HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 ISSUE No. 30 An alternative crossing: Bells Line of Road Part 1: Alexander Bell junior by Ian Jack Introduction THROUGHOUT 2013 there has been a bicentennial preoccupation with the genesis of the Great Western Highway over the Blue Mountains.

The development of a viable road along the high ridges south of the Grose River to the plains beyond had powerful consequences which were gradually realised over the decades following 1813.

The recent and continuing commemorations of Blaxland, Lawson, Wentworth, Evans, Cox and Macquarie have contributed to a welcome appraisal of the events of 1813 to 1815. Ian Jack in this image of the Grose River gorge from Bells Line It is worthwhile, however, to recall captures the immensity of the dividing line between the two roads the that another ridgeway to the north of Bells Line of Road to the north and to the south the Great Western the Grose gorge had also been Highway as the routes are know today. explored by Europeans and was upper Hawkesbury adjacent to surveyed as a viable road in 1823. North Richmond, climbed the Aboriginal and early escarpment through Kurrajong to European knowledge Bells Line of Road was a real Kurrajong Heights with deviations The Kurrajong hills had been enough alternative to the Western over the years, then descended Road, although, for a variety of familiar to Europeans since the onto a singularly equable ridgeline earliest days of the colony. Captain reasons, it has always played until the great obstacle of Mount second fiddle to the southern route. Watkin Tench, Lieutenant William Tomah presented generations of Dawes and Sergeant Isaac Knight road-users and road-makers with were the first Europeans known to But when Archibald Bell and Robert dangers and dilemmas. Hoddle created the alternative road have climbed the Kurrajong foothills. in 1823, the descent from Mount Once over Mount Tomah, the road York was still a challenge for the followed the only practicable They had no Aboriginal people with traveller on the Western Road and ridgeline until it turned south at the Thomas Mitchell had not yet arrived them. ‘Stopped by a mountainous Darling Causeway, where the Grose country’, they ended their foray on in the colony to make autocratic River had its source. determinations about the best lines top of Kurrajong Heights (or just possibly Bowen Mountain) which for all three main roads, north, Halfway down the Darling Tench and Dawes named Knight Hill south and west. Causeway it turned west again in May 1791 in honour of the down a viable creek gully into sergeant of marines.1 Mount Tomah proved to be Bell’s Hartley Vale (the route still in use Mount York, but in 1823 the today as Hartley Vale Road). northern route promised much. Continued page 3 (For figure 1 see page 3) Once safely down in Hartley Vale, it Whereas the southern route ran passed the inn that Pierce Colletts from the lower Nepean at Emu had established in 1821 and joined Plains, the new route started on the the Western Road (Figure 1).

HERITAGE 1 November - December 2013 Contents...... An opinion from the editor...... HERITAGE November - December Bushfires’ ferocity 2013 touched the region’s *P1 Alternate crossing: Bells Line of Road by Ian Jack heritage *P2 Opinion - Bushfires’ ferocity touched the The devastating bushfires which Not so lucky was the Zig Zag region’s heritage by John ripped through parts of the Blue Railway where members had been Leary Mountains and Lithgow areas working tirelessly for some time to *P6 A breathtaking floral destroying more than 200 urban satisfy the Rail Safety Regulator display of purple haze by homes is in itself a piece of history and had genuine hopes of John Leary which students of cultural heritage resuming passenger services *P9 Woodford Academy in the future will ponder particularly towards the end of this year. The launches bicentenary as to the effect on the community fire brought devastation mainly to schools program at large. the Bottom Points depot complex *P9 Bicentenary tribute to where the destruction of the Evans and Cox The destructive force of the fires workshop facility and office *P10 The Gully, officialy and the heroic efforts of those occurred. However, the society opened volunteers and professionals who still has enough rolling stock to *P10 British campaign ends fought the fires often at danger to resume passenger operations in gallery’s bid to buy historic themselves, has been well the future while the three stations animal art recorded in the media and it is not buildings were not touched by the *P11 The making of a possum the intention to comment other fire. skin cloak by Jan than to add to the overwhelming Koperberg chorus of appreciation which has Clearly, it is a time for all *P11 All about Evans rightly been showered upon these museums and heritage properties *P12 Historic sharing culture -- men and women. to look to bush fire survival plans, Aboriginal because inevitable bushfire is one commemoration walk Closer to home, a number of of the prices we pay for living and Jummangunda those associated with BMACHO working in such a beautiful Ngunninga by Jan were under real threat and to them environment. Koperberg go our sincere hopes that like *P13 Retrospection and Phoenix they will rise from the continuity - the Cox’s ashes. Particularly our sympathy CONGRATULATIONS road journey by Joan Kent goes out to former president of Mt All too often the outstanding and *P14 Historian with song writing Victoria & District Historical dedicated work of our volunteers to his credit becomes Society, Robert Cameron who was and those professionals with president at Kurrajong one of those to lose his home to whom they work , is overlooked. *P15 Persistence wins museum the flames. In the pages of this edition of a grant HERITAGE is recorded the awards *P16 Move to form Friends of the With fire within two kilometers of to a number of these people. Paragon the Valley Heights Locomotive *P16 New strategy for Australian Depot Museum wise precautions Firstly those individuals and heritage were taken to move off site and organisations who have worked *P17 Sandstone the making of away from the district some tirelessly for the success of the the Blue Mountains valuable paintings housed in the bicentenary celebration of the *P18 ‘Our Jan’ honoured for work complex. Members also took Western Crossing have been on Western Crossings appropriate action, rolling out fire honoured by the Blue Mountains, *P18 National Trust honours fighting hoses to ensure the site Oberon and Lithgow Tourism. awards 2013 was adequately covered should an Secondly we have the National *P19 Blue Mountains new plan outbreak of fire occur. Trust awards where 5 out of the goes on exhibition total of 20 awards this year have *P19 NSW govt withdraws A little further west at come to the Blue Mountains. controversial planning bill Faulconbridge, up to 10 fire trucks *P20 Blue Mountains History surrounded the historic National BMACHO warmly congratulates Journal No. 4 now online Trust property of Norman Lindsay those who have been recognised *P22 St Stephens Parish Gallery where priceless art works with an award and thanks both Registers 1861 - 1902 were carefully packed up and organisations for realising the *P23 ANZAC centenary grants moved off the Mountains. The worth of the volunteers and the *P23 New heritage network decision to move the treasures professionals who work alongside *P24 Utzon’s Opera House despite on-site fireproof storeroom them in the heritage sector John Leary, OAM - *P24 Landmarks was made because of the ferocity President, Blue Mountains *P25 Rome’s gigantic waste of the fires and the weather Association of Cultural Heritage disposal site conditions. Organisations Inc.

HERITAGE 2 November - December 2013 Macquarie rode up to Kurrajong Heights Continued from page 1 Aborigines and a group from Pipers ‘The Aboriginal natives never lived With the development of farming in Flat near Wallerawang, who had in [that part of] the mountains, but the Hawkesbury Valley from 1794 crossed the Mountains via there was a tribe who wandered onwards and the granting of land on Springwood, led to the abduction of over the neighbouring lowlands [i.e. both sides of the river, there was a six Belmont women: the plateau between Kurrajong natural likelihood of further early Heights and Mount Tomah] and exploration. ‘In about six days one of the gins occasionally paid me a visit.’7 returned alone, but from a different The only written account to survive direction than by the way she was The evidence strongly suggests that from these first years is by Matthew taken off: and when questioned as the Darug people had some Everingham, a First-Fleet convict, to how she came back, she pointed knowledge of the area as far as who set out from his Hawkesbury to the Big Hill (Kurrajong Heights), Mount Tomah, but that no regular farm in 1795 with two other saying, “that feller”. Aboriginal thoroughfare from the Europeans ‘to cross the blue Bathurst Plains to the Cumberland mountains of this country’, climbed ‘This event caused some surprise, Plains existed immediately to the up to Kurrajong Heights as Tench not only to the Bells, but to the north of the Grose River. had done, though his exact route is blacks also, as it was thought there uncertain, and then went beyond as was no other way over the Archibald Bell junior and his far as the eminences of Mount mountains than by Springwood.’6 three expeditions in 1823 Wilson/Irvine or Mount Tomah.2 Archibald Bell junior spent almost This story does not imply that local his entire early life in the Kurrajong In 1804 the naturalist George Caley Aboriginal people did not know how district. travelled from Kurrajong Heights to to cross Kurrajong Heights, but it Mount Tomah and Mount Banks by makes it clear that they did not Born in England in 1804, he had a very difficult route, still expect to go to the Bathurst Plains arrived in New South Wales with his remembered by names such as the directly from Kurrajong . parents and eight and a half siblings Devil’s Wilderness and Dismal in 1807. Dingle (Figure 2).3 The evidence of George Bowen, who lived at Berambing, near Mount Continued page 4 Because of their proximity to the Tomah, in the 1830s, is categorical: Hawkesbury River, the Kurrajong hills and the North Richmond area were settled and developed quite early, including the Bell family’s Belmont in 1807.

James Meehan surveyed North Richmond in 1809 and Kurrajong in 1811.4

Governor and Mrs Macquarie rode up to Kurrajong Heights in December 1810 after visiting the Bell family at Belmont, found no difficulty in ascending the final hill and used an alternative route down to the north-west, already marked out by the same surveyor, George William Evans, who was to survey Cox’s Road in 1813-1814.5

Although Aboriginal people knew the route along the ridges from Kurrajong Heights to Mount Tomah, this does not seem to have been a common indigenous way across the Mountains.

This is suggested by a story retailed in 1904 by a well-informed Richmond man, Sam Boughton, born locally in 1841.

According to Boughton, an Figure 1. Bells Line of Road as surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1823, altercation just before 1823 sketch-map used in 1831 by Surveyor Rogers. State Records NSW, between the local Belmont Surveyors’ Sketch-books, X751, item 206.

HERITAGE 3 November - December 2013 Archibald senior a member of the Rum Corps His father, Archibald Bell senior, a member of the Rum Corps, was given 500 acres [200 hectares] on the north bank of the Hawkesbury at North Richmond by Governor Bligh, built his house of Belmont there, expanded his landholdings during the interregnum and under Paterson and, despite his complicity in the fall of Bligh, was in 1810 confirmed in his acreage by Governor Macquarie.8

Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie visited the Bell family at Belmont in November 1810 and took tea on the verandah.9

Belmont was already a comfortable home in 1810, and Archibald Bell senior and his wife Maria developed The original ZigZag constructed probably in 1823-1824 by convicts under the property between 1826 and the control of Archibald Bell senior was essential to the success of his 1834 into the delightful house son’s 1823 road. Image Ian Jack October 2013. drawn by Conrad Martens in 1838 and painted by Henry Fullwood in The ZigZag descended the steep cliff leading from the top of Warks Hill 1892 (Figure 3) .10 Road at Kurrajong Heights down to the Cut Rock, which is now on the realigned line of road. The image is of the last Zag in the descent. The Young Archibald was still living at rock cutting is very clear. Further up the ZigZag there is also stone walling home in 1823, a lad of nineteen. to buttress the road on tricky stretches. Three years before he had been the Hunter Valley via Bulga Ridge, stimulated by his elder brother, In 1823, the incident of the but Archibald had been too young to William, who enterprisingly followed Aboriginal woman returning by a join William on this expedition.11 John Howe’s newly blazed route to northern route to Kurrajong and Belmont from her abduction by a group from Wallerawang, inspired Archibald to mount an expedition of his own.

He mustered his small party at the water-mill on Little Wheeny Creek on August 1, 1823, and left with two settlers, one of them the local blacksmith, William McAlpine.

In the diary which Bell kept while on his expedition and carefully copied out on his return in a notebook which luckily survived in the family library, he makes it clear that he had ‘Native Guides’ but does not identify them.12

Sam Boughton, who knew two of Archibald’s sisters, was quite sure that the abducted Aboriginal woman went with Bell, while Alfred Smith, another local identity, claimed in 1910 that on Bell’s first or second expedition there were only ‘two blackfellows “Cocky” and “Emery”’, men who are known in other documentation and were about 27 years old in 1823.13 Figure 2.Caley’s sketch-map of the area around Mount Tomah and Mount Continued page 5 Banks, which he explored in 1804. Historical Records NSW, vol.5, after p.724.

HERITAGE 4 November - December 2013 Continued from page 4 The first expedition reached Mount Tomah, but the horses were unable to proceed beyond because of the extreme hazards of the western exit from the mountain.

With a larger group Bell returned in September, found a viable route half-way up Mount Tomah and went on farther than Everingham or Caley had done, turned south onto the Darling Causeway and then down to Hartley Vale.14

When Bell returned to Belmont, he Figure 3 Henry Fullwood’s watercolour of the Bells’ Belmont, painted quickly spread the news of his in 1892, just before the house was demolished. Photocopy of sale success and gained publicity for the catalogue, in State Library of NSW, Mitchell Library, Small Picture File, argument that the new line of road mistakenly filed under ‘Newcastle Suburbs, Belmont’. Courtesy of was shorter and easier than the State Library. Great Western Highway, with better suggested on his map a deviation remained subsidiary to the Western feed for stock.15 through Kurrajong, the road known Road for the rest of the nineteenth today as Old Bells Line of Road century. through the village. Hoddle was (END NOTES) Kurrajong Heights was named 1 W. Tench, Sydney’s First Four Years, ‘Bell’s View’ on Hoddle’s map and ed. L.F. Fitzhardinge, Sydney, 1979, to climb every along the relatively easy road to pp.234-235, 324. Mount Tomah the surveyor marked, 2 The Everingham Letterbook, ed. V. ‘remarkable’ as instructed, places where there Ross, Sydney, 1985. This contains, in were ‘plenty of water’, ‘good soil’ addition to the text of Everingham’s and ‘fine timber’. letters which describe the expedition, an mountain excellent account of various attempts in After the descent from the Darling the early 1980s to reconstruct the actual John Oxley, the surveyor-general, route taken. Causeway, Hoddle showed two 3 M. Hungerford, Bilpin the Apple was impressed and at once sent his possible end-games once the road Country: a Local History, Bilpin, 1995, new assistant surveyor, Robert levelled out, with a preference for pp.9-17. Hoddle, freshly arrived from the the more easterly route, making a 4 State Records New South Wales Cape of Good Hope, to survey beeline for Collett’s Inn . [SRNSW], Surveyor’s Field-Book 70, Bell’s route. Reel 2622, SZ 891, cover, pp.3-7, Otherwise the road as surveyed in 26-29. Meehan’s survey notes on Hoddle was to describe the country, October 1823 represents the route Kurrajong, although in his own list of estimate the amount of cultivable contents, are missing from the volume. established by Bell’s second 5 Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New land, climb every ‘remarkable’ 18 expedition in the previous month. South Wales: Journals of his Tours in mountain and mark the direction of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s every creek.16 Archibald Bell was an able publicist Land 1810-1822, Sydney, 1979, pp.24- for his new route. Not only the 25. On October 6, 1823 Hoddle set out Sydney Gazette in 1823 but also 6 ‘Cooramill’ [S. Boughton], ed. C. from Kurrajong accompanied by the English Morning Herald of June McHardy, Reminiscences of Richmond: from the Forties Down, Windsor, 2010, Bell, two Aborigines, five European 21, 1824 compared the old and the men and three horses. The field- p.107. new roads and believed Bell’s 7 Quoted in Hungerford, Bilpin, p.35. book which Hoddle maintained propaganda about the new: 8 Australian Dictionary of Biography, throughout the fortnight taken to ‘Besides considerably reducing the vol.1, pp.78-79; SRNSW, Primary reach Collett’s Inn survives, along distance, the road will be Applications, 10/26656/7816, items 8, 9. with the more polished account that comparatively level, and free from 9 Macquarie, Journals, p.24. 10 he sent to Oxley on November 4, nearly all the obstacles which Three dated stones survive from old 1823. render the bleak and barren one Belmont, evidence of building works in 1826, 1830 and 1834. The Martens now used so uninviting to the Hoddle compiled a workmanlike drawings are now in the State Library of traveller, and ill adapted for the NSW, PXC 295 fos.85-88, DL PX 27 map, showing the whole length of passage of carts and driving of fo.72. One of the five Fullwoods is still 17 around fifty kilometres surveyed. cattle.’19 at Belmont Park, while a colour photocopy of another is in the Small Hoddle shows that the existing road But the advent of Thomas Mitchell Picture File of the Mitchell Library, from the Hawkesbury to Kurmond as surveyor general, the continuing mis-filed under ‘Newcastle Suburbs, followed a line very close to the intransigence of Mount Tomah and Belmont’. modern Bells Line, but this road the building of the railway in the Continued page 6 then went north of what is now 1860s ensured that Bells Line Kurrajong village: Hoddle

HERITAGE 5 November - December 2013 A breathtaking floral display of purple haze by John Leary,OAM WALKING OR DRIVING through the main thoroughfare of Springwood, Macquarie Street, locals and visitors are at this time of year, struck by the breathtaking floral display of purple haze surrounding the Jacaranda tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia) at the Frazer Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Its vivid lilac-blue clusters of trumpet shaped blossoms appear in late spring and early summer, later falling to the earth carpeting the church grounds with a mass of colour and spilling over to the pedestrian footpath along Macquarie Street.

It is said that if you are walking underneath the Jacaranda tree and The blooming Jacaranda and to its left the branches of the Cedar of one of the trumpet blossoms falls Lebanon enhance the picturesque Frazer Memorial Church in on your head you will be favoured Springwood. Photograph by Jan Koperberg, November 2013 by fortune. Their history and significance has These giant, beautiful, evergreen Jacarandas are used world wide as been extensively documented from trees grow in mountainous regions, a decorative ornamental tree the famous annual Grafton festival at altitudes of 3,300-6,500 feet commonly used to line avenues. in Australia to Pretoria, the (1,000-2,000 m). Jacaranda City, (located 50 kms Bells Line of north of Johannesburg) noted for They can be found in Lebanon, it’s 70,000 plus flowering Jacaranda south-central Turkey, and Cyprus. Roads trees. They produce cones which grow on Continued from page 5 top of the branch. 11 A. Macqueen, Somewhat Perilous: Jacarandas have richly figured the Journeys of Singleton, Parr, Howe, timber that is rarely cut, as its The trees can attain a height of 100 Myles & Blaxland in the Northern Blue ornamental value is high. The feet (30 m) and the trunk may reach Mountains, Wentworth Falls, 2004, interesting leathery seedpods follow 6 feet (2 m) in diameter. Compared p.117. flowering. with the trees of Israel, the cedar is 12 R. Else-Mitchell, ‘The Discovery of indeed a mighty tree, and it is highly Bell’s Line, 1823: a Note and a But it is not, as is so often said to praised in Scripture. Document’, Journal of Royal Australian Historical Society [JRAHS], 66, 1980-1, be, a native of South Africa, but of pp.92-3. The manuscript notebook is the mountain deserts of Brazil. BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE now in the Mitchell Library, ML MSS Commonly referred to in scripture 1706 Add-on 1071, pp.5,,7. Although considered to be of as the cedars of Lebanon, this 13 ‘Cooramill’, ed. McHardy, significance in Blue Mountains City aromatic, durable wood was highly Reminiscences of Richmond, p.106 ; A. Council’s LEP 2005 and listed on desirable for building in Iron Age Smith, Some Ups and Downs of an Old the State Heritage Inventory it is Israel. Richmondite, Emu Plains, 1991, p.27; another tree which has a much Hungerford, Bilpin, pp.19-20. David used it in building his palace 14Hungerford, Bilpin, pp.21-23. more interesting origin — a few 15 Sydney Gazette, 9 October 1823, p.2. metres east of the Jacaranda in the (2 Sam 5:11; 1 Chr 17:1), and 16 J. Jervis, ‘Robert Hoddle, first church grounds. Solomon used it in the construction Surveyor-General of Victoria, and his of the temple and a palace for Early Work in New South Wales’, This tree is older than the 20th himself (2 Chr 2:3-8). He was said JRAHS, 23, 1937, pp.42-45. century plantings of both the to make the cedar as plentiful in 17 SRNSW, Surveyor’s Field Book 258, Jacaranda and Illawarra Flame Tree Jerusalem as sycamore-fig trees in Reel 2626, 2/4894; Surveyor-General’s (Brachychiton acerifolius). It is a the Shephelah (2 Chr 1:15). The In-Letters, 4/1814 pp.109-114 (partly published in Hungerford, Bilpin, p.24); very mature cedar of Lebanon second temple was also Map SZ 422. (Cedrus libania) which is marked by constructed from cedars (Ezra 3:7). 18 SRNSW, Map SZ 422. a plaque: ‘This tree was grown from 19 Cutting from Morning Herald, 21 June a seed brought back from Lebanon The NSW Environment & Heritage 1824, in Miscellaneous Papers collected by Mrs John Frazer in 1890s’. in the SHI’s statement of by H.F. Garner, Mitchell Library, ML Continued page 7 1493, reel CY 907, p.390b.

HERITAGE 6 November - December 2013 Continued from page 6 gift of 1.4 hectare (3.5 acres) in the Domain, are surviving significance describes, ‘The Frazer central Springwood made by John memorials to his generosity to the Memorial church as a striking Frazer, who died in 1884. city; the University of Sydney, where example of Victorian philanthropy, he hoped to fund the chair of financed entirely from the ‘Frazer was a successful Sydney History, still awards the Frazer generosity of a prosperous merchant. Born in co Down in 1827 scholarship in History; and he is Presbyterian businessman in to an artisan Presbyterian family, he remembered in the Presbyterian Sydney and his widow, Elizabeth had come from Ireland to seek his foundation, St Andrew’s College, Frazer. fortune in Australia along with three within the university, as a founding siblings when he was fifteen years councillor in 1870 and the donor of old. funds to assist candidates for the ...strikingly Presbyterian ministry studying at ‘After a period working in the bush, the College. (Maddock, 5-13; ADB followed by a clerical position in IV 218-9 ) beautiful Sydney, Frazer opened a wholesale grocery business in 1847 and never ‘Frazer’s connection with the Blue church built looked back, leaving an estate of Mountains began in earnest when £400 000 pounds on his death. he built Silva Plana at Springwood in 1881. with a gift of ‘The firm of John Frazer and Co was under John Frazer’s control ‘This country retreat on the east £500... until his early retirement due to ill- side of Hawkesbury Road, on a health in 1869, but his partners in landscaped site of 14 hectares (35 the business were able men, a acres) now partly occupied by the ‘It reflects significantly the rapid brother and two brothers-in-law of Buckland retirement village, was growth of the Scottish and Northern Elizabeth Ewan, whom John characteristic of the Mountain Irish Presbyterian community in the married in 1853. estates developed in the later Lower Mountains in the last years of Victorian period by a number of the nineteenth century. ‘In the 1870s, John Frazer resumed Sydney businessmen, politicians his interest in the business and took and lawyers, including friends of ‘The design of the Frazer Memorial a larger role in public life, as a Frazer’s such as Sir Henry Parkes, Church is a tribute to the important member of the NSW Legislative whose son Varney designed Silva architectural firm of Slayter and Council from 1874 until his death Plana.(Searle and Morony, 6, 32; Cosh, later known as Spain and ten years later and as a Robinson, map of Springwood Cosh; Spain, Cosh and Minnet; and philanthropist. c.1910) Spain, Cosh and Dods. Continued page 8 ‘Two fine fountains, one in Hyde ‘The Frazer Memorial Church Park, the other at the entrance to features high quality stonework in its handsome Federation gothic design. An early ‘The design of the church is completed by the fine sandstone image of the tower with the tall copper spire. Frazer ‘Its spire and its location in the Memorial centre of the commercial centre of Springwood make it an important Church landmark in the town. showing the ‘The trees associated with the ornate Frazer Memorial Church, the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) sandstone Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) fence. and the Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) are of Photograph high aesthetic significance at a local level for their value as individual courtesy specimens and for their contribution Springwood to a complex of considerable value in the streetscape of Springwood. Local Study

Historical notes attached to the Collection. State Heritage Inventory listing indicate ‘The funds to build this strikingly beautiful church derive from the bequest of £500 and the

HERITAGE 7 November - December 2013 Mrs Frazer sent her gardener to the church Continued from page 7 Methodist storekeeper whose as the Lower Blue Mountains ‘Frazer survived only three years premises were just across the road; Presbyterian magazine commented after building Silva Plana, but spent by Mrs Ellis, wife of John Ellis of in December 1945, Mrs Frazer a good deal of time there and was Valley Heights, who had signed the immediately had additions made anxious to provide a church for the building contract on behalf of the and the building beautified. increasing Presbyterian community church; and by Mrs Flora Urquhart, on the Lower Mountains. the daughter of James Lawson, the ‘The present chancel and the porch Scottish cabinet-maker who had and steeple were added. Further, ‘In 1884 Springwood had no church built Braemar and the Oriental she sent her gardener [from Silva of any denomination and Frazer, Hotel, where services had been Plana] to lay out the grounds and with the encouragement of his held in expectation of the building of plant the trees, which add to the friend, the Reverend James the church. (Maddock, 26-7) beauty of the surroundings. Cameron, a fellow councillor of St (Maddock, 35)’ Andrew’s College, who had in his ‘The church was opened only three early years in the 1850s been months later, on December 8, 1895. REFERENCES responsible for the Lower (Maddock, 36, 55, 74) 1. A substantial portion of this text Mountains as well as his main has been copied verbatim from the centre at Richmond, donated land ‘Mrs Frazer returned from her trip to NSW Environment & Heritage he had acquired from Frank Europe and the Near East in 1896, website www.environment Raymond’s grant in central bearing the seed from which the .nsw.gov.au/heritage Blue Springwood, in a very long narrow cedar of Lebanon grew beside the Mountains City Council LEP 2005. allotment, and instructed his church, on the site of the grove of 2. Maddock John The Frazer trustees to spend £500 on the turpentines where the first services Memorial Church - A History, 1995, building of a Presbyterian church had been held. Springwood Historical Society Inc. there. (Maddock, 7-19) ‘Elizabeth Frazer was not satisfied ‘There was, however, a long interval with the church building, however, between Frazer’s death in 1884 and the opening of the church in 1895. Blue Mountains History ‘This was caused by the reluctance of his trustees to release the money Conference until it was plain that there were Another speaker will be Hector sufficient Presbyterians in the THE 2014 Blue Mountains History Abrahams, a heritage architect and Springwood area to support a Conference being organised by former RAHS councillor, who will minister. the Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations give a talk on historical buildings built for religious activities including ‘Despite the active interest of the Inc, will be held again at The churches and schools. Presbytery of the Hawkesbury, Carrington Hotel, following the stimulated by Dr Cameron of success of the 2012 event in this Hec has a deep interest in the Richmond and Dr Clouston of venue. architecture of old places - the Penrith, the trustees were cautious. The conference will be held on repair conservation and sensitive changes to buildings and the ‘In 1893 the first Presbyterian Saturday, May 10, 2014 and addition of new buildings within an services in Springwood were held already a number of speakers existing precinct. under the turpentines on the land have been secured. donated by Frazer, just where the He has worked on larger projects great cedar of Lebanon stands Associate professor Ian Jack, MA, including the new wings at St Paul’s today, then in the Oriental Hotel and PhD, FRHistS, FRAHS will give a and St Andrew’s Colleges at the finally in 1895 on the verandah of talk on historical educational University of Sydney, and the James Lawson’s Braemar. buildings. Sydney GPO. Attendance increased dramatically Ian served as president of the from 25 to 50 to 100, and the Royal Australian Historical Society He is very familiar with the trustees were convinced, once the for 11 years and is regarded as an architecture of many of the religious local people had guaranteed £60 a eminent historian with numerous buildings in this region. year for the minister. (Maddock,20- books and other publications to his 8) credit. He has been described by Final arrangements with speakers is expected to be made in January ‘On August 17, 1895 the foundation one of his peers as a and information will be available stone for the church was laid by the “consummate scholar”. from Jan Koperberg at sister of the widowed Mrs Frazer, He is constantly being sought as a [email protected] who was abroad. At the same time speaker around the state and memorial stones were laid by Mrs throughout the nation. The fee for the conference, morning Frazer’s sister, the widow of John tea and buffet lunch at The Frazer’s business partner, William Carrington will be $50. Manson; by Mrs Rayner, wife of the

HERITAGE 8 November - December 2013 WOODFORD ACADEMY LAUNCHES BICENTENARY SCHOOL PROGRAM Seriously ‘Old School’ In commemoration of the bicentenary of the crossing of the Blue Mountains 2013-2015, the Woodford Academy, a National Trust property, is thrilled to launch Members of the Woodford Academy Management Committee (from the bicentenary school program. left) Felicity Anderson, Ian Harman and Ken Goodlet with the new Bicentenary School Program brochure at the Woodford Academy The bicentenary school program provides the opportunity for school Costs for teacher initiated Academy’s next monthly open day – students to experience first hand educational programs will be or interested schools can contact the Blue Mountains’ unique and assessed on application, depending the Woodford Academy intriguing colonial history within the on requirements. management committee by phone walls of the Blue Mountains’ oldest (02) 4758 8743 or email building. The bicentenary school program [email protected] . brochure will also be available at The bicentenary school program the door at the Woodford offers a guided tour developed especially for school children. Bicentenary tributes to George The tour, presented by skilled volunteers in the tradition of oral Evans and William Cox histories, tells the story of the owned by Lithgow City Council near Woodford Academy and its IN ALL the plethora of the 2013 where Evans had begun the changing uses over time. bicentenary celebrations of the Blue Mountains crossing scant descent to the Fish River. Admission cost for the guided tour attention has been paid to two Meanwhile, Hawkesbury Historical will be $5/student for a 2 hour other important aspects of the Society and a Cox descendant program (morning or afternoon) and event. have recently organised the is available from Term 1 of 2014 for unveiling of two plaques at the groups of up to 60 students plus Immediately after the three Visitor Information Centre, supervising teachers. explorers’ trek, at the behest of the government, there was the Clarendon. The Woodford Academy is also professional surveying of the These two plaques are a offering free entry to teachers and ridge-top route by George Evans. bicentenary tribute to William Cox their families (up to 4 persons) for and George Evans, the two the museum’s monthly open days in Next came the road-making itself, Hawkesbury men who were so 2013-2015. done in exemplary fashion by convicts working hard under instrumental in bringing about the This special educational offer is William Cox, buoyed up by a construction of the first road over intended to encourage and inspire promise of remission of their the Blue Mountains. teachers to devise their own ways in sentences when the road was The ceremony at Lithgow and which they can use this rich completed. Clarendon commemorated the resource to teach curricula for commencement of George Evans history, the arts and technologies. A small monument to George Evans (the road builder) has survey of the road on November 20, To be eligible for this special offer, recently been moved from private 1813. interested teachers are requested land. William Cox completed the to complete the information form in supervision of building the road the new bicentenary school Lindsay Green of Lithgow Branch from Emu Plains to Bathurst program brochure, which Woodford of National Trust Australia (NSW) between July 24, 1814 and January Academy volunteers have has advised that that the 1815. commenced distributing to Blue monument is now located on land Mountains primary schools.

HERITAGE 9 November - December 2013 The Gully, officially opened British campaign ends gallery’s bid to buy historic animal art THE NATIONAL Gallery of Australia was “extremely disappointed” when earlier this month it was blocked from buying two paintings representing the first known depictions of Australian animals in Western art.

The 18th century works by George Stubbs willl remain in Britain after a $2.5 million donation by billionaire shipping magnate Eyal Ofer AS PART OF the Bicentenary The walk included both traditional enabled the country’s National Festival of Walking, The Gully, and post-contact Aboriginal Maritime Museum to buy the Katoomba was officially opened on pathways, covering 67 kms of paintings of a kangaroo and a Saturday October 5, 2013, The Country. dingo. guest of honour was Neville Poelina, chair of World Indigenous Participants were invited to do the Joseph Banks commissioned Tourism Alliance. full walk over seven days and six Stubbs to paint the works after the nights or join the group for sections naturalist returned from Captain This event followed the very of the walk. James Cook’s first Endeavour successful ‘Ancestral Pathways’ voyage. walk, organised by Auntie Sharyn The walk affirmed the ongoing Halls from the Gundungurra presence of Aboriginal people in the World renowned naturalist, Sir Aboriginal Heritage Association. mountains. It shows they maintain David Attenborough, who headed the connection by walking their the British “Save Our Stubbs” The aim of the walk was to show country, looking after it and utilising campaign, said: “Exciting news that people the best way to know it for cultural purposes. these two pictures so important in Country, by walking Country. the history of zoological discovery Image above: Gundungurra are to remain where they were Members of the Association Ancestral Pathway Walk - commissioned and painted. traversed the Blue Mountains from Dancers at The Gully historic west to east, following Aboriginal site, Katoomba. Photograph by pathways. David Hill, Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon Tourism. Wiradjuri Dance and Corroboree gathering at Bathurst The WIRADJURIi Wagangha the Bathurst Plains and Mount Dance group featured in the Pleasant by surveyor George Evans Wiradjuri Dance and Corroboree on December 10, 1813. gathering in the vicinity of Mt Pleasant in the grounds of The gathering also acknowledged Abercrombie House earlier this that the last Wiradjuri Corroboree in According to former Art Gallery of month. the vicinity of Mt Pleasant took place NSW director, Edmund Capon said: 164 years ago in 1849. “I can’t feel it’s a huge loss to be The gathering acknowleded the honest. 200 year anniversary of the first The evening was organised by the contact between the Wiradjuri Wiradjuri Elders of the Bathurst “You have to recognise the fact both people and the arriving European Plains together with Bathurst animals were painted in Britain. explorers which took place near Historical Society and the Morgan They weren’t painted here. They this site of December 21 1813. family to celebrate the endurance have never been her.” The Sydney and renewal of Wiradjuri culture and Morning Herald. It also acknowledged the naming of customs on the Bathurst Plains

HERITAGE 10 November - December 2013 The making of a possum skin cloak By Jan Koperberg THE GUNDUNGURRA Tribal Council and Blue Mountains Cultural Centre invited the Blue Mountains community to observe the making of a traditional possum skin cloak in the Cultural Centre Central Courtyard in late September.

The Saturday of the three day workshop was windy and the carefully laid out possum skins (from New Zealand) were being blown out of order. They had been laid out and numbered, as they were to be sewn.

Possum skin cloaks (Carreng Golangaya in Gundungurra language) are one of the most sacred artefacts for Aboriginal people.

This workshop represented an important healing for the Gundungurra, who worked with Auntie Maree Clarke, an artist and curator from Banmirra Arts and Auntie Esther Kirk, both from Victoria, with assistance from Amanda Reynolds, the senior curator for the ‘Our Story’ section of the new First Peoples exhibition at Melbourne Museum. Amanda was a guest speaker at the recent RAHS State conference held at Katoomba RSL Club. The possum skin cloak being held by Kerren O’Grady On the Saturday there were many observers, itching to help and Auntie Sharon Brown from the Gundungurra Tribal Council gave permission for interested observers to help with the sewing.

I was privileged to take part and enjoyed the experience, working with the team. I was not able to return on the Sunday, but the cloak was finished and Auntie Maree and Auntie Esther showed the method of applying patterns and burning them onto the skin side of the cloak.

I think the patterns were applied by Tom Brown, Sharon’s artist husband, and they are beautifully Aunty Sharon Brown on the left, holding up the finished. Aunty Maree and Aunty Esther then headed possum skin cloak, showing the burnt patterns on the back to Sydney airport for their flight back to skin side. Melbourne.

Never mind Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth; it’s All about Evans First European explorer to cross the Great Divide and survey a route to Bathurst Tarella Open Day January 18 10am-4pm Crossings reading by Wendy Blaxland > Display of the 1814 lifestyle > Talk on Evans > Tarella cottage museum inspecton > Family friendly > no need to book just come and explore > refreshments available In the grounds of Hobbys Reach, the home of the Blue Mountains Historical Society, 99-101 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls

HERITAGE 11 November - December 2013 Historic sharing culture — Aboriginal commemoration walk ‘Jummangunda Ngunninga’ by Jan Koperberg The Aboriginal commemoration walk ‘Jummangunda Ngunninga’ (Gundungurra language meaning ‘many belonging here’)was held at Mt York and Bardens Lookout, Mount Victoria on Sunday October . 13, 2013. This was a historic sharing culture event.

The Gundungurra Tribal Council, the Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association and the Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism invited people to attend as part of the Bicentenary Festival of Walkers prepare for the commemoration walk ‘Jummangunda Walking. Ngunninga’ walk from Bardens Lookout to Mt York. This walk was conceived by Auntie Sharon Brown (Gundungurra elder) (1913) and sesquicentenary (1963) After lunch, I was lucky to be and welcomed representatives of all events conducted at Mt York. treated to an interpretive walk by six Aboriginal language groups from Kathleen Brown, the daughter of across the Greater Blue Mountains Blue Mountains City Council has Tom and Sharon Brown. World Heritage Area, ( the completed an important upgrade of Darkinjung, Darug, Dharawal, the Mt York precinct and it is now We caught the shuttle bus from Mt Gundungurra, Wiradjuri and truly a world class interpretive York and alighted at the entrance to Wonnarua), locals and visitors. historic site. Lawson’s Long Alley.

This special event recognised the A ceremony was held at Mt York, We walked from here to Lucinda impact of European settlement on where a plaque was unveiled,on Oval where my car was parked. Australia’s first inhabitants, and which the text read as below. allowed Indigenous people to Along the way Kathleen showed me proudly share their culture with The group then walked from Mt York scarred trees (where bark had been others ‘on Country’. to Bardens Lookout, where an removed to make items for use by Aboriginal smoking and healing early Aboriginal people), showed Aboriginal people and groups ceremony was held, along with the me different plants and described proactively involved in the sharing of cultural performances their uses, either for medicinal or for bicentenary organised this event so and stories. bush tucker. that in 2013, the nature of what is recognised and commemorated During this ceremony the possum I now know that a flour can be made included Aboriginal participation. skin cloak was handed to Cr Daniel from the seeds of the Lomandra. Myles to be exhibited at the Blue This demonstrated that community Mountains Cultural Centre. She also showed me how the small attitudes and cultural awareness banksia with very strong bristles have evolved since centenary The main Commemoration Walk could be used as a hair-brush and ‘Jummangunda Ngunninga’ took with softer bristles, how the end of place from Bardens Lookout to Mt the brush could be used for Exhibtion of bark York. painting. paintings ‘Not how did they die, but how did they live. Among the treasures of the National Not what did they gain, but what did they give. Museum of Australia are more than These are the units to measure the worth, 2000 bark paintings created by Of a people, as a people, regardless of birth. Indigenous artists. Recognising the impact of European settlement on the Later this year the museum will Six Aboriginal language groups of the open a major exhibition devoted to Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area; the remarkable artists who made Darkinjung, Darug, Dharawal, Gundungurra, Wiradjuri and these paintings. Wonnarua. The 122 paintings will include the Community Aboriginal Commemoration Walk, works of famed artists such as 13 October 2013 Narritijin Maymuru, Yirawala, Blue Mountains Crossings Bicentenary’ Djunmal and Mawalan Marika.

HERITAGE 12 November - December 2013 RETROSPECTION AND CONTINUITY - THE COX’S ROAD JOURNEY A village discovers its past by Joan Kent As the Western Crossings commemoration activities come to a close for 2013, a period of retrospection is necessary before the contemplation of plans for the continuation of the Cox’s Road journey begin.

The communities west of the plains were treated with a fascinating array of events and activities acknowledging the first recorded crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans in 1813.

Some were formal civic events which reflected the changes wrought on the landscape, whilst others attempted to capture the cultural and social atmosphere of the mountains and valleys to the west two hundred years ago, involving the present population in aspects of colonial life not now often contemplated.

The Hartley Valley folk focussed on bringing the history of the local area to the present population, some of whom had previously had little interest in the past - in the process bringing to life an era which has often been culturally blinkered and romanticised.

The commemorative activities involved guided walks along the route of the original Cox’s Road, now substantially located within private land holdings – not ending at Mt York so often believed as the termination of the original trek, but at Glenroy, the final campsite Historian and author, Joan Kent autographing a along the route. copy of ‘A Moment in Time’. Image courtesy Carolyn Piggott, Lithgow Mercury. These walks have proven so popular that requests have been received to make them an annual event. The book begins with a consideration of the rich and ancient geology of the landscape into which the 1813 A horseback version was well into the planning process explorers intruded and moves on to examine many when an infectious equine disease brought this to an aspects of the ‘crossing story’, from the original abrupt halt. inhabitants whose country was being traversed, to the development of the Bathurst Road and the first Again it is planned to revive the activity in the future. Europeans in the Bathurst region.

Also enormously popular was the exhibition ‘A Moment It closes with the life and achievements of some of the in Time’ displayed in the Old Hartley School Hall, often earliest European settlers in the Hartley Valley who attracting the descendants of many former residents of began their new lives there in the early 1820’s. the Hartley area from all over the state and even some overseas visitors. The book was formally launched in October at the Lithgow Learning Centre by internationally acclaimed So warmly was the exhibition received that the ‘plein air’ landscape artist Warwick Fuller, also a local members of the Western Crossings Trust, the resident of Hartley Valley. administrative body supporting the Hartley commemorations, were persuaded that a lasting Warwick’s great great grandparents settled in the valley memoir of the events should be produced and so the in 1839, raising twelve children who attended the printed version of ‘A Moment in Time’ came into being, former Schoolhouse Creek School in Kanimbla Valley. despite the exhaustion of the dedicated band of local volunteers. Warwick was recently a member of the Royal Visit Party at the personal invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Expanded from the exhibition, the book of the same Charles, who now has four of Warwick’s landscapes in name was produced by a trio of professionals, with his private collection. Poet George Clark recited his research and text by historian Joan Kent in poem ‘A Moment in Time’ from the book, inspired by collaboration with internationally renowned theatre George’s visit to the Images Exhibition in May and designer Michael O’Kane and graphic artist Kaylene June. Brooks, all of whom are local residents. Continued page 14

HERITAGE 13 November - December 2013 The question of promoting the ‘Whither Goest Thou?’ Careful thought must be given to crossing stories to a the continuation or otherwise of the presentation of the crossings stories wider public to the wider public, and indeed the Continued from page 13 All proceeds go to the Western long-term storage, preservation and The pleasant evening concluded Crossings Trust, the charitable extension of the products of the with the mayor of Lithgow, entity established by the Hartley 2013 commemorations to Councillor Maree Statham cutting District Progress Association to encompass the progress of the and distributing ‘The Moment’ cake promote consideration of the ‘Journey to Bathurst and beyond’ to those in attendance. consequences of the crossing of the over ensuing years. Blue Mountains by Europeans in The book is available at $29.95 1813, and the acquisition of items of This article was contributed by including postage, Perfect Bound, moveable cultural heritage relevant professional historian and curator of 200x260 in full colour from Barbara to the Hartley Valley. the outstanding exhibition, A Wheat at [email protected] Moment in Time Joan Kent officially or Joan Kent at Donations to the Western Crossings opened and acclaimed by the [email protected]. Trust are welcomed and are tax Governor of NSW Professor Marie deductable. Bashir. A deluxe hardcover full colour edition, 290x320 is available from The question now under The exhibition was the major plank Blurb Books at $131 plus postage consideration for all with an interest in the Western Crossing from the US at http://blur.by/ in the history of the European commemoration activity of the 1cpKjKp. settlement of the ‘New Country’ is Hartley Valley District Progress Association. Historian with song writing to his credit becomes president at Kurrajong STEVE RAWLING AM, (pictured) the newly elected president of the Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society, was a founding member of the society, and has been a member of its committee at various times.

His initial interest in local history was sparked by the discovery that the property he has lived on since 1996 in Kurrajong Heights is part of the larger property once owned by Louisa Atkinson, “the botanist of the Kurrajong” and pioneer woman writer.

He has contributed a number of articles about Louisa and on other topics to the society’s newsletter The Millstone, as well as speaking about related topics to the society and to other community groups in the Hawkesbury.

He has written a suite of songs which was produced as a CD and songbook entitled “Memories of Kurrajong – History in Song” which was presented at the National Folk Festival in Canberra some years ago. He now has a part-time consulting role at the He was also a founding member of the Hawkesbury University of Western Sydney. Branch of the National Trust, having been a member He was made a member of the Order of Australia in of the National Trust of Australia (NSW) for more than 1992 for services to education. forty years. He has served as chair and secretary of the Hawkesbury Branch. He has also been involved as a director and chairman of an environmental consultancy run by his wife, Judie, Steve has spent almost all his working career in the and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company university sector, including periods at the universities Directors. of Sydney, Oxford and Wollongong, and the Australian National University.

HERITAGE 14 November - December 2013 Persistence wins museum a grant PERSISTENCE and a change of ideas about its museum’s collection has seen the Mount Victoria and District Historical Society recently Ms Anne-Marie being successful in receiving a Schwirtlich, director Community Heritage grant for $4686 from the National Library of general of the Australia. National Library of The Community Heritage grant is Australia presenting for a significance assessment to be carried out on some of the the grant documents collection of its museum. to Mrs Jean Winston, Roy Bennett the curator applied for the grant which is to fund the president Mt Victoria services of an assessor and the and District society’s president, Jean Winston attended the workshop in Canberra Historical Society. organised by the National Library and other federal bodies to gain more insight into the meaning of significance and to learn more At Blackheath a unique girls school collection management workshop about conservation. Osborne Ladies College, run on held at the National Library of naval lines, had boarders and day Australia, the National Archives of The society had been unsuccessful girls. One room at the museum is Australia, the National Museum of before but Roy thought on the dedicated to memorabilia from that Australia and the National Film and second try that he had portrayed the school. Sound Archive in Canberra. historical associations of the collection in a better way. Roy detailed these unique events Director-General of the National and showed how the museum Library Anne-Marie Schwirtlich said The collection has to be of national collection told the stories of what the CHG program showed the significance. had happened locally. commitment by the National Library, along with its partner institutions Other criteria required are historical, Community groups will have a and the federal government, to aesthetic, scientific/research or greater capacity to preserve assist communities to care for the social/spiritual. Australia’s heritage with the nation’s heritage, in the cities, the announcement of the 2013 country or out in remote Australia.. An important part of the collection is Community Heritage grants. showing the opening up of the Blue The Community Heritage grants Mountains and lands to the west by A total of 78 grants worth $426,000 program is funded by the Australian road and rail. will go to 77 community groups and government through the National organisations, with the History Trust Library of Australia; Ministry for the The actual tools used by the early of South Australia, the recipient of Arts, Attorney General’s land holders are on display. two grants. Department; the National Archives of Australia; the National Film and Memorabilia and exploits of the Recipients also attended a three- Sound Archive; and the National explorers, surveyors and road day intensive preservation and Museum of Australia. makers, including convicts, form part of the collection. Governor to open Valley Heights

The museum itself is housed in the Loco Depot museum sandstone railway station opened in The Governor of NSW, Professor For further details of centenary 1868 and still operating. Marie Bashir has agreed to activities officially open the Valley Heights www.infobluemountains.net.au/ The railway brought tourists to the Locomotive Depot on January 31, locodepot/centenary.shtml area and local hotels catering to the 2014 as the first event of a year- tourists who are depicted in long centenary of the depot. photographs and memorabilia. Her Excellency will be Notable people have lived at Mount accompanied by her husband Sir Victoria: Sir Henry Parkes and the Nicholas Shehadie. Fairfaxes had grand houses built in the coolness of the mountains.

HERITAGE 15 November - December 2013 Friends of the Paragon formed Since the Simos family and many STRONG SUPPORT has been Two people present at the meeting, other café-owning families came given to the formation of the Doreen Knox and Robert directly or indirectly from the island Friends of the Paragon. Trenchard-Smith, have volunteered to be tour guides and Ms Parker will of Kythera, this flourishing At a recent meeting in the heritage organise a training session for them association is of the greatest Paragon Restaurant, Katoomba it both in the near future. interest. was decided to form a group to A short program of events is being ensure the conservation of this Ian Jack said he will take carriage finalised by Robyn Parker. heritage icon. of a nomination for State listing and will talk to members of the listing team at the Heritage Division of the The Kytherian Association may be a Office of Environment and Heritage. key to the establishment of the Paragon Foundation. Doreen Knox, has subsequent to the meeting, documented the The next meeting of those existence of the Kytherian interested in the project is Association of Australia, in which scheduled for Thursday February George Poulos is a prominent 20, 2014, at 6 pm in the Paragon. member. Contributed by Ian Jack who Paragon cocktail bar represented BMACHO at the meeting. The lessee of the premises Robyn Parker told the meeting that help New strategy for Australian. heritage was needed to ensure this piece of IDEAS and suggestions for an heritage did not disappear. Australian Heritage Strategy are being requested by the federal The general objectives, to be government. properly defined in due course in a formal document, include: Minister for the Environment, Greg 1. research into the history of Hunt said he wanted to hear from the Paragon and the Simos family heritage practitioners and experts 2. assisting in tours of the across Australia. Paragon for groups 3. assisting in the preparation “The Australian Heritage Strategy of a renewed nomination of the will provide a common framework building and its contents to the and priorities for Australia’s State Heritage Register heritage and help ensure our 4. public advocacy heritage is recognised and 5. approaches to the Greek protected for future generations,” community (and others) in Australia Mr Hunt said. for support 6. creating a program of “A draft strategy will be released public events in 2014 to raise the for public comment in Australian profile of the Paragon Heritage Week next year.” 7. establishing a Paragon Greg Hunt MP Foundation in the hope that the He said the government’s plan “Under the Community Heritage property can be purchased. was to develop partnerships and and Icons program we will invest provide initiatives that enabled $1.5 million on vital restoration work The meeting heard that research is practical local actions and at Port Arthur’s World Heritage- under way by Robyn Parker and Ian solutions to protect and manage listed penitentiary building, one of Jack and that Doreen Knox (who is heritage places. Australia’s most significant heritage a fluent speaker of modern Greek) icons.” will use her Greek connections. “We are providing $1.4 million over three years for small-scale Mr Hunt said the government’s community heritage projects for Green Army would also play a key the conservation, protection and role in the protection of local interpretation of local heritage. heritage.

Grants of up to $10 000 will be “Green Army projects will focus on available to local heritage groups the conservation and refurbishment and historical societies, of significant local heritage while commencing in the 2014-15 contributing to a skilled workforce financial year,” Mr Hunt said. for heritage-focused business and Paragon wall pieces industry,” he said.

HERITAGE 16 November - December 2013 Sandstone the making of the Blue Mountains Blue Mountains City Council has agreed to a round of small grants to assist owners of heritage listed buildings or places to carry our sympathetic repairs or restorations.

NSW Heritage Branch will provide a grant of $8500 and this has been matched by council to provide a fund of $17,000.

Applications closing on December 20 have been invited from owners of listed heritage buildings or from owners of a building within a heritage conservation area or period housing area.

The grants are targeted at small projects ready for an immediate start and which must be complete by mid April 2014.

The program is being managed by council with support from the heritage advisory committee.

The committee has suggested that one of the grant priorities is sandstone repair and restoration projects, but a range of other projects will be considered.

These could include repainting of exteriors of residences and shops, repairs o decorative external timberwork or joinery, repairs of shop fronts, awnings or repairs to streetscape or wider community benefit will also be considered and should be discussed with council staff and the heritage adviser beforehand. A copy of the standard LHF guidelines and application Applicants must confirm that their project can forms can be downloaded from council’s website or by commence early in 2014 and can be completed by mid contacting council on 4780 5740 April 2014. Lights to be installed opposite Woodford Academy Traffic lights are now planned to circumstances of former Woodford Academy to the National Trust of allow pedestrians to cross the Great Academy resident and principal, Australia (NSW) on condition she Western Highway opposite John McManamey’s death on the could live there until she died. She Woodford Academy. highway in 1946. died in 1988 having left the property 2 years earlier. Road and Maritime Services (RMS) John McManamey established has scrapped its proposal for a Woodford Academy in 1907 as a National Trust received a $1 million pedestrian refuge island on the ‘young gentleman’s school’. Centenary of Federation grant from widened highway near Arthur Street Woodford Academy closed in 1925 the Australian government in 2001. in favour of traffic lights. and McManamey used the building as a private residence. REFERENCE: Woodford Academy chairman Ian Leary, Nanette, A brief history of Harman said it was fitting He reopened the school for local Woodford Academy, 2005,Friends pedestrian safety would be boosted children in 1930 it closing in 1936. of Woodford Academy. before the highway widening project was completed through Woodford in In 1979 his sole surviving daughter 2014, given the tragic Gertrude donated Woodford Nepean Historical Society joins BMACH0 The Nepean District Historical The inn was once a staging post for Society is the latest to join as a travellers making the trip from member of BMACHO. Sydney over the Blue Mountains to Bathurst and the goldfields. The society has its home in the Arms of Australia Inn Museum at Built in two sections, the first in Emu Plains the gateway to the 1826, it is one of the oldest Blue Mountains. buildings in Penrith, if not the oldest.

HERITAGE 17 November - December 2013 ‘Our Jan’ honoured for work on Western Crossings Committee AMONG the individuals to recently Lloyd, Uncle Graeme Cooper and receive a Blue Mountains, Lithgow Wendy Blaxland. & Oberon Tourism Award of Excellence 2013 for contribution to BMACHO member organisations to the Blue Mountains bicentenary, be recognized were the Blue was BMACHO’s hard working and Mountains Historical Society and popular secretary, Jan Koperberg. Hartley District Valley Progress Association. Jan has also been the minutes secretary of Western Crossings ORGANISATIONS to receive the committee since its inception. award were: Blaxland & Districts Chamber of Commerce and INDIVIDUALS to receive the award Industry, Blue Mountains City were: Auntie Sharyn Halls, Bob Council, Blue Mountains Historical Kemnitz, Clr Daniel Myles, Dr Anne- Society, Blue Mountains Maree Whitaker, Dr Siobhán Lavelle International Hotel Management Jan Koperberg with her award OAM, Jan Koperberg, Jessica School, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Katoomba Theatre Company, Blaxland-Ashby, John O’Sullivan, Oberon Tourism, Chamber of Lithgow City Council, Penrith City Ken Goodlet, Melissa Mylchreest, Commerce and Industry Lawson, Council, Royal Australian Historical Meryl Butterworth, Philip Hammon, Falls Wines, Garden Clubs of Society, TAFE Western Sydney Professor David Carment, Randall Australia, Gundungurra Aboriginal Institute, Wentworth Falls Chamber Walker, Sandy Holmes, Tanya Heritage Association, Hartley of Commerce and Windowrie Loviz, Tom Colless OAM, Trevor District Progress Association, Estate. NATIONAL TRUST HONOURS AWARDS 2013 FIVE OF THE 20 people statewide Gallery), Mrs Jean Reynolds Mrs Sandra Luxford of the Friends to be honoured with National Trust (Friends of Norman Lindsay of Everglades received the Trust of Australia (NSW) awards at the Gallery) and Mrs Elizabeth van commendation award. Trust’s annual general meeting on Reyswoud (Friends of Everglades November 30 are associated with and National Trust -Blue Mountains Trust properties in the Blue Branch. Mountains.

Top honours go to the grand- daughter of Norman Lindsay, Ms Helen Glad who becomes an honorary life member of the National Trust and the manager Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum, Amanda Trevellion who has received the staff distinguished service award.

Those to receive the voluntary service awards were Mrs Leonie Fry (Friends of Norman Lindsay Helen Glad Amanda Trevillion

Elizabeth van Reyswoud Sandra Luxford Jean Reynolds

HERITAGE 18 November - December 2013 Blue Mountains new plan goes on exhibition A PLANNING document to guide DLEP 2013 is a ‘best fit’ with the land use and development in the standard LEP, providing the Blue Mountains went on public planning framework that aims to exhibition earlier this month. protect our unique environment while permitting appropriate Blue Mountains City Council’s Draft development in the future. Local Environment Plan (DLEP) 2013 has been the subject of long “All residents will notice that the negotiations with the state zoning of their land will have a new government. name, and the permitted land uses may have changed, but for the most Blue Mountains mayor Mark properties in the Blue Mountains the Greenhill said the council’s DLEP change will be minimal the mayor 2013 has been prepared in has said. response to the NSW government requirement for all councils in NSW The public exhibition period for the to prepare a new plan based on a DLEP 2013 started on December 4 standard template. and will conclude on March 4, 2014.

“The DLEP 2013 is essentially a For further information on the DLEP conversion of council’s existing 2013 and to have a say visit Mayor Mark Greenhill planning document into a single www.bluemountainshaveyoursay.com.au/ required to adhere to the direction comprehensive LEP for the city that draftlep2013 of the NSW Government. complies with the NSW government’s standard format while Mayor Greenhill said, “council In recognition of this, council has maintaining the key provision in our acknowledges the commitment of extended the closing time of the current LEPS,” he said. the public exhibition in December is exhibition to March 2014 to ensure not the ideal time to engage the adequate time for the community to “In doing this, council has made a community on a significant planning get involved.” considerable effort to ensure the proposal, however council is SOURCE:Blue Mountains Gazette December 4, 2013 - Shane Desiatnick NSW Government withdraws controversial planning bill THE NSW government has has said the state government’s legislation while it considers its withdrawn the proposed landmark planning reforms are now response, and is likely to controversial planning legislation; under serious threat after the NSW reintroduce the legislation in March the planning minister, Brad Hazzard upper house blocked key parts of 2014. indicating it could not accept the the new laws. heavy amendments imposed by the “Notwithstanding the amendments upper house. . “Community groups say the passed in the NSW upper house, a changes are an ‘immense win’ that number of aspects of the proposed Elizabeth Vines OAM president, will give residents a voice on what is changes have not been amended Australia – International Council of built in their neighbourhoods. and remain of concern to Australia Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) ICOMOS and the many other “A new, streamlined development professional and community groups pathway known as ‘code with an interest in the issue. assessment’ was stripped from the bill. “ What is also of concern is that the minister and organisations with a “Under this system, if a vested interest in removing many of development in high-growth areas the current heritage safeguards are meets agreed requirements, such portraying those who have lodged as building type, heights and submissions against aspects of the environmental standards, it would proposed legislation as a minority of have needed to be approved by a extremists. council within 25 days, and the community’s right to object would “However, A-ICOMOS will continue be limited. to monitor the situation and make further presentations as required to “The government has now get the best possible outcome for announced that it cannot accept the the care and management of our amendments and has withdrawn the cultural heritage,” Ms Vines said. Liz Vines, OAM

HERITAGE 19 November - December 2013 BLUE MOUNTAINS HISTORY JOURNAL No. 4 NOW ONLINE The Blue Mountains History Journal Penrith - the main gateway to the No. 4 now online and also available Blue Mountains. in bound hard copy of six papers and one note is the largest edition ‘The first two papers have been so far since the Blue Mountains written by Andy Macqueen, and they Association of Cultural Heritage deal with different aspects of Oganisations (BMACHO) decided George Caley’s explorations. on such a publication. ‘They are complementary to each President of BMACHO, John Leary other, the first focussing on Caley’s said editor of the Blue Mountains obsession to find a route across the History Journal now in its 4th year, mountains and his regret that he did Dr Peter Rickwood deserves not achieve that before he left the considerable acclaim for the work colony. he has done to promote interest in local history and heritage through ‘The second of Andy’s papers this medium. relates to the curious names that Caley used for various features in He has sought out and encouraged the Blue Mountains; it not only authors to publish refereed material reveals where some have become ‘In our first issue (2010) he tackled in the Journal the result being a attached to features that Caley did Joseph Hay and now it is Benjamin very high quality of papers. not intend but it also deals with the Roberts - both at one time being possible origin of the names given owners of large parcels of land in Dr Rickwood in his editorial to somewhat similar features in Lawson. provides an interesting overview of Yorkshire. the papers which have been ‘The one feature that is common to published. ‘In the third paper Ron Brasier has all who have contributed to the brought together much of his history of the Blue Mountains is that In this edition Peter writes: ‘two extensive research on Osborne at some time they, or their papers deal with explorations of the Ladies’ College that had its final ancestors, had to cross the Blue Mountains before the 1813 chapter in Blackheath. Nepean/Hawkesbury River by some crossing, the bicentenary of which means in order to gain access to is being commemorated this year. ‘But the principal, Miss Gibbins, the Blue Mountains. commenced on a career in ‘Three papers have pioneering education up in Queensland and ‘Patsy Moppett has researched this individuals as their subject, one the sequence of schools that she most important aspect of travel to each inr elation to Blackheath, started has been traced. the Blue Mountains and in the sixth Medlow Bath and Lawson. paper she provides the chronology ‘Ron reveals many fascinating of the ways by which the Nepean ‘The sixth paper focuses on the aspects of this enigmatic character River has been crossed near to various ways by which the Nepean and his paper is illustrated by a Penrith. River has been crossed near generous collection of photographs. ‘That location needs to be stated for ‘Medlow Bath is one of the smallest the crossings of the Hawkesbury of the villages of the Blue Mountains River near to Windsor and but it too has had its characters. Richmond await another study.

‘The fourth paper discusses the life ‘All of the papers in Issue 4 have of one Cornwallis Wade-Browne been independently reviewed and who started out in a military career revised as a consequence of in England, became a stockman in suggestions. Queensland and ended up settling in Medlow (as it was then called) ‘The final contribution is a short and having a peripatetic life moving postscript by Christine Cramer who between a farm on what is now has been able to confirm some of Water Board land and a holiday the conclusions published in Issue home in Bay View. 3 relating to the death of Professor V. Gordon Childe in 1957 and the ‘Fifthly, Brian Fox has revealed what bones discovered at the same site he has been able to find out about in 1959.’ another pioneer of Lawson. Dr Peter Rickwood, editor the Blue Mountains History Journal

HERITAGE 20 November - December 2013 Ray Christison wins BLUE MOUNTAINS coveted IMAGinE award HISTORY JOURNAL NOW AVAILABLE

Blue Mountains History Journal Issue 4, October 2013, can now be downloaded and viewed in .pdf on the BMACHO website http:// www.bluemountainsheritage. com.au/imagesDB/wysiwyg/ BMHJ41Elec.pdf

This issue, has once again been edited by Dr Peter Rickwood and designed by Peter Hughes and is also available in hard copy.

It is a large issue, over 100 pages on quality gloss paper and can be purchased for $30, with postage extra. It cost almost $30 to print, so BMACHO is not making a profit. Ray Christison of Lithgow State and Regional & Public Galleries To purchase a copy, please email: Mine Heritage Park has won the NSW. The Secretary, BMACHO coveted 2013 IMAGinE award for 1/19 Stypandra Place individual achievement and the Since then they have become our SPRINGWOOD NSW 2777 and it award for the best exhibition – most popular event receiving will be sent to you with an invoice. volunteers has gone to the Lithgow around 70 nominations each year. State Mine Heritage Park for its Postage varies from post code to exhibit Fire in the Mine. M&G NSW provides programs and post code, so postage will be added services improving the visitor to the invoice when it is paid at the Pictured above is Ray Christison experience in small to medium Post Office. Alternatively it can be with wife, Jenny and Museums and museums, galleries and Aboriginal collected from Jan Koperberg at Galleries chairman Oliver Frankel at cultural centres across NSW. Springwood. the November presentation night in Sydney.

The recently developed multimedia exhibit titled Fire in the Mine Wendy Hawkes to talk explores the working lives of coalminers in the mid twentieth about the Cooks century and the horrific consequences of an underground THE LIVES of Sir Joseph Cook A light lunch will be provided, in the fire that occurred in the State Coal and Dame Mary Cook will be the Paragon at BMACHO expense), at Mine in 1953 topic for the guest speaker, Wendy approximately 12.30 pm Hawkes at a BMACHO general The IMAGinE awards recognise the meeting to be held on Saturday, After lunch, from 1.30 pm to 3.30 people who work in museums and February 8. at the Paragon pm (or earlier) a workshop will be galleries across NSW and the Restaurant., Katoomba. conducted, where a suggested contributions they make. format for an “Explorers Cultural Wendy Hawkes, is the cultural Trail” brochure will be presented. IMAGinE celebrates all institutions– development officer with Lithgow Those attending the workshop will the big to the small–and pays City Council and curator at be asked for input into this project. homage to those organisations run Eskbank House, Lithgow, where by volunteers, with limited budgets an exhibition about the Cooks was Please RSVP by email and minimal resources. recently staged. [email protected] or phone Jan Koperberg on 02 4751 M&G NSW first launched IMAGinE The Cooks moved to Lithgow in 5834 in 2008 in collaboration with 1886 and Sir Joseph worked in the Museums Australia (NSW & ACT) Vale of Clwydd Colliery as he studied and worked his way up When: Saturday, February 8, 2014 through the unions and into from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm Where: politics. He became prime minister Paragon Restaurant, Katoomba 27 years later. Street, Katoomba Cost to participants: FREE

HERITAGE 21 November - December 2013 St Stephens Parish Kurrajong Registers 1861 - 1902 THE BOOK St Stephens Church, Kurrajong Parish Registers 1861- 1902 published by the Family History Group, Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society was recently released.

The publication is a transcription of the parish records of St Stephens Anglican Church, Kurrajong, incorporating St Philips Chapel of Ease at North Richmond (formerly called Enfield), St James Church of England at Kurrajong Heights and Salis Flats Mission Church, later called St John the Evangelist when moved to the corner of Single Ridge and Comleroy Roads. Salis Flats is often written as Sallys Flats and this area is now known as The Slopes.

The Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society Family History Group began the process of transcribing the records with the full co-operation of the present rector, the Reverend Shaun McGregor, and the group is indebted to him for his assistance.

The Family History Group realised immediately the significance of the information contained in the records which document the growth, character and early settlement St Stephens Church, Kurrajong patterns in the Kurrajong district as well as giving an indication of local The transcription, recording and NSW, and $14 for other states of industries and occupations. compilation of the information Australia contained in this publication Kurrajong was a farming community entailed countless hours of For enquiries telephone (02) 4588 and the majority of the people gave volunteer work by members of the 5867 and orders can be placed by their occupations as farmers and / Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical contacting the secretary at PO Box or orchardists. Following these were Society Family History Group. 174 Kurmond 2757. labourers, drovers, brickmakers, sawyers, butchers, blacksmiths and Together with the actual records saddler. also included is a brief history of Paragon joins some of the early settlers to provide The registers also indicate a strong a better understanding of BMACHO sense of place and belonging, and Kurrajong’s past and its place in the The Paragon Restaurant at outline a history of families in the history of the Hawkesbury. Katoomba is another new member area. of BMACHO this month. The research team were Carolynne In a scattered, relatively isolated Cooper (team leader, Valerie Birch, The Paragon first started by a farming community like Kurrajong it Wanda Deacon, Kath McMahon- Greek émigré in 1916 at the was not uncommon for boy to marry Nolf, Carol Roberts and Joy beginning of a new phenomenon the girl next door because social Shepherd. in Australian country towns, the contact mainly involved interaction Greek café. From the early 1910s The compilation and layout was with the neighbours. It was not onwards a number of émigrés done by Chris Upton, editor of the uncommon for brothers to marry from Greece, often with Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical sisters from neighbouring farms. experience of the United States, Society’s newsletter Millstones. For all these reasons it was created a new café experience in considered essential to document cities and towns throughout The180 pages book is priced at $27 this information. Australia. plus postage and packing of $10 for postage and handling throughout

HERITAGE 22 November - December 2013 ANZAC Centenary grants available LOUISE MARKUS MP, the Member Types of projects not eligible are: for Macquarie has announced that * expenditure already incurred or applications are now open for the ongoing expenditure (eg annual ANZAC Centenary grants program. maintenance of memorials), * construction and repair of Mrs Markus said that for the 100th buildings, including museums, anniversary of the Gallipoli landing memorial halls and sporting the federal government is making facilities, available $100 000 in funding *recurring activities (events held allocated to each electorate in every year), Australia to support projects in the *salaries, travel and community that mark the occasion. accommodation, *sporting events, *educational materials where projects by Department of Veteran Affairs already provides resources for schools.

Two public information sessions will be announced and held regarding the ANZAC Centenary grants program. Australian and British soldiers Guidelines for proposed projects take a welcome break before and application forms can be going up to the front line trenches accessed online at http:// in France during World War 1 wwwanzaccentenary.gov.au/grants/

Deadline for grants applications is March 30, 2014. “I look forward to receiving all applications and working with the Applications may be submitted to community to deliver [email protected] or commemorations they will be proud Louise Markus, MP mailed to the ANZAC centenary of, that honour the centenary of our grants program PO Box 855, nation’s service at Gallipoli,” said These grants are a wonderful Windsor 2756. Mrs Markus. opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice of the servicemen and women. NEW HERITAGE NETWORK

Applications are open to: *community and ex-service FORMED organisations, THE NSW Heritage Network has Ms Perry said, “It is the NSW * schools and education institutions, recently been established with government’s planning legislation * museums and cultural institutions, the objective of bringing heritage which has forced community * local government authorities, campaigners and community advocates to the fore. The planning * other non-profit organisations. organisations together to share legislation does not support information, resources, heritage” Types of projects that are eligible experiences and skills to support under this program include: local and state heritage “The NSW government has put * public commemorative events, campaigns. emphasis on economic growth and * new First World War memorials or development; our built heritage is honour boards, Speaking at the recent launch at virtually ignored and it is the *the restoration of existing First the State heritage listed property ongoing management of that which World War memorials and honour Linnwood House, Guildford, Ms is at risk. boards, Barbara Perry, Shadow Minister * the preservation, interpretation for Heritage said it had been the “The clock will be wound back to the and display of Fist World War vision of Anne Field, Peter days prior to the Heritage Act of wartime and military memorabilia Duggan, Leesha Payor and June 1977” and artefacts. Bullivant, OAM “to grow an * relevant school projects, such as alliance of community groups, For further information: June M research with a focus on military representing constituents across Bullivant OAM (02) 9631 0216 or involvement and social impacts, and NSW with a common bond – 0438 31 0216 the products of research. advocating for heritage issues across the state.”

HERITAGE 23 November - December 2013 Utzon’s Opera House

IT IS A RARE ARTIST who has not been inspired by the Sydney Opera House

The SH Ervin Gallery Sydey is presenting the exhibition Utzon’s Sydney Opera House at sunset Opera House over the summer period, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the opening of the The attempt is made to insert Opera House in 1973 and to LANDMARKS ourselves into that story, with all its celebrate its significance for ups and downs, to identify our own Australian visual artists. LAWSON PRIEST, researcher, experience in its unfolding, and author, and authority on the through it to catch the vision of God The Sydney Opera House, Australian Aboriginal culture, Father which the past projects onto our designed by Danish architect Jørn Eugene Stockton has recently present and future. Utzon is an architectural icon and published another book through the one of the most outstanding Blue Mountains Education and Blue Mountains Education and buildings of the twentieth century. Research Trust. Research Trust a member of BMACHO was established to Recognised in 2007 by UNESCO Landmarks is an exploration of an promote local research in religion on the World Heritage List, it is Australian spirituality. Drawing on and Aboriginal studies especially appropriate that the National Trust the cultural influences now in our through the publication of findings. celebrate this milestone of land, it offers a graded, Australia’s most remarkable comprehensive presentation of Copies of Landmarks are available building. gospel teachings, with an Australian direct from the publisher at $15 per diction and imagery. The inspiration for the exhibition copy plus postage. has its genesis in the 2012 The reader is introduced in terms of For more information about this exhibition Australian Artists and the an “Australian setting”, focusing on publication contact Eugene Sydney Opera House (curated by one particular aspect of the Stockton (02) 4759 1818. Lin Utzon) at the Utzon Center in Australian experience. Denmark which took the work of eight Sydney artists to Aalborg, the The body of each chapter analyses birthplace of Jørn Utzon. that experience, exploring the BMACHO parallels with its biblical counterpart. The SH Ervin Gallery exhibition support for expands on this selection and The bible is used, not as a book of include images of the indigenous God or a store of normative texts, figure Bennelong, after whom the but as the story of people, who are grant peninsula it stands on is named, as our spiritual ancestors. well as works by some of Australia’s application leading artists including Eric Thake, William Dobell, Lloyd Rees, Brett LETTERS OF SUPPORT have been Whiteley, John Olsen, Margaret provided by BMACHO several Olley, Martin Sharp, Ken Done, historical societies and individuals to Peter Kingston, Kevin Connor, Noel Blue Mountains City Council in the McKenna and Chris O’Doherty aka bid of its library service to obtain a Reg Mombassa. $30 000 grant.

There will also be on display The grant application was to the original drawings and working Library Council of NSW. models by Utzon, which are held by the State Library of New South If successful the grant would be Wales. Works will be drawn from used to complete the digitisation of public and private collections all surviving Blue Mountains across the country. newspapers up to 1954; after which copyright becomes a problem. The exhibition which opened in late November, will run until January 19. Springwood Historian have already made a donation of $5000 to the For further information www.national library to allow digitisation of local trust.org.au/nsw newspapers to start.

HERITAGE 24 November - December 2013 Rome’s gigantic waste disposal site MOST MODERN CITIES today It stands a short distance away from As the oldest parts of Monte have a major problem with waste the east bank of the River Tiber, Testaccio are at the bottom of the disposal. But the problem has near the Horrea Galbae where the mound, it is difficult to say with any been around for a long time as state-controlled reserve of olive oil certainty when it was first created. archaeologists have found in was stored in the late 2nd century Rome. AD. Deposits found by excavators have been dated to a period Monte Testaccio is an artificial The huge numbers of broken between approximately AD 140 to mound in Rome composed almost amphorae at Monte Testaccio 250, but it is possible that dumping entirely of fragments of broken illustrate the enormous demand for could have begun on the site as amphorae dating from the time of oil of imperial Rome, which was at early as the 1st century BC. the Roman Empire, the time the world’s largest city with a population of at least one million The mound has a roughly It is one of the largest spoil heaps people. triangular shape comprising two found anywhere in the ancient distinct platforms, the eastern side world, covering an area of 20,000 Monte Testaccio was not simply a being the oldest. square metres at its base and haphazard waste dump; it was a with a volume of approximately highly organised and carefully At least four distinct series of 580,000 cubic metres, containing engineered creation, presumably terraces were built in a stepped the remains of an estimated 53 managed by a state administrative arrangement. Layers of small million amphorae in which some 6 authority. shards were laid down in some billion litres of oil was imported places, possibly to serve as paths mainly from Spain. Excavations carried out in 1991 for those carrying out the waste showed that the mound had been disposal operations It has a circumference of nearly a raised as a series of level terraces kilometre and stands 35 metres with retaining walls made of nearly REFERENCE: Monte Testaccio website high, though it was probably intact amphorae filled with shards to by University de Roma “La Sapienza” considerably higher in ancient anchor them in place and Universitat de Barcelona. times. BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. REGISTERED OFFICE 1/19 Stypandra Place, MEMBERSHIP The following organisations are members of Springwood, 2777 (02) 4751 5834 E-mail: BMACHO: Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah, [email protected] or Blue Mountains City Library, Blue Mountains Cultural Heritage [email protected] Centre, Blue Mountain Education and Research Trust, Blue Website: www.bluemountainsheritage.com Mountains Historical Society Inc., Blue Mountains Family ABN53 994 839 952 History Society Inc., Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre, Everglades Historic House & THE ORGANISATION Blue Mountains Association of Gardens, Friends of Norman Lindsay Gallery, Glenbrook & Cultural Organisations Inc. (BMACHO) was established District Historical Society Inc., Hartley Valley District Progress in April 2006 following a unanimous response to a Association, Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society Inc, proposal from Professor Barrie Reynolds at the 2004 Lithgow and District Family History Society Inc., Lithgow Blue Mountains Local History Conference which sought Mining Museum Inc., Lithgow Regional Library – Local from Blue Mountains City Council the creation of a Studies, Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum Inc, Mt Victoria cultural heritage strategy for the city. and District Historical Society Inc., Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine BMACHO in its constitution uses the definition: “Cultural Historical Society Inc. (including Turkish Bath Museum), heritage is all aspects of life of the peoples of the Blue Mudgee Historical Society Inc., National Trust of Australia Mountains which was later changed to cover Lithgow and (NSW) - Blue Mountains Branch, National Trust of Australia the villages along the Bell’s Line of Roads. It therefore (NSW) - Lithgow Branch, Nepean District Historical Society involves the recording, preserving and interpreting of Inc., Paragon Restaurant - Katoomba, Scenic World – Blue information in whatever form: documents, objects, Mountains Limited, Springwood & District Historical Society recorded memories as well as buildings and sites.” Inc., Springwood Historians Inc., Transport Signal and The objectives of the organisation are: Communication Museum Inc., The Darnell Collection Pty Ltd, i. To raise public consciousness of Valley Heights Locomotive Depot and Museum, Woodford the value of cultural heritage. Academy Management Committe, Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd. ii. To encourage and assist cultural The following are individual members: Ray Christison, heritage activities of member organisations. Associate Professor Ian Jack, Joan Kent, John Leary OAM, iii. To initiate and support cultural John Low OAM, Ian Milliss, Patsy Moppett, Professor Barrie heritage activities not already covered by Reynolds, Dr Peter Rickwood and Dr Peter Stanbury OAM. member organisations. One of the aims of BMACHO is to bring the various bodies into closer contact, to COMMITTEE The committee for 2013-14 is: encourage them to work more closely together and to John Leary, OAM (president), Ian Jack (vice president), provide a combined voice on matters of importance Jan Koperberg (secretary), Kevin Frappell, Wendy Hawkes, within the heritage sector. Doug Knowles, Patsy Moppett, Dick Morony (public officer), Scott Pollock and Jean Winston. AFFILIATIONS BMACHO is a member of the Royal Australian Historical Society Inc. DISCLAIMER Views and opinions expressed in HERITAGE originate from many sources and contributors. HERITAGE BMACHO’s official newsletter is edited Every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of material. Content by John Leary, OAM. does not necessarily represent or reflect the views and Blue Mountains History Journal is edited by opinions of BMACHO, its committee or members. If errors are Dr Peter Rickwood. found feedback is most welcome.

HERITAGE 25 November - December 2013