Activity page9BNEWNES PLATEAUBILPINBELLKURRAJONGHEIGHTSMTVICTORIAMEGALONGVALLEYBLACKHEATHMEDLOWBATHKATOOMBAGROSEVALLEYLEURAJAMIESONVALLEYGROSE RIVERWENTWORTHFALLSBEDFORD CKWENTWORTH CKLAWSONHAZELBROOKWOODFORD CKLINDENFAULCONBRIDGELINDEN CKSPRINGWOODGROSE RIVERGLENBROOK CKSPRINGWOOD CKFITZGERALD CKWARRIMOOBLAXLANDNEPEAN RIVERGlenbrookKEDUMBA RIVERCOXS RIVERERSKINE CKCUMBERLANDPLAINNWARRANGAMBA0 2.5 5KMNEPEAN RIVER30<strong>Myths</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Mysteries</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crossing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Blue Mountains
Activity page9CSource 1 Blaxl<strong>and</strong> on his unsuccessful1810 expedition (1)We ascended <strong>the</strong> River Hawkesbury, or Nepean, fromabove Emu Isl<strong>and</strong> [near Glenbrook], to <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Warragomby, or Great Western River, where itemerges from <strong>the</strong> mountains, <strong>and</strong> joins itself to thatriver, from its mouth. We proceeded as far as it wasnavigable by a small boat, which is only a few milesfur<strong>the</strong>r. It was found to lose itself at different places,almost entirely underneath <strong>and</strong> between immenseblocks <strong>of</strong> stones, being confined on each side byperpendicular cliffs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same kind <strong>of</strong> stone, whichsometimes rose as high as <strong>the</strong> tops <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountains,through which it appears to have forced, or worn itsway, with <strong>the</strong> assistance, probably, <strong>of</strong> an earthquake,or some o<strong>the</strong>r great convulsion <strong>of</strong> nature.Blaxl<strong>and</strong>’s journalhttp://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/blaxl<strong>and</strong>/gregory/b64j/part1.html#part12 Show this route on <strong>the</strong> map opposite. Note that<strong>the</strong> spelling <strong>of</strong> some names on <strong>the</strong> map <strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong>documents may be slightly different.3 To which <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> five possible methods for crossing<strong>the</strong> Blue Mountains does this evidence refer?4 Was this method successful?Source 3The next European attempt at a crossing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BlueMountains, which succeeded by following <strong>the</strong> ridges<strong>and</strong> not <strong>the</strong> valleys, was <strong>the</strong> famous 1813 expedition<strong>of</strong> Blaxl<strong>and</strong>, Wentworth <strong>and</strong> Lawson. In fact, <strong>the</strong>yfound <strong>the</strong> only accessible route, which <strong>the</strong> highway<strong>and</strong> railway still mainly follow today. The key to <strong>the</strong>crossing was locating <strong>the</strong> 20-metre wide Linden ridge<strong>and</strong> it appears <strong>the</strong>y did this without assistance from <strong>the</strong>local people.Eugene Stockton <strong>and</strong> John Merriman (eds), Blue Mountains Dreaming:The Aboriginal Heritage (Second Edition), Blue Mountain Education<strong>and</strong> Research Trust, Lawson, 2009 p. 1698 Show this route on <strong>the</strong> map.9 To which <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> five possible methods for crossing<strong>the</strong> Blue Mountains does this evidence refer?10 Was this method successful?Source 4 Map showing <strong>the</strong> topography <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Sydney BasinSource 2 Blaxl<strong>and</strong> on his unsuccessful1810 expedition (2)This journey confirmed me in <strong>the</strong> opinion, that it waspracticable to find a passage over <strong>the</strong> mountains,<strong>and</strong> I resolved at some future period to attempt it, byendeavouring to cross <strong>the</strong> river, <strong>and</strong> reach <strong>the</strong> highl<strong>and</strong> on its nor<strong>the</strong>rn bank by <strong>the</strong> ridge which appearedto run westward, between <strong>the</strong> Warragomby <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>River Grose. I concluded, that if no more difficultieswere found in travelling than had been experienced on<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side, we must be able to advance westwardtowards <strong>the</strong> interior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country, <strong>and</strong> have a fairchance <strong>of</strong> passing <strong>the</strong> mountains. On inquiry, I found aperson who had been accustomed to hunt <strong>the</strong> kangarooin <strong>the</strong> mountains, in <strong>the</strong> direction I wished to go; whoundertook to take <strong>the</strong> horses to <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first ridge.Before we set out, we laid down <strong>the</strong> plan to be pursued,<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> course to be attempted, namely, to ascend <strong>the</strong>ridge before-mentioned, taking <strong>the</strong> streams <strong>of</strong> water on<strong>the</strong> left, which appeared to empty <strong>the</strong>mselves into <strong>the</strong>Warragomby, as our guide; being careful not to crossany <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, but to go round <strong>the</strong>ir sources, so as to becertain <strong>of</strong> keeping between <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> streams thatemptied <strong>the</strong>mselves into <strong>the</strong> River Grose.Blaxl<strong>and</strong>’s journalhttp://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/blaxl<strong>and</strong>/gregory/b64j/part1.html#part1www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/SydneyBasinMapsTopography.pdf5 Show this route on <strong>the</strong> map.6 To which <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> five possible methods for crossing<strong>the</strong> Blue Mountains does this evidence refer?7 Was this method successful?11 Which <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> five possible methods for crossing<strong>the</strong> Blue Mountains does this evidence help youunderst<strong>and</strong>?12 Was this method successful?<strong>Myths</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Mysteries</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crossing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Blue Mountains31