DRAFT

Interpretive Strategy for the Woodford Reserve + environs prepared by Nature Tourism Services JANUARY 2019 WOODFORD RESERVE + ENVIRONS: INTERPRETIVE STRATEGY – DRAFT Rock carving believed to be of Aboriginal origin, Woodford Reserve Woodford origin, Aboriginal of tobe believed carving Rock Contents 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. preface designs sign signage web app content layers in time walk research content and 1

2 3 6 5 4 preface

DRAFT This report was produced by Nature The material presented here sits as In particular it is noted here that developing an enhanced formal access path leading from the Tourism Services for Blue Mountains an extension of the thematic content carpark entry in the Woodford Reserve across the City Council in January 2019. prepared by Nature Tourism Services 150m of open lawn leading up to the northern “rear” for this project – the Woodford entry to the Academy is a very high priority for Stage The project brief was as follows: 2 action in relation to this precinct. This approach Academy + Environs Story Distillation. The objects of this consultancy are to have; would link up with and provide enhanced context • a contractor install interpretive information about It should be read and understood / meaning for the existing engraved concrete path Woodford Academy Reserve by April 2019, and, within the background and context section that exists in the last 50m of this access • supporting additional information to be available information provided in this report. route. on Council’s website via QR codes at the same A feature of the interpretive response proposed time. This interpretive strategy project has two outputs in this strategy is the integral development of a to consider. The first is the key deliverable here of supporting web app to provide deeper narrative

INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION The consultants are expected to;

providing a new interpretive experience focussed levels for users to explore as they journey around the • Review the background information provided. around the Woodford Reserve that invites users to precinct. In this way the signage acts as a portal to a • Confirm location and number of signs required connect with the rich and many layered heritage of deeper online narrative that can be translated on the and feasible within the budget available for this place. fly into the users language of choice. construction ($25,000). In this it must deliver a concrete experience that This supporting digital matrix plays a crucial role • Work with the overarching themes provided. exists as a stand alone entity going forward with no in “lightening the load” needing to be carried by Draw on the report and other sources if need for any further elaboration or investment. the signage in terms of the amount of content and necessary to provide suitable content and It must also however also consider the additional thematic diversity of the signage set. artwork for the signs. ongoing interpretive opportunities of the precinct These materials stand equally as points of • Provide construction details for the signs. and its surrounding heritage assets – especially that engagement/connection for the user and as an of the Woodford Academy. information source in their own right. This dynamic Ongoing staged investments to both enhance also allows for simple ongoing expansion and further the interpretive experience on offer in the reserve, elaboration of the product to be provided via future improve its connections with the adjoining staged interventions for both this precinct and for

WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD Woodford Academy and also to inform the potential the adjoining Woodford Academy. interpretive options open for the Academy to Ian Charles explore within its own grounds are matters of Director, Nature Tourism Services, JANUARY 2019 1 consideration for this project. 7.1: bush corridor wayside – a multi-day mountain crossing

The construction of the “Road over the Mt.” in 1814 took one of a network of traditional Aboriginal pathways and turned this into a route over which wheeled vehicles could travel. People could still walk/ride along a diverse array of mountain access routes,

DRAFT however when it came to the movement of goods and materials there was only one option to follow. 7: bush The 50 mile section of road from the ford on the Nepean River to the Hartley Valley became the magnet drawing settlers and commerce out of the Sydney Basin to the lands west of the mountains. With horse riders typically able to travel 30-40 miles a day across hilly formed roads, this made the mountain crossing an overnight outing at best. Bullock teams by contrast needed to make camp every 9-10 miles in their week long trip over the range.

In 1835, the Sydney Herald helpfully published for the guidance of travellers a list of the licensed premises located across the Mountains. Pembrokes at Twenty Mile Hollow is positioned 55 miles from Sydney, 10 miles west of The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842) View title info Mon 20 Jul 1835 corridor Fitzgeralds Valley (Springwood) and 8 miles east of Weatherboard (Wentworth Falls). STORY DISTILLATION – STORY DRAFT wayside WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD

15 A map of New South Wales : from the best authorities and from the latest discoveries 1825 / J. Tyrer sc J. Souter, St. Pauls Ch. Yard, March 1825. National Library of Australia MAP NK 2456/114 STORY DISTILLATION – STORY

7.2: bush corridor wayside – the initial approach to 20 Mile Hollow

It’s hard to credit today just how After advancing his men forward the next day he Whereas today both the road and railway line made a start on the ‘high mountain’ on 29 August: contour around the hillside past Bulls Camp, the difficult the final run into 20 Mile Hollow “Commenced operations on the mountain, with all original route had several steep set downs and jump 1. research and content was for both explorers, road builders the men. ... Had to remove an immense quantity ups that would have been prone to washouts. of rock, both in going up the mountain and on the DRAFT and travellers alike in the early 1800s. pass leading to the bluff on the west of it. Examined The risks travellers faced because of this were Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth’s determination the high rocks well, and fixed on making a road off it highlighted in a newspaper report in January 1835 to follow the ridgeline left William Cox with the from the bluff instead of winding round it.” that noted: “But a more serious accident had challenge of building a road along the highest occurred a few days before; for a bullock-driver, ground that arcs around the upper catchment of And there they stayed for the next few weeks when conducting his team and dray, which was Woodford Creek. He first appreciated the scale of working away at the challenges before them. heavily laden with wool, down a steep part of the this problem on August 27 1814 when he wrote: On 11 September Cox wrote: “From the bridge it road near the Twenty mile-hollow was killed on the “Measured to the 16th mile, immediately after which continues rocky over two or three small passes to spot by the overturning of the dray, in consequence the ground got very rocky, and in half-a-mile we Caley’s pile; from thence, at least two miles further, of the prodigious inequalities of the surface. The came to a high mountain, which will cost much the mountain is nearly a solid rock. At places high poor man lies buried by the way-side, and I trust his

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY labour to make a road over.” broken rocks; at others, very hanging or shelving, solitary grave will long remind the colonial authorities which makes it impossible to make a level, good of the necessity of keeping the mountain road in road.” better repair.” The Colonist (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840) View title info Thu 8 Jan 1835 WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD Passage over the Blue Mountains 1821. National Library of Australia

14 ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD Tracing from working plan between Linden and Woodford [cartographic material] / N.S.W. Railways. New South Wales Government Railways and Tramways. 1915. State Library of NSW 16 DRAFT 7.3: bush corridor wayside – fixing the road 7.3: bush corridor wayside – fixing the road 7.4: bush corridor wayside – depression years at the inn

By the mid 1830s under the auspices of the new Surveyor By the mid 1830s under the auspices of the new Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell, the Emu Plains entry and the General Thomas Mitchell, the Emu Plains entry and the Mount Victoria/Mt York exit off the mountains had been Mount Victoria/Mt York exit off the mountains had been DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT massively improved. massively improved. As a newspaper correspondent noted in 1835, “The mountain-road from As a newspaper correspondent noted in 1835, “The mountain-road from Emu Ford to Spring-Wood is comparatively excellent ... but the portion of Emu Ford to Spring-Wood is comparatively excellent ... but the portion of road from Spring-Wood to the Weatherboard Hut ... is execrable in the road from Spring-Wood to the Weatherboard Hut ... is execrable in the extreme.” extreme.”

Even as this newspaper report went to press in 1835, convict chain gangs Even as this newspaper report went to press in 1835, convict chain gangs working on the roads were being relocated from Emu Plains to “Caleys working on the roads were being relocated from Emu Plains to “Caleys Truth 21 Aug 1921 Inn at Twenty Mile Hollow Oswald Brierly 1842. State Library of NSW Repulse the Seventeen Mile Pinch” to start work on the major road Repulse the Seventeen Mile Pinch” to start work on the major road realignments needed to bypass the rocky ridgetop alignment of the original realignments needed to bypass the rocky ridgetop alignment of the original In 1921, Captain Bull’s eldest daughter (then aged 90) STORY DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY The presence of the nearby road Western Road around the head of Woodford Creek (as it was later named). Western Road around the head of Woodford Creek (as it was later named). was able to recall her time residing at the inn from 1842- construction operations would have been Convicts building road over the Blue Mountains, N.S.W., 1833. National Library of Australia Convicts building road over the Blue Mountains, N.S.W., 1833. National Library of Australia 44. She remembered living in attached cottage close This event marked the beginning of an eight year period where the inn at This event marked the beginning of an eight year period where the inn at a major benefit for the “Inn at Twenty Mile enough to the road to recognise passers by. This accords 20 Mile Hollow found itself centrally located immediately west of a major 20 Mile Hollow found itself centrally located immediately west of a major Hollow” as it traded through the dark days with the sketch we have of the inn made in the same year construction site. With 50 officers attending to the convict stockade at 18 construction site. With 50 officers attending to the convict stockade at 18 as the Bull’s moved in to their new abode. Mile Hollow, the licensed premises just 2 miles away would have been well Mile Hollow, the licensed premises just 2 miles away would have been well of the depression years that gripped New frequented. By the time the new Superintendent of the “ironed gang” – John frequented. By the time the new Superintendent of the “ironed gang” – John South Wales in the early 1840s. By the time that the convict gang was relocated to Edward Newell Bull – was appointed to take charge in November 1842, the Edward Newell Bull – was appointed to take charge in November 1842, the Blackheath in 1844, the worst of the depression was As land values slumped due to drought, land ownership inn also provided accommodation for the road gang’s commanding officer. inn also provided accommodation for the road gang’s commanding officer. over. A travellers account from 1848 later speaks of both title issues and a drop in the price of Australian wool, the quality of the roadworks Capt Bull left in his wake and wheat and livestock being sold to Britain, a credit Bull arrived on site in the final stage of the roadwork project and within two Australasian Chronicle 22 Nov 1842 Bull arrived on site in the final stage of the roadwork project and within two Australasian Chronicle 22 Nov 1842 the nature of the hospitality on offer to travellers at the inn squeeze took hold. Wages fell and unemployment rose. years was overseeing the relocation of the Bulls Camp “ironed gang station” years was overseeing the relocation of the Bulls Camp “ironed gang station” at Twenty Mile Hollow. to its new operational base at Blackheath. to its new operational base at Blackheath. With 50 thirsty stockade guards based nearby and the Indeed he suggests people don’t enter these premises as convict gang superintendent in residence at the inn, the the place is so hospitable that you’ll never complete your impact of travellers going by with less disposable income intended day’s journey from Springwood to Weatherboad WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD would have been at least offset. The story narratives of Woodford Reserve Sydney Gazette 10 April 1834 Sydney Gazette 10 April 1834 Inn (Wentworth Falls).

The Colonist 8 Jan 1835 The Colonist 8 Jan 1835 Bells Life in Sydney 12 Feb 1848 17 17 18

Govetts Trace Neighbourhood dispute For sale New owners The first official settlers of 20 Mile Hollow This initial period of European settlement was 1838 “Woodman Inn,”- Bathurst Road.- Hogan was a solid and sound landlord and he were Thomas Michael Pembroke, his wife marked by one of the earliest Blue Mountains where may be constantly enjoyed (even, and his wife Mary, (specifically mentioned on FrancisCollits and their young family. Neighbourhood disputes, a bitter and ongoing thisunpropitious season) the most delicious the title deed) reliably managed the property for clash which was only resolved with the death spring water, air most salubrious, with 16 years with a succession of Innkeepers and Pembroke was a self admitted man of dogged ofMary James, the arrest of her husband on mostextensive prospect of southern and without incident. persistence. He had first squatted at 24 the charge of assisting her suicide and the eastern country. Fifty Acres being a Grant from milehollow - Christmas Swamp - with the text and plan images: Kate O’Neill imprisonment of Pembroke for his drunken theCrown. Stabling, Stock-yards, Garden, intention of setting up an Inn. testimony, which caused the acquittal of and twenty Acres fell and nearly cleared This hut is still marked onthis map along with James,who later died on a prison Hulk. for aPaddock. Apply to Messrs. Hughes & his later settlement marked as ‘Pembrokes Hoskings. Even with the advantages of having Pierce Waterhole’.It is ironic and unfortunate that the Collits as a Father-in-law Pembroke was not a A later 1839 advertisement detailed the stabling land he finally settled on was already occupied needed to underpin the delivery of the success. for six horses, store, stock and sheep-yards,with DRAFT by thesquatter William James who had already a productive garden and an overflowing spring erected a slab hut, and stables and put in He began to use his land grant like a cash of pure water. applicationto be granted the land he occupied. converter and continually borrowedagainst it, leading to a total debt of over £150. His When Michael Hogan purchased the Inn in The map shows how Pembrokes selection creditors, Hughes & Hoskings, tookover the 1839 to add to his healthy portfolio of land includes James’s stockyard. lease of the property and advertised it for sale investments he also claimed the right to the 8: highway centre - this one of the earliest descriptions ofthe land, original full 50 acres Crown grant promised to its aspect, advantages and improvements. Pembroke - Portion 1 of the County of Cook. Distillation of

stories about the DRAFT Woodford Academy grounds and environs from the DRAFT

interpretation response on site were compiled NOTES distant past to the present day 19 STORY DISTILLATION – STORY

prepared by Nature Tourism Services DECEMBER 2018 8.1: highway centre – roadside support DRAFT

Lapstone Hill near Penrith. Sketches of Australian scenes, 1852-1853 as part of a stage 1 process undertaken by / J. G. Sawkins. State Library of NSW Prior to the discovery of gold north of Bathurst in 1851, passage across the mountains road tended to be a relatively considered activity. Many travellers had their own horses thereby ensuring they could get across the mountains in two days. Haulage contractors with bullock teams were used to being self sufficient STORY DISTILLATION – STORY in the week or so it took them for a crossing. All this changed with the discovery of gold north of Bathurst in the autumn of

Road over the Blue Mountains to the Bathurst district National Library of Australia 1851. In the mayhem that followed the road across the Mountains from Sydney to Bathurst was packed with would be gold seekers in various states of preparation and diverse speeds of transit. These travellers often had no choice but to “accept the accommodation afforded by the overcrowded wayside inns in those parts.”

With demand exceeding supply, the conditions were primed for additional service providers to start up businesses along the Western Road. As one report noted in 1853

in a trip across the mountains “there are many beautiful little inns which the coaches ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD either pass altogether or stop at for a few minutes, where a person travelling ... could make himself particularly comfortable.” The Argus 14 Aug 1852 In the longer term these new start ups meant competition for the established places Bathurst and Sydney gold escort, scene, Blue Mountain Road c. 1851 National Library of Australia like the Kings Arms Inn at Twenty Mile Hollow with the advantage of its precious liquor Sydney Morning Herald March 1853 licence. In the opening years of the 1850s however, lack of trade was definitely not an WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD issue that the well established mountain innkeepers needed to worry about. 20 Nature Tourism Services for this project. 21 STORY DISTILLATION – STORY

8.2: highway centre – renewal at the hollow 8.3: highway centre – enter the 1860s 8.5: highway centre – railway construction work

1855 was a pivotal year in the history Two days before the end of the goldrush decade of 20 Mile Hollow. It was in that year that was the 1850s, the Bathurst Electric that the absentee landlord of 16 years – Telegraph opened for business. DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Michael Hogan – profitably sold his 50 This momentous event of a telegraph line opening across the Blue acre property to William Buss and his Mountains to connect Bathurst and Sydney was however just the wife Bridget for the sum of £1040. first of a series of infrastructure innovations that would in their turn become the indelible markers of the new decade. This meant that new live in owners arrived on site Sydney Morning Herald 30 Dec 1859 1. water is life armed with a range of ambitions to upgrade and By winter 1860, the Western Railway line was extended as far as develop the full potential of the premises at a time Blacktown and planning for the construction of the rail line over the when the initial pulse of gold seeker traffic was Blue Mountains was well advanced. The roll out of the mountains dropping back in favour of less hectic but more rail crossing in the 1860s ushered in an entirely new phase of predictable patterns of commercial activity. To community development for the region. It also put a permanent

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY help fund the significant property improvements he This was the same block of land that had been the DISTILLATION – STORY dividing line across the ridge crest in a way that was to split both DISTILLATION – STORY In 1863 construction work on the Linden-Woodford section of the Western location of a sly grog venue run by William and Mary present and future villages in two, separating out those places The crucial value of water in the harsh ridgetop sandstone landscapes undertook, Buss took out a mortgage of £500 in Railway line got underway when the contractors (Duxbury and Kerr) set 1858. James in the early 1830s. The construction of the north of the line from their immediate neighbours to the south. new lock up there may have been hastened by an up a construction camp at Bulls Camp. It was here that the most difficult The status quo of the mountains at the start of the 1860s is neatly Coinciding with – and even possibly incident in late 1854 whereby three convicted felons summarised in the map here dating from 1861. It shows the construction work facing this section of the line took place due to the works in the process of being conveyed by the gold escort of the Blue Mountains comes through from the earliest accounts of influencing their decision to purchase location of the new telegraph line and indicates those towns with a comprising “tunnels and gullets fifty feet deep.” The narratives are an essential statement of had tunnelled out of the lock up then located up the the property – was the move then post office. This was a relatively remote location for the construction camp at that time and as a result the road to the west at Weatherboard (Wentworth Falls). Sydney Mail 24 Sept 1864 DRAFT contractor set up their own on site store to allow the workers to purchase the groceries and supplies underway to relocate the central As a newspaper report dryly noted “Delinquents This defines the feature mountains towns as being Emu (Plains), they needed. Having a drink after work however was one service they could not offer. Fortunately European travel across the area. mountains lock up from Weatherboard are captured at considerable trouble, prosecuted at Blaxland (unlabelled), Springwood, Weatherboard (now Wentworth Falls /unlabelled), Blackheath and Mt Victoria. licensed premises were just a mile or two away at the Buss’ Kings Arms Inn to the west and this great expense and as now appears to be the rule, Freemans Journal 18 Nov 1854 (Wentworth Falls) down to the vacant patronage doubtless boosted the Inn’s cash flows during the two year construction period 1863-65. forwarded to the Blue Mountains to be turned loose It indicates that of all the pioneer inn locations across the block of land next door immediately upon society.” The construction of a new lock up Map of New South Wales & Victoria compiled & reduced from the Government maps by F. Proeschel, geographer Melbourne : Indeed, the establishment of the construction camp just next door in 1863 may have influenced the Engraved & printed by Brown & Slight, Clarendon Street, Emerald Hill, 1861 National Library of Australia r mountains, only the one at Twenty Mile Hollow had failed to west of the inn. facility at 20 Mile Hollow presumably went some way establish a foundation as a civic centre in its own right. This was Buss’s decision not to keep their Kings Arms Inn on the market after it was initially advertised for sale One key report report from 1827 notes how a man was lost while to addressing these failings, while at the same time to have significant implications for both the value of the existing in the winter of 1863. With the longer term value of their property in doubt owing to the anticipated WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD positioning the location as a crucial staging depot ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD investments at the Hollow and also for its future development. ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD decline in road traffic upon completion of the railway, they may have simply decided to enjoy some

for the gold escorts. Sydney Morning Herald 14 March 1864 profit taking as a reward for the major investments they had made into their property over the previous seven years. presumably leaving the roadway in search of water. An interesting feature 22 23 25 of this article also is the way the name Caleys Repulse was mistaken attached to this general precinct at that time. We now know that the the interpretive themes and overall approach. botanical explorer George Caley’s travels took him along the ridgeline north of the Grose River - not along the river southern watershed ridge as

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY followed by Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth in 1813.

8.6: highway centre – one line opens, one inn closes

Two months after the official railway opening party travelled past the Kings Arms Inn en route to Weatherboard

DRAFT (Wentworth Falls) in late August 1867, William Buss died at home aged 59. Over the previous twelve years, he and his wife Bridget had made significant improvements to the 9: railway bypass property since purchasing it from Michael Hogan in 1855 for £1040. The results of their efforts are evident both in the 1863 sale advertisement resulting In particular they identify 6 key stages in the from a short lived attempt to sell the property and also in a detailed watercolour painting featuring The dominant shift from highway travel to train travel the new ttrainline. In addition to the upgraded and STORY DISTILLATION – STORY extended buildings detailed here, the grounds Sketches in Australia, New Zealand, South America, India and England, 1842-1873 / by J. V. Hall, N. V. Hall and D. Bell, 1842-1873, PXA 4460 , PXA 4461. boasted stabling for 40 horses and a garden / in the 1870s effectively meant every mountains’ WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD orchard of about 1 acre in extent. Six acres of DRAFT ground were also under cultivation to provide stock Interestingly, Fairfax did not initially run Woodford House as his private retreat locale was bypassed. feed. and he may not have even named it.

Bridget Buss sold the property in the following year The site was for a time managed by John and Margaret Shiels with particular to Alfred Fairfax for £450 – the same price it had reference to the rail access and health advantages. One of a series of first sold for back in 1839. It had been the property’s advertisements that were run across spring 1868 noted: The Empire 1 Aug 1863 People no longer naturally went through places as

previous owner – Michael Hogan – who had reaped “MOUNTAIN AIR - J SHIELS begs to inform his numerous patrons that he has the gold rush bonus for the premises on offer in the taken, in connection with REGENTVILLE, the house so well known as BUSS’S, they crossed the mountains. early 1850s. Bridget retired to her farm of 60 acres on the Western Road, which will in future be called WOODFORD. The excellent Detail from: Map of the colony of New South Wales 1837. Robert Dixon / engraved by J.C. Walker. on the banks of the Nepean with her two spinster apartments, situation for health, and convenience of access by rail, present Sydney Morning Herald 2 Sep 1868 National Library of Australia. MAP G8971.G46 1837 daughters Sarah and Honora and died age 80 yrs in advantages to families and invalids unequalled in the colony.” Now a mountains’ location was either your Atlas of the settled counties of New South Wales. County of Cook, 1902. WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD N.S.W. Created/Published [Sydney : Published by Basch & Co., 1872]. destination, or else simply a passing blur seen 26

WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD through the window of the railway carriage. Extracts from an article titled “A Ride to Bathurst” published in The Australian Newspaper on 20 March 1827 National Library of Australia. MAP RaA 18 Plate 2 transit of the Woodford Academy / reserve. This new dynamic ushered in an existential change

2 DISTILLATION – STORY in relation to why, when, where and how people connected with places in the Blue Mountains. 3 8.7: highway centre – mountains’ crossings in 5 hours! Twenty Mile Hollow – or Woodford as it was about At the end of the 1860s if you left central Sydney and travelled steadily west on horseback, a five hour journey would get you half way to Penrith. Alternatively to become – today stands as a mirror to these you could catch the train and be standing on the western edge of the Blue DRAFT Mountains at Mt Vittoria (Mt Victoria) in that same time. tumultuous times. A year later in 1870 with a new timetable in place, you could leave Sydney at 8am, travel to Weatherboard (Wentworth Falls), spend six hours visiting the famous views out over the Jamison Valley and return to Sydney by 10pm. These carefully timetabled tourist outings were part of a clear strategy for the railways to start recouping some of the enormous costs of their construction.

Likewise they looked to the freight carrying capacity of the rail lines to reap a profitable return. Not only were the platforms built at Wascoes (Blaxland), Springwood, Buss’ (Woodford), Blue Mountain Inn (Lawson) , Weatherboard (Wentworth Falls) and Blackheath available for foot traffic - they could also put down horses and buggies. As the Sydney Morning Herald noted in August 1867: “A large quantity of

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY goods is conveyed both up and down the line – and no wonder considering the desperate state of the road over such a mountainous district.”

Clearly with the new rail line in place that road in desperate disrepair was not going to get better any time Sydney Morning Herald 23 Aug 1867 soon. This left highway focussed service providers like the travellers inns needing to reconsider their business prospects at the start of the 1870s.

These are: ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD

Empire 13 Feb 1869 28 27 2. ridgeline oases 9.1: railway bypass – a mountain retreat

Detail from Plan of measured land in close proximity to the western railway between Penrith & Blackheath Alfred Fairfax probably had several things in mind when 1877. National Library of Australia he purchased the former Kings Arms Inn and its 50 acre holding in 1868.

The traveller’s account (above) of crossing the Coxs Road in 1827 makes special note DRAFT The first was clearly to establish a mountains retreat for his 9.2: railway bypass – an elevated mountain observatory family where they could escape the summer heat and urban tumult of Sydney for a place of arcadian repose he chose to DRAFT of 20 Mile Hollow as providing a “pretty spring of excellent water”. It further advises name Woodford. From the early 1870s Alfred Fairfax (the new owner of the newly named Woodford House) 1. Crossroads on Country - pre 1813 that “as it is the first handy place for twenty miles, [one] should halt and take a drink.” Apart from being a man of means however, Fairfax was also a businessman who was casually described in a was contributing astronomical observations made at Woodford with his valuable 4 ½ inch 1922 retrospective of Twenty Mile Hollow published in a INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION Sydney newspaper article as being “a wholesale grocer of STORY DISTILLATION – STORY Schroeder telescope to the Sydney Observatory. This is a compelling statement about travel along the dry, barren Blue Mountains ridgeline. There was not an infinite Sydney”. This commercial side to Fairfax is useful in trying to understand what drove DRAFT In 1872 as the NSW Government Astronomer Henry Russell prepared NSW’s contribution to the global observation network 5: a transitioning landscape him to acquire the two vacant blocks of land immediately alongside his new array of stops available whereby you could simply pull over when it suited you. Like desert travellers the world over, 50 acre mountains’ property in the early 1870s. recording the upcoming transit of the planet Venus across the face of the Sun in December 1874, he identified Woodford as Given he had just gained a well established one acre orchard and 20 acres one’s travel plans across the mountains were dictated by the location of the oases – the fertile points where both of ploughed and fenced fields, what need did he have for these extended one of the three regional observation sites (i.e. Woodford, Goulburn and Eden) needed to assist the Sydney Observatory. holdings that today embrace almost the entirety of Woodford north of the Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser 7 Dec 1901 railway line. water and feed for animals could be found. This approach is embodied in Governor Lachlan Macquarie calling In due course the portable observatory was site was marked out on the ten acre holding recently acquired by Fairfax on

The answer here may well lie in the advertisement Fairfax later placed in March 1878 to employ an experienced his first mountain’s campsite Springwood on 25 April 1815 on account of it providing a spring“ of very good fresh fruit gardner at Woodford. As Fairfax was in financial straits at that time, this was unlikely to have been a hobbyist the western edge of his main 50 acre property. There are the rear of the former police lockup, the transit was successfully venture, but rather a studied move to take advantage of commercial orchard plantings then starting to bear fruit on his substantial land holdings in the perfect fruit bearing climate of the mid mountains. This is further evidenced by the observed on 9 December 1874. While this event comprises a major landmark in Blue Mountains history, it was of little broader water”. A traveller passing through Springwood c. 1820 also drew the scene of Aboriginal people camped at the ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD 1882 Map of Woodford that appears to indicate the extent of the Fairfax orchard on the 40 acre block immediately east of the original Thomas Pembroke 50 acre holding that was home to Woodford House. Detail From Map of Woodford / Map of Lawson 1882. Blue Mountains City Library Transit of Venus Camp, New South Wales, 9 Dec 1874 scientific significance in the overall international project to observe the transit from many different places across the globe. location – an indication of how such places provided the natural crossroads of human interaction in the mountains. Photographer: Joseph Bischoff. Museums Victoria 29 It was left to a series of observations made at Woodford in 1878 to etch this location’s place into the annals of astronomy.

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY We then Halted at It was in that year, closely watched by his colleagues in America, that Henry Russell undertook a series of observations to

three o’clock in a very DISTILLATION – STORY ...by making a “gunya” or provide precision, calibrated test results assessing pretty wooded Plain “place of shelter” in case of the then understood value of taking astronomical near a Spring of very bad weather (In fine weather DRAFT the Fairfax legacy readings at altitude rather than at sea level. good fresh Water, and 9.3: railway bypass – 2. Bush corridor wayside 1814 -1851 the Blacks provide merely Pitched our Tent near Railway construction transfers tra c o He later noted that: “the gain which I have Alfred Fairfax’s fortunes were in decline by the end of the three forked sticks, so set up described was clearly owing to the fact that we the side of the Road. Road upgrades 1870s and his mountain retreat property at Woodford was

as to support one another, and Bathurst Road. Most users travel BY Four lane Glenbrook - Katoomba DRAFT Sydney Morning Herald 12 Jan 1875 This stage is 12 miles mortgaged in 1877 to help tide his affairs along. were 2200 feet higher. Could one but look through placing boughs of foliage upon This meant that while Fairfax remained the nominal owner of Woodford from Emu Ford and our and surge in rather than THROUGH Woodford. Great Western Highway upgrades from1930s highway upgrade means House and its surrounds for the next twenty years, he evolved into an a vacuum, many a question that takes years of these their gunya is made for the absentee landlord as the property was put to work to help pay its way. first on the Mountains. tra c due to The legacy of the Fairfax’s investments at Woodford over the early 1870s patient labour to answer would be decided in a night – Of course this temporary Spring fed travellers’ Woodford becomes a destination in its onwards re-establish Woodford as a place people travellers pass BY rather than helped to define this precinct over the coming decades. Most significantly -- The Place being very it consolidated virtually all of the land at Woodford north of the railway line single glance.” shelter is always to windward into a single holding, thereby putting aside its closer development through goldrushes travel through in transit across the mountains subdivision for the early years of the 20th century. pretty I have named it own right. THROUGH Woodford. In this it could be said that his 1878 work at

stopover along Coxs DISTILLATION – STORY of the fire and they enjoy their Additionally it left a corridor of bush tracks leading to local features including Geelong Advertiser 26 October 1878 “Spring-Wood” – the two small waterfalls named after Fairfax’s daughters – Mabel and Edith. Woodford prefaced the placement of new Lachlan Macquarie 26 April 1815 ‘otium’ under its lee – But in Road over mountains Community reconnection with Overall though, the 1870s had served to rebrand the precinct for a new generation of visitors and entrepreneurs. As one unsuccessful subdivision observatories in high mountain areas as well as the seasons of rain or cold, these proposal for nearby ground put it in 1879: “The Government Astronomer traditional Aboriginal cultural selected Woodford for astronomical observation in preference to any spot Sydney Morning Herald launch of the Hubble telescope 112 years later to RAILWAY BYPASS in the mountains on account of the purity of the atmosphere and equable habitations are formed of Bark Spring fed swamp at natural 12 Nov 1878 HIGHWAY temperature.” operate in the vacuum of space.

which are made larger or smaller HIGHWAY CENTRE AGAIN pathways (e.g. Woodford-Oaks) The scientific passion and overall hospitality of Alfred Fairfax also of course ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD intersection of ridges leading had something to do with this decision – but then detail never got in the way PIC Volume 581 #T890-T926 NK9840/1-37-Views taken while serving on the East Indian according to the desire of the CENTRE of a good marketing line. Transit of Venus - The NSW Observers. A book on the 1874 Transit of Venus published by the re-establishes 20 Mile Hollow’s Observatory in 1892 included a photograph listing many of those involved in the project. P. F. Station in H.M. ships Leander and Dauntless, 1820-1822 [picture]./Native gunnias [i.e. individual, or the extent of his east-west and north-south BUSH CORRIDOR Adams the Surveyor-General, George Hirst a well known amateur astronomer, Mr. L. A. Vessy gunyahs] near Springwood [picture]. Created/Published between 1820 and 1822. National of the New South Wales Trigonomical Survey and Mr. Du Faur of the Survey Department who Library of Australia family. role as a community crossroads. ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD were stationed at A. Fairfax’s property in Woodford. Museum of applied arts and Sciences

WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD Sydney Morning Herald 30 April 1879 WAYSIDE Detail From Map of Woodford / Map of Lawson 1882. Blue Mountains City Library 30 from Notes and sketches taken during a 31 surveying Expedition in N. South Wales and 3. Highway centre 1851-1867 Blue Mountains Road by William Govett Atlas of the settled counties of New South Wales. County of Cook, 1830-1835 Wdford Academy N.S.W. Created/Published [Sydney : Published by Basch & Co., 1872]. Wdford House National Library of Australia. MAP RaA 18 Plate 2 HIGHWAY BYPASS / 5 CROSSROADS ON COUNTRY

Wdford Academy COMMUNITY Walking tracks: connections into After the Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1861, Over the next five years they both built track References landscape and a new industry and in the face of land being opened up for networks from these properties. Anon. (1922). Advertisement for Woodford. The purchase along the new railway, in 1870 Parkes When the railway line reached Weatherboard Others who undertook similar developments Daily Telegraph, 18 Oct 1922. organised a 650 hectare ‘reserve’ in the area (now Wentworth Falls) in 1867, then Mount in the late 1800s included James Neale at Anon. (1937). ‘Sights in B.M. Shire, surveyed – this was the first of many such reserves and Victoria in 1868 and Bowenfels (near Lithgow) in Katoomba, William Piddington at Mt Victoria, for Railway Dept Hikers’ Guide’. The Katoomba 9.4: railway bypass – sanatorium of the Blue Mountains 9.5: railway bypass – putting Woodford on the map Wdford Reserve CROSSROADS can be regarded as one of the beginnings of the 1870, it ushered in a new era for colonial use of Frederick Darley at Echo Point, Norman Lindsay Daily, 25 Sept 1937. subsequent movement to protect large areas in the Blue Mountains. at Faulconbridge and William Eager at Valley Buss’ Inn national parks. Bayley, W. (2000). Blue Mountains Railways. Heights. Some of these also acquired their own Up until that time the Blue Mountains were Locomotion Productions, Mount Victoria. The 1894 map (left) of post and telegraph offices across the Blue Mountains In 1868 the railway brought comfortable and railway platforms. generally regarded as an awkward barrier Smith, J., Beaver, D. & Betteridge, C. (2006). AGAIN regular transport to the Blue Mountains. shows one notable omission – Woodford. between Sydney and the western districts, Most of the houses were new constructions, Tracks Into History, Conservation Management Subdivided properties Wealthy gentleman of Sydney became This tells us a lot about how the precinct had developed over the previous involving a harsh and uncomfortable passage but Fairfax and Eager purchased existing inns. Plan for Walking Tracks of State Heritage encouraged to build luxurious residences and

over inhospitable terrain, short on grass and Fairfax’s Waterfall Loop was the longest track Significance in the Blue Mountains, Part One. DRAFT DRAFT 25 years since the arrival of train travel to the region. holiday retreats. water for horses and bullocks and civilised of them all. Fairfax was a friend of Parkes and Department of Environment and Conservation When an atlas of New South Wales was printed in 1872, Twenty Mile comforts for the humans. This was at a time when ‘mountain air’ was many of these men knew each other through (NSW). Sydney Morning Herald 21 May 1881 Sydney Morning Herald 24 Dec 1885 considered healthy and cities like Sydney were social and political connections. It was not a place to linger, even though some Hollow was one of only three locations shown between the Nepean River STORY DISTILLATION – STORY Kings Arms badly polluted. The mountains offered a cooler early writers were appreciative of the plant life This phase of private track development can and Weatherboard (Wentworth Falls). alternative to hot summers of the lowlands. It and the landscape’s natural beauty (others be seen as the beginnings of the nascent Blue also became fashionable for these wealthy When Buss’ Inn closed down in 1868, the last guests through the emphasised the harshness and discomforts). Mountains tourism industry, and it corresponded Twenty two years later ten locations were shown on the postal map for residents to build tracks into the bushland, with a period when many small ‘reserves’ were this same area and Twenty Mile Hollow / Woodford was not one of them. Stayovers were usually kept to a minimum, with especially to waterfalls. door would likely have been stopping in for just an overnight stay created to protect mountain beauty spots from groups on horses typically overnighting only Alfred Fairfax purchased ‘Buss’s Inn’ in the alienation. At the same time many of the grand while travelling along the Western Road. Part of the explanation for this lies in the effect that the consolidated once on the mountains between Emu Ford and same year the railway was completed to guesthouses (and residences that became land holdings acquired by Alfred Fairfax c. 1870 had on the precinct. Hartley, at either Weatherboard or Blackheath. When the re-badged Woodford House was opened to the public in 1881, its business Weatherboard. Although the inn initially guesthouses) of the mountains were being built Carriages took longer, and also treated proposition was vastly different. Now it offered a private boarding establishment for This limited the development of a community hub at the location and so e Wdman followed its former use, Fairfax later used it as (eg. Imperial 1878, Carrington 1883, Lilianfels passengers to a brutal experience. DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY consequently there was no need for a post office to be opened there. a residence. Then it was probably during the 1889, Hydro Majestic 1903). Alfred Fairfax visitors where families etc could find superior accommodation. Probably the first tracks made for the purpose 1870s that Fairfax constructed a loop walking and Woodford played an important role in this While that would have been true, it had been easier for Buss’ inn to cater for large of exploring the Blue Mountains landscape were track extending northwards into the bushland historic development. The sale of the Fairfax property in 1897 triggered from the Weatherboard Inn to Wentworth Falls from Woodford House. numbers of guests as people mostly only stayed for the night. Now that guests were Many of the private track systems from the late a surge in subdivisions and urban development for and from Gardner’s Inn at Blackheath to Govetts The track began on the elongated portion of 1800s have disappeared under development invited to “board” there as part of an excursion to the mountains, extra beds were Leap. Detail from the Map showing the locations of postal the nascent village of Woodford. stations, mail roads and telegraph offices in NSW 1894. private land containing Woodford House, but following the alienation and subdivision of land, needed. National Library of Australia The history of these tracks is poorly known, but extended a long way into the vacant Crown or have been destroyed by roads and fire trails. This was summed up by the Blue Mountains Echo Accordingly the property was soon closed again in order to construct a second storey they were the only Blue Mountains excursions land beyond. It went via Mabel and Edith Falls Some still exist in disconnected fragments. in 1909 when it noted that “On the northern side mentioned in the Post Office Directory of 1832. (named after Fairfax’s daughters) and followed Much of the Woodford Waterfall Loop along row of accommodation with a wide verandah over the top of the eastern kitchen wing. of the line which formerly only boasted Woodford 4. Railway bypass 1867 - 1930s Charles Darwin walked both tracks when he down Woodford Creek via Gemini and other Woodford and Bulls creeks was flooded under This structure can be clearly seen in the 1889 sketch of Woodford House seen right. travelled across the mountains in 1836, carrying falls to the junction with Bulls Creek then back Woodford Dam (in 1927) and subsequent dam House and a fettlers cottage, there are now [in Atlas of the settled counties of New South Wales. County of Cook, N.S.W. the 1835 edition of the Directory. Darwin’s along Bulls Creek, making a circuit of some height extensions. It was reopened in 1885 as the sanatorium of the Blue Mountains. The extensive additions addition] the Post and Telephone Office, Wilsons Created/Published [Sydney : Published walks gave rise to some well-known statements 9 or 10 kilometres and later referred to as the by Basch & Co., 1872]. National Library It is unknown whether any traces of the track had been completed, superior accommodation was on offer and an excellent table was Store, the pretty Methodist Church, Holme-Lyn of Australia. MAP RaA 18 Plate 2 about the Blue Mountains landscape. Waterfall Loop. There was a ‘swimming pool’ remain in the upper, unflooded, reaches of the constructed at Mabel Falls. assured thanks to a good supply of butter, eggs, milk and poultry. Boarding House, the imposing residence, 2 lodges 3. pure water The next known walking track to be constructed creeks. A section of the track to Mabel and and weatherboard cottage belonging to G. J. was to Prince’s Rock above the Weatherboard Fairfax’s residence, railway platform and track- Edith Falls survives on what is now Waterhouse In the wake of this refit, the property looked forward to a future that was to see it continue Waterhouse and ten other residences.” Falls (now Wentworth Falls). It was organised by building were amongst the first of this trend. Park (BMCC) and Blue Mountains National Park, trading as a mountains guesthouse over the next twenty years even as the property Colonial Secretary Henry Parkes for the visit of Other wealthy people followed the same pattern. but the connection to Woodford Academy has Wdford NOTES ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD changed hands in 1897 when Alfred Fairfax sold it for the sum of £2,100 in 1897. ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD Queen Victoria’s son Prince Alfred in 1868. In 1879 Henry Parkes built a house he named been lost under suburban development. Blue Mountains Echo 11 Sep 1909 Faulconbridge, and James Martin (Premier of NSW) did the same with Numantia nearby. text: Ian Brown Academy 32 Katoomba Daily 25 Sept 1937 33 34 DRAFT

The Fairfax property holdings The Hon Louis Hope was the seventh son of John Hope, fourth Earl of Hopetoun, and a As well as having Woodford House and the majorfigure in establishing the colony’s sugar land as status befitting a gentleman’s privileged industry. estate, Alfred Fairfax capitalised on his asset. 9.6: railway bypass – estate breakup begins 9.7: railway bypass – estate breakup gathers pace Christopher Rolleston was a “pillar of the Like the unfortunate Pembroke before him colonial community” and a dedicated civil Fairfax used his land to raise loans and servant. William Whaley Billyard, past Civil mortgages to finance his mining and steamship CrownSolicitor, was Sir William Patrick The sale of Alfred Fairfax’s Woodford ventures. 1830s 1850s 1870s 1890s 1910s 1930s 1950s 1970s 1990s 2010s The breakup of the Woodford House estate traces back to 1896 when the Manning’s solicitor, of Messrs. Billyard, Andrews, House property as two blocks in It is during this period that Portion 1, County and Moseley. Cook, takes on a role as a player in the complex renowned geologist Edgeworth David and his wife Cara bought an old Sir Manning acted as Australian investment 1897 was a dramatic event in the financial dealings of the late 1800s financial

DRAFT DRAFT agent for the English capitalists Lord Rosebery, cottage just to the west of Woodford House. markets of the British Empire. development of the village of Woodford the Duke of Manchester, Lord Carnarvon and Originally marked on the 1882 map of Woodford, this weatherboard cottage was positioned “Primary Application No 14594”, maps this Lord Sherbrooke. at Twenty Mile Hollow. complexity and the players involved. This Fiscal This may have been thesource of the stories and immediately alongside the 10 acre block that formed the western portion of the Woodford House Genealogy was initiated in 1907 by the astute associations between Woodford Academy and holding – the place where the transit of Venus observations had occurred in 1874. businessman, and former Mayor of Sydney, The additional 40 acre block to the east Lord Rosebery. While it is true that the future Sir William Patrick Manning, to clarify the 5. Highway centre again 1930s-2015 English Prime Minister did visit Australia in 1883 The value of the spring water resource at 20 Mile Hollow was evident when ownership. When the David’s acquired the cottage for use as a mountain’s summer house their 26 acre purchase that Fairfax had subsequently acquired it is not known if he visited Woodford. WOODFORD included this parcel of land. They named the property ‘Tyn-y-Coed’ (the ‘house in the trees) and after Portion 1, Woodford, Main Western Road, was TWENTY MILE HOLLOW for his orchard was separated out in To put the 90 acres Woodford acquisition Daily Telegraph 19 Jun 1897 converted from the detailed system of title extending it they made it their primary residence from 1899 until 1920. It then remained as a favoured in perspective this is an 1895 report of the this sale process. This left it free for deeds listed in large volumes stored in dusty the property was presented for sale for the first time in 1839. country retreat until Edgeworth’s death in 1934. The property was later destroyed by a bushfire in Empire’s landholdings; . closer subdivision and it was across basements, to a Certificate of Title system. 1944. While preserving much of the original native vegetation the couple and their children created an “During his colonial tour in 1887 the late Earl STORY DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY The process entailed locating the full chain orchard with apples, pears, peaches, plums and other fruit, a hedge of Kentish cherries and hazels of Carnarvon acquired yearly 300,000 acres this original block of land that the of deeds dating back to the first owner. The in West Australia, the whole of which are ‘still was planted, and they had their own cow and chickens. Application document is a thorough list of all village centre of Woodford developed Detail From Map of Woodford / Map of Lawson 1882. Blue Mountains City Library in the family.’ In the same colony the Duke of owners, financiers and interested parties from Sutherland owns 200,000 acres: the Duke over the next ten years. the time of Thomas Pembroke to Sir Manning. In 1915 the Davids offered their home to the Red Cross convalescent home for the rehabilitation of of Manchester 160,000 acres;and, Lord STORY DISTILLATION – STORY Following a chaotic few years in the early 1830s wherein Thomas Pembroke injured servicemen and the Woodford Academy boys erected a flagstaff for the Union Jack and Red This list of names reads like a who’s-who of Bradby 10,000 acres; while Lord Denbigh and

Detail From Map of Woodford / Map of Lawson 1882. Blue Mountains City Library Cross flags for the soldiers The core 50 acre block of land Fairfax political andfinancial movers and shakers of Lord Win Chelsea are large landholders in overlain with subdivision plan detail c. 1930 Sydney in the late 19thcentury. Queensland. It’s more generally known that both in residence. When the Flannery then remortgaged it back to Manning, who actively managed the property right up to 1906 when he originally purchased from Bridget Buss Lord Sherbrooke and Lord Rosebery draw a Cooee marchers trooped rented it to John McManamey. Prior to this, he had sublet it to several guesthouse keepers such as Mrs Graves and Alfred’s Uncle, John Fairfax, was a foundation took up a land grant at 20 Mile Hollow to establish a reputable mountain in 1868 was sold intact for £2100. substantial addition to their income from ground directorof the Australian Mutual Provident past in November 1915 Mrs Trotman. The Woodford Archives has receipts written by him to John McManamey as well as his handwritten rents in the city of Sydney.” Society, and in the 1860s a director of the some of the wounded In tracing out the somewhat complex financial inventories of the building’s contents. Sydney Insurance Co., the New South Wales On the 17th October 1907 Sir Manning possibly ... KIRA (beautiful place) – Aboriginal Country soldiers were brought up threads surrounding this block of land, Kate O’Neill Marine Insurance Co., the Australian Joint sold the property to David Flannery, who He is also mentioned in a 1910 Diary written by Ettie McManamey that notes; Stock Bank and The Australian Gaslight Co. promptlymortgaged it back to his brother-in-law inn alongside an existing sly grog shop on site run by William James, the to the main road to greet who has described how after Fairfax had forfeited and a trustee of the Savings Bank of New South - William Manning. the marchers. “Sir William Manning used to look after this place “Woodford House” when it belonged to Lord Rosebery, and before his ownership the property was sold in 1897 by Wales. Mr Waterhouse bought it. We are thinking of buying the house & a few acres, but not settled by any means. There It should be noted that Manning had come William P Manning to his employee, David Flannery. are 98 acres altogether. I’d like to buy it all although the house is very old & wants a lot of money spent on it. Mrs The AMP lent his nephew the initial funds to this position by being the “last mortgagee to purchase the Woodford landand this standing,” exercising his right to sell the property venue emerged from its land title land struggles as a destination with serious ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD NOTES Manning always comes to see us when she is in Woodford,” page 8, Ettie’s Dairy, WA Archives loan was acquitted and remortgaged by an after the other mortgagees had died and Alfred interconnected stable of local and international Fairfax had defaulted on his mortgage. investors. Photos from the book Passages of Time by Mary Edgeworth David text and plan images: Kate O’Neill business potential along the Bathurst Mountain Road. 35 36 37 Prospective buyers’ attention was especially drawn to the site’s “productive WOODFORD ACADEMY TRANSIT garden and overflowing spring of pure water”. With twenty acres already

6. Highway bypass / crossroads on ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD under cultivation, the new proprietor could “with a little more clearance grow hay and corn sufficient for the supply of his stables”. WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD

9.8: railway bypass – the new Woodford 9.9: railway bypass – truthseekers in the garden

8 inter silvas academi quaerere verum: Sydney Gazette 23 May 1839 The impacts of the 1897 sale of the Seek for Truth in the Garden of Academus. Fairfax holdings for Woodford took In 1906 John McManamey was faced with the challenge of where

DRAFT some years to realise. DRAFT DRAFT Country 2016 - to open a new school after his lease at Cooerwull Academy at 6 The new owners continued to lease out the Bowenfels could not be renewed. premises as a guest house and an advertisement in 1905 records that 90 acres of ground were still He spied out the potential of adapting the Woodford House to his purpose and attached to Woodford House. the following year Woodford Academy welcomed in the class of 1907. In choosing Woodford as the location to establish a high quality academy designed to cater to the Thereafter however change came quickly. As Blue Mountains Echo 25 Dec 1909 most aspirational of families and students, McManamey would have been well aware of the Blue Mountains Echo wrote in 1909: “The Detail From Map of Woodford / Map of Lawson 1882. the favourable circumstances surrounding the new school. Blue Mountains City Library Woodford of old has passed away and a new charming Woodford has taken its place. It is fast Their neighbour to the west was one of the Australia’s pre-eminent geologists – becoming recognised as an ideal place for a Professor Edgeworth David. Then to the east lived Mary Waterhouse and her husband STORY DISTILLATION – STORY country residence and several representatives DISTILLATION – STORY Gustavus. Mary was the daughter of one of Sydney’s most prominent businessmen DISTILLATION – STORY of the commercial and professional life of the Ebenezer Vickery while Gustavus Waterhouse was in 1909 the President of Blue metropolis have their homes in this delightful Mountains Shire. His presence chairing the Academy’s first prize giving ceremony in retreat. The residence just completed for G. J. December 1907 would have helped affirm the Academy’s credentials. Waterhouse Esq. which appears on this page will Soon after recording its peak enrolment number of 37 boys in 1921, the school closed in convey a better impression than any word picture 1925. It reopened as a day school for boys and girls in 1930 before can do of the general excellence and superiority of finally closing in May 1936. this house.” Following his purchase of the 12 acre property containing Woodford Mary Jane Waterhouse and her husband Gustav’s House in 1914, McManamey offered up 18 residential allotments feature property “Weroona” was constructed along the southern and western side of his property for sale in 1925. on the site of the Fairfax orchard in the northern This process further contributed to integrating the former Alfred portion of the 40 acre eastern allotment originally Fairfax consolidated estate holdings into a more diverse urban offered for sale in 1897. 1924 Map of Woodford Estate subdivision. Woodford Academy archives setting. WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD

Blue Mountains Echo 25 Dec 1909 Daily Telegraph 24 Dec 1907 1924 Map of Woodford Estate subdivision. Woodford Academy archives 38 39 40 Tracing from working plan between Linden and Woodford [cartographic material] / N.S.W. Railways. New South Wales Government Railways and Tramways. 1915. State Library of NSW

Looking at the landscape view of 10.1: highway centred again – new wheels on old roads the central Blue Mountains in 1837, So what became of the Western Road 6: crossroads on country across the mountains in the immediate it is apparent that 20 Mile Hollow decades following the opening of the DRAFT railway in 1867? While the road had constantly struggled with complaints was originally positioned as a natural over its poor condition during the years it was the main arterial route across the region, things got worse once the railway came along. The lack of road maintenance crossroads in the mountains landscape A recent narrative of the Country was all too apparent to a cyclist travelling from Bathurst to Sydney in 1888.

In a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald he focussed prior to the construction of Coxs Road around the Woodford Academy on the road section “between Lawson, Woodford and

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY onwards for some eight miles”. Having cycled resolutely

DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT over a variety of conditions since leaving Bathurst, it was only from Lawson onwards when things became “truly

in 1814. has been painted especially for DRAFT beastly”.

“Oceans, or rather deserts of sand, out-rivalling in the sunken wheel tracks the ruts of carts ... with outcrops of Man wearing a boater hat leaning against a bicycle. E. W. Searle c. 1890 National Library of Australia display on site by Darug artist jagged rocks” and boulders prodding their heads above Just as the new road alignment reflected an ancient the sand.

While the road was improved outside of Woodford east-west flow of Aboriginal people across Country, Chris Tobin, Chris describes this House where he spent the night thanks to logs being laid like the ribs in corduroy material across the road, the next section saw his front wheel hit a billow of sand that Sydney Morning Herald 28 June 1888 so too were north-south transitions influenced by the works as follows: left him upended and trembling over a 20ft precipice. According to the locals at Woodford House the way in which ridgelines rising from the Grose River in ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD problems arose as “We have no member of Parliament living about here”. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, the north and Bedford Creek in the south converged 42 in the broad expanse of broken ridgetop country consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut centred around the place Europeans called 20 Mile DISTILLATION – STORY Hollow. laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, 10.2: highway centred again – road transport for WWI wounded Aboriginal people may have referred to this locale quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper

Within just months of the Gallipoli landings of as Kira – a word taken to mean “beautiful place”. suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea 25 April 1915, wounded servicemen were being

DRAFT repatriated to Australia. With the 50 patriotic The mid-mountains may have been an important commodo consequat. Duis autem vel families of Woodford organised into a voluntary aid detachment of the Red Cross, the Edgeworth ceremonial zone. eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate Davids gave over their country home immediately 4. a line of hollows to the west of the Woodford Academy to serve as velit esse molestie consequat, vel convalescent home for 12 men. In order to help transport the wounded men to and from the railway The only known evidence (physical or documentary) station and to also take them on excursions around the local area, illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at Caroline Edgeworth David purchased a Dodge Tourer car especially

From a landscape perspective, 20 Mile Hollow / Woodford is positioned as DISTILLATION – STORY for the purpose and got her daughter Mary to learn to drive it. We heard from friends at the Red Cross head office in Sydney that Tyn-y-coed as a convalescent home was a success, and was popular with the soldiers. It was too small to be institutional, had no rules, and the cooking of past Aboriginal links with 20 Mile Hollow is the rock was excellent. The whole place was run by voluntary workers. However, it had one great drawback — no vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio The event was vividly recalled by Mary in her book of reminiscences transport. We had long since given up our ponies and trap, and there was only one vehicle to be hired in the village, and this was not always available for bringing soldiers and their kit to and from the station. At first published in 1975. we pinned our hopes for transport to a wealthy local resident who had recently acquired a limousine, but when he was sounded as to whether he would lend it sometimes for our use, we found that his chauffeur had the western edge of the upper valley headwaters that defines the notoriously been given orders that no soldiers were ever to be allowed in it. The soldiers, incidentally, were rank and engraving behind the Academy (10m long groove). Given the forceful nature of Caroline Edgeworth David it is likely that file, not officers. This dog-in-the-manger person, as we considered him, regarded our military convalescents dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum as not only rough and tough but ungodly, for he protested to my mother about their lack of Sunday obser- she would have been an advocate for improving the quality of the vance; they played games — ping-pong, for instance! Tut! Tut! — instead of going to church. When she asked what he expected them to do on Sunday afternoons, he said they should go for walks and think of their Maker. The long and the short of it was that my mother became so indignant that she decided to provide roads in the small Woodford Village. The village by this time also had transport for the men out of her own pocket. She would buy a car, and I would drive it. All my life my problematic to traverse section of country running from 17 Mile Hollow This has been assessed by several archaeologists as some additional political clout as Mary described it in the presence of mother had arranged things for me like this. I remember when I was about seven years old she had decided zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait that I was to take up stamp collecting as a hobby, but I just couldn’t be interested in it, so that lapsed. When I was about thirteen she decided it would be nice for me to keep bees, I was terrified of them. We never had “a wealthy local resident who had recently acquired a limousine”. more than two hives, and a kind friend collected the honey for us, so that fell through, of course. And now I WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD was to go to a driving school, and learn not only how to drive a car, but how its inside worked. My mother’s Coupled with the other resident vehicle in the village which was feelings were contagious, and fired by her indignation and determination, I willingly took up the challenge, most likely Aboriginal in origin. However the wider nulla facilisi. cowardly and unenterprising though I was. I went to a driving school in Sydney, studied the combustion engine, and teetered timidly about the metropolis in a ramshackle car accompanied by an instructor. There (Linden) past 18 Mile Hollow (Bulls Camp) to 20 Mile Hollow (Woodford available for hire but not always available, Woodford hence boasted were trams everywhere, and the Phllip- Elizabeth — Hunter Street corner was a tricky S bend width double tramlines in it. My instructor advised me to observe reflections in the shop windows there which gave one three motor vehicles by the end of the First World War in 1918. warning of approaching trams before they rounded the bend. I was too terrified to notice anything but the precinct is richly endowed with other sites including road in front of me. The police test was a simple one, and directly I had passed it and been issued width a Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, cons 10. highway centred again licence, my mother bought a car. It was a four-cylinder Dodge tourer. Sedans at that time were considered The Sun 13 Jun 1915 luxury cars. A man from the agents who sold it drove me in our brand-new car up to Woodford. He depos- ited it in the garage — yes, of course my mother had a garage built at our new cottage — and returned to House / Academy). A couple in an open roadster motor past the Woodford Academy on the Bathurst Road/Great Western Highway. Sydney. I was left with this dreadful monster on my hands, an unknown quantity despite my newly acquired knowledge of how its inside worked. It stood there, big and black and shiny, laughing up its sleeve valves, no rock engravings, cave paintings, grinding grooves, ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD doubt (author’s licence — it hadn’t that variety), and I was terrified of it. My mother was delighted with her ectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam The number 31 suggests a rally of some kind. Photo possibly taken c. 1960. Courtesy Blue Mountains City Library, Local Studies Collection planning — the car would be used not only for carrying soldiers and their luggage to and from the station, but would take them for trips to see the beauty spots in the mountains. She hadn’t the remotest idea of her 41 daughter’s feelings about it. Sydney Mail 29 Mar 1916 stone arrangements, shelters and occupation sites. Page 84 from Passage of Time by Mary Edgeworth David Water from the spring at 20 Mile Hollow would have provided vital supplies for the convict road gang nonummy nibh euismod 43 working through this precinct in late August/early Sept 1814. It likely also supplemented the needs The density of sites in the precinct and mid-

WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD of Bulls Camp when their on site dam ran low. Water from this catchment helped refuel the trains ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD mountains generally suggests the area was well used ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD at Linden over a 17 year period between the dam on Woodford Creek being constructed in a mile by Aboriginal people before colonisation. The colony of New South Wales : exhibiting the situation and extent of the appropriated lands, including the counties, towns, village reserves, & c. compiled from downstream from here in 1885 and Wentworth Falls Lake being built in 1902. authentic surveys Robert Dixon / engraved by J.C. Walker National Library of Australia. MAP G8971.G46 1837 10.3: highway centred again – the great western highway 10.4: highway centred again – historic road conservation 10.5: highway centred again – public assets + national trust

7 9 10 Cooper Drawings 1984. By the mid 1920s, the need to upgrade the condition of the main roads across NSW The 1970 Woodford Parish map tells National Trust Archives was a pressing political priority. A Main Roads Board was eventually established in 1925 us much about the changes that had and political jockeying to determine their immediate priorities commanded the attention occurring around the core buildings of the

DRAFT of many local governments across the state. DRAFT DRAFT Woodford Academy by that time. Some like the Blue Mountains Shire felt they may be disadvantaged by having been proactive in their investments to !llluuueee MMMooouuunnntttaaaiiinnnsss HHHiiissstttooorrryyy JJJooouuurrrnnnaaalll 555;;;;; 222000111555 date. As Councillor John McManamey – owner of the Woodford Academy – wrote to the Daily Telegraph in 1924, the The tennis court on Weroona Avenue built by the !aaarrryyy CCCaaammmpppbbbeeellllll,,, aaassstttuuudddeeennntttaaatttttthhhiiissstttiiimmmeee,,,hhhaaasss“““mmmaaannnyyy WWWooorrrkkksss aaalllsssooo iiinnncccllluuudddeeeddd rrreeepppaaaiiirrroooffffffllloooooorrriiinnngggaaannndddjjjoooiiissstttsss,,, Waterhouses c. 1909 was then in Council ownership lllooovvveeelllyyy mmmeeemmmooorrriiieeesss””” ooofffttthhheeesssccchhhoooooolllaaannnddd ppplllaaasssttteeerrr aaannnddd ssskkkiiirrrtttiiinnngggsss,,, wwwiiinnndddooowwwsss,,, wwwiiirrriiinnnggg aaannnddd eeellleeeccctttrrriiicccaaalll Shire had recently appointed a roads engineer to oversee an annual budget of £15,000 and also the operations of a !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy dddaaauuuggghhhttteeerrrsss GGGeeerrrtttrrruuudddeeeaaannndddJJJeeessssssiiieee,,,wwwhhhooo iiittteeemmmsss,,, wwwaaallllllpppaaapppeeerrr,,, wwwoooooodddwwwooorrrkkkaaannndddaaarrrccchhhiiitttrrraaavvveeesss having been resumed in May 1958. The northern tttaaauuuggghhhttt dddrrraaawwwiiinnnggg aaannndddssseeewwwiiinnngggrrreeessspppeeeccctttiiivvveeelllyyy...!aaarrryyy rrroooooofffiiinnnggg,,, aaasss wwweeellllll aaassspppllluuummmbbbiiinnngggaaannndddtttoooiiillleeetttsss,,,fffeeennnccciiinnnggg,,, new road base quarry. rrreeecccaaalllllleeeddd wwwaaalllkkkiiinnnggg tttooo aaannnddd fffrrrooo eeeaaaccchhh dddaaayyy fffrrrooommm hhheeerrr hhhooommmeee pppooollliiissshhhiiinnnggg,,, cccooonnnssseeerrrvvvaaatttiiiooonnn ooofffttthhheeecccooolllllleeeccctttiiiooonnn,,,ssseeecccuuurrriiitttyyy,,, 4 acres of the 12 acres of grounds purchased by John iiinnn nnneeeiiiggghhhbbbooouuurrriiinnnggg HHHaaazzzeeelllbbbrrrooooookkk,,,ttthhheeecccooowwwsss,,,aaannndddooolllddd ssstttooorrraaagggeee aaannnddd lllaaannndddssscccaaapppiiinnnggg (((LLLuuucccaaasss eeettt aaalll... 222000000000)))... In addressing this issue in the following year, the Roads Minister Mr Henderson acknowledged that there was bbbuuullllll TTThhheeessseeeuuusss,,, wwwhhhiiiccchhh wwweeerrreeehhheeerrrdddeeedddiiinnntttooottthhheeeppprrrooopppeeerrrtttyyy McManamey in 1914 had been sold to the Department of eeeaaaccchhh dddaaayyy,,, ttthhheee ccchhhiiillldddrrreeennnaaannndddttthhheeekkkiiinnndddnnneeessssss TTThhheee FFFrrriiieeennndddsss ooofff WWWoooooodddfffooorrrddd AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy wwwaaasss ssseeettt uuuppp aaattt ttthhhiiisss no denying the national importance of the western Road and that its upgrade would be one of the first works Woodford Academy The Second Old Western Road Constructed 1827. Frank Walker RAHS Education by his daughter Gertrude McManamey. eeecccccceeennntttrrriiiccciiitttiiieeesss ooofff JJJooohhhnnn !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy... !aaarrryyy rrreeevvviiisssiiittteeeddd tttiiimmmeee... OOOnnn bbbeeehhhaaalllfff ooofff ttthhheee NNNaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll TTTrrruuusssttt,,, ttthhhiiisss gggrrrooouuuppp undertaken by the new Roads Board. His comments also reflect one of the first uses of the term “Great Western ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy iiinnnttthhheee111999888000ssstttooossseeeeeeGGGeeerrrtttrrruuudddeee vvvooollluuunnnttteeeeeerrrsss,,, nnnuuummmbbbeeerrriiinnnggg aaasssmmmaaannnyyy111333000,,,hhhaaannndddllleeeddd !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy,,, fffooorrr wwwhhhooommm ssshhheee rrreeetttaaaiiinnneeeddd aaaffffffeeeccctttiiiooonnn... eeexxxhhhiiibbbiiitttiiiooonnnsss,,, OOOpppeeennn DDDaaayyysss aaannnddd eeevvveeennntttsss gggrrrooouuuppp vvviiisssiiitttsss uuunnntttiiilll Highway” in relation to the historical access road across the Blue Mountains. Further changes to the parish map were needed in 1976 FFFeeebbbrrruuuaaarrryyy 222000000888 (((FFFrrriiieeennndddsss nnn...ddd...)))... SSSiiinnnccceee 222000000888 dddaaayyy-­-­-tttooo-­-­-dddaaayyy The end of the Second World War in 1945 marked a turning point for heritage conservation when the Ms McManamey then sold a further 4 acres of !hhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy aaasss ppprrriiivvvaaattteee rrreeesssiiidddeeennnccceee aaadddmmmiiinnniiissstttrrraaatttiiiooonnn hhhaaasss bbbeeeeeennnttthhheeerrreeessspppooonnnsssiiibbbiiillliiitttyyyooofff JJJooohhhnnn !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy cccooonnntttiiinnnuuueeeddd tttooo tttuuutttooorrr ppprrriiivvvaaattteee ssstttuuudddeeennntttsss WWWoooooodddfffooorrrddd AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy !aaannnaaagggeeemmmeeennnttt CCCooommmmmmiiitttttteeeeee...

STORY DISTILLATION – STORY No. 5 Highway. Suicide corner, deviation, Linden. National Library of Australia DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY the Woodford academy “backyard” to the Blue Mountains iiinnn ttthhheee lllaaattteee 111999333000sss aaannnddd eeeaaarrrlllyyy 111999444000sss... HHHeee dddiiieeeddd iiinnn 111999444666 in New South Wales. As enthusiasm for the post war construction and engineering boom aaafffttteeerrr bbbeeeiiinnnggg hhhiiittt bbbyyyaaacccaaarrraaassshhheeecccrrrooosssssseeedddttthhheeehhhiiiggghhhwwwaaayyy Council in order for a public reserve to be created there. ooouuutttsssiiidddeee ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy... HHHiiissstttwwwooossspppiiinnnsssttteeerrrdddaaauuuggghhhttteeerrrsss WWWoooooodddfffooorrrddd AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy tttooodddaaayyy (((FFFiiiggguuurrreee 777))) spread, so too did a concern of the loss of natural and cultural heritage assets that could be JJJeeessssssiiieee aaannnddd GGGeeerrrtttrrruuudddeee llliiivvveeeddd ooonnn iiinnn ttthhheee bbbuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg,,, tttaaakkkiiinnnggg TTTooodddaaayyy,,, ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy iiisssssseeetttuuupppaaasssaaammmuuussseeeuuummmooofffttthhhiiisss This step was a major investment in the long term bbboooaaarrrdddeeerrrsss aaannnddd ssseeelllllliiinnnggg oooffffff ppprrrooopppeeerrrtttyyy aaasss sssooouuurrrccceeesss ooofff iiinnncccooommmeee... sssiiigggnnniiifffiiicccaaannnttt bbbuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg'''sss pppaaasssttt... TTThhheee mmmooodddeeerrrnnn eeennntttrrraaannnccceee fffaaaccceeesss destroyed in the process. Sydney Morning Herald 2 Jul 1947 FFFrrrooommm 111999444555 tttooo 111999666555,,, ttthhheeerrreee wwweeerrreee aaattt llleeeaaasssttt ttteeennn lllooonnnggg-­-­-ttteeerrrmmm ttthhheee sssooouuuttthhheeerrrnnn vvveeerrraaannndddaaahhh,,, aaannnddd iiisss ooonnn ttthhheee sssooouuuttthhh-­-­-wwweeesssttt wwwiiinnnggg conservation of this crucial heritage landscape. bbboooaaarrrdddeeerrrsss aaattt vvvaaarrriiiooouuusss tttiiimmmeeesss aaattt ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy (((CCCaaammmpppbbbeeellllll ooofff ttthhheee mmmaaaiiinnn bbbuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg... TTThhheee fffiiirrrsssttt rrroooooommm,,, ooorrriiigggiiinnnaaallllllyyy ttthhheee This awareness is marked locally in a letter Isobel Bowden sent to the Sydney Morning Herald in July 1947. In this she 222000000111)))... IIInnn 111999777222,,, JJJeeessssssiiieee dddiiieeeddd bbbuuuttt ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy rrreeemmmaaaiiinnneeeddd WWWiiilllllliiiaaammm BBBuuussssss sssiiittttttiiinnnggg rrroooooommm,,, iiisss nnnooowww ttthhheee rrreeeccceeeppptttiiiooonnn///oooffffffiiiccceee ttthhheee !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy-­-­-ooowwwnnneeeddd fffaaammmiiilllyyy rrreeesssiiidddeeennnccceee uuunnntttiiilll JJJooohhhnnn ssspppaaaccceee... TTThhheee nnneeexxxttt mmmaaajjjooorrr rrroooooommm ooonnn ttthhheee wwweeesssttteeerrrnnn eeennnddd ooofff notes that a bulldozer had gone and graded disused sections of the old Coxs Line of Road just to the east of Woodford, Protection of the Blue Mountains oldest building itself !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy'''sss sssooollleee sssuuurrrvvviiivvviiinnngggdddaaauuuggghhhttteeerrr,,,GGGeeerrrtttrrruuudddeee,,, wwweeesssttt wwwiiinnnggg iiisss ssseeettt uuuppp aaasss ttthhheee lllaaadddiiieeesss''' pppaaarrrlllooouuurrr ooofff FFFaaaiiirrrfffaaaxxx came three years later when Gertrude bequeathed bbbeeeqqquuueeeaaattthhheeeddd ttthhheee ppprrrooopppeeerrrtttyyy tttooo ttthhheee NNNaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll TTTrrruuusssttt iiinnn 111999777999,,, ggguuueeesssttt eeerrraaa,,, wwwiiittthhh iiitttsssdddooouuubbbllleeedddoooooorrrsssooonnnttthhheeewwweeessstttsssiiidddeee destroying in the process old pick marks in the rock workings there. ooonnn cccooonnndddiiitttiiiooonnn ssshhheee wwwooouuullldddrrreeetttaaaiiinnnllliiifffeeetttiiimmmeeerrreeesssiiidddeeennncccyyy... llleeeaaadddiiinnnggg tttooo wwwhhhaaattt hhhaaadddbbbeeeeeennnttthhheeeVVViiiccctttooorrriiiaaannnpppllleeeaaasssuuurrreee It is possible that this burning was of Aboriginal or to engage. Relatedly, the early travellers may site complex at Gloria Park, Hazelbrook, with “Windradyne marched for seventeen days Aboriginal presence, and there may be other Parish of Woodford, County of Cook. 1970 Parish Map Aboriginal history Country Blaxland (1813) The “lonely” Blue Mountains? (cont’d) Dispossession at Woodford References her remaining land holding of just under an acre to the AAAgggaaaiiinnn,,, ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy wwwaaasss rrreeeiiinnnvvveeennnttteeeddd tttooo sssuuuiiittt ttthhheee tttiiimmmeeesss... gggaaarrrdddeeennn... TTThhheee sssttteeeeeeppp ssstttaaaiiirrrwwwaaayyy iiinnn ttthhheee nnnooorrrttthhh-­-­-eeeaaasssttt cccooorrrnnneeerrr ooofff In her letter, Isobel asks “Would it not be possible to preserve this beautiful point with its historic associations with a great IIIttt wwwaaasss bbbyyy ttthhheeennn sssuuurrrrrrooouuunnndddeeeddd bbbyyy ppprrriiivvvaaattteee rrreeesssiiidddeeennnccceeesss wwwiiittthhhiiinnn ttthhheee lllaaadddiiieeesss''' pppaaarrrlllooouuurrr llleeeaaadddsss tttooo ttthhheee aaattttttiiiccc rrroooooommmsss,,, llleeefffttt mmmuuuccchhh National Trust of Australia. mmmooodddeeesssttt gggrrrooouuunnndddsss... GGGeeerrrtttrrruuudddeee llliiivvveeeddd ooonnn iiinnn ttthhheee hhhooouuussseee uuunnntttiiilll origin and aimed at Evans’ party. have avoided contact because of recent conflict rockholes/wells, an engraving, grinding grooves, across the mountain range into Parramatta at evidence as yet undiscovered. There has been undertaking for generations still to come?” 111999888666,,, wwwhhheeennn ssshhheee rrreeeqqquuuiiirrreeeddd bbbeeetttttteeerrr cccaaarrreee aaannnddd wwweeennnttt tttooo QQQuuueeeeeennn This portion of land fronting the Great Western Highway VVViiiccctttooorrriiiaaa HHHooossspppiiitttaaalll aaattt WWWeeennntttwwwooorrrttthhh FFFaaallllllsss,,, wwwhhheeerrreee ssshhheee dddiiieeeddd There is little direct evidence of the specific The Aboriginal concept of “Country” is complex Blaxland mentions (13 May 1813), probably in However several of the early accounts allude The Aboriginal people seem to have been With this question being asked in many different settings around the state at that time, the formation of the National Trust iiinnn 111999888888...(((WWWrrriiiggghhhttt 222000111444)))... contained the Woodford Academy array of buildings in the Hawkesbury and elsewhere . Aboriginal artefacts and a shelter , a ‘suburban’ engraving the head of his force of nearly 200 warriors to one suggestion of a possible Aboriginal burial, Aboriginal Art & Culture (2018). ‘Our country’, http:// of Australia in that same year (1947), was the start of a major widespread program to conserve crucial heritage assets that !hhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy aaasss aaa NNNaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll !rrruuusssttt ppprrrooopppeeerrrtttyyy together with their immediate grounds. TTThhheee NNNaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll TTTrrruuusssttt iiimmmppprrrooovvveeeddd ttthhheee eeeaaasssttteeerrrnnn wwwiiinnnggg ooofff Aboriginal history of the Woodford area, but but central to understanding Australian the present vicinity of Springwood, ‘several Macquarie and Antill (1815) to Aboriginal attacks, or fear of attacks, on quickly dispossessed of what became 20 Mile might otherwise be lost to development. While the Trust’s dominant focus was on heritage buildings, it also was vitally mmmaaaiiinnn bbbuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg fffooorrr oooccccccuuupppaaatttiiiooonnn bbbyyy GGGeeerrrtttrrruuudddeee... BBBeeetttwwweeeeeennn numbers may have already been depleted by site at Lawson, another shelter at Horseshoe from Aunty Carol Cooper ; there is no other Macquarie, L. (1815). ‘Tour Over the Western or concerned with natural heritage conservation. Its activities over the following years not only helped protect important Gertrude continued to live in the Academy until two years !aaayyy 111999777999 aaannnddd NNNooovvveeemmmbbbeeerrr 111999888222,,, ttthhheee rrroooooofffiiinnnggg,,, dddrrraaaiiinnnaaagggeee,,, attend the Governor’s annual feast. With the www.aboriginalart.com.au/culture/tourism2.html pppllluuummmbbbiiinnnggg rrreeeqqquuuiiirrreeemmmeeennntttsss,,, wwwiiinnndddooowwwsss,,, vvveeerrraaannndddaaahhh,,, ccchhhiiimmmnnneeeyyy,,, prior to her death in 1988. . much can be inferred from what evidence Indigenous culture, and to an appreciation of native huts at different places’. Near present travellers which, if true (and not just presumed), Hollow, as they were along the whole route properties but it also played a central role in the passage of the National Parks and Wildlife Act in 1967. This specifically ffflllaaaggggggiiinnnggg aaannnddd ssstttooonnneee wwwaaallllllsss,,,iiinnncccllluuudddiiinnngggbbbuuuttttttrrreeessssssiiinnnggg,,, !ooouuurrrttteeesssyyy ooofff NNNoooeeelll BBBuuurrrgggeeessssss rrreeeccceeeiiivvveeeddd eeemmmeeerrrgggeeennncccyyy rrreeepppaaaiiirrrsss (((LLLuuucccaaasss 111999888444,,, pppppp...666777-­-­-777222)))... FFFiiiggguuurrreee 777... WWWoooooodddfffooorrrddd AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy iiinnn 222000111555... Major Antill accompanied Governor Lachlan disease (smallpox and influenza advanced out of Falls, Hazelbrook that excavations reveal word ‘peace’ stuck in his hat, he surrendered. information on this. Blue Mountains, 1815’. Sydney Gazette, 10th June, ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD resulted in the inclusion heritage places like the Hill End Historic Site under the management of the new National Parks ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD (accessed 8 December 2018). IIInnn 222000000000 ttthhheee NNNaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll TTTrrruuussstttrrreeeccceeeiiivvveeedddaaaFFFeeedddeeerrraaatttiiiooonnn and Wildlife Service. Construction 22 Oct 1947 Woodford Academy, A Rare Treasure. Ken Goodlet . Blue there is and information from the wider Blue Aboriginal history in the Blue Mountains and the Linden (19 May) he describes a ‘heap of Stones suggests at least presence, as well as of Cox’s Road. James’ sly grog shop and MtnsCCCuuullltttuuurrraaalll History Journal 5: 2015 aaannnddd HHHeeerrriiitttaaagggeee PPPrrrooojjjeeeccctttsss PPPrrrooogggrrraaammm gggrrraaannnttt ooofff $$$111 aaasss ttthhheeeyyy wwweeerrreee wwwhhheeennn cccooonnnssstttrrruuucccttteeeddd iiinnn 111888555555 aaannnddd ooonnneee ooofff ttthhheee Gregorys Road Map of NSW 1938 National Library of Australia Daily Telegraph 11 Nov 1924 mmmiiilllllliiiooonnn fffooorrr ttthhheee rrreeessstttooorrraaatttiiiooonnn ooofff ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy,,, aaannnddd mmmooosssttt hhhiiissstttooorrriiicccaaallllllyyy aaatttmmmooosssppphhheeerrriiiccc pppaaarrrtttsss ooofff ttthhheee bbbuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg... Macquarie’s inspection of the new road to the Sydney colony only a few years after white was in use 8,000 years ago, and many more The settlers who came to see him were 1815. Blue Mountains Echo 3 Apr 1925 rrreeessstttooorrraaatttiiiooonnn ppprrrooojjjeeecccttt wwwaaasss cccooommmpppllleeettteeeddd bbbyyy OOOccctttooobbbeeerrr 222000000111... FFFaaarrrttthhheeerrr eeeaaasssttt iiisss ttthhheee 111888555555 tttaaappprrroooooommm wwwiiittthhh iiitttsss eeevvviiidddeeennnccceee ooofff TTThhheee FFFeeedddeeerrraaalll !iiinnniiisssttteeerrr fffooorrrttthhheeeEEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennntttaaannnddd llliiiqqquuuooorrr ssshhheeelllvvviiinnnggg aaannndddttthhheeecccaaarrrtttooouuuccchhheee,,,aaafffttteeerrrwwwaaarrrdddsss Mountains and beyond. Woodford precinct. piled up in the Shape of Pyramid by some resistance. Unlike many other areas, including The reliable spring that existed just outside the especially ‘The Woodman’ inn and associated Antill, H. (1815). ‘Journal of an Excursion over the 44 45 46 HHHeeerrriiitttaaagggeee aaattt ttthhheee tttiiimmmeee,,, SSSeeennnaaatttooorrr RRRooobbbeeerrrttt HHHiiillllll,,, ssstttaaattteeeddd::: AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy llliiibbbrrraaarrryyy,,, wwwiiittthhh sssooommmeee ooofff JJJooohhhnnn !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy'''sss bbbooooookkksss dddiiisssppplllaaayyyeeeddd... BBBeeeyyyooonnnddd ttthhheee hhhaaallllllwwwaaayyy mmmooovvviiinnnggg eeeaaasssttt iiisss “““TTThhheee CCCooommmmmmooonnnwwweeeaaalllttthhh GGGooovvveeerrrnnnmmmeeennnttt iiisss nnnooowww pppllleeeaaassseeeddd Bathurst. Neither account mentions Aborigines arrival). engravings, cave paintings, grinding grooves, awestruck.” ttthhheee ooorrriiigggiiinnnaaalll pppaaarrrttt ooofffttthhheeebbbuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg,,,eeeaaassstttwwwiiinnnggg,,, tttooo hhhaaavvveee ppplllaaayyyeeeddd iiitttsss pppaaarrrttt iiinnn ttthhheee ppprrrooopppeeerrrtttyyy'''sss cccooolllooouuurrrfffuuulll wwweeesssttteeerrrnnn rrroooooommm ooofff ttthhhiiisss eeeaaasssttt wwwiiinnnggg aaa hhhuuunnndddrrreeeddd yyyeeeaaarrrsss aaagggooo Mathews, R. H. (1908). ‘Some Mythology of the hhhiiissstttooorrryyy bbbyyy sssuuuppppppooorrrtttiiinnnggg ttthhheeetttrrruuussstttiiinnniiitttsssvvvaaallluuuaaabbbllleee European’, later described (erroneously) as the Sydney and Central West regions, there current western boundary of Woodford Reserve use of the adjoining land were strong statements bbbeeeiiinnnggg aaa ccclllaaassssssrrroooooommm ooofff ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy aaannnddd ssseeettt uuuppp wwwiiittthhh Blue or Western Mountains of New South Wales rrreeessstttooorrraaatttiiiooonnn wwwooorrrkkk... TTThhheee wwwooorrrkkk hhhaaasss iiinnncccllluuudddeeeddd ooonnn !ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy eeerrraaa mmmeeemmmooorrraaabbbiiillliiiaaa... TTTooo ttthhheee nnnooorrrttthhh ooofff ttthhhiiisss stone arrangements and occupation sites . ttthhheee eeeaaasssttt wwwiiinnnggg ssstttaaaiiirrrsss,,, iiinnnttteeerrriiiooorrrsss aaannnddd vvveeerrraaannndddaaahhh... IIIttt hhhaaasss Aboriginal people have occupied Australia for at “For Aboriginal people, “country” does not or signs of them. rrroooooommm iiisss ttthhheee AAAcccaaadddeeemmmyyy llloooccckkkeeerrr rrroooooommm wwwiiittthhh iiitttsss ooorrriiigggiiinnnaaalll aaalllsssooo iiinnnvvvooolllvvveeeddd cccooonnnssseeerrrvvviiinnngggttthhheee!ccc!aaannnaaammmeeeyyy sssccchhhoooooolll llloooccckkkeeerrrsss... AAAttt ttthhheee eeeaaasssttteeerrrnnn eeennnddd ooofff bbbuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg iiisss ‘Caley’s Repulse’ but possibly an Aboriginal is no record of massacres or retaliatory raids It also remains unclear whether Aboriginal We do not know if Windradyne or other would have been as attractive to Aboriginal of ‘possession’ of the important spring, and Gundungurra Tribe, New South Wales’. Zeitschrift cccooolllllleeeccctttiiiooonnn aaannnddd hhhaaavvviiinnnggg ttthhheee ppprrriiinnnccciiipppaaalll rrroooooommmsss ooofff to Visit a Tract of New Discovered Country, in ttthhheee ooottthhheeerrr ccclllaaassssssrrroooooommm ssseeettt uuuppp aaasss iiittt wwwaaasss 111000000 yyyeeeaaarrrsss aaagggooo,,, least 50,000 years, and the Blue Mountains for just mean the creeks, rock outcrops, hills and mmmaaaiiinnn hhhooouuussseee iiinnnttteeerrrppprrreeettteeeddd...””” (((HHHiiillllll 222000000111)))... für Ethnologie. Dietrich Reimer Verlag. 40 (2): 203. feature. On 21 May, probably near Wentworth Quoy, Gaudichaud & Pellion (1819) by either Aborigines or settlers on the Blue people occupied the plateau areas of the Blue Aboriginal travel routes Aboriginal travellers camped at 20 Mile Hollow, people as it later became to white settlers. would have sent a clear message of rejection Company with His Excellency Governor and Mrs 111999 at least 22,000 years. waterholes. “Country” includes all living things. WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD Falls, they heard noises near camp and feared Mountains plateau. By comparison, early Mountains on a permanent basis or seasonally, but given that they were on foot, it is possible. to the Aboriginal ‘owners’. The colonials would Macquarie and a party of Gentlemen’. It incorporates people, plants and animals. It These three Frenchmen were part of Freycinet’s The pattern of sites and other evidence Swamps in the Blue Mountains have been Merriman, J. (2009). ‘Traditional subsistence in the Dispossession spread rapidly from the initial that the natives had followed them and they conflicts in western Sydney and around Bathurst or for particular purposes only. The pattern of have been ignorant that that was what they embraces the seasons, stories and creation voyage of exploration and science in the South suggests also that the mid-mountains may have Aboriginal antiquity recognised as particularly rich sources of plant Attenbrow, V. (2009). ‘The mountain Darug’, in E. Blue Mountains, in E. Stockton & J. Merriman (Ed.) colony at Sydney, and proceeded apace in were in danger. saw many deaths over several years and have use revealed by archaeological sites has led were doing, and probably would not have cared 11.1: highway bypass – the fast lane to Bathurst spirits. “Country” is both a place of belonging Seas, and travelled across the Blue Mountains been a ‘crossroads’ where east-west and north- and animal food for Aboriginal people. Stockton & J. Merriman (Ed.) (2009) Blue Mountains (2009) Blue Mountains Dreaming, Blue Mountain 11. highway bypass the Blue Mountains after the 1813 ‘crossing’ been described as ‘wars’. to the suggestion that the mid-mountains may Some sources suggest “Aboriginal people are anyway as Aboriginal culture and society was Together with the NSW Government’s 1972 decision and a way of believing.” On 24 May, still on the main range, they heard during a stopover in Sydney. They were south travel routes met . Around Woodford, Dreaming, Blue Mountain Education & Research Education & Research Trust, Lawson. and subsequent road construction. The water have been mainly a ceremonial area, where known to have occupied mainland Australia “Swamps were important to Aboriginal people in routinely devalued and ignored by the new to establish Bathurst-Orange as the state’s first ‘a Native chopping’ but ‘he ran away before he interested in all aspects of the local environment. So it has been suggested that the Blue the long ridges of Woodford Range to the Trust, Lawson. growth centre came calls from the NRMA to source and swamp in Woodford Reserve was “Country: In Aboriginal English, a person’s people visited for special purposes rather than for at least 65,000 years” , but the oldest providing perennial water and a wide variety of settlers. Mooney, S. & Martin, H. (2009). ‘Environmental DRAFT DRAFT upgrade the Great Western Highway to a four lane could be discovered’. Once they were in view At Springwood they noted the blackened Mountains may have been sparsely populated. south-east and Linden Ridge and Lawson Ridge carriageway. conditions of the past in the Blue Mountains’, in E. very likely an Aboriginal place from which they land, sea, sky, rivers, sites, seasons, plants living for extended periods . firm evidence is around 50,000 years . This bush tucker.” Australian Museum (2018). ‘Glossary of Indigenous While upgrade works including the then completed Springwood of the valleys to the west (present Megalong, trees, attributed to ‘natives liking to set alight However the density of recorded archaeological on the north side provide easy travel routes The water and the engraving are evidence bypass were already in train along the road, this new goal of were dispossessed when first James and then and animals; place of heritage, belonging and includes artefacts from the eastern foot of the Australia Terms’, https://australianmuseum.net.au/ Stockton & J. Merriman (Ed.) (2009) Blue Mountains “alleviating the mounting social and economic pressures in Sydney” Kanimbla and Hartley) Aboriginal observations the grasses and brushwood obstructing their sites (up to 10 per square kilometre, and even The question of population may remain extending well into the surrounding country. “The concentration of artefact scatters around that the site was a significant component of via moving people out west of the mountains gave vital impetus to the Pembroke occupied it. It is not known if it had spirituality; is called ‘Country’.” Blue Mountains . Other unconfirmed evidence glossary-indigenous-australia-terms (accessed 8 Dreaming, Blue Mountain Education & Research project. became much more frequent. On 26 May, way’. At an unspecified location in the lower 17 per square kilometre) is comparable to other unresolved because evidence from the early These ridges are well endowed with recorded swamps, such as at Asgard and Newnes Aboriginal Country. We may never know if the With echoes back to the construction of the original Coxs Road special significance but it was part of Country suggests even greater antiquity. However December 2018). Trust, Lawson. and the surge of travellers using the route after 1851 to get to Thus for Aboriginal people every aspect of their possibly above the present Megalong Valley, mountains, they ‘first saw any of the wretched nearby areas. colonial period is so limited. Aboriginal sites. Plateau, shows the attraction of swamps, with site held greater importance, as perhaps a DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY the goldfields, the stage was once again set for the mountains’ RMS. Great Western Highway. Construction and widening works at Blaxland. with deep connections to the identity of local “Aboriginal people traditionally believe they landscapes to be defined by highway developments. Museum of Australia (2018). http://www.nma.gov. being was (and is) integrated with the land, so they ‘saw the fires of the natives below’, and inhabitants of those lofty regions’: ‘a sick old their plentiful food resources, to foragers of the place of story or ceremony or particular totemic Blaxland, G, (1823). ‘A Journal of a Tour of It was really all simply summed up in the NRMA report advising that Darug and/or Gundungurra people. This “The frequency of occupation and other sites “…the actual size of the Blue Mountains It has been widely suggested that the Blue have been here in their country since the time of “travel would be more convenient and safer if the highway were they were dispossessed not only of territory in another group below them the next day, possibly man, lying on kangaroo skins, near a fire, and past.” affiliation and obligation. We don’t know how Discovery Across the Blue Mountains, New South au/defining-moments/resources/evidence-of-first- realigned to avoid passing through busy shopping centres” the stage dispossession was part of the wider dislocation suggests a population comparable to other population in 1788, and at any other time in Mountains Range (and the Bell Range to the creation” . was set for towns like Woodford to be once again bypassed. below present Mt Victoria. They saw the second much value Woodford Reserve specifically held peoples (accessed 23 Nov 2018). the European sense, but of their culture and very receiving the attentions of a younger man’. Wales, in the Year 1813’. Just as the arrival of the railway in the late 1860s had dictated that of Aboriginal people across Australia. parts of the country which have been thoroughly the more distant past, is now impossible to north) may have been used by Aboriginal “Each creek has a swamp at its source and travellers across the mountains would pass by rather than through the identity. group again, in a new location, on 27 May. William Lawson (of the 1813 crossing) was The oldest known evidence of occupation on for the original inhabitants, but we do know that mountain villages that did not comprise their chosen destination, so investigated.” determine.” people as a travel and trade route across although individually small, this environment Brennan, W, (2015). ‘Woodford Academy, Woodford Quoy, J., Gaudichaud, C. & Pellion, A. (1819). too would the highway four lane upgrade consciously bypass these Early colonial travellers reported few contacts accompanying them, and recognised the older the Blue Mountains plateau is about 22,000 dispossession of Country and of sacred places places in order to provide a speedy transit between Sydney and the The area around Woodford is considered to Evans (1813-14) the mountains, linking the coastal and inland is widespread and was an important food NSW, Engraving Platform Cultural Heritage ‘Excursion to the Town of Bathurst’ lands west of the Great Dividing Range. with Aborigines on the Blue Mountains plateau, man as ‘Karadra, supreme chief or king of that But other considerations come into play on Archaeological evidence years, on Kings Tableland . This was during the was widespread and inexorable. be the traditional Country of the Darug and regions. Certainly it offers one of the relatively source…Swamps have specialised plant Assessment Report, Draft Version 1, August 2015’. and there are no records of massacres or open Evans mentions nothing of Aboriginal presence part of the mountain’. He had apparently killed these statistics, including that flaked artefact last glacial period when the climate was colder Smith, J. (2009). ‘Seeing Gundungurra country’, ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD The Broadcaster 11 Sept 1973 Gundungurra people, many of whom still reside A vast amount of surviving physical evidence easier routes across the mountain ‘barrier’, as communities that supplied foods and medicines We also do not know for certain if and when Canberra Times 4 Oct 1972 Unpublished report to Blue Mountains City Council Completion of the Great Western Highway Upgrade brochure conflict. The population and use of the area by on the mountains, on either his forward or return many ‘English’ but never been caught ‘in the densities in occupation sites tend to be lower and drier than present, and the vegetation of in E. Stockton & J. Merriman (Ed.) (2009) Blue Z05107_380x545_v 1 (KF) in and around the Blue Mountains. – rock paintings, drawings and engravings, white explorers came to realise and as remains and were places to collect yabbies, small fish, Aboriginal people stopped visiting 20 Mile and The National Trust Australia (NSW). 47 48 Aboriginal people may have been relatively low journey. The first mention comes west of the act’ but later had become ‘peacefully disposed’. in the Blue Mountains than in areas on the the Blue Mountains would have been quite Mountains Dreaming, Blue Mountain Education & artefacts, grinding grooves, stone arrangements, the case even for modern transportation. snakes and lizards and to hunt swamp rats, Hollow once the place was occupied by the compared to adjoining, more fertile areas, but Early European observations mountains on 25 November 1813, when they periphery - areas that would seem to be more different with extensive grassland and only Brennan, W. (2018). Pers. comm. (23 Nov 2018). Research Trust, Lawson. The Frenchmen also noted that ‘Sometimes, occupation sites and more - proves that However there is no firm evidence for a long- bandicoots and small marsupials.” colonials, but it seems likely since there are no the true population picture is likely to remain camped on the banks of the present River Lett fertile and productive. limited forests. The warming phase that ended “During the early exploratory expeditions, when hunting, the natives rove in these lonely Aboriginal people were active throughout the distance Aboriginal route where the Great known contemporary reports of such visits. Burgess, E (2018). Pers. comm. (on-site interview, Smith, J. (2016). The Aboriginal People of the uncertain. in the present Hartley Valley: ‘We have not seen about 10,000 years ago changed the weather, The 20 Mile Hollow swamp would have been numerous indications were seen that people mountains, and more than one traveller has “…whether these variations reflect differences in Blue Mountains. A few traditional stories and Western Highway now runs. Woodford Reserve 22 Nov 2018). Burragorang Valley. Blue Mountains Education and any natives but hear them shouting all around vegetation and available resources, and may a useful and accessible swamp, in a position Towards reconciliation The main Blue Mountains ridge and probably lived in the Blue Mountains, though there was been the victim of their murderous spears’. the number of people or length of time people story places have also survived from earlier Research Trust, Lawson. us. Upon returning to the ‘foot of the Mountains’ “…there may not have been a single path also have led to population pressure in coastal where multiple travel routes converged. Evans, G. (1814). ‘Assistant-Surveyor Evans’s branching ridges have been regarded as routes no contact with anyone…However, even once used the sites, or in the amount and type of times , . Some researchers believe the physical This long dispossession has only begun to be – retaining community connections on 29 December he reports: ‘The Natives seem The “lonely” Blue Mountains? across the Blue Mountains along either of the areas, particularly if the sea at times advanced Pre-colonial Aboriginal people would almost Journal, 1813-1814’. Historical Records of Australia, Stockton, E. (2009a). ‘New discoveries’, in E. 11.2: highway bypass of Aboriginal travel and trade, with some of the road was constructed, very few of the activity associated with making stone tools, and evidence demonstrates the mountains were as corrected in recent years. The rock engraving to be numerous; there are fires in many parts not main ridges, even if they were known to have quite rapidly inland. certainly have travelled by and camped at this Series 1, Vol. VIII, pp. 165-177. Stockton & J. Merriman (Ed.) (2009) Blue Mountains them coming together near Woodford. The travellers…reported seeing Aboriginal people in In the above and other accounts of 14 early how they should be interpreted, is still a difficult populated as other areas . was apparently not assessed by archaeologists far from us’. negotiable routes east and west. However, once place. The engraving and the rock platforms in Dreaming, Blue Mountain Education & Research high density of rock art and other sites in the question to resolve.” until 2004 and was not formally recorded until the Blue Mountains.” journeys over the Blue Mountains , a marked Aboriginal people at 20 Mile Hollow DRAFT DRAFT The central part of the Blue Mountains Range complete in 1814, the Great Western Road was the basin below the spring may have been other Koettig, M. (1993). ‘Survey for Aboriginal Trust, Lawson. Woodford-central Blue Mountains area suggests However Evans comments repeatedly over contrast emerges between frequent encounters 2006 . In 2014 the National Trust began to archaeological sites at Gloria Park, Hazelbrook’. Dispossession in the Blue Mountains began If the mountains were sparsely populated, around Woodford is rich in recorded Aboriginal used by Aboriginal people living at both ends. If traditional Aboriginal routes used the main attractions. It has been suggested that the bare it may have been an important ceremonial area. a period of five days’ travel along the main with Aborigines in areas either side of the investigate the Aboriginal heritage of the site Report to NSW Dept of Main Roads. Stockton, E. (2009b). ‘Archaeology in the Blue with the first European explorations, perhaps various explanations have been offered for sites . On a rock platform in Woodford Reserve People from ‘far beyond the Blue Mountains’ ridgelines, then the generally scarce watering- rock platforms were originally more extensive, The engraving in Woodford Reserve is part of ridge on how the mountains had been ‘fired Blue Mountains (western Sydney and the and later explored ways of including Aboriginal Mountains’, in E. Stockton & J. Merriman (Ed.) even earlier. These explorers and later travellers an apparently low Aboriginal presence. The is a ten-metre-long engraved groove which who attended the December 1818 Conference points along the ridges would have been of but have become overgrown with introduced this heritage. in all directions’ (4 January 1814) between his Central West), and their persistence in those heritage interpretation in their activities at Langton, M. (2008). ‘They made a solitude and (2009) Blue Mountains Dreaming, Blue Mountain reported few encounters or signs of Aboriginal afore-mentioned adjoining regions are certainly several experts have assessed as most probably at the Native Institution in Parramatta probably considerable importance – as they became for grasses. called it peace’, in R. Perkins and M. Langton (Ed.) forward and return journeys. The use of fire by regions into the mid-1800s, and a paucity of Woodford Academy. In 20XX local Darug man Education & Research Trust, Lawson. DISTILLATION – STORY DISTILLATION – STORY The National Trust at Woodford Academy people in the mountains, and yet they were more ecologically productive than the sandstone Aboriginal in origin . It has been reported that came along this road.” white travellers in the next historical phase. Artwork: Chris Tobin (permissions pending) Aborigines to repel Europeans was reported reported Aboriginal presence in the mountains Chris Tobin was given the use of a room at (2008) First Australians, The Meigunyah Press, recently began recovering the Aboriginal history sometimes aware of their presence. Of course, plateau, and may have been more capable of other engravings (animal tracks) exist on the Stockton, E. & Knox, K. (2014). ‘Sacred Ground’, in from other regions, and if Evans (and the 1813 themselves. Similarly, the Burragorang Valley to It is almost certain that the famous Wiradjuri The 10-metre-long engraved line on the outcrop the Academy to conduct regular educational Carlton. 11.3: highway bypass – shared landscapes NOTES of the site, making steps towards reconciliation. some of these travellers may have had little NOTES sustaining a population. site but have been covered by grass growth in NOTES Stockton, E. (Ed.) This Tortuous Ridge, Linden to While the mountains already defined its town areas in terms of them being north or south of the railway line / highway explorers before him) were being observed, then the south was an important area for Aboriginal resistance fighter Windradyne, also travelled in Woodford Reserve is of uncertain meaning, activities. Mackaness, G. (Ed.) (1965). Fourteen Journeys over corridor prior to the four lane Sydney - Katoomba Great Western Highway upgrade completed in 2015, the new works put The process of connecting with, sharing and caring for the Country across the heritage interest in the local inhabitants, and their recent times . Lawson. Blue Mountains Education and Research a new spotlight on an old problem. landscapes at Woodford is ongoing. It is grounded on a recognition that there are many their reliance on green feed for the horses would people, who lived there (and in The Gully at Aboriginal people may have only ever occupied along Coxs Road at the end of the ‘Wiradjuri but may have directed water to other engraved the Blue Mountains of New South Wales 1813-1841. Trust, Lawson. This was the challenge of providing effective north south linkages across the transport corridor such that the two separate halves of the village communities stories and meanings we can draw from a heritage hotspot such as this. observations cannot be taken completely at face text: Ian Brown could easily connect with each other. Reinforcing the dominant east-west travel alignment via the inclusion of upgraded pedestrian / cycle paths along the road Today both the local and broader mountains community is finding new ways to connect with this heritage landscape. have been noted. Wars’ in 1824. easement was taken as a given as per the promotional artists impression put out in the community consultation process for the Woodford roadworks. What was Katoomba) until the valley was flooded by the Blue Mountains in small numbers, or they The known site in Woodford Reserve is one features (similar lines are known from the Central Horwitz Publications Pty Ltd and The Grahame Following forty years of hands on caring for the maintenance of the Woodford Reserve for example, volunteers were value. missing in this sketch however was the sense of any north-south connectivity. Warragamba Dam in 1960. may have been reluctant (or scared) to be seen of a large suite of nearby features, including a Coast) . The one known engraving proves able to down mowers in 2018 and hand this role across to the local Council. Book Company Pty Ltd, Sydney. Thanks to community advocacy outcomes such as the road crossing installed outside the Woodford Academy were achieved, though more comprehensive In cooperation with the local Darug Aboriginal community the focus is now moving away from day to day solutions proved elusive. This focus on the importance of the north-south balance of community life across the village in many ways harks back to the crossroads WOODFORD ACADEMY + ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD ENVIRONS: + ACADEMY WOODFORD maintenance needs to focus on to how best to share and learn from this Country - to peel back and explore the 11 12 13 role that places like Twenty Mile Hollow played in the cultural landscapes of Aboriginal people reaching back to the distant past. layers in time that are today draped across Twenty Mile Hollow. Blue Mtns Gazette 20 Mar 2018 2 49 50 2. layersintime walk The proposed interpretive experience comprises two elements.

DRAFT Transit of The major component is the “layersintime walk” taking the t Venus Walk e e visitor on a loop of the central estate grounds of Woodford r t

S House / Woodford Academy. The route of this 1.4km walk along

y r the street verges is shown on the map opposite. In keeping with u b layersintime walk d the residential / informal nature of the present day streetscapes o o being traversed, most detailed content along the route will be W provided via the web app. Selective signage nodes as indicated Weroona Avenue will affirm a sense of ongoing connection along the route while 50m sign 450m also inviting casual passers by to opt in and connect with the deeper digital narrative on offer. Tennis Court Given the lack of any formal path network across the Woodford t Transit of e Venus e Reserve interpretive interventions in this space are problematic. r Observatory t

S Locale We strongly prefer to only install interpretive signage in places

INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION

y

r where the user nodes can be developed such as to invite the u b sign visitor to step aside from their transit along the path “corridor” d t o e o and take in the material on offer. e r W t 200m spring 250m S Accordingly given the “ad hoc” nature of visitor traffic across the r u well precinct, interpretation of this space is best vested in the web h t r

A peartree app where users can access content via the interactive locale rock outcrop Fo map. Supporting connection at significant places as marked pathway res 150m t Gle can be delivered via QR code postmarkers. Entry Node n Woodford Rd e Academy v These postmarker interventions when allied to sandstone block sign A

seating are far more subtle and discrete than interpretive signs GREAT WESTERN HIGH d W r AY sign 100m o and as such can be nestled within the landscape setting such f

d RAILWAY LIN 300m o as to provide low key points of connection. E o W This postmarker approach also has direct utility for the future interpretation of the Woodford Academy precinct as it delivers

WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD minimal visual intervention while at the same time as turning the precinct into an interactive landscape for the user to explore.

3 3. web app content Substantially one page website format utilising

DRAFT simple out and The role of the web app in delivering the interpretive outcome for the Layers in Time back links Walk is pivotal. It provides the detailed narrative that people can access either via a chronological basis as per the research report or simply delve into the material on a site specific focus as they move around the walk. By using the web app support, the interpretive signs are left much lighter in terms of the burden of essential material they may otherwise need to carry in terms of conveying the Interactive map very significant body of “essential messaging”. menu leads to supporting Being a web app people do not need to download any material to their phone and it also content page specific to each means that content can be translated on the fly into the language of the users choice. location The rationale behind the web app approach is explained in detail on the Nature Tourism Services website as per the link here. Background narrative as per To view the web app for the Layers in Time walk - simply click the link here. Alternatively research report INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION snap the QR code. Both desktop/ tablet and phone versions of this adaptive web app are

in place. Please note that content for the site locations is pending at this time. All other material is in place. WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD

4 4. signage DRAFT

welcome ...

While the highway entry showed off the W A rtwork hris obin stature of the Blue ountains oldest Walking up to the main building from here gives building it was the ground out the back you the chance to follow in the footsteps of the where most of the stories unfolded dusty students returning to uarters after a rugby oday this heritage can be eplored by or cricket match here on the open playing fields following the ayers in ime Walk around the former grounds of the lternatively one could imagine strolling alongside Woodford estate a party of guests returning back to their ccess to the ational rust grounds accommodation after a stroll around the spacious containing the historic house is provided

t on a regular basis via open days staffed e Transit of e r grounds of Woodford ouse t Venus Walk S

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d

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W Weroona Avenue 50m sign 450m Tennis Court Transit of Venus

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W S 200m 250m r

railway still provided the main access across the u well h rock outcrop t r mountains and traffic along the roadway would have A peartree Fo pathway res 150m t G e len been sparse. v Rd A Woodford Entry sign Academy d REAT WESTERN HIGH r G WAY o 100m f

d sign o RAILWAY LI 300m Below: This view up to Woodford Academy was NE o W taken around the time of the First World War from welcome ... Woodford Avenue. The avenue was then a fairly new creation that had resulted from the breakup of Alfred Fairfax’s major Woodford estate and the need While the highway entry showed off the W A rtwork hris obin

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se your phone camera to accommodation after a stroll around the spacious containing the historic house is provided

t snap the R codes for on a regular basis via open days staffed e Transit of e r grounds of Woodford ouse t Venus Walk S

more information about the y by Woodford cademy volunteers r

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W Weroona Avenue 50m sign 450m Tennis Court Transit of Venus

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railway still provided the main access across the u well h rock outcrop t r mountains and traffic along the roadway would have A peartree Fo pathway res 150m t G e len been sparse. v Rd A Woodford Entry sign Academy d REAT WESTERN HIGH r G WAY o 100m f

d sign o RAILWAY LI 300m Below: This view up to Woodford Academy was NE o W taken around the time of the First World War from Woodford Avenue. The avenue was then a fairly new creation that had resulted from the breakup of cademy Alfred Fairfax’s major Woodford estate and the need

to build an access road into the Weroona House layers in time walk property constructed c. 1908. ollow the km ayers in ime walk on a stroll around the former grounds of the Woodford cademy

iscover how the presence of a spring here at ile ollow made it a natural oasis for both boriginal people and uropeans

se your phone camera to snap the R codes for more information about the sites along the walk INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION cademy

20 Mile Hollow Woodford Reserve Woodford

marker signage interpretive signage

The Layers in Time Trail will have 8 interpretive signs of relatively modest proportions in keeping with the need for these to assimilate easily into the surrounding streetscape setting. The finished artwork panel is 500m wide by 600mm high affixed to the painted signage frame as shown and mounted to a sandstone block 500*500*800mm free standing on compacted 100mm thick roadbase pad. Three of these will cluster at the entry to Woodford Reserve, the remaining five will extend WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD across the walk as per the locations shown on the map. Within the reserve only marker signage will be used to link people in with the web app content page.

5 welcome ...

W A While the highway entry showed off the 5. sign rtwork hris obin stature of the Blue ountains oldest Walking up to the main building from here gives building it was the land out the back you the chance to follow in the footsteps of the where most of the stories unfolded DRAFT dusty students returning to uarters after a rugby oday this heritage can be eplored by or cricket match here on the open playing fields following the ayers in ime Walk designs around the former grounds of the lternatively one could imagine strolling alongside Woodford estate a party of guests returning back to their ccess to the ational rust grounds accommodation after wandering around the containing the historic house is provided

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GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r

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y creation that had resulted from the breakup of r

u b sign Alfred Fairfax’s major Woodford estate and the need d t o e o e

to build an access road into the Weroona House layers in time walk r W t 200m spring 250m S ollow the km ayers in r property constructed c. 1908. u well h t ime walk on a stroll r

A peartree rock outcrop Fo around the former grounds pathway res 150m t Gle Entry Node n of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e Academy v sign A

iscover how the presence GREAT WESTERN HIGH d WAY r sign 100m o f

d of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o

W ollow made it a natural

oasis for both boriginal

people and uropeans

se your phone camera to

snap the R codes for

more information about the

sites along the walk WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD

6 cademy precios remnant

Woodford Reserve is a acre ha remnant of the original acre holding taken rtwork hris obin up here by homas embroke in the s his central pillar of land provided the core resource for inn keepers operating here through until the late s DRAFT In the 1870s, the then new owner – Alfred Fairfax – added adjoining blocks to the east and west of this acre block to create an estate covering acres of ground which he called Woodford airfas sale of this property in paved the way for a series of subdivisions to occur leading to the present day town layout

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u well b rock outcrop layersintime walk h d t r

o A peartree o Fo pathway res W 150m t G len Rd Woodford Entry na Avenue e Weroo sign v

Academy A

GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r

o 450m f RA sign d ILWAY LINE 300m o o Tennis W Court he land now protected in the reserve formed a INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION t Transit of e Venus e central part of the Woodford cademy grounds r Observatory t

S Locale

y r as purchased by the cademy principal ohn

u b sign d t o canamey in e o e layers in time walk r W t 200m spring 250m S ollow the km ayers in r u well ollowing his death in the estate passed to h t ime walk on a stroll r W R A peartree rock outcrop his daughter ertrude In she sold this four Fo around the former grounds pathway res 150m t Gle Entry Node n acre allotment to Blue ountains ouncil for the of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e Academy v sign A

purpose of establishing a public reserve ver iscover how the presence GREAT WESTERN HIGH d WAY r sign 100m o f

d the net years the grounds were cared for by of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o W volunteers who keep the grass in order and ollow made it a natural planted many of the trees we see on site today oasis for both boriginal people and uropeans In the volunteers were able to finally se your phone camera to

down mowers and turn their snap the R codes for attention to other conservation more information about the matters when the ouncil took sites along the walk W A over the maintenance operations here WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD

7 oodord E Its name was a literal recognition of the eistence of a

roadside hollow offering precious permanent water rtwork hris obin miles on from the epean River he enormous value of this resource to travellers was featured in one account of a DRAFT mountains crossing published in

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u well b rock outcrop layersintime walk h d t r

o A peartree o Fo pathway res W 150m t G len Rd Woodford Entry na Avenue e Weroo sign v

Academy A

GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r

o 450m f RA sign d ILWAY LINE 300m o o Tennis W Court INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION t Transit of e Venus e r Observatory t

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y r

u b sign d t o e o e layers in time walk r W t 200m spring 250m S ollow the km ayers in r u well h t ime walk on a stroll r

A peartree rock outcrop Fo around the former grounds pathway res 150m t Gle Entry Node n of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e Academy v sign A

iscover how the presence GREAT WESTERN HIGH d WAY r sign 100m o f

d of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o

W ollow made it a natural he changes which have unfolded ogether with the coming of the railway from onwards the name of oasis for both boriginal here at ile ollow over the the hollow was changed to Woodford Its focus shifted more from catering people and uropeans course of the past years can be for overnight stopover travellers to providing etended stays for people se your phone camera to traced out today by reimagining the seeking respite from the city birds eye views of this landscape snap the R codes for s the early s ushered in the closer urban development we see around more information about the rom its origins as a humble roadside us today the hollow faded from view in the popular narrative of Woodford sites along the walk stopover in the s and through to oday its pivotal place in the history of this iconic mountains town is being the drama of the gold rush years the reassessed and reappreciated from both its boriginal and urpoean hollow served the needs of travellers heritage standpoints using the ountains Road WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD

8 2 ile W rtwork hris obin A PRE

DRAFT WATER he barren mountains ridgeline

Standing here you are amongst the swampy ground that soaked up the water delivered by the mountain spring draining the higher ground to the west his made the ground ideal for both fruit trees and cultivation Its produce underpinned both the Transit of Venus Walk t

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r u t sign b S sports fields used by the Woodford d spring o t o e y W e r r t 200m 250m

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u well b rock outcrop layersintime walk h cademy boys t d r

o A peartree o Fo pathway res W 150m t G len Rd Woodford Entry na Avenue e Weroo sign v

Academy A

GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r

o 450m f RA sign d ILWAY LINE 300m o o Tennis W Court INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION t Transit of e Venus e r Observatory t oday the arug and undungurra boriginal people of the central Blue ountains S Locale

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u b sign recognise the special significance that water has always played in caring for and d t o e o e layers in time walk r W t 200m spring 250m S nourishing their connections with ountry ollow the km ayers in r u well h t ime walk on a stroll r

A peartree rock outcrop Fo he chain of mountain swamps arcing down from Blackheath and Wentworth alls around the former grounds pathway res 150m t Gle Entry Node n of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e to ile ollow and beyond to Springwood would have been vital centres of Academy v sign A

iscover how the presence GREAT WESTERN HIGH d WAY r sign 100m o f cultural life in the mountains d of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o

W ollow made it a natural

oasis for both boriginal

people and uropeans

se your phone camera to

snap the R codes for

more information about the

sites along the walk

ative gunyahs near Springwood c ourtesy ational ibrary of us

WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD rtwork hris obin

9 water T W rom the outset the Waterhouses W were happy to share their new W – splendidly arranged tennis centre

– W t the inaugural Woodford

rtwork hris obin aving acuired the bulk of the former cademy speech day in airfa estate the Waterhouses took they were heartily thanked for

DRAFT advantage of the locations putting their tennis court at the cultivated surrounds schools disposal including the established gardens and orchards

s the Blue ountains cho

described it in Transit of Venus Walk t

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splendidly arranged tennis court make it u well b rock outcrop layersintime walk h d t r

o A peartree o Fo pathway res W 150m t G one of the most charming and attractive len Rd Woodford Entry na Avenue e Weroo sign v

Academy A

GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r o 450m homes the mind of man can conceive. f RA sign d ILWAY LINE 300m o o Tennis W Court INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION t Transit of e Venus e r Observatory t

S Locale

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u b sign d t o e o e layers in time walk r W t 200m spring 250m S ollow the km ayers in r u well h t ime walk on a stroll r

A peartree rock outcrop Fo around the former grounds pathway res 150m t G le n cort 133. Entry Node n of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e ortesy ational ibrary o stralia Academy v sign A

iscover how the presence REAT WESTERN HIG d c.124 G H WAY r sign 100m o f

d of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o eroona their aterhose residence le ontains cho 25 ec 1

W ollow made it a natural

The Woodford tennis courts were prominently featured in the 1924 Woodford oasis for both boriginal

Academy Estate subdivision plans showing the main town buildings. ollowing people and uropeans Weroona House burning down in the bushfires of 1957, the courts were resumed se your phone camera to by the Blue Mountains Council in the following year. snap the R codes for

more information about the

sites along the walk WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD weroonas 10 S A F I ransit of enus he SW bservers W book on the ransit of enus published by the Sydney bservatory in included a photograph listing many of those involved in the project. H. C. Russell and members of the Woodford team are featured here in this edited compilation ourtesy useum of pplied rts and Sciences When the overnment stronomer enry rtwork hris obin Russell selected Woodford as one of three regional observation posts to record the DRAFT ransit of enus on ecember a bush observatory was set up here on the acre block of land newly acuired by airfa immediately west of his main property

While the observations that day proved useful it was a series of eperiments made here in Transit of Venus Walk t

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W Weroona Avenue 50m sign calibrated euipment Russell was able to define the 450m Tennis Court benefit of obtaining observations from an elevated Transit of t Venus Transit of e e t r Observatory Venus Walk t S e Locale e y r r location rather than by making sightings at sea level u t sign b S d spring o t o e y W e r r t 200m 250m

S u as was then common practice r

u well b rock outcrop layersintime walk h d t r o hotoheliograph telescope made by A peartree o Fo pathway res W 150m t G allmeyer his was this purchased by Sydney len Rd bservatory and sent to ustralia in along Woodford Entry na Avenue e Weroo sign v

Academy A

with attachments to photograph the ransit of GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r

o 450m f enus at the Woodford residence of lfred airfa d RA sign ILWAY LINE 300m o o

It was among the first to be used for astronomical W Tennis Court photography in ustralia ourtesy useum of INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION t Transit of pplied rts and Sciences e Venus e r Observatory t

S Locale

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u b sign d t o e o e layers in time walk r W t 200m spring 250m S ollow the km ayers in r u well h t ime walk on a stroll r

A peartree rock outcrop Fo around the former grounds pathway res 150m t Gle Entry Node n of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e Academy v sign A

iscover how the presence GREAT WESTERN HIGH d WAY r sign 100m o f

d of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o

W ollow made it a natural

oasis for both boriginal

people and uropeans

se your phone camera to

snap the R codes for

more information about the

sites along the walk

ransit of enus bservation amp at Woodford ourtesy useum of pplied rts and Sciences WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD

11 montains I V S his was due in at Buss some time around pm With any luck the train would have stopped for you at the platform although in wet conditions the steep gradient of the line meant it could struggle to pull up in time rtwork hris obin

ollowing the station name being DRAFT W E changed to Woodford in its D location was steadily moved down

W A the hill over the net years

he ladies seen here in would O P have been guests returning to Sydney after their stay here at the Woodford Transit of Venus Walk t uesthouse hroughout the latter part e e r t

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r u t sign b S d spring o t o e y W e r r t 200m 250m

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o A peartree o Fo The comin o the raila to the central lue ountains in 1 herale times o pathway res W 150m t G len Rd Woodford Entry na Avenue e Weroo chane or the uss amils roasie inn at 20 ile ollo hile some travellers sign v Academy A

GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r

o 450m f RA sign d chose to et o at the latorm uilt immeiatel oosite the inn, most initiall ILWAY LINE 300m o o Tennis W Court carrie on u the line to entorth alls an eon This later chane in the INTERPRETATION STRATEGY – – STRATEGY INTERPRETATION t Transit of e Venus e r Observatory 10s, hen the inn as aate to rovie uesthouse accommoation t

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A peartree rock outcrop Fo around the former grounds pathway res 150m t Gle Entry Node n of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e Academy v sign A

iscover how the presence GREAT WESTERN HIGH d WAY r sign 100m o f

d of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o

W ollow made it a natural Buss latform oasis for both boriginal people and uropeans

se your phone camera to

snap the R codes for

more information about the 19 sites along the walk WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD

+ 12 ss nn 14

W W A – – W rtwork hris obin ollowing homas embroke being granted a liuor licence to operate at wenty ile

DRAFT ollow the way was clear for him to construct a well built stone and wood house on the roadside known by the sign of The Woodman t the time that embroke sold the property in the inn comprised nine excellent rooms, stabling for six horses, store, stock and sheepyards with a productive garden and an overflowing spring of pure water.

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GREAT WESTERN HIGHWA 50m sign Y d 100m r

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y r western edge of the building date back to the late s when u provided the dormitory accommodation b sign d t o the inn was run by the Buss family he prominent line of first e used by students boarding at the o e layers in time walk r W t 200m spring 250m S floor rooms we see to the right in this photo arose in Woodford cademy ollow the km ayers in r u well h t at a time when the property was being adapted to ime walk on a stroll r

A peartree rock outcrop Fo its new role as a guesthouse around the former grounds pathway res 150m t Gle Entry Node n of the Woodford cademy Woodford Rd e Academy v sign A

iscover how the presence GREAT WESTERN HIGH d WAY r sign 100m o f

d of a spring here at ile RAILWAY LIN 300m o E o

W ollow made it a natural

oasis for both boriginal

people and uropeans

se your phone camera to

snap the R codes for

more information about the

sites along the walk 1905 WOODFORD RESERVE ENVIRONS: + WOODFORD

13 changing