to resolve the way off the Mountains to the Western plains beyond The village of Mount Victoria is located in hilly terrain with a fragmented settlement pattern and generally low density of development, providing a rambling, rural character.
The majority of buildings date from the last century and have been preserved in an authentic state. The town centre has a distinctive character because of the age of buildings, the lack of intrusion of new development and the presence of a number of significant buildings such as the Imperial Hotel, Victoria and Albert Guesthouse and The Manor House (the old Coopers Grand Hotel).
Mount Victoria Memorial Park is an important open space near the town centre and is contiguous with the grounds of The Manor House.
Station Street is one of the finest historic streetscapes in Station Street is the heart of the village and contains the Mountains. an outstanding collection of Victorian buildings
MOUNT VICTORIA HOUSING
Central village areas have a strong presence of historic Weatherboard and corrugated iron are buildings, surrounded by suburban areas, suburban traditional Mountains-style materials bushland and bushland fringe areas.
Most dwellings are pre-20th century, and are constructed from weatherboard with corrugated iron roofs. A few are of sandstone construction. Streets are mostly unguttered soft verges, contributing to the country town character.
Recent modest scale timber cottages close to town have continuity with smaller historic cottages and a character resonance with bushland housing in the village edges.
Photo credits – Mount Victoria: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au Mount Victoria Community Association 62 mountvictoria.nsw.au Blue Mountains Local Studies blog bluemlocalstudies.wordpress.com
Town Centre Precincts Mount Victoria town centre has a historically and scenically distinctive country town character that will be Mount Victoria Railway Station also houses a museum retained in any future development. and is one of the finest railway stations in the Mountains Victorian and Edwardian cottages, shops, former civic buildings, and landmark hotels have a scattered character within a rural setting of parklands and soft road edges, all with a low density character.
Local businesses serve the community Balancing tourism impacts with and visitors, with an emphasis on low-key resident amenity tourism and day visits. Enhancing culture and identity
There are no specifically identified Preserving historic character medium-density housing areas planned and village atmosphere for Mount Victoria.
Heritage Conservation The Imperial Hotel in the centrepiece and main landmark at Areas the centre of Mount Victoria
The existing Mount Victoria heritage conservation area has recently been extended to include the Harley Avenue area, encompassing dwelling houses and the Mount Victoria Hall (Mount Vic Flicks).
These protections preserve buildings and the character of neighbourhoods from demolition and loss.
A Significant Historic Town
By the end of the nineteenth century Mount Victoria had become part of the Blue Mountains’ booming ‘destination’ tourist industry.
Substantial hotels the Imperial Hotel, the Victoria and Albert Guesthouse and the former Cooper’s Grand (the Manor House) provided relief and retreat from Sydney’s heat.
However Mount Victoria did not have as many scenic attractions and lookouts within easy walking distance as other Upper Mountains villages, and was further from the City, meaning it was not as popular and did not develop other social and community facilities as did other villages such as Katoomba.
This allowed Mount Victoria to retain its late nineteenth century character63 of a peaceful, scattered country town with local views dominated by some of the most substantial nineteenth century hotels and guesthouses to have survived in the Blue Mountains.
MEGALONG VALLEYLocality 578m above sea level
VALLEY 233 people
On the Six Foot Track About the Megalong Valley MEGALONG VALLEY HISTORY The Megalong Valley is a small farming community of rural dwellings and land holdings in a contained rural
The first land in the Megalong Valley was taken up environment near Pulpit Hill Creek. in 1838 by settlers who travelled from Burragorang The Megalong Valley is unique in the context of the and Camden. Later in the 19th century, Blue Mountains in that its immediate setting is open a shale mine was operated by J.B.North. grazing lands, even though these terminate in the walls The Valley contains the Six Foot Track, marked out of the Valley. in the 19th century as a bridle trail from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, and now a popular walking trail. Megalong Valley has traditionally been a source of agricultural produce to the Upper Blue Mountains towns and it is also an access route from the Mountains MEGALONG VALLEY HOUSING to the south. There are several cellar door stops and the well-known Megalong Valley Tea Rooms.
The settlement consists of a number of dwellings Tourism has increased since the historic Six Foot dispersed along a single road, plus a church, Track was restored, and landscape and heritage school, and tea rooms. The residences do not have values require careful management to preserve local a common character, varying from older character. weatherboard and corrugated iron cottages to
pise structures and contemporary brick veneer homes.
View of the escarpment from the Megalong
Photo credits – Megalong Valley: Google Maps 64 www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au
Locality
1,100m above sea level
BELL 93 people
View across the Grose Valley from the Pierce’s Pass walk to Rigby Hill About Bell Bell is a small village with a few services and a major truck checking point. Its main appeal, like many towns and BELL HISTORY villages in the Blue Mountains, is as a point of access to the many walks which crisscross the mountains and offer The town was named after Archibald Bell, Jr. sublime views into the surrounding valleys. who also gave his name to Mount Bell, Bell Range, Bell's Line of Road and Bilpin which was Bell is located at the crest of the ridge at Darling originally named 'Bellpin'. Causeway which forms the northern side of the Grose Valley. It is a key location at the meeting point of Bells Line In 1823, Archibald Bell, Jr, when he was only of Road and the Darling Causeway which connects with
nineteen, crossed the mountains along what Mount Victoria and the Great Western Highway, as well as was to become Bell's Line of Road. being adjacent to the western railway. The town has a fragmented form because of the presence of a number of transport routes. It is a small settlement that contains a few commercial buildings and houses, as well as two sandstone cottages and ‘Holly Lodge’ representing an earlier period of settlement.
BELL HOUSING
Bell’s residential lots are generally large and rural in character with a mixture of historic and modern dwellings, including the historic Holly Lodge, c.1867.
The Zig Zag railway terminus is 10 kilometres from Bell
Photo credits - Bell: Google Maps 65 www.google.com.au Aussie Towns www.aussietowns.com.au
Locality
1,008m above MOUNT WILSON sea level HERITAGE GARDEN VILLAGE 218 people
The Cathedral of Ferns About Mount Wilson MOUNT WILSON HISTORY Mount Wilson is a small village and a mountain located off the Bells Line of Road. The settlement derives from the fertility Mount Wilson was originally founded as a of the basalt-capped volcanic soil, which has given rise to location for rural retreat and this role remains prominent rounded hills, a lush vegetation cover and an
its core focus today. It has historic importance environment supportive of cool-climate plantings. as a ‘hill-top station’ and country retreat for wealthy Sydney families. Mount Wilson is of high interest to tourists for its cool-climate plantings and significant established gardens, many of
The culture of exotic gardens and the which are open for viewing. Its spring and autumn displays wealthy rural retreats of Mount Wilson are of colour attract international visitors. highly significant and unique. The village is set out along a more or less continuous ring
MOUNT WILSON road following the contour around the crest of the HOUSING mountain. Being at high elevation, panoramic views of surrounding bushland are available from many locations. Mount Wilson and its surrounds are protected as a heritage conservation area with high landscape values. Spectacular cool climate gardens Building densities are very low throughout the are the defining character of the town and this, combined with the luxuriant landscapes of Mount Wilson village gardens and well-established street trees provides a charming, semi-rural atmosphere.
The houses vary from large, substantial country dwellings such as ‘Wynstay’ to more modest timber cottages such as ‘Cherry Lodge’.
Photo credits – Mount Wilson: Google Maps www.google.com.au Blue Mountains Australia www.bluemts.com.au 66
Locality
850m above MOUNT IRVINE sea level
HISTORIC HILL-TOP SETTLEMENT 36 people
The original road to Mount Irvine About Mount Irvine MOUNT IRVINE HISTORY Mount Irvine is a small residential settlement and a mountain located off the Bells Line of Road. The rich
The rainforest vegetation and rich basaltic soils of basalt soils, high rainfall and wet micro-climate support Mount Irvine are a significant natural feature, along a temperate rainforest.
with the Bowens Creek Walk and surrounds. The locality contains large rural lots, which support cool- Bowens Creek Road is an outstanding example of climate gardens and some crops such as walnut and road engineering through precipitous country. It chestnut groves. There is no town centre or commercial was built using depression era unemployment relief development. labourers. It is currently closed to vehicular traffic. Mount Irvine is of interest to visitors for its secluded accommodation options and its stunning landscapes of MOUNT IRVINE HOUSING natural and exotic species including rainforest settings and cool-climate gardens. Mount Irvine and its surrounds are protected as a heritage conservation area with high landscape values.
The settlement is small, comprising approximately twenty dwellings which are dispersed along two main roads, Mount Irvine Road and Danes Way.
Houses are generally modest in size, unpretentious and in many cases hidden from view.
On the Mount Wilson - Mount Irvine Road, by Harry Phillips photographer circa 1918
Photo credits – Mount Irvine: Photo credits – Google Maps Mount Wilson: www.google.com.au Google Maps Destination NSW www.google.com.au www.destinationnsw.com.au Blue Mountains Australia Sydney Morning Herald www.bluemts.com.au www.smh.com.au 67 Mount Wilson Progress Association www.mtwilson.com.au
Locality
991m above MOUNT TOMAH sea level HOME OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS 76 people
Exceptional landscapes at the Botanic Gardens About Mount Tomah MOUNT TOMAH HISTORY Mount Tomah is a small residential settlement and a mountain located on Bells Line of Road. The locality is focused around the Explorer and botanist George Caley was site of the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens. Like the other a plant collector who reached a location ‘Mounts’, Mount Tomah has rich basalt soils, high rainfall and a in the Blue Mountains which he named wet micro-climate perfect for cool-climate plantings. ‘Fern Tree Hill’. This point was later named the township ‘Mount Tomah’. The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah is located in the centre of Mount Tomah, and is part of the Royal Botanic Mount Tomah is associated with hill-top Gardens and Domain Trust. The Gardens are 252 hectares of retreats and country garden estates as land with 28 hectares of gardens. There are supporting facilities well as the Botanic Gardens and such as plant information, plants sales, venues, accommodation, horticultural pursuits. exhibitions and a café. MOUNT TOMAH
HOUSING
Mount Tomah and its surrounds are protected as a heritage conservation area with high landscape values.
Development is centred along Skyline and Charleys Road, where there is a Photo credits – combination of older weatherboard and Mount Tomah: corrugated iron houses and Google Maps contemporary brick veneer dwellings. www.google.com.au Wikipedia In the majority of cases the natural en.wikipedia.org vegetation has been retained in Australian Traveller residential semi-rural allotments. www.australiantraveller.com
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Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens
Locality
780m above BERAMBING sea level 106 people
The huge skies of rural Berambing About Berambing
BERAMBING HISTORY Berambing is a small rural settlement close to the summit of Mount Tomah on the Bells Line of Road. There is no town The area was first visited by Europeans in centre or main street to provide a focus for the settlement
November 1804 when George Caley, the apart from a small shop on Bells Line of Road. explorer and botanist, camped nearby during Berambing is known for its lush apple, nuts and stone fruit his unsuccessful attempt to cross the Blue orchards and produce. The natural environment of the area Mountains. The area has had European attracts visitors, and the village is in close proximity to settlement since at least 1832 when the the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden and
property 'Bulgamatta' was established. the Wollemi and Blue Mountains National Parks. During the mid-nineteenth century Bells Line of Road was a busy thoroughfare for herds of sheep and cattle being driven to the Sydney markets.
BERAMBING HOUSING
Lots are rural in character and generally screened from the street. Photo credits - Berambing: Google Maps A number of properties offer tourism and www.google.com.au guest accommodation. Domain www.domain.com.au
Old apple shed at Berambing
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Glossary
Note this glossary is only intended to provide a concise guide to some of the more frequent terms.
Character: All the qualities of a place that make it distinct from other places, and create the identity of that place. The way a place looks and feels, created by the combination of land, people, built environment, history, culture and tradition, and how these things interact.
Heritage: Heritage consists of those things that are special to us, that we are attached to, or we have inherited, and want to keep. Heritage places and objects give us a sense of the past and of our cultural identity. They are the things we want to protect and pass on to future generations so that they too will understand what came before them. Usually, but not always, places of heritage value are listed by Council as heritage items or heritage conservation areas in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP).
Medium-density housing: A form of multi dwelling housing, being 3 or more dwellings, whether attached or detached, on one lot of land.
Precinct: An area identified in the Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015 (LEP 2015) that has specific development controls to ensure a particular outcome in terms of height, floor space, character and other considerations. Refer to Part 7 of LEP 2015. Further controls for precincts are in Part G of the Blue Mountains Development Control Plan 2015 (DCP 2015).
Provisions: Refers to either objectives, controls or other development standards within an environmental planning instrument (an LEP or DCP). Objectives and development standards within LEP 2015 are legislated and must be complied with. Objectives and controls within DCP 2015 are guidelines required to be complied with but capable of being varied if justified. References
Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015 https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/EPI/2015/829 Blue Mountains Development Control Plan 2015 https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/development/planning-rules/development-controls-for-land-zoned- under-LEP-2015/DCP-2015 Community Strategic Plan 2035 https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/community-strategic-plan-2035 Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan 2018 https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/scenic-eastern-escarpment-masterplan-part-1 https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/scenic-eastern-escarpment-masterplan-part-2 https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/scenic-eastern-escarpment-masterplan-part-3 Blaxland Town Centre Master Plan https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/blaxland-town-centre-masterplan Springwood Master Plan https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/springwood-town-centre-masterplan Hazelbrook Village Centre Public Domain Master Plan – adopted July 2014 https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/hazelbrook-village-masterplan Blackheath Master Plan https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/blackheath-village-masterplan
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