The following elevations above the level of the ocean, of points on the road over the Blue Mountains to Bathurst and to the interior to the westward of the meridian, have been computed by John Oxley, Esquire, Surveyor General, taken simultaneously in and at the respective stations, in the THE WILSON FAMILY year 1817 which barometrical measurements have since that period fully verified by others. Springwood (Military Post) 12V2 miles from Emu Ford 1297 feet Bridge over ravine 17 miles from Emu Ford 1814 feet The Wilson family were over the years to be associated with various inns between Penrith and Mt. Victoria. "The Sydney Caley's Repulse 18 miles from Emu Ford 2110 feet Gazette" in April 1830 records that Charles Abraham Wilson(who Christmas Swamp 24 miles from Emu Ford 2466 feet King's Tableland 26V2 miles from Emu Ford was Henry's brother) was operating "the Pineapple Inn" at Emu 2798 feet Ford, and that his stepfather Jacob Josephson was about to erect a All of the above information is confirmed on a map of the County new building on that site. Josephson had leased 400 acres of the of Bathurst and parts of the adjacent counties together with the estate of Captain Woodriffe for a term of 21 years at a rent of £200 paralleled line of the sea coast and roads thereto from Sydney, p.a. The new inn when completed was named "The Governor A.D. 1829. Bourke" with the licensee being Charles Abraham Wilson. This map was drawn by Bemi. Henry Charles Wilson, born Bishopgate Street, London, 9th March, 1814, came free to the colony by the ship "Sir George When first constructed, the Bathurst Road followed the crest of Osborne" in 1826 when he was aged 13 years. In the 1828 census ridges. There were many rises with lower sections between. These his address is shown as being a lodger at Jacob Josephson's, lower sections were in a number of places referred to as 'hollows'. Castlereagh Street, Sydney. In the 1830's to distinguish one from another, they were In 1838 Henry Wilson Married Sarah Affriatte, aged 17 years, at identified by the number of miles they were from Emu Ford on the Castlereagh, and during that year was shown as the licensee of Nepean River, e.g. 17 mile Hollow (now Linden), 20 mile Hollow "The Scotch Thistle" at Blackheath. He was still the licensee in (Woodford). In the N.S.W. Calendar and Directory 1832, under 1839 and 1840, with the name now recorded as "The Thistle". In the heading "Itinerary of Roads", the present Lawson is referred to 1841-42 Henry Wilson managed "The Welcome Inn" at the Valley as 24 mile Hollow. This was to remain the name of the area until (Now Valley Heights). the 1840's. Following Henry Wilson's naming his inn "The Blue Mountain" the locality became Known as "Blue Mountain". This With the acquiring of the land at 24 mile Hollow, Wilson built a name was to remain until the late 1870's when the name "Blue two-storied building on the site, however, shortly after completion, Mountain" began to cause confusion with the range on which it the building was accidentally destroyed by fire. This was replaced stood. by a one-storied building which stood until 1917, when it was demolished by order of the then Blue Mountain Shire Council, On July 21st, 1879 the name was changed to Lawson, this being being unoccupied and derelict. It was then known as the "old after explorer William Lawson. The name Blue Mountain lives on farm"and was described as a "stone building with iron roof and in the area with the local hotel still retaining its original name, also very old, containing eleven rooms". This original inn stood in the a trigonometrical station at the northern end of Queens Road still being known as "Blue Mountain". Wilson Street end of the present Primary School grounds and faced the . Over the years a garden and large orchard covered the grounds and as late as the 1930's the author can remember the fruit trees still bearing fruit. In March 1845, Henry Wilson applied for a license to retail ferment and spirituous liquors at "The Blue Mountain Inn". This was granted at Penrith on 7th March, 1845 and was to operate from 1st April of that year. 10 11 was behind the bar; later she established herself at the Railway Station, where hot coffee was obtainable by those who did not wish to cross the Bathurst Road to the inn.

First Blue Mountain Hotel. 1887

Old Blue Mountain Inn, 1890's In the late 1880's a new building was erected on the corner of the Bathurst Road and Orand Square (now Douglas Square). This was on the site of the present hotel building. This became the first Blue Mountain Hotel with the license of the inn being transferred to it, Sarah Wilson continued to hold this license until the early 1900's. In the early 1900's the first hotel building was incorporated in the construction of the present main hotel building. Over the years additions have been made in the bar area. The second "Blue Mountain Inn" was demolished in 1906 and the present McBrair Building erected on that site in 1923. Henry Wilson also acquired Portion 21. next to his first Portion and the Wilsons retained an interest in most of this land until the early 1900's, it being controlled by Mrs. Sarah Wilson (Henry's widow). Some subdivisions had taken place and some of the streets are named after members of family, e.g. Wilson, Charles, Henry, Adelaide. The Wilsons' land originally extended from what is now Douglas Square to Ridge Street. An interesting article appeared in "The Sydney Mail" dated December 12th, 1896, under the heading, "A Very Old Identity", "Some Old Mountain Lore". Second Blue Mountain Inn, 1870:~ 14 15 The reporter writes: Sarah Wilson, died 28th December, 1910, aged 90 years. Buried "Naturally, in the Mountains, as everywhere else, the old at Faulconbridge. identity is an institution to be cultivated by the seeker after unconsidered knowledge, and in these journeyings to and In 1867 Charles Abraham Wilson (Henry and Sarah's son) fro, I have met many of them. The oldest of the old identities moved to Weatherboard (now Wentworth Falls). There he built is no doubt, Mrs. Sarah Wilson of Lawson; she took to the "the Camp". Later he built "The Grand Hotel"; this was later to be 'Hills' at sweet 17 and is now 76, and still hale and hearty. She controlled by his son William Page Wilson. Dinah Fanny Wilson is the veteran of the licensed victualling trade, and now holds was the first white child to be born at Lawson. her 58th licence. Considerable space has been given to the Wilson family history, 'I can remember the bushrangers', said Mrs. Wilson, 'about 46 with Henry Wilson's foresight in acquiring land and building the years ago, when Butler, Lambert and the Youth came down to "Blue Mountain Inn" this was the foundation of the township of our old inn. They came in with Rouse and Fitzgerald s drivers Lawson of today. and had supper. They spent about five pounds in no time on All previous land legislation in New South Wales was swept out supper and champagne, and had no sooner gone than the of existence by Sir John Robertson's Land Acts of 1861. The Police were down to know If we had seen the bushrangers; we Conditional Purchase Clauses of this Act (free selection before didn't know who they were, of course. It seems they stood survey) provided for conditional purchase by deposit, residence, watching the Police pass them down the road. The gang was improvements and instalments. Further amendments to the Act captured shortly after. When the goldfield broke out it was were made in 1875 and again in 1880. This Act, together with the not unusual to make up 100 beds in a night'. construction of the railway to the area in 1869 attracted a number In the same article Sarah Wilson's youngest son Affriat, told of settlers, who took up land. Better transport attracted business of his past 28 years as a resident of Lawson; he was noted for his and professional men to build country residences. Some those who thorough knowledge of the flora and fauna of the district, especially acquired land in the area during the 1870's and 1880's were W. the snake life, supplying many speciments to museums. He also Day, J.C. Wilson, A.S. Wilson, B.W. Roberts, Joseph Hay, Hay's told of the great number of various birds in the early days of his sister Mary, Frederick Somers, R. Fitzstubbs, E.G. Palmer and residence in Lawson. W.H. Pinhey; Sir Henry Parkes also held a number of Portions in Known members of the Wilson family were: Charles Abraham, the district. In 1879Joseph Hay, who was an official of the Lands Department, born at Blackheath 2nd May, 1840, married Jessie E. James of was granted 300 acres which he named San Jose Estate. This land "The Welcome Inn" the Valley; died 15th July, 1916, buried at stretched from San Jose Avenue along present Hay Street to what Lawson General Cemetery. is now Bullaburra, but it excluded the area of the swimming pool Henry Joseph, born at "The Welcome Inn", The Valley 30th which was under the control of the Railway Department. June, 1842. Died 6th June, 1855, buried at St. Stephen's, Penrith. In 1879 he built a substantial building in San Jose Avenue, and it Dinah Fanny, born 7th January, 1845 at "Blue Mountain Inn", was described in the Gibbs Shallard Guide of 1882 as a Sanatorium married John Jones of Penrith; died 1st July, 1915, buried at St. in the grounds of San Jose, which was owned by J.G. Hay. In the Stephen's, Penrith. 1890's it became a Guest House, the name being changed to "The Albert Augustus, born 26th June, 1847 at "Blue Mountain Inn". Palace". It remained a Guest House until 1918 when it became Died 19th November, 1891. Buried at Blackheath. Stratford School for Girls, the headmistress being Miss E. Wiles. Adelaide Mary, born 1st February, 1850 at "Blue Mountain In 1924 Miss Wiles and her sister purchased the building from the Inn". Died 14th January, 1898. Buried at Faulconbridge. estate of John Ralston, who had owned the building since the late 1890's. In 1930 on the death of Miss Wiles, control passed to the Affriat Sydney, born at Emu Ford in 1853. Died 22nd March, Stratford School Council, and in 1936 it was taken over by the 1897. Buried at Faulconbridge. Church of England under the control of the trustees of Sydney Henry Wilson died 6th August, 1880, aged 66 years. Buried at Diocesan Educational and Book Society. The Stratford School Faulconbridge. closed in early 1960's and the building was later used by the Blue 16 17 Mountain Community School until 1979. Stratford was partially John and Annie Sulman purchased the property "Kihilla'' in destroyed by fire on 4th June, 1980, the owners then being 1913. In the fourteen years prior to sailing to Australia in 1885, brothers Lionel and Vivian Coleman of Sydney. John Sulman had designed more than ninety churches in England. Mary Ann Hay, a sister of Joseph, on 31st October, 1881 The decision to settle in Australia was on account of his wife's received a grant of 101 acres which she called Santa Cruz Estate. health. Mrs. Sulman with son Arthur and daughters Florence and This land covered from Somers Road along the Highway to Edith arrived in 1886. The family settled at Parramatta where Mrs. Orient Street. The estate was subdivided in 1884. Mary Ann Hay Sulman died in 1888. later disposed of her land and became a Benedictine Nun at In 1898 John Sulman married Annie E. Masefield, a relative of "Subiaco", Rydalmere. John Masefield who later became Poet Laureate. John and Annie Frederick Somers obtained Portions 22 and 23, Parish of Linden Sulman had four children. in July, 1878, each Portion being of 50 acres. This land was The architectural firm of Sulman and Power designed many northeast of the present Somers Road. Part of this land was later to prominent buildings, including many churches, one of which was be an orchard established by Henry J. Wilson. Christ Church of England, Springwood; Armidale Boys School, The land owned by W.H. Pinhey in Queens Road, Portion 13 of also the Girls College at the above were built from their designs. 50 acres was taken over by Mr. and Mrs. R. Fitzstubbs in the early In the 1890's John Sulman was a lecturer at Sydney University. 1880's and on it they built a substantial house, called "Kihilla". On He was the first President of the Town Planning Association, being the death of Mr. Fitzstubbs in 1888, the property was bought by a Chairman 1921 to 1924, was also a member of the Federal Capital Mr. A. Mitchell, Managing Director of a Sydney brewery. In the Planning Committee. He was a Trustee of the National Art Gallery last 1890's he carried out additions to the property, building the for thirty years, being President from 1917 until 1934. west wing, stables and coach house; also a gardener's cottage which still stands on the Highway. He was probably best known for establishing the fund to award the Sulman Architecture and Art Prizes each year. While residents In 1900 the property was owned by T.H. Richards, while Mrs. of Lawson, both John and Annie Sulman took an active part in Marion Dawbary became the owner in 1908. many of the local organisations. John Sulman was always available to give advice and often designs, for any worthyprojects.

Sir John died in 1934, but "Kihilla" remained in the Sulman family until 1953, being leased mainly as a guest house. The next owner was Mrs. Elsie McPhee, who later sold it to the present owners, the Trustees who administer it as a Christian Convention Centre. Benjamin W. Roberts held 5 Portions in the Parish of Woodford; Nos. 11, 12, 30, 32 and 33. This land was on the western side of Queens Road, in all, a total of 300 acres. In 1887 he acquired from Joseph Slade, Lot 12, Portion 1, Village of Lawson; this land faced what was known as Grand Square, now named Douglas Square. Shortly afterwards he sold part of the property to w.e. Wormald, who in late 1887, erected a two-storey building on the site and this was first used as a guest house, being named "Alameda". Later this became a hotel using_ the same name. In the early 1900's the name was changed to the Grand Hotel. The building was destroyed by fire in October 1932. The balance of Lot 12 was acquired by the "Kihilla .. Congregational Church in late 1887. 18 19 watered from a spring some 800 yards away, the water being piped to the pool. There was also a small zoo at the rear of the house. Opposite "Cadia Park" was a small reserve which had been dedicated on 29th October, 1880. This was leased to Hoskins for one shilling per year provided a garden was established and the grounds kept in good order. This garden and the zoo were open to the public on certain days of the week.

Grand Hotel

Portion 65, Parish of Jamieson, was a grant of 42 acres to J.G. Wilson. This land faced the Highway on the left hand side approaching what is now Bullaburra. Portions 64, 63 and 62, west of Wilson's land was owned by Sir Henry Parkes. He called this area the Village of Colridge. These three Portions were later to be "Cadia Park '; Hoskins home showing gardens opposite, between Western Road and Railway Line. acquired by Arthur Rickard & Co., who developed the village of Bullab urra. The highest point in this area was known as Godfrey's Hill, said With the commencement of the steel industry in the Wollongong to be named after a ganger on the Western Road. area and the deaths of two of the Hoskins' children, the property Returning to LG. Wilson, in the 1890's, he built a cottage on his was sold in January 1922 to E. & E. Davies, then to Sir Arthur land, calling it "Myrtlebank " but this was burned down in January Rickard in March 1923, and to Henry Swain in August 1927.lt was purchased by the Benedictine Order on 17th November, 1930 and 1923. operated as a monastery for many years. The Benedictines erected On Wilson's death the land was subdivided, the estate being the west wing of the building. In the early 1950's the property called Church Hill. Most of the estate was later to become part of passed to the Sisters of St. Joseph, who established a novitiate on C.H. Hoskins "Cadia Pa'rk", originally called "Zermat". The the site. Improvements were carried out; a chaplain's cottage, a Hoskins family purchased 5 acres in 1913. In the following year a steam laundry, and a handyman's cottage being built and extensive substantial brick building was erected on the site. A few years later vegetable gardens were established. On the novitiate being transferred Hoskins purchased a further 36 acres. Extensive landscaping was to Baulkham Hills, "Cadia Park" became a holiday rest home for carried outon the property, a feature of which was the rose garden Sisters of the Order. All the buildings except the steam laundry surrounding the house; also a stone rotunda built of pieces of were destroyed by bush fire on 16th December, 1977. ironstone gathered on the property. The gardens were watered from an underground tank which was situated on the western side During the occupancy of the Benedictine Order, a small cemetery of the property. In the gully below the house was a swimming pool was dedicated by Archbishop Kelly in January 1931. The first 21 20 Jamieson abuts both Woodford and Linden Parishes. The interment was that of Sister Mildred Smyth who died on February boundary of Jamieson bisects the township. It runs along the 26th, 1931; then Sister Mary Stanislaus who died on June 16th, eastern boundary of Henry Wilson's Portion 12,along what is now 1932 and Mother Mary Gustina who died 13 days later, on June Cleveland Street, across the Railway line to the west of Hilda 29th, 1932. Gardens, then down the lane between the old Shire Council In this article, reference has been made to various parishes. This Building and Stratford, then on to Hay Street and through to map shows the relationship of Lawson Village to the three Bullaburra. This line also marks the northern boundary of the parishes, that is Linden, Woodford and Jamieson. Village of Lawson, which was proclaimed on March 20th, 1885. When they were surveyed, the northern side of Badgerys Crescent, then along the Bathurst Road was used as a common boundary for the Parish of Linden and the Parish of Woodford.

(',. Blue lv'iountaln1n 21 3 IS9b PARKS AND RESERVES

Lawson was fortunate in having two civic-minded citizens in Joseph Hay and William Moore. These two men acted as trustees for the Lands Department Reserves in the area. It was on Joseph Hay's request that many of the waterfalls in the area had their names gazetted. South and North Lawson Parks were notified as Reserves on 15th August, 1876. The following were named Trustees in 1880: Sir G.W. Allen, x.c.v.o., J.H. Neale, Charles Moore and J.G. Hay. These Reserves were declared Parks and were dedicated as such on 16th August, 1887.North Lawson Park commences at the end of San Jose Avenue and extends to the present boundary of the National Park. South Lawson Park commences below the present Waratah Street and includes the area known as the Recreation Grounds, also the Lawson Golf Links and various waterfalls. In 1902 twelve acres were alloted from the South Lawson Park for a cricket ground. This was also the site of the first SOUGh golf links.

PAfllSH or Queen Oak Park, site of the tennis courts, was dedicated on -~-- Lawson 14th July, 1896; Bellevue Park dedicated on 15th January,1886. Early in 1900 this Park was often referred to as Bellevue Hill. In Po r-}; I March 1918 the Railway Department gave the Blue Mountains L Shire permission to establish a garden on its Reserve at the 83 . Railway Station. This was to be named Hilda Gardens in memory '-----,JG Wilsoni -\ Reserve I of a daughter of the Hoskins family who had been accidently killed; the Hoskins family gave £250 to establish the gardens, and Parish Map - Although records show some of these portions being selected donated £50 per year for the upkeep of the grounds. earlier the names shown are those of the first registered owners. 23 22 A short walking tour of Lawson

Since 1813 with the crossing of the Blue Mountains and the building of Cox's road, the township of Lawson has been a major stopping place on the East-West route.

A plentiful supply of water supported a stock resting place, inns for travellers and later the railways in 1867. By 1900 the town was a major tourist centre, with two major hotels and in 1906 became the centre of local government from Emu Plains to Katoomba.

ABOUT THE MID MOUNTAINS / HISTORICAL SOCIETY ~

The Society has as its major objective the preservation, recording and publication of material relating to the historical development of the area bound by Woodford in the east and Bullaburra in the west.

As part of its ongoing work the Society can:

San 'resource and support individuals Jose and organisations concerned with Ave the protection and preservation of heritage

'promote awareness of and interest in Mid Mountains history and heritage.

To find out more about our organisation and activities visit our website

www.midmountainshistory.org.au

Enquiries: A short [email protected] P.O. 67, Lawson 2783 walking tour Phone: (02) 4759-2647 1. Methodist, now Baptist Church 8. First Blue Mountain Hotel 15. Blue Mountain,then Lawson Station In 1908 a retired sea captain, Captain Miller and his wife The hotel, established in 1880, has had many Lawson Railway Station was Blue Mountain from 1867-1879. moved to Lawson, and he put up a petition to start changes, and additions, variously called (1889-1892 PO on station). With the duplication of the line an a Methodist Church. Land next Hotel Blue Mountains island platform was built plus new buildings and subway in 1902. door to the Blue Mountains Blue Mountain Hotel Lawson Bowling Club, next to station, was the site for the School for Girls was purchased Blue Mountains Hotel. concrete reservoir built in 1903 to hold gravity fed water from from Mr Lowden The Wentworth Falls Dam during the steam era up to 1957. timber-framed building was opened on 16.Shire Council Chambers 16th December The Blue Mountains Shire was formed in 1906. Mr John 1908 by Mrs Miller. Geggie was one of the first five original members. They met in the Mechanics Institute till 1908, then Ingleburn, 2. Kawarree, now Tahlia 281 Great Western Hwy then moved into their new In 1909 Miss E. Townsend Wiles rented building in 1915. this cottage and commenced the Blue Mountains 17.The Palace, School for girls Stratford Girls School eventually San Jose Blue Mountain moving to Sanatorium and the Palace. Private Family Hotel, 9. Second Blue Mountain Inn, MacBrair Buildings Joseph Hay built it in In 1867 after the disastrous flood at Penrith, the Wilsons 1879. In the 1890s it returned to Blue Mountains, only to find that the new railway became the Palace platform was too far from his Blue Mountain lnn so he built one Guesthouse, on this spot transferring the name to this building. sometimes called the Coffee Palace. ~O. Post Office It was a staging house 3. Mechanics Institute, The land for the post office was resumed from the Wilson for coaches crossing the Community Centre Estate in 1915 and the brick post office was opened on 15th mountains. In 1902 the old railway station building was purchased September 1925. and used in the construction of the Mechanics Institute. 18.Lawson's First Shop It was officially opened on 3rd December 1903. 11. Butcher Badgerys Crescent was surveyed in 1880 into 6 x 3 acre The oldest established butcher in the lots. Shortly after being subdivided, John Geggie built a 4. Bellevue Hill Park now Bellevue Park district. The name, "Rees Butcher", was This park was dedicated on 15th January 1886. It extended house, Lyttleton, on the block on the corner of The Avenue embossed above the butcher shop, and Badgerys Crescent. He also built the first store from the highway to Orient Street and adjoined the original when his new shop was built in 1912. public school. . adjoining it. Later the post office operated from this store in 1885. 5. RSL and Honour Gardens 12. Tea Rooms, Mixed Business, Antiques, In 1951 the Lawson sub-branch of the Returned Services Hairdresser League erected a Memorial Hall on land granted to them. "Refreshments" is also embossed They erected memorial archways at either end of the Honour above the first shop built on what Avenue gardens. Soon after WW1 the RSL was formed. was then The Western Road in 1907. 6. Douglass Square 13. Lowden's Building Originally included in the area reserved for travelling stock and Lowdens Lane was the name of the narrow street, widened teams. In 1898 it was made a reserve for Public Recreation in 1920 and later called Staples Street. Named after one of named Grand Reserve then changed to Douglass Square in about 1920. the earliest shopkeepers, Lowdens building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1924. 7. Shopping Centre 14. First Blue Mountain Inn, now Lawson Public School In 1890 William Hart built the first store, from 1892 to 1925 it On 28th March 1843 at a public auction 100 acres was was the post office and called Post Office Stores. purchased by Henry Charles Wilson, who built a two-storey In 1907 W.G. Staples moved from his shop in Badgerys building but soon after it was destroyed by fire, so he built Crescent to a section of Hart's Store till 1912. a single storey building and called it Blue Mountain Inn.