1886 Railway Guide of N.S.W

ADVERTISEMENTS'.
(!J;1t, !mitraliau A!ttual jlrovid,nt $ od,tu,.
ESTABLISHED 1849,
FOR LIFE ASSURANCE ON THE MUTUAL PRINCIPLE.
The Oldest .Mutual Life Office in Australia, and the Lar~est
in the British Empire.
HEAD OFFICE: 81 1 PITT STREET, SYDNEY, N.S.W.
DIRECTORS:
JOHN H. GOODLET, EsQ., CHAIRMAN.
ISAAC E. IVES, EsQ., M.L.A., DEPUTY CHAIIrnAN.
JAS. R. FAIRFAX, EsQ.
THE HoN. Srn JOHN HAY, K.C.M.G., M.L.C.
J. P. AB.J30TT, EsQ., M.L.A.
ACTUARY:
MORRICE A. BLACK, F.l.A.
SECRETARY:
ALEX. J. RALSTON.
BUSINESS IN FORCE AT 31 DEC., 1885:
li9,207 Policies, assuring
Annual Income ...
Accumulated Funds
£25,053,372
£1,210,170
£5,970,218
DIVISIONS OF PROFIT:
Divideu as Cash Bonuses up to 31 Dec., 1883 .. .
,, ,, ,, at 31 Dec., 1884 .. .
,, ,, ,, ,, 31 Dec., 1885 .. .
Total divided as Bo~rus in CA.SR
£1,929,401
2U2,435
278,674
£2,470,510
The Divisions of Profit are made Annually, and the Bonuses allotted are larger than
those of any other Office in the world. The Society's Policies arc freed from all
harassing restrictions.
NEW BUSINESS:
The new business for the year ended 31 December, 1835, comprised- '
11,257 Policies, assuring £4,016,211 with
New Premiums of £152,627 10s. 2d.,
being 80 per cent. in excess of the largest amount ever transacted in a single year by
any other Life Office in the British Dominions.
BRANCHES:
VICTORIA ... . .. 100, Collins-at. W., Melbourn.e ... N. MAINE, Res. Secretm:1. ,
NEW ZEALAND ... Custom House Quay, Wellington E.W. LowE, ,,
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. King William-street, Adelaide ... R. B. CAMERON, ,,
QUEENSLAND ... Queen-street, Brisbane... . .. E. H. WEBB, ,,
· TASMANIA... . .. Elizabeth & Collins Sts., Hobart N. C. HERRING, ,,
WEST. AUSTRALIA Hay-street, Perth ... . .. F. J. JA.COBS, ,,

...
.A.DVERTISEllfENTS.
MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION
OF AUSTRALASIA .
ESTABLI S HED 1869, AN D I NCORPORATE D BY ACT OF PARLIAME N T .
Prinoipcd Office: George and Wynyard Streets, Sydney.
@oitrll .of ~ired.on, :
The Hon. J. B. WATT, M.L.C.,
Chaii'inan.
SAM DICKINSON, Esq.,
Deputy-Chairman.
F. T. HUMPHERY, Esq., M.P.
W. J. TRICKETT, Esq., M.P.
RUSSELL BARTON, Esq., M.P.
JOHN DAVIES, Esq., C.M.G.,
M.P.
®.m.mtl Jjitnnnger :
J. C. REMINGTON.
ltlrinripal ~.ebi.rnl (l)ffi.c.er :
H. N. MACLAURIN, Esq., M.D.
@itnher.5 :
THE BANK OF NEW SOUTH
WALES.
s;oli.citori, :
Messrs. FISHER, RALFE, AND
SALWEY.
J\,!1£>fohmt s;m.ehtr!J:
JOHN W. RAIL.
BRANCH OFFICES :
81, QUEEN STREET, AUCKLAND.
~irn:t.o:r..5:
A. G. HORTON, EsQ., J .P . ;
AH.THUR HEATHER, EsQ.
MEDICAL 0FFICER-T. B. KENDERDINE, EsQ.,
M.R.C.S., England.
SECRETARY : WILLIAJ\i T. J. BELL.
158, HEREFORD ST., CHRISTCHURCH.
~ire.et.ow :
THE HoN, W. REEVES, M.L.C.;
H. R. WEBB, EsQ., J.P.
MEDICAL OFFICER-WILLIAM H. SYMES,
EsQ., M.D.
SECRETARY-GEORGE GILL.
228, QUEEN STREET, BRISBANE.
~ir.e.ct.ow:
Tirn HoN. Sm S. W. GRIFFITH, K.C.M.G.,
Q.C., M.L.A. ;
J. F. BUCKLAND, EsQ., M.L.A.
MEDICAL OFFICER-RICHARD RENDLE,
EsQ., F.R.C.S., England.
SECRETARY-HENRY J. OXLEY.
14, MARKET BUILDINGS, MELBOURNE.
~iredot:.l3':
R. MURRAY SMITH, EsQ., C.M.G. ;
TrrE HoN. WILLIAM WILSON;
W. H. CALDER, EsQ.
MEDICAL OFFICER-CHARLES S. RYAN, EsQ.,
B.M. Orr. M. EDIN.
SECRETARY-J. WILSON REID.
GRENFELL STREET, ADELAIDE.
~ir.edow:
TrrE HoN. 8m R. D. ROSS, M.P. ; W. H.
CHAR.NOOK, EsQ. ; E. C. STIRLING,
EsQ., M.D., F.R.O.S., Eng., M.P.
MEDICAL OFFICER-CHARLES E. TODD, EsQ.,
M.D.
SECRETARY-ARTHUR STIRLING.
TASMANIAN AGENTS:
JOHN HAMILTON, HOBART ;
WALTERS. BELL, LAUNCESTON.
L OCAL AGE N T S
IN 300 TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE
COLONIES.
The S econd O ldest M 1.itual L ife O ffice in Aus t ralasia . T he
First to free Assurance from Restrictions, and the only
one established within the last 38 years which has
declared a Bon us on a P u re Premiu m
V aluation.

ADVERTISEMENTS.
@nglizht jtottizgt anh instra!ian
CHARTERED BANK.
INCORPORATED BY ROYAL CHARTER, 1852.
Capital, with power to increase to £ r ,500,000
Reserved liability of shareholders
Reserved fund
£720,000
720,000
220,000
Total , .. £ I ,660,000
LONDON OFFICE, 73, CORNHILL, E.C.
BRANCHES AT SYDNEY:-
ALBION PARK KEMPSEY PYRM.ONT
BALMAIN KIAMA QUEEN'S WHARF
BROUGHTON CREEK
MARULAN
SOUTHERN
BULLI
MIL'l'ON
ST. LEONARDS
BURRAWANG
CROOK WELL
MOSS VALE
WAVERLEY
EASTERN BRANCH NEWTOWN
WEST BALMAIN
(SYDNEY)
NOWRA
WOLLONGONG
GOULBURN
PADDINGTON
WOOLLAHRA
GLADSTONE
PITT-STREET
WOOLLOOMOOLOO
IN NE'W' SOUTH 'W' ALES,
AND
THROUGHOUT VICTORIA AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
. Agents and correspondents in Tasmania, New Zealand, the United Kingdom,
India and the East, Mauritius, the United States, South America, Berlin, Hamburg,
Dresden, and Copenhagen.
. The ~ank allows interest on deposits for fixed periods, and transacts all usual
bankmg busmess.
FLETCHER DIXON,
Manager.

A.DVERTISEMENTS.
TOWN AND COUNTRY JOURNAL AND EVENING NEWg
OFFIOES, MARKET-STREET, SYDNEY.
~l{.l~ ~otvn and (tonntru ,lf onrnal -
Is the Most Popular "Weekly Newspaper
in Australia, having a circulation DOUBLE
that of any other.
Subscription, 25s. per annum, in advance.
~lte )tvett,ing ~ ew~
Is an Afternoon Penny Paper with a
culation of 55,000 copies daily.
Subscription, 26s. per annum, in advance.
.
Clf-
THE ABOVE PAPERS STAND UNRIVALLED IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
AS MEDIUMS FOR ADVERTISING.

ADVERTISEMENTS,
JOSEPHSON'S OINTMENT
Has been used by the public for so many years that it does not rcq uire puffing.
It has worked its way
and still holds its own, and yet stands the
PIEMIEB QlNTMEIT IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
The JOSEPHSON'S OINTMENT is purely vegetable, and guaranteed free from all poisonous
qualities. No artificial colouring, as the green colour is extra cl eel from the pure green plant•, which
defy imitation. We see published all kinds of preparations of the Eucalyptus in various forms, but the
chief ingredient of the JOSEPHSON'S OINTMENT is tbe Eucalyptus, so that all these new-fangled
productions are old in comparison with JOSEPIISON'S OINTMENT; in fact, they have been finding
out "mares' nests," while the pure and unadulterated essence and colour of the Eucalyptus is fully
embodied in JOSEPHSON'S OINTMEN'f. The following unsolicited testimonials speak volumes for
the h ealing power of JOSEPHSON'S OINTMENT :-
!Copy of Letter.] "Gally S\\'amp, 25th September, 1882.
"GENTLEMEN,-! ha.Ye much pleasure in testifying to the wonderful curative effects of your Josephson's Ointment on
my face and arms. About four weeks ago I was standing Uy 16lbs. of blasting powder, when a spark by some means ignited
it, causing it to explode in my face and a1111s n.nd neck, burning them dreadfully. I was recommended to your Josephson's
Ointment, and after using se,·en of your pots, I am completely healed.-(Signed) GEORGE DIGBY."
[Copy of Letter received from James Ford, of bfacclesfield, England.]
. "DEAR S1R,-I have to thank you for bringing Joscphson's Ointment under my notice. About a month ago (March 25)
I burned mr hands severely. The first day or two I used lime water and linseed oil, and after that the Ointment. At first I
only used the Ointment on one hand, but the ease which I experienced ea.used me to have both hands dressed with it. lt
allayed the pain quickly, and caused to heal up and the new skin to form, which it has done with remarkable quickness, so
much so that I am starting my work to·morrow.-To Josiah ~male, jun., Hollin Mills, :Macclesfield."
The original letter may be seen at our offices.
Protect yourselves from fraudulent and injurious imitations by asking for JOSEPHSON'S
OINTMENT, l s. per pot.
EDWARD ROW & CO.
ROW'S EMBROCATION
Has no longer a place alone in the stable, but thousands of families now keep it as an invaluable
embrocation in cases of accident.
Dwellers in the interior should never be without a supply of
ROW'S EMBROCATION.
For over forty years nothing hns been introduced to the Squatter or Farmer that has come up to
ROW'S EMBROCATION,
For it is to be relied upon ns a remedy in all kinds of accidents. It will cure Rhemati,m and Gout.
Hundreds use it for Scalds and Sunburns. You can't apply it wrongly. The first Veterinary
Surgeon _of the day recommends ROW'S EllfBROCATION as an infallible remedy for
Sprams, Galls, Splillter,, Swellings, Stiff Joints iu Ilorses, Sore Udders in Cows,
Foot-rot in Sheep, and the Mange in Dogs.
~ For more than forty years this invaluable embrocation hns been before the .A.uetralian public, and
has during tbat period gi,en the greatest satisfaction to nll who have used it.
Sold by all CHEMISTS and STOREKEEPERS throughout the Colonies. 3s. 6d. per boUlc.
TAKE NO MORE PILLS, BUT TRY
RANDERSON'S PODOPHYLLIN LOZENGES.
Do you suffer from headache? Then try
RANDERSON'S PODOPHYLLIN LOZENGES.
Do you complain of indigestion? Take a few closes of
RANDERSON'S PODOPHYLLIN LOZENGES.
Do you suffer from giddiuess? Spend one shilling, nncl be c'.ll'ecl bv
RANDERSON'S PODOPHYLLIN LOZENGES.
Do you constantly suffer from biliousness? If so, remember
. RANDERSON'S PODOPHYLLIN LOZENGES
Will soon rure you if taken as directed, being the BEST ANTIBILIOUS MEDICINE KNOWN.
Are any of your children sick at any time, yon can safely give them one of these LOZENGES, for the
small members of the human family TA.KE WELL TO LOLLIE, . Remember this, and
always keep a box of this .aluable family medicine by you.
Prepared only by the Proprietors,
EDWARD ROW & CO., 45 & 47, GEORGE-ST, SYDNEY.

I
THE RAILWAY·GUIDE
OF
NEW SOUTH WALES.
(FOR THE USE OF TOURISTS, EXCURSIONISTS, AND OTHERS.)
A CONVENIENT VOLUME OF REFERENCE TO RAILWAY ROUTES, STATIONS, AND
PLACES OF INTEREST ON THE LINES OF RAILWAY : CONTAINING
VARIOUS MAPS AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS.
THIRD EDITION.
SYDNEY: CHARLES PO'l'TER. GOVERNMENT PRINTER.
1886.
[3s.]
Ob 1684-S6

fREFACE.
Tms Guide Book is intended as a convenient volume of reference for
excursionists and others who travel by Railway in New South Wales.
The Introduction contains a short history of the Railway system
of the Colony, and subsequent chapters furnish an outline of routes,
and all information as to the various Stations. The illustrated Itinerary,
for the use of the traveller in search of the picturesque, includes brief
notices of places of interest which lie within easy reach of the
Railway line, and the Tourists' Map shows the mountainous country
traversed by the Great Western Railway, from the Nepean River to
Bowenfels.
The papers descriptive of the Fish River Caves, and explaining
the geological formation of the Blue Mountains, contributed by Mr.
C. S. Wilkinson, F.G.S., will be read with interest, as will also the
treatise by Dr. Woolls, F.L.S., illustrated by Miss Harriet Scott, on
the Flora of that part of the country. The other illustrations form a
novel and interesting feature of the work; they are pictures from Nature,
reproduced by the photo-mechanical processes recently introduced by
Mr. Richards, ex-Government Printer.
The Compiler has to acknowledge his obligations to Messrs.
Burton, Tingle, Lyne, and Wells, from whose descriptive writings he
has derived much valuable information, which he ventures to believe
is now offered to the public in a compendious and convenient form.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.
!.-RISE AND PROGRESS OF RAILWAYS IN NEW SOUTH WALES
PAGE,
1
I!.-
ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY ROUTES-MAIN AND SUBSIDIARY BRANCHES, WITH
STATIONS AND PLATFORMS ...
Routes on the Western Line
Routes on the Southern Line .. .
Routes on the Sydney to Richmond Subsidiary Line
Routes on the Northern Line ...
Routes of Subsidiary Lines to Northern Line
Route of Main Branch, North-western Line
6
10
12
15
17
21
21
ITINERARY AND DESCRIPTIONR OF SCENERY­
(!) Sydney to Granville
(2a) Sydney to Waterfall ...
(3) Parramatta to Bourke ...
(4) Wallerawang to Mudgee
(5) Granville to Albury
(6) Junee to Hay ...
(7) Sydney vid, Blacktown to Richmond
(8) Newcastle to Glen Innes
(9) Subsidiary Branch Lines to Northern Line
(10) North-western Line ...
22
24
32
79
81
99
101
103
119
119
APPENDIX.
The geological formations of the Blue Mountains
Remarks on the Flora of the Blue Mountains
The Fish River or Jenolan Caves ...
Railway Maps
127
.. 128
.. 144
149

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Loftus Heights, National Park to face page 1
Lake George 14
George's River ... 26
Guide Map to National Park
Nepean River ... 34
Emu Plains, from Lucasville ...
Residence of A. H. McCulloch, Esq., M.P.
Wentworth Falls
Cunimbla Valley ,,
Katoomba Falls 46
" Carrington Hotel " ...
Jamison's Valley 46
Govett's Leap ... 56
Lithgow Valley Zigzag 65
Menangle Bridge 83
Fitzroy Falls
Lake Bathurst ...
"
" "
"
"
"
"
"
" ,, "
Mulwarrie Viaduct ,,
Singleton Bridge
MacDonald River and Bridge
PAGE,
27
36
38
41
45
46
,. 88
"
"
" " "
90
90
107
115

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
THE favourable reception which the Railway Guide has met with, and
the increasing demand for it, have made it necessary to publish a
second edition. Advantage has been taken of the opportunity to bring
the information to the latest date, and to include additional illustrations,
witn the object of making the volume more useful and attractive.
This work will be found to be a convenient and valuable volume
of reference for excursionists and others who travel by Railway in
New South Wales.
The introduction contains a short history of the Railway
System of the Colony, and subsequent chapters furnish an outline of
routes and all information as to the various stations. The Illustrated
Itinerary, for the use of travellers in search of the picturesque, includes
brief notices of places of interest which lie within easy reach of the
Railway Line.
The papers descriptive of the Fish River Caves, and explaining
the geological formation of the Blue Mountains, contributed by Mr.
C. S. Wilkinson, F.L.S., will be read with interest, as will also the
treatise by Dr. Woolls, F.L.S., illustrated by Miss Harriet Scott, on
the Flora of that part of the country.
As the Railways are further extended, fresh editions will be
issued, with additional illustrations and descriptions.

Loftus Heights, National PArk.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
1.-RISE AND PROGRESS OF RAILWAYS IN NEW SOUTH WALES,
Early History.-The first combined movement
on the subject of introducing Railways
into New South Wales took place in January,
1846. On the 29th of that month a
public meeting was held in Sydney, and a
Committee appointed, who, on the 26th
August, reported that, from the best ascertained
data as to the products, population,
and traffic, they believed that a line from
Sydney to Goulburn might be constructed
at £6,000 per mile, and that a net profit of
8 per cent. might be anticipated on the
capital expended. In the beginning of 1848
a survey of the line to Goulburn was completed
by Mr. W oore. In April, in the
same year, a petition, based on this report,
was presented to the Legislative Council,
and referred to a Select Committee, of which
Mr. Charles Cowper* was Chairman. A
report was brought up, and on the 15th
June the Council passed a series of resolutions
to the effect that the period had
arrived for the formation of Railways in the
Colony, and that it was expedient for the
Government to offer some inducements to
encourage private enterprise. The resolutions
were transmitted to the Secretary of
State by the Governor-General, with a
recommendation that the encouragement
asked for should be granted. On the 11 th
Septem her, 1848, a Provisional Committee
was appointed, and in November the
prospectus of the " Sydney Tramroad and
Railway Company" was issued. The capital
was £100,000, and interest for ten years at
5 per cent. was guaranteed by the Government.
The expressed intention of the projectors
was that a main trunk line should
* Afterwards the Hon. Sir Charles Cowper,
K.C.M.G., now deceased.
be carried from Sydney to the point from
which it might afterwards he determined
that the Southern and ·western or Northwestern
branches respectively should diverge.
Eventually it was intended to augment the
capital in order to carry the line to Goulburn,
and, if found practicable, to Bathurst
also.
On the 13th November, 1849, the first
general meeting of the shareholders was
held, and the Sydney Railway Company
(incorporated by Act of 13 Victoria) then
entered on its duties, and was managed by
a Directory elected by the shareholders.
The survey of the line from Sydney to
Parramatta and Liverpool was completed in
December, 1849, and on 8th January, 1850,
the first report of the Directors was read.
It congratulated the shareholders on their
position and prospects ; and notwithstanding
the apathy of some persons and the undisguised
hostility of others, the Directors
entertained the fullest confidence as to the
ultimate success of the undertaking. The
sum of £10,000, required by the Act to be
raised before the Company could commence
operations, having been paid into the
Colonial Treasury, the Directors lost no time
in breaking ground. On 3rd July, 18 0,
the first turf of the first Railway in the
Australian Colonies was turned by the
Honorable Mrs. Keith Stewart, in the presence
of her father, Sir Charles Augustus
Fitz Roy, and a large concourse of inhabitants.
The financial prospects of the Company,
however, soon become so gloomy that the
Directors found it necessary to make a
A

2
THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
general reduction in the salaries of their
officers. The Directors complained of the
obstacles they met with, and stated that, but
for the countenance and support of the
local Government, they should feel disposed
to abandon a post which was beset at. every
stage with difficulties and discouragements
of no ordinary kind. In this unpromising
position of their affairs the first contract for
41 miles from Haslern's Creek towards Sydney
was accepted. The progress of the work
continued satisfactory until the discovery of
gold in the Bathurst district upset the calculations
of the contractor and the Directors,
threatening the former with ruin and entailing
much anxiety on the latter, from the
sudden and unexampled rise in the price of
labour and materials. Under these circumstances
the Directors ,vere induced to release
the contractor from his agreement, without
enforcing the penalties for non-fulfilment.
The offer of Mr. Randal, the contractor, to
carry out the works to Ashfield, and subsequently
to Parramatta, at a schedule of prices,
was afterwards accepted, and as the attractions
of the Gold-fields continued to diminish
the supply of labour in Sydney, the Government
agreed to import 500 labourers from
England. An additional loan of £150,000
was obtained from the Government, in the
proportion of three-fifths of public money to
two-fifths subscribed, on condition that the
Government should have the power to name
one-half of the Directors. The Company had
- now reached the last stage of its existence,
and its affairs were under the .direction of a
Board, partly elected by the shareholders and
partly nominated by the Government.
At the first half-yearly meeting, on 17th
January, 1854, the Directors stated that from
the enormous rise in wages and materials
tbti cost of the line to Parramatta would be
increased from £218,420, as estimated in
1853, to £320,000, besides £69 OOO for the
Darling Harbour works. To l)rovide for
this, the capital was increased by £100 OOO
and an additional loan of £150,000 obt~inetl
from Government, on the same terms as the
former loan. The estimate of £320 OOO for
the line to Parrarnatta was made id anticipation
of a fall in the rate of wa()'es · but
instead of falling they continued to ~·is:. and
in January, 1855, the Engineer hac~ ~o
increase his estimate to £500,000. This
startling announcement must have satisfied
the shareholders of the hopelessness of carrying
out the works at a profit, and prepared
them for a transfer of the property to the
Government.
W11ile the Sydney Railway Company was
struggling with the unprecedented difficulties
of the times, and leaning on the strong arm
of the Government for support, a movement
took place in 1853 for the construction of
a line of Railway between Newcastle ancl
.J.f aitland.
A Provisional Committee was appointed
on 20th April, and a capital of £100,000
subscribed on the spot. \Vith flattering
anticipations, and the promise of aid from
the Government, the Hunter River Railway
started into life; but after an existence of
little more than a year, which was necessarily
exhausted in preliminary arrangements, this
Company had also to yield to the pressure
of the times, and be swallowed up by tho
Government.
Railways of N. S. Wales when transferred
to the Government.-Accordingly,
under the Act 18 Victoria No. 4.0, the porperties
of both the Companies wore transferred
to the Government, the Hunter RiYer
at par, and the Sydney Railway with a bonus
of 7 per cent. added. From the elate of these
transfers the Railways became the property of
the Government, and have since been carried
out under the superintendence of Government
officers.
The Railways of New 'outh \Vales, though
essentially one entire concern, as the property
of the Government, are at present
separated into two great divisions, viz., the
Southern and \Vestern Railway and the
Northern Railway-the one having its principal
terminus at 'ydney, the other at ewcastle,
upwards of 60 miles apart. Parliament
has, however, authorized the construction of
a line to connect the Northern with the
Southern system, and the work is now in
progress. ·

NEW SOUTH WALES. 3
The line from Sy

4 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Valley, the Clarence tunmil, and the tunnels
at Lithgow Valley Zigzag, Morangaroo, and
under the Mudgee Road, and the bridges
over Solitary Creek at Tarana, over the
Macquarie River at Bathurst, "\V ellington,
and Dubbo; on the Northern line-the
handsome bridges over the Hunter at Singleton
and Aberdeen, the bridge over the Macdonald,
and the tunnels through the Liverpool
and Moonbi Ranges.
Summit elevations.-The summit elevations
above high-water-mark at Sydney on
the different lines are 2,357 feet on the
Southern, 3,658 feet on the Western, and
4,525 feet on the Northern.
in the aid of electricity for that purpose.
For the first mass 3-i tons of blasting powder
were employed, and the Superintendent of
Telegraphs (Mr. E. C. Cracknell) succeed~d
in firing the blast, which tore the moun~am
asunder, heaving huge masses of rock mto
the valley, and leaving the face of the parent
mountain almost as smooth as if it had been
cut with chisels. The removal of the second
mass-the blowing up of a tunnel-for which
3} tons of powder were used, was successfully
accomplished also by galvanic agency; the
electric spark having been communicated to
the powder by the hand of the Countess of
Belmore, in the presence of His Excellency
the Governor, and a large concourse of spectators
who had assembled to witness the
effects of the explosion.
Zigzags at Emu Plains and Lithgow
Valley.- The principal objects of interest on
our Railways are t.he Zigzags at Emu Plains
and Lithgow Valley on the Western line.
Since the opening of the line to Bowenfels
thousands of tourists from all lands have
visited these works, and expressed unbo.unded
admiration at the rugged grandeur of the
scenery, and the engineering skill and pluck
displayed in designing and constructing these
stupendous works, which are probably not
surpassed on any Rail way in the world. But
a description or even an inspection of the
Lithgow Valley Zigzag gives only an imperfect
idea of the difficulties that had to be
encountered, and the vast amount of work
that had to be performed, before it was hewn
into its present shape. From the Clarence
Tunnel to the bottom of the valley there is
a descent of 470 feet, throucrh a deep and
rugged ravine, where forme~·ly there was
scarcely footing for the mountain goat, and
where the surveyor's assistants had occasionally
to be suspended by ropes in the performance
of their perilous duties · but human
skill and enterprise have open~d a pathway
through these broken mountain ran cres for
the railway train that now travers~s the
sides of the mountain on a gradient of 1 in
42. In the execution of these works two
gigantic masses of rock-the one esLi~ated
to contain 40,000 and the other 45,000 tons
-had to be. l?lasted ; and the contractor,
after calculatm.g the cost, determined to call
StatisticalandDescriptive.-Thefollowing
statistical and descriptive information will
be read with interest. It forms the summary
of the transactions for the year 1885, and is
taken from the Report of the Commissioner
for Railways, Charles A. Goodchap, Esq. Mr.
Goodchap reports that: "The expenditure for
construction on lines open was £21,831,276.
At the encl of December, 1885, 1,732 miles of
line were open for traffic, and 407 miles were in
the course of construction, while an additional
1,28.2 miles have been authorized. The rollinO'
stock at the end of 1885 consisted of 390
locomotives, 856 coaching an

NEW SOUTH WALES. 5
Progressive Utility and Financial Con~
dition.-The following carefully prepared
and authentic Tabular View of the Progressive
Utility and Financial Condition of
the Railways of New South vV ales, from the
opening of the trunk line to Parramatta in
1855 to 31st December, 1885, will be appreciated
by all thoughtful readers.
rn
8~ So 1'll
i~ 00 O< H E-1 ~o
0
E-1
gj
.... "'
Q)
..... ~ >< ~
Cl>Q) P.oi ~fa:10.
~
i::
...,.,
"Cl.
.,i::
oop.
Cl) 0
P.:-;:: ~~ be bn.£ ro ·e
~ 00 0 •
M"' ~~
bl)OO ~
i::i::
i:: i:: .5 ~ =: ~:g ~.s d
i] ]~
~~ 'i§'§ .... ~ ~
~~[a
~f;,:1 ~E-1 ~fa:1E-i
.., ·ai:: Q) d
Q) ell 0
il< z 0
~o
·- Q) ~ p.·~

6
THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
11.- ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY ROUTES- MAIN AND SUBSIDIARY BRANCHES, WITH
STATIONS AND PLATFORMS.
Railway System in New South Wales.
-The Railway system of New South Wales
consists of three trunk lines at present,
one of which is unconnected with the other
two: (1) The Great Southern line; (2)
the Great Western line ; and ( 3) the Great
Northern line. The Son them line starts
from Sydney, and has, as a trunk line, a
southerly direction from Granville;. up to
which station it runs in common with the
W estern. The W estern li:o.e also starts from
Sydney, but diverges from the Sonthem line
at Granville (13 miles distant from Sydney).
The Northern line starts from Newcastle, and
has its terminus at present at Glen Innes.
(1) Taking the W estern line first, it may
thus be briefly described :
The Western line (by a north-westerly
turn) passes through Parramatta, and has,
for the most part, a westerly direction till it
comes to Bathurst, 145 miles from Sydney.
Its general direction is then north-westerly
until it reaches Orange, 47 miles further.
Thence the course of this line is due north to
Wellington, and from Wellington north-west
to Bourke. On the Western line there are,
including the termini at Bourke and at
Sydney,* eighty-two stations, and other occasional
stopping places, for the dista,nce of
503 miles. At the Blacktown Junction the
Blacktow1~ to Richmond branch joins the
-Yf./ estern line. This subsidiary branch, 16
miles in length, has a north-westerly direction
from Blacktown, and has four distinct
stations, and one platform or stopping-place.
There is a second branch line from vV allerawang
Station to Mudgee (85 miles). This
branch takes a north-westerly direction from
Wallerawang, and a third, recently opened,
the Molong branch, running from Orange to
* That is, taking in the trunk line from Sydney
t o Parramatta Junction, common to both the
\Vestern ancl Southern Lines.
Molong, a distance of 21 miles. B sicl
these branch lines there arc tramways that
feed the line at intervals-with road m ta,1
at Emu Plains, shale at Hartl y Vale sidiurr,
and with coal at Lithgow and Katoomba.
(2.) The Southern line has _for ah ut
100 miles ( from Parramatta J unct10n to the
neighbourhood of Marnlan) a south-s uthwesterly
direction. From Maru]an t th
station at Bethungra (about 154 mil s) th
general direction of this lino is, for the m st
part, westerly, with a marked south rly
deflection, first for Yass, and finally towar ls
Albury on the Murray. An important
branch, called the South-west rn ]in , starts
from Junee on the Great Southern lin , and
thence runs to Hay, one of the most important
towns in Riverina. The distance from Jun
to Hay is 167 miles, and from ydnoy to
Hay 455. In addition there is a branch
from the South-western line, running from
N arrandra to J erilderie, 65 miles. There are
also three other branch lines, one running
from Goulburn to Bungendore, 43 miles,
being portion of the line to Cooma, a lin
from Murrumburrah to Young being its first
section of the line now under construction
to connect the Southern and Vv estern systemR,
and a line from Cootamundra to Gundagai.
On the Southern and South-western line there
are 116* stations, and other occasional stopping-places.
( 3.) The Great Northern line ( the eastern
terminus of which is at N ewca tle, about
60 miles north of Sydney Heads) has, for the
most part, a north-westerly direction, with a
south-westerly deflection between ·west Maitland
and Muswellbrook. Its extreme lenrrth
from Newcastle to Glen Innes, the pr sent
terminus, is 3:23 miles. On thi Northern
line there are-includinrr the termini at 1 len
* Including the uburl an line.

ANALYSIS OF ROUTES. 7
Innes and at Newcastle-sixty-one stations
and other occasional stopping-places for the
extreme distance traversed. On this line
there is one main branch-the Northwestern-starting
from W erris Creek, and
terminating at N arrabri, a distance of 97
miles. This branch has eight stopping-places.
There are also three subsidiary branches :
First, one from Newcastle to Bullock Island,
vil1 Honeysuckle Point, to the northward,
1 t mile ; second, one from Newcastle to
Wallsend, on the southern side of the line ;
and third, one from East Maitland to
Morpeth, on the north side of the line, 4
miles. (1.) The first subsidiary line is near
Newcastle, and is used for mineral traffic.
(2.) The second subsidiary branch (W allsend
Junction), running south-westerly, commences
l} mile west of the Waratah Station, and is
in length 4! miles. The W allsend branch is
principally used for mineral traffic. (3.) The
third subsidiary branch is the Maitland and
Morpeth branch, which rum from East Maitbnd
to Morpeth (north-easterly) 4 miles.
The Railways of the Colony, with one
exception, nre owned by tbe Stat0; the only
private line in opemtion is that running
frou1 Deniliquin in the Riveriua district to
the town of Moama, on the banks of the
Murray, where it connects with a branch of
the Victorian Railways.· This line which
since its inception has been very successful
is laid on the same gauge as the Victorian
system, viz., 5 feet 3 inches. The Government
Railways are laid to the standard gauge
of 4 feet 8! inches. It is to be regretted
that at the commencement of their Railway
history the adjoining Colonies of New South
Wales and Victoria should have adopted
different gauges; the inconvenience that this
entails has been practically demonstrated
since the Railway systems were connected
on the banks of the Murray, at Albury, a
transfer of the traffic between the Colonies
being necessary at this junction.
Further inconvenience will be felt very
shortly when the Queensland and New South
Wales Railways will be connected, the
Queensland lines throughout being laid to
the narrow gauge of 3 feet 6 inches, and consequently
it will be necessary to have a
changing station at the border of the two
Colonies, and transfer all passengers and
goods.
In addition to the Railway lines open,
which will be fully described, the following
brief particulars will be found interesting
respecting the extensions which are now
(June, 1886) in progress.
Starting from Sydney, the first extension
met with is that from Sydney to the Illawarra
district. The first section is open, while the
remaining portion is under construction ; but
it will be some time before the whole line is
completed. From Homebush the line starts
which is to connect the Southern with the
Northern system at W amtah ; the distance
between the two places is 93 miles, which
is under construction. On this extension
the most extensive bridges in the Colony,
viz., across the river Hawkesbury, will require
to be constructed. The sinking for
the cy lindern is said to be the deepest in the
world for bridge work.
On the Southern line the first section ( 40
miles) of the extension from Goulburu to
Oooma is open, while tl1e remaining portion
is under construction.
The first section of the extension to conn.ect
the Southern and Western Railways, from
Harden to Young, 18 miles, is open; the
remainder is under construction.
The Northern line is heing actively pushed
forward from Glen Innes to Tentertield, 58
miles, and should be ready for opening at
the end of the year.
The above complete analysis of the Railway
system of New South Wales, as it at present
exists, may be illustrated (and will perhaps
be rendered more easily understood) by a
perusal of the Tabular View in pages following.

8 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Tabular View in Analyst's of Railway Routes.
The Western Trunk Line-
(SYDNEY (Terminm)
Eveleigh
1,f'Donalp, Toten ..•,., ... ,., ... ,, .. , .• ,.. , .. ·,,,,.,,·, .. 1//awarra Section-­
Newtown
(St. Peters
l
. j Marrickville
~ Tempe
f;E~;;~ill
~ Arnclifie
E! Ashfield
tl Rockdale
tl -< Croyden
i Kogarah
Proposed Branch to con- ~ lBurwood
nect Northern Line from i;
lHurstville
Redmyre
t!
here ...... •.. •.. , ...... · ;e Homebush
Como
:::: Sutherland
CIJ Rookwood
""' Loftus
A.11b1irn
Waterfall
g~~ille ........... , .. The Southern Main Branch
PARRAMATTA
or
The Southern Line-
( 1,f errtJland8
Guildford,
Fairfield
Canley Vale
Cal>ramatta
Liverpool
Glenfield
Macquarie Fields
Jfinto
Campbellto\Vl}
Menangle
Douglas Park
Picton
Picton Lake,
Rush's
Mittagong
Bowral
Burradoo
j ~:;6;:;ite
~ if!Z/:noon
! Cable's Siding
.:; Barber'B Creek
.~ ~:~::
0 .; • ~ Towrang
..., s {Joppa Junction .... ,, .... f NGoourtLhBUGRoNulburn. (Line to Cooma under construction from here.)
f] Bangalore ..,
;e ., Lake Ba.thurst ~ Yarra
;:::; ~ Tarn"'O g Breda/bane
~ § BUNGENDORE CIJ Fish River
i::q ~ Gunning
Jerrawa
';; t{
0
Demondrille Junction
~ ;e Currawong
1- .._o YOUNG
~'"1
~ -~ ( Brawlin ...... , . , , •• , , , , •, ..
~ g, ) Mnttama
§~) Colve
!: § l GUNDAGAI
~QI
8~
.~ Yass
~ Bowning
f Rinalong
.., Galong
~ Rocky Ponds
g Cunningar
••• • C/.2 HARDEN. (Line to connect the Southern nnd Western Lines under
i Mur~~:i~~~n from here.)
Wallendbeen
Cootamundra.
l,fullally's Siding
Cungegong
Bethungra
i
Illabo
,Junee............ ...... .,
Barefield '.~
{Old Junee
Bomen
1,farrar
"-I Coolaman
W AOOA WAOGA f ;,;, Grong Grong
Sandy Creek ~ ~ Narrandera •. ...• , . ~ .. {Colombo
Hanging Rock : .l:l The Qttarry ·i:: • Widgiewa
Yerong Creek ~ .S Hulong ~ ~ Coonong
Culcairn ~ Darlington ~ ~ Bundure
Gerogery 5 Carathool ,!i Yathong
Yambla riJ HAY . ~ JERILDERIE
Ettam-0gah
ALBURY
N.B.-Tbe ordinary places are in plain type, the more important tations in small capitals, and the platforms in italics.

ANALYSIS OF ROUTES.
9
Tabular View z'n Analysis o/ Railway Routes-continued.
The Western Line-
Richmond Subsidiary (Seven Hills
. Branch .. • ••••" • ••" •' BLACKl'OWN
R1verstone
Rooty Hill
M1;1lgrave
South Creek
Wmdsor
Parkes
Clarendon
Penrith
RICHMOND
Emu Plains
Lucasville
Glenbroolc late Brookdale
Blaxland late Wascoe's
The Valley ,
Springwood
I Faulconbridge
Numantia
Linden
Woodford
Lawson late Blue Moun.
I
I
W ~f!orth Falls late
Weatherboard
Katoomba
Black heath
~ I MOUNT VICTORIA
~ Hartley Vale-Tramway
.se llfonnt Wilson
.., I Clarence Siding
§ Eskbanlc •
&s Li:thgow-Trarr.way
~ BOWENFELS
Subsidiary Branch '"' I llfarrangaroo
to Mudgee ...... •· .. ~ Wallerawang .. . .. .. . . . . /Piper's Flat
.:: Rydal ~ Ben Bullen
t; Sodwalls ~ Capertee
~ -< Tarana .., llford
~ I Loclcsley late Loclce's & Rylstone
Plat/ orin ~ Lue
!5 Brewongle ..:: Bitnberra .
~ Raglan "" Mudgee
~ I ~!~I~URST
f Orton Park
~ Perth
~ George's Plains
""' Wimbledon
~ Newbridge
~ Blayney
Spring Grove
Spring :am
Huntley ~
~ANG,E .... ... , , . , .. , ..-~ { Cargo Road
.M:u'Ilion Creek ~ Borenore
Kerr's Creek
· Warne
~
,s
Amaros
Molong
lRONilARKS .;;
I
Springs
I WELLINGTON
.IJfaryvale
llf urrumbidgerie
DUBBO
I
Narramine
Trangie
NEVERTIRR
Mitllengudgeon
Nyngan
Girilambone
Coolabah
Glengarij
Byrock
\_BOURKE
"'I
The Northern Trunk Line-
Subsidiary Branch to (NEWCASTLE ( Terminus)
Bullock Island ... ••• 1 Hon~ysuckle Point
Subsidiary Branch to Hanulton
JYall,end............ Waratah·
Sandgate
Hexham
Tarro
Woodford
Subsidiary Branch to I Victoria-street
JIIorpeth "" ••""'· 1 EAST MAITLAND JUNCTION
High-street
WEST MAITLAND
Farley
Lochinvar
Allandale
Greta
Branxton
Belford
I
~
Whitting ham
SINGLETON
Glennie's Creelc
Ravensworth
-~ ~~~:!iree
MuswELLBROOK
f Aberdeen
:S IJ;i,n:
8 Wingen
~ Blandford
~ MURRURUNDI
E-t I Temple Court
Doughboy Hollow
Willow-tree (or Warrah)
Braejield
I
I
Quirmdi
Quipolly
Werris Creek ....... ./Gap
Currabubula f Breeza
I T,HIWORTII ~ Curlewis
Moon bi .; Gunnedah
llfacdona.ld Rii:er ~ -~ Emerald Hill
Walcha Road ,S>.., Boggabri
Kentucky 8 Baan Bah
Uralla ~ Titrrawan
ARMIDAI.E
NARRABRI
Inverell
I
l~~~~~long
Ben Lomond
Glencoe
GLEN INNES
under construction to
Tenterfield and
Queensland border.
N.B.-The ordinary places are in plain type, the more important stations in sm:111 capitals, and the pfatforms in italics.

10 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
ROUTES.
R ouTES ON THE WESTERN L INE.
Route No. 1.-From Sydney to Bathurst:
145 miles.-In this route, as on all
others, remember to be at the station from
which yon intend to start (especially should
it be the Sydney terminus) in ample time,
more particularly if you are not alone or have
any luggage. Take the morning train if you
wish to see the varied scenery along the line
on the Blue Mountains* and particularly
that of the First Zigzag near Emu P lains,
and the Great Zigzag near Lithgow. Dine
at Mount Victoria refreshment-rooms. The
whole journey occupies about eight hours.
Route No. 2-From Sydney to Oran ge :
192 miles.-Follow directions for Route No.
1, except that you should also take a hasty
" tea" at the refreshment-room at Bathurst,
and come provided with a rug to sleep in
between Bathurst and Orang0. At Orange
there are several excellent hotels. Omnibuses
at the Orange station will convey you anLl
your luggage b any of the principal hotels.
Probable time for your journey by this route,
about ten hours.
Route No. 3- From Sydney to Lawson
(formerly Blue Mountain) Station:
58 miles.-Y ou can go by the morning or ·
evening train to the "Blue Mountains." A
fine prospect is ,-isible from the station itself;
and there is diversified and beautiful scenery
* The " Blue Mountains" were first crossed by
Eur~pe.ans in May, 1813, by an adventurous party
consIStmg of "Mr. Gregory Blaxland, Mr. \Villiam
Wentworth, and Lieutenant Lawson, attended by
four servants, five dogs, and four horses laden with
provisions, ammunition, and other necessaries."
~hey appear t~ have crossed pretty near the present
line of the ra1lroad, previous ineffectual attempts
having been made much further to the southward
'l.'hey got back again to the N epean on the 6th of
Jt:ne, having apparently got past the Blue Mountarns
as far as f':Ome of the plains beyond.-See
J ournal qf a T~u7: of Discove1'y, &c., in the yea1'
1813. [The Wilham Wentworth here mentioned
afterwards became the celebrated Australian statesman.]
on hoth sides of the line, within 2 mil s
distance either way. On th north sicl arc
Dante's Glen and three wat rfalls,

WESTERN LINE · ROUTES. 11
and Orange, which passes the platform at
vVentworth Falls at an early hour in the afternoon.
You may thus be back in Sydney at
6 p.m., and congratulate yourself upon having
had a short, pleasant, and inexpensive trip.
By starting on a Friday evening, or on a Saturday,
you can get a return ticket at a reduced
rate, available until the Monday for return.­
Time of journey, rather less than four hours.
Route No. 5-From Sydney to Blackheath
(i.e. "Govett's Leap"): 73 miles.­
If you should desire to pay a hasty visit to
the lovely and stupendous gorge and waterfall
usually known by the curiously inexpressive
name of "Govett's Leap" (and you do not
particularly care whether you see any other
spot on the occasion or not), take your place
in the train for Blackheath. There are several
accommodation houses here. Govett's Leap
is situated about 1 mile from the line, on
the north side; an easy walk, and an easy
way to :find. Three passenger trains for
Sydney pass Blackheath daily. If you :find
yourself comfortable at Blackheath, and time
permits, you can ride, drive, or walk thence
to Mount Victoria and back, so as to see the
numerom; breaks of scenery to the southward
-away over the Cunimb~la Valley--to the
greatest advantage. But you will :find it too
far to visit the Hartley Vale from this standpoint.-Time
of journey from Sydney to
Blackheath, about four hours and a half.
Route No. 6-Sydney to Katoomba.­
A short time ago Katoorn ba was known to
the general railway travellers as an unimportant
platform; a few, however, were aware
of the glorious views that were found in
the neighbourhood, and occasionally tourists
would come here and make their way to the
waterfalls and dells. Subsequently a few
houses were started, and now as if by magic a
township has sprung into existence. A coalmine
and saW··mill are worked, and the place
is becoming one of the most important on the
mountains. The traveller can leave town by
any of the Western trains, and after a journey
of about four hours reach Katoomba, where
excellent accommodation may · be obtained.
One of the largest hotels in the Colony-the
"Great vVestern" (now "Carrington ")-has
been opened here.
Route No. 7-From Sydney to Mount
Victoria: 77 miles.-Everything is clear
before you in this route, according to the
station lists in the Time-tables, until you
arrive at your destiuation. Mount Victoria
will be for you a good head-quarters, fr_om
which Govett's Leap, at Blackheath, may
conveniently be visited, either by driving in
a buggy, by walking, or by taking advantage
of the train. .The distance from Mount
Victoria to Blackheath is only 4 miles by
road or rail. Near Mount Victoria there is
much beautiful and attractive scenery. The
air, being very bracing and remarkably
pleasant, is much recommended for invalids.
In the immediate neighbourhood of Mount
Victoria are found the Fairy Dell, the
Engineer's Waterfall, the Little Zigzag ( overlooking
the northern part of the Ounimbla
Valley), Mount Piddington, Mount Piddington's
Waterfall and Dell, and many other
picturesque spots. From the back of Mrs.
Perry's hotel, past the Protestant Church,
the old road will take you down into the
romantic and secluded vale of Hartley, the
peculiar scenery of which will well repay a
visit. There is at Hartley, near the two
churches, a decent old-fashioned wayside inn,
kept by Mrs. Evans. The little town, or
rather village, of Hartley, on the borders of
the river Lett (a tributary of Cox's River),
is quaint and pretty; and, from the bridge
over the stream of the brawling Lett, an
excellently kept road winds north-westerly
up the valley towards Bowenfels-passing
on its way under boldly defined and truly
majestic rocks, known as "Hassan's Walls."
Mount Victoria has a number of good hotels,
one of which is very large and handsome,
called "The Imperial." If you make Mount
Victoria your head-quarters-as many do-a
day can be set apart for visiting the -YVeatherboard
Gorge and Campbell Cataract, Blackheath,
or Katoomba. Excursions are also
frequently made from Mount Victoria to the
Fish River Caves, the distance being about
30 miles.
Route No. 8-From Sydney to Lithgow
and Bowenfels : 96-97 miles.­
Starting from the Sydney terminus, you can
reach the busy, rising town of Lithgow in
six hours j the train crossing between Mount

12 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Victoria and Lithgow, the highest. point
reached by the Western Railway - the
Clarence Tunnel-and the celebrated Lithgow
ZiO'zaO', From Lithgow you can make a pleasa~t
10 miles' excursion by going right round
the mountain to the westward and south-westward-where
(thanks to Mr. Henry Cambridge,
the road surveyor, and the energy
and forethought of the Public Works Department)
an excellently kept road, past
Hassan's Walls, will bring you down the
valley to Hartley. Or you can go down to
Hartley by a shorter way (about 6 miles)
right over "Brown's Gap" behind the
easternmost end of Lithgow, up Clyde
Valley. From the last road ( a very clever
piece of practical engineering by Mr. Cambridge)
there is a grand prospect to the
southward, just as you come down into the
valley from the Gap. There are a number
of hotels at Lithgow where accommodation
may be obtained.
Note. - Weekly Tourists' Trains.­
Once a week opportunities occur for conveniently
visiting Lithgow and Bowenfels by the
tourists' trains, which leave Sydney for
Bathurst on Saturdays at 7 a.m., and return
to the Sydney terminus on the following
Monday morning. This weekly tourists'
train is run at very cheap rates: 1st class 2d.
and 2nd class ld. per mile return, and will
enable persons from the Sydney side to visit
either "Blue Mountains" (Lawson), the
Weatherboard, Blackbeath (Govett's Leap),
Mount Victoria, or Lithgow.
[The above will, it is believed, be found to
be the principal routes for tourists, from
Sydney downwards, on the Main Branch
Western Line. Others may possibly be
suggested, when the different stations and
stopping-places shall, in their respective places
come to be particularized. J
Route No. 9-From Sydney to Goulburn
: 134 miles.-In this route, as on all
others, be sure that you are at the station
from which you intend to start (especially
should it be the Sydney terminus) a full
quarter of an hour before the train is to
leave; more particularly so if you are not
alone or have any luggage. Take the
morning train if you wish to enjoy the
varied scenery along the line. You will
be able to dine at Mittagong, which you
will reach about four hours after your train
leaves the Sydney terminus. There is also
a good refreshment room at Goulburn. Be
sure that you get into a carriage that is going
to Goulburn, or to some other placR on the
Southern line ; otherwise, you will have
to look out (sharply) at Gram-ille, and
change into a carriage going South. The
guards-uniformly a civil, trustworthy, and
respectable class of men-always warn the
passengers of every necessary change, and
occasional stopping-place ; but passengers
(especially ladies) are often inattentive,
and get " carried on" in consequence-to
ROUTES ON THE SOUTHERN LINE.
the annoyance of themselves, and the vexation
and worry of everybody else. Goulburn
(a fine, thriving, inland city, the capital
of the south-west, with plenty of good hotel
accommodation) is a healthy and pleasant
place, and one of the prettiest towns in the
Colony. It is the centre of a wealthy and
important district, and lies on the border of
rich and extensive plains.-Time of journey
from Sydney to Goulburn, six hours.
Route No. 10-From Sydney to Gunning
: 165 miles.-Follow directions for
Route No. 9. Change your carriage at
Granville for one going on the Southern
line, if you ham not (more wisely) got into
your right carriage at the Sydney terminus.
Dine at the refreshment-rooms at Mitta()'ona
or Goulburn. The district of Gunn~()' i~
agricu.ltural and past~ral; the country ~urroundrng
the town berng mountainous with
undulating plains. Probable time of jo~rney,
seven hours.

SOUTHERN LINE ROUTES. 13
Route No. 11-From Sydney to Campbelltown:
34 miles.-A cheap and quiet
but delightful jaunt may be improvised by
any tourist from Sydney to Campbelltown,
on the Southern line-distant from the
Sydney terminus only 34 miles. There are
numerous hotels at Campbelltown. It is one
of the oldest towns in the Colony, and is
situated in a hilly, well cleared, agricultural
district, celebrated for the salubrity of its
climate. The scenery round Campbelltown is
very pretty, especially in the spring and early
summer. From it there are many agreeable
rides and drives, in all directions. The
roads to Camden and to Appin wind, each of
them, through many charming bits of rural
scenery, now, by the general public, neglected
and well-nigh forgotten. A tramway has
also been constructed from Campbelltown to
Camden, 8 miles. The tram runs in conjunction
with the Railway, meeting all
pas::;enger trains. Nine miles to the northwestward,
near Camden ( where, in a commanding
situation, there is a magnificent
Anglican church, built by the MacArthur
Family), the country will be found highly
cultivated, undulating, and extremely pleasing.
There is good hotel accommodation at
Camtlen. The district adjacent to Camden is
occupied by graziers and agriculturists; and
there are also, round it, many dairy farms.
Close to that township there is a fine bridge
over the N epean. At Appin, 9 or 10 miles
from Campbelltown, in an opposite direction,
on the Illawarra Road, there are two hotels.
Near this secluded villaae will be found
much curious river scffiery, and (a few
miles south from its two churches) a
singularly wild and rocky pass, adjoining
to which is a deep stream with a dangerous
ford. The water supply for Sydney is to be
drawn from this locality, and the extensive
works are now in progress. Time of journey
to Campbelltown from Sydney, rather better
than one hour and a half.
Route No.12-From Sydneyto Menangle
: 40 miles.-(See Route No. 9.)-­
This is a station on the Southern Line, G
miles further than Campbelltown. It has
some characteristic park-like scenery, the
country being more open than usual in this
part of the Colony. Menangle is much
visited by Sydney excursionists, and deserves
its popularity. Cultivation and grazing farms
on a limited flat and fertile area. You can
go to Menangle from the Sydney terminus in
a very short time, and return in the evening.
The surrounding country is elevated, and
undulates to the foot of the mountain range.
The steep ridge known as " Razorback" lies
about 3 miles to the westward. The loftiest
peak in the neighbonrhood is Mount Hunter.
Time of journey from Sydney to Menangle,
nearly two hours.
Route No. 13-From Sydney to Picton
: 53 miles.-Y ou can reach Picton by
the train from the Sydney terminus by a
short and pleasant trip. If you require a
cheerful rest and a reviving repose for a few
days, you may secure what you want by a railway
trip to this picturesque village, formerly
known as "Stonequarry." There are three
hotels here suitable for visitors. The viaduct
over the Stonequarry River is a grand piece
of masonry. The scenery at Picton chiefly
consists of precipitous hills, grassy glades, and
straggling woods. A ramble down the winding
rock-enclosed course of the "Stonequarry"
has delighted and astonished many an artist
and man of cultivated taste. Near this little
township the train passes through the Gibraltar
tunnel, 572 yards in length. This tunnel is
the longest in the Colony. Time of journey
from Sydney to Picton, two hours and a half.
Route No. 14-From Sydney to Mittagong
: 77 miles.-(See Route No. 8.)­
y ou can reach Mittagong from the Sydney
terminus after a comparatively short and
agreeable tra:jet. Grand and impressive views
in tl1is neighbourhood, at the Gibraltar Pass,
and pleasing scenery at Bowral and at Bong
Bong. Near Bowral (a thriving township
with a station 3 miles from Mittagong) there
is a long and admirably constructed tunnel.
Between Bowral and Moss Vale a platform
has been established and denominated Burradoo.
The district around is extremely
fertile and pretty, and as it lieR 2,168 feet
above sea-level, the air is pnre and bracing.
This place is much resorted to by families
seeking change of air. Time of journey from
Sydney to Mittagong, about three hours and
a half.

14 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Route No. 15--From Sydney to Moss
Vale : 86 miles.-(See Route No. 9. )-The
Sydney tourist to Moss Vale had better take
his wayside refreshment at the Mittagong
station, and secure such hotel accommodation
as he may require here on his arrival. Moss
Vale is considered to be one of t.he prettiest
districts in the Colony. The country around
is undulating, very fertile, and has the
appearance of an immense English park.
Here a country seat has been secured for the
Governor of the Colony, and in the vicinity
are fo-qnd the country seats of many influentia1
gentlemen. Good accommodation can be
secured either at Moss Vale or at the township
of Sutton Forest, 3 miles out. Moss Vale, on
account of its climate, is very much resorted
to by invalids, while those in search of the
picturesque will be satisfied by the views of
glen and waterfall that are to be seen within
easy distance of the station. Sportsmen
also may, by journeying some little distance
away, get a splendid day's shooting after either
the marsupials or after the feathered game
that is found in the district. Time of journey
from Sydney, rather better than five hours.
Route No. 16-From Sydney to Bungendore:
174 miles.-The recent opening
of the Railway to Tarago and Bungendore
has opened up a unique and delightful district
to the people of Sydney and the Colony.
The principal want in the matter of scenery
inland is the varied charm that is imparted
to a landscape by the presence of water either
in the form of lakes or picturesque views, but
in one district this want has been supplied
by the splendid sheets of water, known as
Lakes Bathurst and George, which are more
fully described in the itinerary. 'rrains run
daily from the metropolis to the stations
named, and the locality is one of much beauty
and fertility, the land in the vicinity of
the lakes sloping gracefully to meet their
waters, the lakes being also often thick with
flocks of wild fowl and abound with fish. In
addition to the enjoyment that is derived in
viewing the delightful scenery about the
lakes and from boating, fishing, and shooting
on its waters, the district possesses a splendid
climate and will no doubt attract, as facilities
are offered, thousands of visitors in search of
health, sport, and change of scene.
N ote.--Weekly Tourists' Trains.­
Once a week opportunities oceur for conveniently
visiting Campbelltown, Menangle,
Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, at cheap fares,
by the Tourists' Trains, which leave Sydney
for Goulburn on Saturdays at 8·30 a.m., and
return to Sydney terminus on the following
Monday morning, at a convenient hour.
This train will enable persons from Sydney
to visit either of the five above-mentioned
places; but the excursionist should wisely
elect before hand as to which of those places
he will stop at, until the return of this train
to Sydney.
[The above will, it is believed, be found to
be the principal routes for tourists from
Sydney downwards, on the Main Branch
Southern Line. Others may possibly be
suggested when the different stations and
stopping-places shall, in their regular and
consecutive order, come to be particularized.]

RICHMOND ROUTE. 15
RouTES ON THE SYDNEY TO RICHMOND SuBSIDIAR Y LINE.
Route No. 17-From Sydney to The
Hawkesbury, Wiseman's Ferry, and the
Macdonald River, via Windsor: 100
miles.-If the Sydney tourist wishes to visit
the Haw kesbury* and the Macdonald Rivers,
at a small expenditure of time and money,
he had better get a railway ticket to Windsor
at the Sydney terminus some afternoon-say
on a Saturday--and he may then, about
two hours afterwards, find himself in the
pleasant old town of Windsor, elsewhere
described. Three miles from the Windsor
Station stands Pitt Town, to the vicinity of
which the tourist may either walk or go by an
omnibus. From that point on the Hawkesbury,
so reached, a steamer starts. If the
excursionist, avoiding the numerous sinu-
. * ~he Hawkes bury (Deerubbum) is remarkable for
its smgularly tortuous course. Its basin has three
distinct slopes in the eastern watershed-a southern,
eastern, and western. The main stream comes from
the southern slope, and is first called The W ollondilly.
It successively receives the Mulwarree, the
Cookbundoon, the Wingecarribee, the Guinecor
Creek, and the N attai and Cox Rivers, and is then
ca.lled 'The W arragamba. ·when the Cowpasture
River has next contributed its waters the river
becomes known as The N epean, a name which it
bears until its junction with the Grose, which flows
down into the main river through a cleft in the
Blue Mountains. The river so constituted is, from
that point, known as The Hawkesbury, a name first
bestowed in order of time on this stream of many
aliases. After receiving the South Creek at
Windsor, and then the Colo and the Macdonald
Rivers, the Mangrove Creek and other minor
streams next become its tributaries; the Hawkesbury
finally discharging itself in the Pacific, at
Broken Bay. The entire length of the Hawkesbury
is generally estimated at 330 miles (130 miles longer
than the river Severn, in Great Britain), and it
drains a much disconnected area of about 9,000
miles. Owing to the immense area drained by the
Hawkesbury, and the flatness of the country in the
lower portion of its stream (but chiefly, perhaps, in
consequence of the confined and winding channel
below Windsor, through which the enormous
volume of accumulated waters cannot always with
sufficient velocity be discharged), the lower course
of this river is liable to sudden and dangerous floods.
The Hawkesbury received its name from the first
Governor of this Colony, Captain A. Phillip, R.N.,
in honour of Lord Hawkesbury.
(Connected with the Western Line.)
osities of the Hawkesbury, prefers to walk
(or ride) along the road to vViseman's Ferry,
he will .find his line of transit about half
the distance-from 24 to 25 miles only.
The scenery, both on the river and on the
road to the east of it, is, for the most part,
extremely interesting; but the best way to
see the Hawkesbury is, of course, to see it
from the river itself. Portland Head and
Sackville Reach are much admired; but all
along the banks of the Hawkesbury, from
vVindsor to Wisernan's Ferry, the frequent
farms and flourishing homesteads give a
cheerful British air to the ever changing
scene. A little way off the road the traveller
by land-at a place known as "Stone
Chimney," about half . way-will .find an
excellent stream of water. The " Maroota"
road, on which he journeys, having been
joined by the Great Northern Road, crosses
the Hawkesbury near its celebrated confluence
with the Macdonald, at a place called
Wisernan's Ferry. From the "Ferry" the
Northern Road stretches away northerly,
through a wild and desolate country, to W ollombi.
Two miles before reaching the
Hawkesbury the traveller, by land, has to
keep along a lofty ridge, which, descending
abruptly to the river, discloses a most enchanting
prospect. The Hawkesbury, about a
quarter of a mile wide here, sweeps round in
a semicircle; its calm, deep, lake-like expanse
being enclosed on all sides by forest-clad,
precipitous hills. At vViseman's Ferry the
traveller-whether he arrives by the road or
in the little steamer-will find cleared land,
an inn, a school-house, and an old ruined
church. The entrance to the Macdonald
River is about a mile or so below this picturesque
but decayed township. The still
waters of the little known Macdonald are
navigable by small craft up to the wharf near
St. Alban's, about 12 miles from the Hawkesbury.
The adjacent levels and banks of the
Macdonald are remarkably fertile and beautiful.
8t. Alban's-the only township in the
valley of the Macdonald-is secluded and

16 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
picturesque. The houses are built on the
sides of the hills surrounding this quaint
little town, in which will be found a stone
church, stores, a smithy, and a comfortable
inn, known as " The Settlers' Arms." From
this convenient stand-point an adventurous
tourist might, after crossing the" Ferry," pay
a visit ( via Snodgrass Valley) to the " Mangrove,"
in the Brisbane Water district. From
the Sydney terminus to Windsor the distance
by rail is 34 miles j from Windsor to Pitt
Town, where the steamer starts on her
riverine voyage, 3 miles j from Pitt Town to
Wiseman's Ferry (by the windings of the
Hawkesbury) about 50 miles j from Wiseman's
Ferry to the Wharf near St. Alban's
(on the Macdonald), rather more than 12
miles. Total distance from Sydney (say) 100
miles. The steamer returns from St. Alban's
to Pitt Town almost immediately after her
arrival. This route seems to suggest the
cheapest and most convenient way for any
family or party of friends to view the grand
and ever-changing scenery of the Vale of the
Hawkesbury and of that of the Macdonald.
The scenery on the Hawkesbury was much
admired by the celebrated novelist Anthony
Trollope, who considered that it compared
favourably with that of the Rhine. Excursionists
from Sydney and Parramatta can
easily reach Windsor by the train, and be
conveyed thence to where the steamer liesusually
at Pitt Town. Excursionists for the
Hawkesbury may also leave Sydney by
steamer to Manly, then travel overland to
Newport, from whence steamers start at
intervals, and run up the Hawkesbury. The
visitor can then return to Sydney from
Windsor by rail. Time of journey (by rail)
from Sydney to Windsor, about two hours.
Route No. 18-From Sydney to the
Kurrajong Heights, &c., via Richmond:
41 miles :-The Sydney tourist intending to
visit the Kurrajong Mountains (a northeasterly
off-shoot of the Blue Mountains commonly
so-called) will do well to possess
himself of a ticket at the Sydney terminus
some fine afternoon, and tu.king his seat in a
railway carriage he will find himself, about
two hours and a half afterwards, in Richmond,
a very pretty little country town,
elsewhere described. At the Richmond
railway station he can readily hire a commodious
car, in which he may-for a few
shillings-be whirled off, with all due expedition_,
to one of the many comfortable
accommodation houses to be found near the
top of the Kurrajong. This car, after
leaving Richmond by the cutting near the
Anglican Church, passes over a wide, dreary,
alluvial flat, at the northern limit of which
flows the Hawkesbury River (just after the
junction of the N epean with the Grose)
and here running easterly. Crossing the
river by an excellent bridge, the traveller
is first taken past the little hamlet q_f Enfield,
through some miles of an agreeable, undulating
country, with homesteads, orange
orchardR, and farms j over Wheeney Creek,
past "Lamrock's," and then up the steep
mountain side until he reaches his destination,
Belmore Lodge, or wherever else it
may be that he is determined to go. The
ascent of the road after Wheeney Creek is so
sudden that the alteration of the atmosphere
to a more bracing and healthy climate
becomes very perceptible, and is, moreover,
strikingly evidenced by a concurrent change
in the vegetation. From the windows of his
bedroom on the following morning the tourist
will find himself looking down upon a broad
and partly ·wooded expanse of hill country,
on the misty plains beyond which the
Hawkesbury is, here and there, to be seen
winding along towards the Pacific. The
towns of Richmond, Windsor, Pitt Town,
Wilberforce, Castlereagh, and Penrith-are
more or less visible j and even the exact site
of the metropolis, with its wide-spread
suburbs and adjacent coast ridge, can be
traced (beyond the blue hills of Parramatta)
in the extreme distance. In fact nearly
the whole of the broad county of Cumberland-hemmed
in towards the west and
south by far-off shadowy mountains-lies
before the enraptured view of the visitor to
the Kurrajong. At the back of Belmore
Lodge an abrupt ascent brings the visitor
to a well-known sylvan seat, whence the
prospect of the lower country can be seen
to the greatest advantage. On the summit
of the ridge a pretty sheltered path, trending
ea.sterly, leads through the woods to Mr.
Comrie's residence, from the grounds of
which there is a grand view to the south-

NORTHERN LIN.E ROUTES. 17
ward. When staying at the Kurrajong
the tourist should seize the opportunity of
visiting "the Vale of A voca"; so called from
the "meeting of the waters" of the Grose
with those of a large mountain stream,
unnamed, flowing out of one of the many
wild ravine1:1 of the Kurrajong. The best
way to view this lovely landscape is to hire
a horse and guide on the Kurrajong, and so
to make a day of it. The tourist will first
have to descend the mountain as far as
Lamrock's, and then to turn off and travel
for several miles in a westerly direction.
The Vale of A voca 1:1hould be approached
through a gum-tree forest, on a gradual
elevation from the southward, so that
nothing can be anticipated, and thus the
full grandeur and singular beauty of the
prospect allowed to burst suddenly upon you.
The Grose comes rapidly down its own
dreadful precipitous gorge to the left, and
the nameless stream hastening to meet it
rushes from the heavily wooded crags of the
Kurrajong, down before you from the right.
The last.mentioned stream sweeps onward
past the base of the rock on which the
spectator stands, and a mile or so away
unites with the Grose on its headlong course
to the Hawkesbury. In front, many hundred
feet below, a broad densely timbered
green peninsula---the colours softened by the
dizzy distance, as it rises from the water's
edge into a gentle eminence-contrasts
agreeably with the more sombre outlines of
the rude dark cliffs and lofty, forest-clad
mountains on either side, forming the frame,
as it were, to this charming picture. "The
meeting of the waters" is deemed by all who
have seen it to be well deserving of its distinguished
and poetic name: No tourist
should, if possiule, omit to pay a visit to this
locality. There are many agreeaLle rides
and drives about on the Kurrajong, commanding
a great variety of mountain and
forest scenery. Time of journey (by rail)
from Sydney to Richmond, about two hours
and twenty minutes.
ROUTES ON THE NORTHERN LINE.
I
l
Route No. 19-From Newcastle to
Tamworth: 182 miles.-The tourist who
leaves the Newcastle terminus for Tamworth
will in five hours and three-qun.rters reach
Murrurundi. If he starts by the first train
in the morning he had better take his breakfast
at Singleton, where there is a refreshment-room,
and where all passenger trains
stop for fifteen minutes. If he takes his
departure from Newcastle by the 9 o'clock
morning train (passengers and goods) he may
conveniently dine at Singleton at l ·35 p.m.,
before proceeding to Murrurnndi-which he
will, in that case, reach at about 10 minutes
past 7 in the evening. He will find Murrurundi
a prosperous inland town, situated on
the Page River, which ( conjoined with the
Isis) forms a western tributary to the Hunter.
Leaving M urrurundi he has then before him a
journey of 62 miles, and to pass eight stations
and stopping-places before he arrives at his
destination. The first of these is Temple
Court Platform, 1 mile from Murrurundi;
the second is Doughboy Hollow, a platform
5 miles further on; the third, Willow-tree
( or Warrah), a station 8 miles further ; the
fourth, Braefield Platform, 6 miles further ;
the fifth, Quirindi station, 4 miles further;
the sixth, Quipolly station, 6 miles further;
the seventh, W erris Creek station, 5 miles
further ; the eighth, Currabubula station,
9 miles further. 18 miles beyond Currabubula.
ttation Tamworth is situated. Of
these stations and stopping-places it may
here be remarked that Quirindi lies on the
northern slope of the Liverpool Range, 24
miles from Murrurundi, on the banks of the
Quirindi Creek, an eastern tributary of the
Namoi River. The line penetrating the
Liverpool Range arrives at Quirindi through
a well-formed tunnel 528 yards long, lined
with brickwork set in Portland cement.
Tamworth stands to the northward from
Quirindi, 38 miles ; Breeza is a small town,
west of Quirindi, 25 miles ; and W allabadah,
a pastoral and agricultural settlement, is 16
miles away to the eastward. 1.'ime of journey
from Newcastle to Tamworth, eight hours.
.
B

18 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Route No. 20-Newcastle to Glen
Innes: 323 miles.-Following the directions
given in Route No. 19, the traveller
will after a journey of about nine hours from
Newcastle arrive at Tamworth. Leaving
Tam worth, the line passes through very
pretty scenery, running along the valley of
the Cockburn until Moonbi is reached. Here
the ascent of the Moonbi Range is commenced,
and from this station onwards the
line runs almost on a continuous upward
grade, rising over 2,000 feet in 22 miles.
The scenery is wild and diversified throughout,
the mountains clothed with timber
rising bold and majestic on either side. The
.Macdonald River, mileage 217, is crossed by
a substantial iron girder bridge. After a
journey of over twelve hours the traveller
arrives at Armidale, the capital and cathedral
city of the New England district. From
Armidn1e onward the line rapidly ascends
until it reaches the culminating point at Ben
Lomond, 4,525 feet above sea level, this
being the highest point that the rails are
laid in Australia. The districts passed
through are fertile, and largely qevoted to
agricultural purposes, the climate and surrouudings
almost leading one to imagine he
was back in England-thus leading to the
adoption of the title "The New England
District," the produce and fruits common to
England growing here luxuriantly. Glen
Innes is a thriving town, and with the prospect
of the railways to Inverell and the Clarence
must become an important centre. It
is a clean-looking place, possessing many
good buildings, and the district offers many
advantages to those journeying for change of
air, pretty scenery, or health. It is; further,
an important mining centre, large quantities
of tin being forwarded from here to the seaboard.
Glen Innes is 110w the terminus of
the Great Northern Railway, but the extension
is in progress to T~nterfield, while
approval has been given for the further
extension to the Queensland border.
Route No. 21-From Newcastle to
Murrurundi: 120 miles.-For directions
on leaving Newcastle for Murrurundi see
Route No. 19 as to dining at SinglEfon, &c.,
&c. Murrurundi-at an elevation of 1,546
fees above the sea-level-lies 192 miles north
of Sydney, at the foot of the Liverpool
Range, 94 miles distant from the nearest
portion of the coast from the Pacific. This
town, which has a population of 350 souls, is
the centre of an extensive and progressive
district, principally devcted to pastoral
pursuits, but endowed with a varied amount
of mineral wealth not yet fully developed.
The land is in many parts of an excellent
quality, and, year by year, as the population
becomes more numerous, agriculture also
becomes more general, and, what is better, is
found to pay well. The local newspaper is
the Miirruruncli Tirnes. There is much fine
scenery in this district, especially in the more
elevated portions of it, for the Liverpool
Range is a magnificent chain of mountains-­
from 3,000 to 4,000 (sometimes even as much
as 5,000) feet high-rising, at irregular intervals,
into lofty detached peaks, with rugged
cliffs, and traversed by deep precipitous gorges.
Some of these picturesque localitiesare heavily
timbered, and some are well nigh denuded of
vegetation. Murrurundi Gap is 2,314 feet
above the level of the sea. One of the
highest and most remarkable mountains near
Murrurundi is Mount Murrulla, 3 miles
E.E.s. of the township. Mount Murrulla,
like Mount Wingen, is rather connected with
the Liverpool Range than an :1etual part of
that chain, which runs across the country to
the north of both. Mount Wingen, 1,820
feet high, lying a few miles east of Mount
M urrulla, is perhaps better known as "The
Burning Mountain," from the supposed accidental
ignition of a large coal seam beneath it.
The places of note near Murrurundi are as
follows :-Blackville, a pastoral settlement,
45 miles distant ; Blandford, another settlement
(agricultural as well as pastoral) on
Page River and vVarland Creek, 3 miles
south of Murrurundi; and The TVillow-tr ef3
or Wm·rah, the well-known station of the
· Australian Agricultural Company, 15 miles
distant from Murrurundi. Haydonton is a
suburb, now connected with Murrurundi
(since 1864) by the" Arnold Bridge." Tinwr,
on the river Isis, is a locality situated a
few miles to the eastward of M urrurundi,
and chiefly noticeable for its caves. "They
present," we are told, "a series of extensive
chambers, the floors of which are covered
with stalagmites, while stalactites of all ages

NORTHERN LINE ROUTES. 19
depend from the ceilings." Time of journey
from Newcastle to Murrurundi, rather less
than six hours.
Route No. 22-From Newcastle to
Scone~ 96 miles.-The tourist leaving
Newcastle by rail may, if he pleases, in less
than five hours find himself at; Scone, having
en route had the option of breakfasting or
dining at Singleton, according to the train
by which he may have come" down" the line.
(See directions for Route No. 19.) Scone is
rather a pretty little place, ::;ituated on the
banks of a stream oddly called the "Kingdon
Ponds," which, with the Darkbrook, forms a
western tributary of the Hunter, falling into
that river about 9 miles above the township
of Aberdeen. Scone, at an elevation of 680
feet above the sea-level, is reckoned to be
167 miles north of Sydney by the postal
route. It has a population of 600 souls.
It lies 7 miles west of Page River, and 7
miles north-west of the Hunter. The country
round Scone is mountainous, the adjacent
district being chiefly occupied for pastoral
purposes. Near the township is a plain,
on which are found quantities of fossil
wood, the rooted trunks of large fossil trees
standing in the ground, as if still in their
places of growth. Besides Aberdeen, abovementioned,
the principal places near Scone
are Bunnan and Rouchelbrook. In the
mountains and highland glens near Scone
there is much wild and picturesque scenery.
-11- beautiful spot there, called "Flat Rock,"
1s spoken of as well deservinO' of a visit.
Time of journey from Newcastle to Scone,
four and three-quarter hours.
Route No. 23-From Newcastle to
Musclebrook: 80 miles.-(For directions
as to place of stopping for breakfast or dinner
on this journey see Route No. 19.) The
traveller by rail from N ewcastl6 to Musclebrook
(or Muswellbrook) arrives at his destination
in about four hours after leaving the
Newcastle terminus. Muscle brook ( 47 b feet
above the sea-level) lies on the margin of the
lVIusclebrook and the Hunter, that river
skirting the township on its western side.
It is, by postal route, 152 miles north of
Sydney, and contains about 1,100 inhabitants.
There is a very handsome Anglican Church
here, noteworthy as being one of the finest
ecclesiastical edifices at present erected in the
northern portion of the Colony. The visitor
should go and see it, especially the interior.
The country around Muswellbrook is favourable
to the growth of wheat, maize, sugar,
tobacco, and the vine. Denman is a small
town, lying 16 miles south of Musclebrook,
about 2 miles above the confluence of the
Goulburn and Hunter Rivers, on the main
road from Maitland to Merri wa, Cassilis, and
Mudgee. The other settlements in the neighbourhood
of Musclebrook are Goorangoola,
Grass-tree, Gungal, Kayuga, and Wybong.
Time of journey from Newcastle to Musclebrook,
three hours.
Route No. 24-From Newcastle to
Singleton : 49 miles.-Singleton, the centre
of the rich and flourishing district of Patrick's
Plains, is an agreeable, well-planned country
town, on the Hunter River, 123 miles
north of Sydney by the postal route. Tbe
station is 135 feet above the sea-level. Here
there is a good refreshment-room, and trains
carrying passengers stop fifteen minutes.
Singleton is a wealthy, thriving place, with
comfortable inns, several churches, and other
handsome public edifices. The Court-house
is one of the finest buildings of the kind in
the Colony. The town (which has a good
local newr-ipaper) contains nearly 2,000 inhabitants.
The district, in which Singleton holds
the chief place, has many advantages for
pastoral and agricultural pursuits. The vine
is largely cultivated, quantities of good wine
being produced ; copper, iron, freestone, and
limestone are found in the adjacent country.
Jer1·y's Plains is a township on the Hunter,
19 miles west of Singleton, on the road from
Singleton to Cassilis. Coal abounds in its
neighbourhood, and other valuable mineral
deposits. The noticeable settlements nerrr
Singleton are :-Belford ( on the line 10 miles
south-east from Singleton), Bridgeman, Camberwell,
Glendon Brook, Howe's Valley,
Ravensworth, Scott's Flat, Sedgefield, St.
Clare, Vere, W arkworth, and vV est brook.
Time of journey from Newcastle to Singleton,
about two and a half hours.
Route No. 25- From Newcastle t o
West Maitland : 20 miles.-Maitland (by
many once not unfairly ranked next after the

------.
~ - )'{• ..
20 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
capital of the Colony, for its wealth and importance)
is divided into East Maitland and
West Maitland by Wallis Creek, over which
there is an excellent bridge. East Maitland
was the original Government township; but
when " Maitland" is now spoken of West
Maitland is generally meant-it being, of the
two, by far the larger and more important
place. Maitland lies low-only 124 feet above
the sea-level. Maitland is 12 miles south
of Paterson, the chief town of the Paterson
District. Maitland is also reckoned to be
95 miles from Sydney, by the ordinary postal
route, 20 miles by rail from the Newcastle
Terminus, and 29 miles from Singleton. West
Maitland contains several good hotels and
fine public buildings, with many commodious
churches and schools. The population of
-West Maitland in 1881 was 5,703 souls.
The townships, villages, and settlements
near East and West Maitland are: Anvil
Creek, Bishop's Bridge, Branxton, Buchanan,
Creswick, Elderslie, Farley, Greta (late
Farthing's), Hinton, Largs, Lochinvar,
},[orpeth, Mount Vincent, Rothbury, and
W oodville. Of these, Lochin var, Greta, and
Branxton are stopping-places on the Great
Northern Railway, to the west of Maitland ;
and Morpeth is to the north-eastward, at a
distance of 6 miles. Morpeth is the head
of the navigation of the Hunter River, and
steamers constantly ply between it and
Sydney.
Route No. 26-From Newcastle to
East Maitland: 18 miles.-East Maitland
station-reached by the railway traveller
after a trip of rather less than one hour's
duration-is situated in a pleasant spot, with
rising ground near it, the station itself being
not more than 18fe et above the sea-level. E ast
Maitland is considered to be one of the best
laid out towns in the Colony, and when the
numerous trees, so judiciously planted, shall
have grown up, it will be one of the most
picturesque. In its wide and well kept
streets there are many excellent and substantial
buildings, churches, banks, hotels,
and shops. The Government gaol and the
adjacent Court-house are both fine and commodious
buildings, standing on a gentle
eminence to the north-east of the township.
The population of East Maitland in 1881
was 2,302 persons. Courts of Quarter
Sessions and Circuit Courts are held here.
You can go from East Maitland direct by
the subsidiary line, which starts from here
to Morpeth. Near East Maitland (to the
eastward) are Morpeth, Wickham, Woodford,
and Hinton. Time of journey, about fiftyfive
minutes.
Route No. 27-From Newcastle to
Waratah: 4 miles.-Waratah is a busy
thriving township, only 4 miles west of Newcastle,
and not more than 13 feet above highwater-mark.
It is said to have a population
of about 3,000 souls, the principal industries
being coal-mining, stone-quarrying, and
copper-smelting. Coal is shipped from shoots
into vessels lying in the lower waters of the
Hunter at Point W aratah. At the distance
of about l} mile west of Waratah the
Wallsend subsidiary line joins on to the
Great Northern Railway. There is no particular
beauty in any of the surroundings of
Waratah, but it is outside of the "great coal
city" into something like the country, and
the place is consequently a favourite resort
to the citizens of N ewcastle, from which it
lies about 10 minutes' distance, by rail.
Besides Waratah the places near N ewcastlo
are Stockton, Honeysuckle Point, Hamilton,
Lam bton, Minmi, New Lambton, Plattsbnrg,
Wallsencl, Brookstown, H exliani, Alnwick,
Adamstown, Charlestown, Onoygamba, and
Tighe's Hill. W allsend and H exham are
connected (by rail) with the terminus at
N ewcastle.

NORTHERN LINE ROUTES. 21
ROUTES ON NORTHERN AND NORTH-WESTERN LINES.
There are three sn bsidiary lines to the
Northern line, but they are not of such
length and importance as the subsidiary
line from Blacktown to Richmond, or the
line from Wallerawang to Mudgee. 1. The
fi1·st of these is the subsidiary li1rn from
Newcastle to Bullock Island ; 1} mile. This
joins the main line at Honeysuckle Point,
just outside Newcastle. It is not much used
for passengers, but is used for the conveyance
of coal and other mineral products. Over
1,000,000 tons of coal are carried over the line
annually and shipped at the steam cranes here.
2. The second of these subsidiary lines to
the Great Northern line runs from Newcastle
(westerly) to Wallsend-a distance of
8 miles. There is a morning and afternoon
train every day (including Sundays) and the
trajet is made in 35 minutes. The trains
between Newcastle and W allsend call, either
way, at Waratah (at Hamilton only if required)
and at Honeysuckle Point. Wallsend,
the terminus of this subsidiary line, is
a busy, rising, incorporated town, with
adjacent collieries. It already numbers at
least 5,000 inhabitants. Wallsend is 20
miles north-east of Cooranbong, by which,
after a journey of 32 miles to the southward,
Gosford, tl1e pretty chief township of Brisbane
Water, may conveniently be reached. There
is a good road, and the telegraph line runs
along the same all the way. Cooranbong can
ahio be reached by a road southerly from
Maitland. 3. The third subsidiary line-­
that frdrn East Maitland to Morpeth-is, in
its extreme length, 4 miles long. There are
several trains on it every day (including
Sundays) and the trajet is made in half an
hour. The trains between East Maitland
and Morpeth call at Northumberland-street,
which is the only intermediate stopping-place
on the line. This subsidiary line is one of
great practical use to the inhabitants of the
towns it connects, especially when it is
remembered that Morpeth is the head of the
navigation of the Hunter River.
RouTE OF MAIN BRANCH NoRTH-WESTERN LINE.
The North-western line leaves the main
Northern Rail way at W erris Creek and
runs to N arrabri, a distance of 97 miles.
vVerris Creek is 155 miles from Newcastle,
and N arrabri is consequently 252 miles from
the seaport. The line was opened to
Narrabri in October, 1882, but at times
between the 15th March, 1879, when the first
section from vV erris Creek to Breeza ,va.s
completed, various sections have been opened
for traffic. The line passes through the
well known Liverpool Plains District, which,
although almost entirely at present devoted
to pastoral purposes, may, now that the
Railway has reached the district, be in tirne
devoted to agriculture, the soil, it is said,
being very suitable for wheat-growing, and
it is confidently expected that a system of
irrigation can be carried out on these plains.
The stations on the North-western branch
are Breeza, Gunnedah, an important town,
containiug 1,331 inhabitants, Boggabri and
N arrabri. The line will at some future date
be extended to the river Darling, the Government
having promised to submit a proposal
to Parliament to construct .a line from
N arrabri to the town of W algett on the
river named, and it is anticipated that little
or no opposition will be raised to this
extension.

22 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
RAILWAY ITINERARY AND DESCRIPTIONS OF SCENERY.
STATIONS AND PLATFORMS, &c.
I .-S Y D N E Y T O G RA N V I L L E .
(MAIN TRUNK LINE.)
N.B.-" Suburb::m Trains" to the Town of PARRAMATTA, I mile beyond Granville to the N.,v.
Eveleigh 1 mile; 70 feet above sealevel.-Eveleigh,
only a short distance to the
left, beyond the Redfern Railway Tunnel, is
reckoned a mile from the Sydney Terminus.
Short as this distance is by rail, this platform
is found to be very convenient for persons residing
at Alexandria, Redfern, and Waterloo.
As the passenger leaves the Sydney terminus
he may have a good view of three handsome
stone edifices near the line-the Railway
Mortuary Station, with the Wesleyan Church
to the right, and St. Paul's Anglican Church
and Tower to the left. The Railway workshops
at Eveleigh, now in course of construction,
will bewhencompleted the mostextensive
south of the Equator, a~cl are to. be £tted up
with all the most modern appliances for the
construction and repair of engines and other
rolling stock. The buildings on the lefthand
side are the boiler, steam-hammer, and
smiths' shops, and foundry, under one roof
300 feet long, in four bays of 60 feet each;
the next block, 550 feet by 300 feet, will
comprise the other worshops in connection
with the locomotive department. The engine
running-shed is 303 feet by 300 feet, and is
capable of accommodating 126 engines of the
largest type. On the right side of the line
are situated the carriage and waggon repairing
shops, in a block of buildings 600 feet by
351 feet ; also, the rail way stores and other
buildings. At night the yard is lit up with
the electric light.
M'Donald Town 1! mile; 80 feet
above sea-level.- Having passed Eveleigh,
the passenger by the train has, at once,
to tl:e left, a fine prospect of Botany
Bay in the distance, across a level, open,
country, with the church and viJlage of St.
Peter's on elevated ground to the westward.
On the right of the line can now be seen the
grand architectural outlines of the Sydney
University-to the west of which ( on the
ridge of the hill, close to Newtown) stands
the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Asylum-a
curious red brick building, in marked contrast
to its more pretentious neighbour. The
M'Donald Town Platform is placed at a
siding, just where the Railroad winds to the
right before it enters Newtown. It is between
Eveleigh and M'Donald Town that the Railway
to Illawarra joins the Main Southern
Railway.
Newtown Station, 2 miles ; 96 feet
above sea-level.-The Railroad, ascending
gradually from the terminus, now runs under
a bridge and through the pleasant suburban
township of Newtown. Emerging from the
shadow of a second bridge, the traveller
usually finds that the train halts for a few
moments at the Newtown Station, close to a
pretty Gothic church erected by the Roman
Catholic communion. Appointed time for
train to reach the N ewt,own Station after leaving
the Sydney terminus, about six minutes.
Stanmore, 2! miles ; about 100 feet
above sea-level.-This platform stands
about half-wav between Newtown and
Petersham St~tions, and is for the convenience
of the residents of Stanmore. In
the neighbourhood is the vV esleyan Training
College, N ewington.

ITINERARY-SYDNEY TO GRANVILLE. 23
Petersham Station, 3 miles ; 100 feet
above sea-level.-Having left Newtown,
the traveller by the train is pleased to observe
an excellent and comprehensive view stretching
away to the northward-to the heights
of the picturesque surburban hamlet of
Balmain, the church towers and houses of
which here first become plainly visible.
Beyond Balmain the North Shore hills
extend in the extreme distance. On the
southern side of the line, houses, villas,
gardens, and slowly developing streets are
successively presented; where (not long since)
there was nothing but open country, or shady
" bush." On approaching Petersham Station
a forn view over the country unfolds itself to
the right-the celebrated "Blue Mountains "
becoming visible far away to the westward.
Petersham Station is now the centre of a
thickly populated suburban district, and on
the slopes around it are many really delightful
villas and gardens. Usual time of tmjet
from Sydney to Petersham, about twelve
minutes.
Summer Hi11, 4 miles; about 90 feet
above sea-level.-A few years ago Summer
Hill formed one large estate (Underwood's).
It was subsequently subdivided and sold,
and from its proximity to the city, commanded
a ready sale. Houses were soon
built and a platform established, and now
the traffic to and from this place is very
considerable. Quitting the Petersham Station
the Railroad for a while traverses a rolling
country, numerously inhabited. The burialground
and Roman Catholic Church of St.
Mary and St. Joseph then stand together for
a moment near the advancing train to the
right ; and, after that, the old village of
Petersham comes directly in view, down in
the hollow, lying on the side of the Parramatta
Road. The course of the train brings the
tourist next, somewhat abruptly, by a viaduct
over Long Cove Creek, a stream which flows
along the bottom of the gorge, down whichaway
towards the Parramatta River-is suddenly
disclosed .a long v.ista of picturesque
woods. The slender spire of St. David's
Presbyterian Church is seen amongst the
trees to the north-west in the mid distance.
Ashfield Station, 5 miles ; 86 feet
above sea level-A mile from Summer Hill
the important suburb of Ashfield is reached.
After leaving Summer Hill the southern edge
of the old Ashfield Racecourse is gained, with
the old Southern Road from Sydney on the
right hand ; and so, passing under a briJge
and through a deep cutting between houses,
orchards, and gardens, the train comes
thundering into Ashfield. Ashfield is the
centre of a very populous district. To the
left, about 2 miles distant, is the old township
of Canterbury, situated on the Cook's River.
The suburb contains many residences with
very tastefully laid out gardens, while the district
around contains many charming drives
and bits of scenery. Time between the
Sydney and Ashfield Stations, about fifteen
minutes.
Croydon Station, 6 miles ; 86 feet
above sea-level.-The railway passenger,
on leaving Ashfield Station, is now (for about
a mile) hurried past an agreeable bit of home
scenery, diversified by gardens and trees,
with a wide, uneven space on either side of
the road in the back gronnd, where Nature
has not yet been ruthlessly h11provecl away.
Streets (for the most part mere lanes) intersect
this tract, whereon stand villas and
gardens belonging to Sydney people, displaying
a considerable amount of domestic comfort,
originality, and even elegance of design.
Vistas of plen,sant country roadways-green,
and as yet innocent of dust and mirestretch
up the gentle eminences to the left
and right.
Burwood Station, 7 miles; 68 feet
above sea-level.-After passing Croydon
platform, the railway traveller will at first
only see a continuation of such scenery as
he has been observing between Ashfield and
Croydon. Nevertheless (just before he arrives
at the prosperous village of Burwood) he may
catch a passing view of the Congregational
Church to the right, near the Burwood
Station ; and he may likewise-beyond that
pretty little ecclesiastical edifice-observe the
Anglican Church on the Parramatta Road,
with a good view of Balmain and the North
Shore hills in the distance. To the left he
will doubtless notice another handsome

24 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Anglican Church (with an adjacent schoolhouse)
on Burwood heights ; also more bush
sceneE", presenting a series of gardens and
woodland glades. Near Burwood, on the
line, he may likewise get a hasty glimpse .to
the north-west of the hill country near Parramatta.
The p9,ssenger traffic at Burwood
is largely fed by the residents of Enfield and
Bankstown on the one side, and of the district
between Burwood and the south bank of the
Parramatta River on the otlrnr. Appointed
time from Sydney to Burwood, usually about
twenty-four minutes.
Redmyre Platform, 7! miles; 60 feet
above sea-level.-A half-mile beyond Burwood,
to the westward, is a platform named
Redmyre, for the convenience of residents in
the adjacent honses and villas. The line to
connect the Southern with the Northern
Rail way system will join the Great Southern
Railway between Redmyre and Homebush.
The works are now in progress.
Homebush Station, 8 miles; 32 feet
above sea-level.-Between Burwood and
H omebush there is a considerable descent on
the line, amounting to not less than 36 feet.
After passing the Redmyre platform the
railway traveller has a distant view of the
country to the north-west, across an open
range of forest. The hills beyond Parramatta
now more plainly appear; and there is
also an unexpected prospect of the long
settled country about Ryde across the Parramatta
River. The tops of the Blue Mountains
are again visible to the westward. On
the right the traveller (if a sporting man)
may observe, with some interest, the old
Homebush Racecourse-which, before the
establishment of Randwick, was the one
great arena for race-horses, jockeys, and
bookmakers. Homebush, like Summer Hill,
was until recently thinly populated, on
n.ccount of the land in the vicinity being
locked up. After the subdi-rision of the land
in 1878 houses commenced to spring up on
all sides, and Home bush is now fast becoming
well peopled. In the vicinity several works
have been establishetl. A little beyond the
station extensive cattle yards have been corn
pleted The yards are capable of holding
1,200 cattle and 12,000 sheep, and have cost
upwards of £60,000. They cover not less
than 40 acres of ground, and are intersected
throughout by . Railway sidings, and everything
has been arranged that can make them
convenient. The yards were built under the
supervision of the City Council.
Rookwood Station, 10 miles ; 55 feet
above sea-level.-Between Homebush and
Rookwood Station-a distance of 2 milesthe
country adjacent to the Railroad is of a
dreary character, somewhat suitable to the
locality approached-the great Metropolitan
Cemetery or N ecropofoi, at Haslem's Creek.
The grounds have been laid out with great
taste, and present to the passing traveller a
cheery picture, taking away the melancholy
thoughts that would arise in viewing the city
of the dead were it not relieved by tasteful
parterres and shrubs and handsome mausoleums.
The buildings connected with this
cemetery are really handsome edifices-the
Mortuary House, or Station, at the end of the
siding on the ground particularly so. The
Jewish Burial-ground adjoins that appropriated
to all the various denominations of
Christians, who here sleep peacefully together.
This station was once known as "Haslem's
Creek," but it has assumed the name of
"Rookwood"-a name borrowed, it would
appear, from Harrison Ainsworth's wellknown
"deadly-lively" romance. The trains
reach Rookwood from Sydney in half an
hour. Funeral trains stop at Rookwood,
and are shunted into the cemetery sidingwhich
is about a quarter of a mile long.
Auburn Platform, 12 miles; about 40
feet above sea-level-Auburn is a platform
recently established. The locality was
formerly covered with scrub, but now buildings
are going up rapidly, and the scrub is
fast making way for the erection of handsome
villas and the laying out of ornamental
grounds. A mile beyond Auburn, Duck
River is reached, and here numerous manufa.ctories
have been started. On the banks of
the river or creek, the extensive range of buildings
for Hudson Brothers Company have been
erected. These buildings are for the manufacture
of Railway rolling stock, and are the
largest and best works of the kind in the
Colonies. The erection of these works has

ITINERARY-SYDNEY TO WATERFALL. 25
necessarily created population, and now
numbers of workmen's houses are fast being
put up. There are also in the vicinity other
important works-Ritchie's Railway Stock
Works, Thompson, Maxwell & Co.'s fellmongery,
Messrs. Bergin's tweed manufactory,
meat-preserving works, and numer~us
brickworks. A platform has also been established,
denominated Clyde.
Granville Station, 13 miles; 32 feet
above sea-level.-'I 1 his Junction is 1 mile
from the Parramatta Station, and is a place
which owed its existence originally to the
Rail ways. Here the Southern Main Branch
joins the Western Trunk Line; the Trunk
Line itself turning to the N.W., to go through
the old town of Parramatta. The suburban
trains go past the Junction into the town of
Parramatta, and stop there/ but in all other
trains there is a change here for passengers
or goods destined to go South. The suburban
trains, of course, travel more slowly than
the other trains, but the usual time for the
journey between Sydney and Granville is
reckoned to be rather more than half an hour.
Through the establishment of the works
in its vicinity Granville is rapidly rising to
be a place of some importance, and has been
incorporated.
II.-SYDNEY TO WATERFALL-ILLAWARRA RAILWAY.
In 1881, Parliament approved of the
extension of the Railway to the lllawarra
district, the line approved of running almost
parallel with the coast. The Railway was
soon afterwards commenced, and in 1884 the
first section viz; from Sydney to Hurstville,
10 miles, was thrown open for pnblic traffic.
Other sections of the line are in progress
but it will be 1888 before the wholo is
finished. The route traversed is one of tlie
deepest interest both on account of the
magnificent scenery passed through, and
for the extensive mineral resources it will
develope. In regard to scenery there is first,
the view at Como on the George's River,
the Railway crossing the river by a handsome
iron bridge of 900 feet in length. The
crossing is at a spot where two rocky promontories
approach each other, but on either side
the river widens into broad reaches, and from
the bridge a magnificent view is obtained, on
the east of a long stretch of river, the banks
rising in many parts abruptly from the water,
while in other places the river is bounded
by sandy bays ; on the west the mouth of
a tributary stream is first discernible at a
sharp bend of the river, which a little further
on appears as if shut in by the rugged hills
that close upon it. Beyond Como the line
touches the National Park of the Colony,
a magnificent heritage of some 36,000 :wrcs,
boasting an excellent port, a river, and glens
that vie, in regard to scenic beauty, with
a.nything in the world. There arc also the
Bulli and the Il1awarra districts, which
are admittedly the natural gardens of the
Colony, while they possess splendid mineral
resources, even now largely worked, and a
large area of cultivated Janel. ·
Returning to the opened portion of the
Illawarra Railway it may be mentioned ,that
the line branches from the Main Railway at
Eveleigh, and the first station reached is
Erskinville, one mile from Sydney. This
proves of great convenience to a large
body of workmen who have homes in the
vicinity.
St. Peters Station, 2 miles ; 35 feet
above sea-level-St. Peters proper is a
municipality touching the adjacent boroughs
of Alexandria, Newtown, and Marrickville.
The municipal population of the borough,
which was proclaimed in 1871, is 778 and
the annual value of property, £24,576. St.
Peters boasts of two Post Offices, a Telegraph
Office, Money Order and Savings' Bank, six
hotels, five places of public worship, two
schools, and a private Lunatic Asylum. St.
Peter's is the centre of the brickmaking in-

~
26 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
dustry and to the left nearing the station may
be seen numerous kilns bespeaking the extent
of the works carried on.
Marrickville, 3 miles ; 13 feet above
sea-level.-The principal features of this
not very attractive Suburb are market gardens
and brickvards. To the west lies the more
populous

(/J

#" or L,fh 0.8G. /9
GuIDEMAP
shewing
ILLAWARRA RAILWAY
TO WATERFALL
The part open to 30~h June 1886 ._--.. __ .. -_~,~
1
\
and- -the ·;-
N AJ JO NAL PARK '
LlJUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
New South Wales
/'.;rh Bound,Jr!J slu:wn thus ·--·--·
IILOO
/PADDINCTON
WOOLLAHIIA
WAVERLEY
11.ANOWICK
BOTANY
Pt:-flfNu11sr
HCICNT
1;
,J,'
,;:~~
j
i: ..,
t:::,.r; : {"~1,~
,,, ............ ----~-,;.;1r.......... J ... ,1'
Ii
,, ,.
1.Y
Scale 2 lr1iles t.o Or.e Inch
, z

ITINERARY-SYDNEY TO WATERFALL. 27
magnificent bridge which spans George's
River. There area Public School, Post Office,
Branch of Bank of Australasia, and two hotels
here, while the residential population is rapidly
increasing. Between Kogarah and Hurstville
the line rises 150 feet, the latter station
commanding an extensive view over Botany,
while the white sands of Cronulla Beach are
seen glistening to the eastward. George's
River is two miles from Hurstville Station.
Como, 13 miles ; 50 feet above sealevel.
-After leaving Hurstville, the line
passes through a locality which is commencing
to show the benefit of railway extension,
as numerous substantial dwellings have been
or are being erected ; and to provide for the
people in the neighbourhood, a platform is
now being erected at Penhurst, about one
mile from H urstville. Between this and
Como there are few signs of settlement, and
the land stands in its natural state ; provision
has, however, been made for a platform
at Oatley's, midway between Penhurst and
Como. Shortly after passing Oatley's some
pretty glens are seen, the country becoming
more broken, sloping to the river, and the
shrubs and trees more varied. Soon the
river is seen gleaming through the trees, and
the train speeds on, bringing the traveller to
the river, which is crossed by a handsome,
iron-lattice bridge of 900 feet in length.
The view from the carriage is a very fine
one, the river below and above the bridge
being a majestic stream offering a long,
straight course, which will no doubt, in time,
be the scene of many aquatic contests. On
either side the river brP-aks into many miniature
bays and picturesque woodlands, while
to the right may be seen the junction of the
W oronora with the main river, this tributary
running for many miles back, in places parallel
with the railway. Como is situated on
the banks of the main stream, near the
junction, and the land here is the property
of the Holt-Sutherland Company. The owners
have done much to make the surroundings
pleasant, and it is now a favourite pleasure
resort, being within such easy reach of
Sydney. Boats are always obtainable, and
fish are plentiful, and excellent picnicking and
camping grounds are available.
Sutherland Station, 15 miles ; 360
feet above sea-level- At about }-mile
from Como Station the line turns southeasterly,
bringing again into view that
excellent example of engineering work, the
Como railway-bridge, and the enchanting
scenery of the bays and inlets of George's
River. The line then proceeds · southerly,
continuing up a steep incline of 1 in 40 till
Sutherland is reached; and here the line first
touches the National Park. It contains an
area of 36,300 acres, and extends along the
main Illawarra railway-line from within 200
yards of Sutherland Station to the range 800
feet above sea-level, bounding the southerly
watershed of Waterfall Creek, and 800 yards
beyond Waterfall station, 24J miles from
Sydney. The railway-stations within the
park upon the main line are Heathcote, 630
feet above sea-level at 20 miles, and Waterfall,
730 feet above sea-level at 24 miles from
Sydney. The situation of the National Park
relatively with Sydney, Botany, &c., is shown
upon the map in appendix. The Park has
7} miles frontage to the ocean (including a
boat-harbour at W attamolla, and inlets with
ocean beaches at Marley Beach, Little Marley
Beach, Curracurrong, and Garie) and 4 miles
frontage to the southerly side of Port Hacking
River. Within the park, Port Hacking
River flows for 9! miles, including 5! miles
navigable for boats, namely, 4 miles fresh
water above the dam at Audley, and l!
miles salt water below that dam. Kangaroo
Creek, fresh water, flows into Port
Hacking River at Audley, and is similarly
navigable for 1 i mile.
The land in the National Park rises from
sea-level to table-lands, at altitudes varying
from about 350 feet to over 800 feet, and
from which excellent and extensive views are
from many points observable. The tablelands
are partly fair land, and partly barren
stony heaths. The table-lands are generally
separated by deep valleys.
The valleys of the principal watercourses,
notably at Port Hacking River and Bola
Creek to a large extent abound in rich
foliage, including cabbage-tree and bangalo
palms, tree-ferns, christmas, myrtle, and
other handsome shrubs, numerous well grown
black-butt, woolly-butt, turpentine, and
other noble forest-timber trees rising, at the

j
28 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
southerly and south-easterly part, above the
confluence of Bola Creek with Port Hacking
River, to heights up to nearly 200 feet, and
bordering adjacent beautiful streams, having
occasionally long reaches of deep and shaded
fresh water.
Principal features in the :Park are Port
Hacking River and Kangaroo Greek, each
vastly improved by works instituted by the
park trustees, and carried out under their
directions. One important and very necessary
improvement effected is the removal
of thousands of tons of fallen timber and
detached rocks from the streams. Prior to
such improvements, boat-navigation of the
most beautiful parts was very difficult,
except at high tide, and impossible at low
tide. Now, as the result of the removal of
obstructions and construction of the dam
near Audley, a long length of the river and
Kangaroo Creek are 11t all times navigable
for very large boats and small steam-launches.
Bola Creek, an important confluent. of
Port Hacking River, South-west Arm Creek,
and Cabbage-tree Creek, each will repay
inspection, Bola Creek on account of the
richness of the foliage and the other creeks,
mainly owing to the beautiful, bold, and
varied scenery. Further detailed information
will be found under the headings, Loftus,
Heathcote, and Vl aterfall Stations.
In the park, within}-mile east of Sutherland
Station, a grand, extensive, and very beautiful
view of the waters and valley of W oronora
River is visible, and of the land as far as
Peakhurst Heights. Standing at the easterly
margin of the gorge, 300 feet above, and not
m:)re than 400 yards distant from the river
at its confluence with Forbes Creek, the
spectator cannot fail to be pleased with the
prospect. If time permits, the walk should
be continueJ to the confluence of Forbes
Creek, where there are excellent bathing
places ; the water (salt) clear as crystal,
shallow or deep as may be desired, with
good diving and landing places.
Loftus 17} miles; 390 feet above sealevel.-At
1 i mile beyond Sutherland, a
branch line leaves the main line and proceeds
south-easterly, for l} mile, over the
clear area of 220 acres recently (April, 1886)
used as the military encampment and review
ground, and from which very beautiful views
are obtained of Redfern, Randwick, Botany
Bay, Captain Cook's landing place, La Perouse,
the Ocean, Cronulla Beach, Jibbon
Beach at Port Hacking. The branch line
terminates at Loftus Station, 17 ! miles from
Sydney, 390 feet above sea-level. At this
place a hotel has been erected, now kept by
Mr. Sebastian Hodge.
Before proceedi1{g to the river, it will
well repay the visitor to walk easterly about
-i-mile along the summit or range, between
Port Racking River and Temptation Creek.
The views therefrom of the river and ocean
are superior, and looking back, the large
cleared area intersected by the branch railway
line, and bounded upon the north-west
by the main railway line and the southwesterly-the
upper side-by scrub and
forests presents decidedly an effective picture.
Returning to the vicinity of Loftus Heights,
the visitor should next proceed to the river
by the zigzag pathway laid out for the convenience
of pedestrians and equestrians.
Upon reaching the river, the use of a
boat should be obtained if the visitor desires
sport with a fishing-line upon the salt
water, or to enjoy an exploration of the
many pretty bends and inlets of the river
and port. As there are several shallow fiats
at this part, it is well to look to the tide, as
transit with the tide is naturally more expeditious,
and at very low tides the difficulties in
rowing are very largely increased. A -!--mile
below the zigzag, upon the left-hand side of
the river, a rocky precipice, prettily marked
with ferns, mosses, &c., rises upwards of 200
feet, and presents a striking appearance. A
mile lower down and opposite Mangrove
Creek-a pretty little inlet-is a remarkably
hollow rock jutting into the stream, and
known as Swallow Rock. One mile still
further down, and most charmingly situated,
opposite Mangrove Island-a pretty isletis
a substantial hut known as Fountain
Cottage, where a Park Ranger resides upon
the National Park, in the midst of the
deer park. Upon the right-hand side of
the river, 100 yards southerly from the
cottage, a fountain gushes out of the rock
into a miniature bay; boats can readily
come alongside the fountain, and the pure,
fresh water is easily obtained without the

ITINERARY-SYDNEY TO WATERFALL. 29
necessity of landing. The fountain and
cottage are within the deer park, upon which
are running and thriving a number of deera
donation from the trustees of the Parramatta
Park. The deer park has a waterfrontage
of nearly 2 miles, and contains 135
acres, in the main well grassed, with a never
failing supply of fresh water. In the positions
indicated upon the map, and opposite the
National Park, are the extensive inlets known
as North-west Arm, Gymea, Ewey, Burranear,
and Gunnamatta Bays, and within the
boundaries of the park are the South-west
Arm and the charming inlet Cabbage-tree
Creek; the latter can, however, only be
entered by boat for about an hour before or
an hour after high tide, as there is a sandshoal
at the entrance. Persons who mn,y
be able to spare the time are, however,
strongly advised to watch the opportunity
and row up the creek to the head of boatnavigation,
lf mile-the scenery is varied
and beautiful. After proceeding up a
shallow channel f-mile, the visitor will be
agreeably surprised by suddenly coming into
a grand basin, nearly circular and about 400
yards in diameter ; then the creek narrows
and is bordered by varied foliage, including
a few tree-ferns and some small, elegant
cabbage-tree palms. Half a mile northwesterly
from the entrance of Cabbage-tree
Creek is Port Hacking sand-spit, about 600
yards long, and which adds effect to the
scenery, especially when viewed from the
water on a bright day. Half a mile easterly,
beyond the entrance of Cabbage-tree Creek,
Mr. Simpson's accommodation house, "Tyreal
House," is reached; next, and just beyond
that commanding rise, Cabbage-tree Point,
is the Yarmouth Estate, upon which is
erected the comfortable bungalow of W. W.
Richardson, Esq. On the frontage in this
estate is an excellent beach of hard, clear,
white sand. One mile further easterly is
Port Hacking Point. At the entrance to
Port Hacking, before reaching this point,
there is another beautiful sand-shore known
as Jibbon Beach, upon the frontage of the
Government village reserve of 500 acres.
Points of Interest along the Coast.­
About 3} miles southerly from Port Hacking
Point there is a Government reserve having
frontage to the ocean at Marley Beach. Partly
within this reserve and partly upon the
National Park is a fine lagoon or lakelet,
formerly a favourite resort for wild duck and
other game; and as shooting is prohibited
upon the park, game should ultimately
again become plentiful in the neighbourhood.
Half a mile southerly is Little Marley, a
small ocean-beach. About lf mile further
south-westerly, or 5! miles from Port Hacking
Point, the pretty boat-harbour and good
fishing-grounds of "\V attamolla are reached.
"Within !-mile of W attamolla, still southwesrerly,
there is the ocean inlet of Curracurrang,
and at the south-eastern corner of
the park, and extending for !-mile northerly
therefrom, is the beautiful ocean-beach Garie.
It is :fittingly backed by charming valleys,
bedecked with cabbage-tree palms, tree-ferns,
myrtles, &c. Garie beach, which adjoins Mr.
Collaery's Garie Estate, is distant in a direct
line 9 miles from Port Hacking Point, 10
miles by road from Simpson's "Tyreal House"
or from the Spit, and 8 miles by road from
Audley (National Park camp). At frequent
intervals the views from those roads, which
are generally along the summits of ranges
which intersect the park, splendid and extensive
views are visible.
The beautiful bays of Port Hacking, Cronulla
Beach, Botany Bay, the Ocean, Bulgo
Mountain, &c., are seen to advantage.
Starting again from the foot of the zigzag
path below Loftus Station, the visitor may
now (as a result of the judicious improvements
effected under tho direction of the park
trustees, including the construction of the
dam at Audley, Lady Carrington Road, &c.,
and clearing Port Hacking River and Kangaroo
Creek of snags ( fallen timber) and
detached rocks formerly in the channels)
comfortably inspect the beautiful foliage, landand
water- scapes of the valleys of these
streams, and of Bola Creek, &c., either upon
foot or riding, driving, or for over 5 miles by
boat-the latter, perhaps, the most enjoyable
means so far as can be availed of. The dam,
300 feet across, solidly constructed of clay,
stone, &c., with a roadway 33 feet wide on
top, is a great advantage; and its successful
construction, with the result of converting
insignificant, salt-water streams, which
could not be rowed over in the smallest boats

- ~ .
30 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
at low tide, practically into a charming freshwater
lake, 5} miles in length, and continu- ·
ously navigable at all times by the largest
boats or by small steam-launches, is an
achievement in respect of which the park
trustees may well be congratulated. Vegebtion
characteristic of fresh-water rivers is
now thriving, and will in the future aflord
fine cover for game, which will increase in
number, as shooting in the park is strictly
prohibited. The trmitees have caused to be
introduced to the river trout and English
perch, obtained from Lake Wendorure, at
Ballarat, thanks to the kindness of the
municipal authorities of that city.
Three hundred yards above the dam, at
the confluence of Kangaroo Creek with the
Port Hacking River, Audley, the main
National Park camp, is charmingly situated,
and is well worthy of a visit. When in the
vicinity of the main camp, the visitor should
proceed about 200 yards up the hill, towards
Loftus, and at a rocky pass, known as
" The Demon's Gate," inspect a very remarkable,
hollow sandstone-rock, which, externally,
has an appearance of solidity, but
internally is honeycombed in a marvellous
manner. This hollow rock formed an excellent,
dry, gunpowder-and-fuse store when the adjacent
park-roads were under formation.
At present, the most comfortable way of
exploring the navigable part of Kangaroo
Creek is by boat ; the bordering foliage
of this creek is not so varied as that on the
banks of the main river. There are, however,
on its banks num.erous specimens of handsome
pine-trees, christmas-bush, &c., which
present a pretty appearance. The many
beauties of Port Hacking River above the
dam and its immediate surroundings may be
seen to equal advantage from the road as
from a boat ; the road is at a level generally
of about 20 feet above the water. It may
not be amiss here to describe the road along
the right, back of Port Hacking River, from
the dam to the southernmost boundary of the
park. This road is named Lady Carrington
Road.
Proceeding southerly from the dam, the
road which forms a pretty walk or drive,
skirts the easterly margin of a fine flat of
about 10 aeres; to the left, the newly constructed
road towards the deer park and
Garie branches off. At half a mile from the
dam, on Lady Carrington Road, two beautiful
canopies of wide-spreading tree ferns
upon the second flat are passed.
At i-mile this road passes under . thB
picturesque cliff named Gibraltar, and 100
yards further southerly Mullion (Eagle)
Brook is crossed. In the early summer time
the valley of this small brook usually appears
gay with torch-lily plants in flower, a truly
striking spectacle.
At vVarrul (Bee) Brook, about 1 mile from
the dam, tall christmas-bushes 30 feet high
are in view, and in some seasons the topmos3
branches bend over nearly to the ground with
the weight of the blossoms. At this part
fine views are presented of the luxuriant flat
upon the opposite side of the river, and from
which are growing cabbage-tree palms, tree
ferns, vines, numerous mimosre, myrtle, and
several specimens of the specially beautiful
plant or small tree, aralia panax. Throughout
the road beautiful glimpses of the river
are frequently seen.
Two miles from the dam, Karoga (White
Crane) Brook, opposite a charmingly picturesque
curve in the river, is reached. The
road then traverses a pretty . jungle at the
base of a fine cliff, and at 2-l- miles the river
again comes into view, with some splendid
foliage on each bank. Upon the left bank the
vista is especially fin~. The cabbage-palms
at this part are very beautiful; the dense,
glossy vines, with occasional tree ferns, the
lillypilly plants, and turpentine trees showing
in becoming contrast. At 3} miles Birumba
(Plover) Brook is attained. Opposite, across
the river, is the patch of rich brush-land
known as the Lower Peach Trees, where forty
years back some sawyers planted some peach
seeds, and for many years afterwards fine
peach-trees :flourished ; but nearly all have
of late been destroyed by bush-fires. At
3f miles distant the locality of the Upper
Peach Trees is reached. This also was a
sawyer's camp. At Dumbul (Crow) Brook,
4 miles southerly from the dam, the river
Lends to the south-west, and at 4f miles
from the dam, in the dense brush upon the
left-hand side of the river, and seen to
advantage from Lady Carrington Road, is
perhaps the finest and most varied foliage
within 100 miles from Sydney. The tall

ITINERARY-SYDNEY TO WATERFALL. 31
forest-trees, upwards of 100 feet in height,
are covered with beautiful vines, some of
which bear immense numbers of creamcoloured
flowers towards the end of September.
Intermixed are magnificent specimens of
Bangalo palms (seaforthia elegans), cabbagepalms,
birds-nest ferns, tree ferns, several
specimens of aralia panax, with a number
of lillypilly, myrtle, and mimosa bushes.
Through the vines, marvellously long native
canes are in places growing to the height of
about 100 feet, and the spectacle is simply
entrancing.
For some distance further along the road
the scenery, except at the creeks, which are
all crossed by extra-strong, well constructed
bridges, is not specially interesting until
Polona (Hawk) Brook, at 5-!- miles is reached.
At the easterly side of the road, a few yards
from the creek, stands a handsome, majestic,
turpentine tree, upright as an arrow, and
fully 120 feet high. Between Polona Brook
and Bola Creek Bridge, the latter 6 miles
from the dam, the foliage immediately adjoi1:ing
each side of the road is singularly
varied; tree ferns, and cabbage-tree ferns are
very numerous, and occasional specimens of
aralia panax come into view, and at all times
the perfume from the shrubs and flowers at
this place is very marked and pleasant.
Upon each side of Bola. Creek there are
majestic forest-trees, principally blackbutt
and turpentine. Midway between Polona
Brook and Bola Creek, Lady Carrington
Road diverts from the river bank, and after
crossing Bola Creek over an admirably constructed
timber bridge of great strength,
built mainly of turpentine piles and girders,
deeply embedded, mortised, and fixed into
the hard, smooth rock at creek bed. The
road still diverts from Port Hacking river,
and keeps for half a mile under the easterly
side of the isolated high hill known as the
Island. At 6-l- miles, the crest of the saddle
between the Island and the range dividing
the waters at Bola Creek from Port Hacking
River is crossed, and the road by an easy grade
again decends southerly towards that river.
At 6! miles is marked, to branch to the
west, a line for a road to cross Port Hacking
River, and to lead to Waterfall Station. At
7 f miles from the dam, Lady Carrington
Road crosses by a substantial bridge a lovely
glen, fitly named. Palm Creek from the
numerous cabbage-palms growing there.
·within 100 yards southerly from the bridge,
between the road and the river, is an
unusually fine red-cedar tree, upwards of 70
feet high. The red cedar is one of the few
Australian trees which shed its leaves in the
winter; and at 8} miles the southernmost
boundary of the park is reached. Near the
corner tree is a very fine blackbutt conspicuously
marked 43 over N.P.R. This road
will, probably, be continued by private enterprise
through private lands until it reaches
the Illawarra railway at about 29f miles
from Sydney, near Otforcl, and about 41
miles beyond the southernmost boundary of
the National Park.
Heathcote, 630 feet above sea-level,
20} miles.-Beyond the junction of the
branch line the main Illawarra railway curves
to the south-west, and proceeds in a direct
line for 2! miles ; then a southerly course is
takeni passing Messrs. Rowe & Smith's brickworks
at 19! miles, and Mr. Riggison's
bee-farm, Bottle Forest, at 20 miles, and
Heathcote station is reached 20k miles from
Sydney. The platform is a few yards easterly
from the main road, where the park
boundary joins Mr. Harber's estate. Half a
mile further east, at the northerly side of
Still Creek, there is rich brush-land, partly
upon the park and partly upon Bottle Forest
freehold land. One mile north-easterly from
the platform, upon a hill 700 feet above sealevel,
excellent views are outained on clear
days. The ocean and Port Hacking are
visible from this hill-summit. Joining the
westerl,y side of the main road, immediately
opposite Heathcote Station, a Government
village, to be known as the village of Heathcote,
has recently been surveyed (May, 1886)
in suitable allotments, and extending northerly
and southerly from Bottle Creek. About
600 acres have been subdivided into 130
suburban portions from about 2 to 10 acres.
The lands surveyed and cleared (by the
unemployed) are at altitudes from about 500
to 700 feet above sea-level, and will form
very healthy residential sites. Early in
September next (1886) the allotments and
portions "Vl'ill be offered for sale at auction
upon the ground.

- ~ .
32 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Waterfalls Station, 24 miles, the
present terminus of the Illawarra Railway,
730 feet above sea-level.-From
Heathcote the line proceeds south-westerly for
li mile to the railway water-tanks at 720 feet
above; thence the direction is southerly to
Waterfall Station at 24 miles 32 chains-the
first crossing,at 23 miles,highest level 780feet,
of the Illawarra railway. Direct west f-mile
from Waterfall Station is erected the Trigonometrical
Station, at the altitude of 880 feet
above sea-level, upon the summit of Mount
W estmacott, a most conspicuous land-mark.
Between the railway station and that mountain
a deep gorge intervenes, the base of which is
about 600 feet below the Trigonometrical Station.
·within the National Park, and immediately
easterly from Waterfall Station, is a
source of Waterfall Creek which, after running
! -mile easterly, is joined by a northerly
afiluent; thence it becomes a permanent brook
with a succession of fine pools of the purest
fresh water. One of these pools, at li mile
from the railway, affords an excellent bathingplace
with a clear, smooth, rocky bottom and
a miniature sand-beach at the lower end.
One mile further easterly the waterfalls are
reached. The first, a sheer fall of 46 feet,
and the second 111 feet. The scenery at
this part is well worthy of inspection, and is
of a bold and varied description. From the
summit of the second fall an uninterrupted
view of the excellent forest in the Valley
Creek, and extending beyond Port Hacking
River, is obtained. immediately below the
falls the foliage is richly varied, comprising
tree ferns, birds' -nest ferns, and other ferns,
cabbage-tree palms, coach wood, and turpentine
trees, with a few sassafras trees. Three
quarters of a mile northerly from Waterfall
Creek, upon each side of Port Hacking River,
there is probably the finest forest within 100
miles of Sydney. Within it are blackbutt
trees attaining to the height of about 200
feet, and turpentine trees np to 150 feet.
To the waterfalls, and through the forest in
the valley of the creek below, a line for a
roadway has recently (June, 1886) been
marked upon the ground, to cross Port Hacking
River and join Lady Carrington Road,
about fmile north-easterly from Palm Creek
bridge. This road will shortly be cleared,
and doubtless will become a favourite resort
of pedestrians or horsemen.
III.-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE-THE WESTERN LINE.
p ARRAMATTA.
Parramatta Station, 14 miles; 49 feet
above sea-level.-The traveller proceeding
from the Granville to the Parramatta
Station, first (by a sharp turn and deep
cutting) passe:::; through a short hilly piece
of bush country, and then he has before him
a charming view of Parramatta, with its
many fine churches and other public buildings.
Parramatta* (originally called "Rose
Hill"), situated at the head of the navigation
of Parramatta River, communicating
directly with the waters of Port Jackson,
is one of the oldest towns in the Colony.
Indeed it was once, by all accounts, and
curiously enough, intended for the capital,
* Parramatta is connected with Sydney by
steamers, plying to and fro daily on the Parramatta
River. By these steamers, Subiaco, Newington,
Ermington, Kissing Point or Ryde, Gladesville,
Villa Maria, Hunter's Hill, Biloela, Fitzroy Dock,
and other places on the said river (or rather estuary)
may be most conveniently reached,
or at least the chief seat of Government;
in proof of which it is alleged that St.
John's Church was (somewhat pretentiously
for those early days) built with its two
towers-exactly copied from the "Reculvers"
in Kent-to serve for a Cathedral. For
many years the Governors continued to
reside here, and the town flourished as the
second place in the Colony. Then, for an
interval, it not only made no progress,
but actually appeared to be hastening to
decay. The Railway, however (which is
said to have destroyed some of the old
inland towns) has most certainly given an
invigorating impetus to the existence of
Parramatta; for it is now, year by year,
extending, and becoming more and more a
distant suburb (as it were) of our sea-side
metropolis. Some fine houses have now
been built near the Railway Station. The
present population of Parramatta is about
8,500 persons. It supports three local news-

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 33
papers (" The Cumberland Merwry," "The
Independent," and "1'he Ouniberland Tirnes").
There are numerous Government and charitable
institutions at Parramatta, such as the
Gaol, the Orphan Schools, the Lunatic and
Benevolent Asylums, &c., &c. There are
several good hotels. There are also in Parramatta
a Free Public Library, a flourishing
Mechanics' Institute, three Public Schools,
and six Churches. The King's School, near
Parramatta Bridge, was long the only grammar
school in the Colony, and is still a most
useful scholastic institution; revived of late
years by the Rev. G. F. Macarthur. The
old Government Domain, which is one of the
prettiest in the Colony, is now utilized a a
beautiful park, belonging to the townspeople.
Mr. Purchase's and .Mr. Sheather's nurseries
are also well worthv of a visit. Parramatta
has been an incorporated municipality since
the year 1861. The villages and places
which are more or less connected with this
town are--Castle Hill, Dural, Enfield, Field of
Mars, Gannon's Forest, Guildford, Hornsby,
Liberty Plains, Pennant Hills, and Prospect.
Seven Hills Station, 20 miles; 113 feet
above sea-level.-After leaving the Parramatta
Station the traveller in the " down
train" (that is the train proceeding to the
westward) passes over a viaduct, and along
an embankment, from which there is a fine
view of the town and of the neighbouring
country to the north of it. The picturesque
old Ge01·gian brick Parsonage may then be
noticed, yet standing on the hills to the left ;
whilst nearer still, lying only a few yards
from the Railroad, the old Burial-ground
claims a passing glance, as the resting-place
of that well-beloved "stainless patriot" Robert
Campbell, and of other historical celebrities.
Further on, and to the right, a glimpse is
next caught of the ci-devant Government
House, with the adjacent undulating glades,
gardens, and shrubberies of the Public Park
-scenes of many a gay and festive event,
and of some very sorrowful ones-the oaks,
pines, and other choice trees, reviving pleasing
recollections of a distant fatherland.
Then comes a deep cutting, and the train
sweeps past the site formerly occupied as
the show place of the Australian Agricultural
Association-when the yearly exhi-
hitions of that body were more local than
national ; chiefly confined to ploughing
matches, and manifestations of cattle, horses,
sheep, fowls, and dogs, and farmers' machinery.
The country now becomes much
more interesting, frequent orange groves of
dark green foliage, decked with "the golden
fruit of the gardens of the Hesperides,"
imparting a new and delightful charm to the
beauty of an ever-changing landscape. In
the centre of this district a platform called
Toongabbie has been established. Well
grassed apple-tree flats, with undulating and
more open country, and farm-houses, gardens,
and cottages succeed; until after a run of
6 miles from Parramatta the train stops for
a moment, at the quiet little rural station
of Seven Hil1s-a locality once, by early
colonists (less ambitiously, and, after a comical
outburst of vice-regal impatience, rather
fcwetiously) designated as "Now here."
Blacktown Station and Junction, 22
miles; 183 feet above sea-level.-Two
miles from the Seven Hills Station ( through
a somewhat uninteresting but useful country)
stands the station of Blacktown ; a locality
owing its name to an institution which was
unavailingly formed here many years ago by
Governor Macquarie, for the education and
civilization of the aborigines. In the
country between Seven Hills and Blacktown,
on either side of the road, numerous herds
of cattle and flocks of sheep are usually to
be seen, browsing in serene and blissful
unconsciousness of their approaching fate;
as though abattoirs were things that had no
possible existence, and metropolitan butchers
and their hungry city customers were
nothing but nonentities. As you come
along pretty bits of scenery may here and
there be observed; open, partially wooded,
hills-with occasional signs of cultivation,
farms, ponds, orchards, and flats-appear to
the right, and orange groves and pretty
country residences are unfolded to the left.
There is, however, nothing here calling for
particular remark; except, perhaps, a quaint
and unexpected piece of the Old Western
Road, with its broken-down wayside inn,
visible for just a moment, before the Railroad
turns abruptly away to the right, so bringing
the railway traveller to the Blacktown
C

34 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Station. At Blacktown there is a miniature
terminus for the Richmond and Sydney subsidiary
branch, which here joins on ~o the
Western Trunk Line. Blacktown is at present
a small place, chiefly depending on the Railway,
with two or three stores and inns of a
humble and unimportant character; but as
land in the vicinity has recently been subdivided,
and Blacktown forms the depot
intended for goods going to the Prospect
reservoir the place is rapidly waking up. As
the train approaches the Blacktown Station
you catch sight of a distant and limited view
of the far-famed Blue Mountains.
Rooty Hill Station, 25 miles ; 131 feet
above sea-level.-After leaving the Blacktown
station a lovely view of the Blue
Mountains is disclosed to the right, peeping
over the trees across a flat and uninteresting
country. This tract, immediately adjoining
the line, is but partially wooded, huts and cottages
appearing occasionally, some with holdings
and gardens, and some without. Before
Rooty Hill is reached ( after an interval of 3
miles) there is a grand outline prospect of
the Blue Mountains to the westward, across
an open country, with the seat of Walter
Lamb, Esq., in the distance. Large quantities
of :firewood are hence despatched to Sydney.
Through the instrumentality of that wellknown
sportsman, Mr. Walter Lamb, a
coursing ground has been established about l
mile from the station, and at certain periods
very successful coursing meetings, under tbe
auspices of the Sydney Coursing Club, are held.
St. Marys (formerly South Creek
Station), 29 miles; 113 feet above sealevel.
-The country on either side of the
Railroad, after it paE'.ses by the Rooty Hill
Station to the westward is, for the most
part, open, flat, and poor. Here and there
the line passes through the bush, but there
are not many trees near it. Before arriving
at the South Creek Station (which is 18 feet
lower than Rooty Hill), the traveller may
get another fine view of the Blue Mountain
Range, which he is now approaching. St.
Mary's Station is about 4 miles west of Rooty
Hill, and about half a mile away to the north
of St. Mary's-an old, pleasant, and prosperous
village, on the Sydney and Penrith Road,
chiefly dependent upon agricultural and
grazing pursuits. Dairy farming, and wine
making are also carried on. Large supplies
of timber and firewood are likewise cut here,
and forwarded by the line to Sydney, for use
on the Railway and for sale. Tanning is
largely carried on at this place, and a large
number of bricks are also made. The principal
hotAls are the "Commercial" and
" Volunteer" kept by Messrs. Brynes and
Cullen. Metropolitan sportsmen can often
get a good day's shooting here, as hares, much
to the annoyance of the farmers, are becoming-
fairly numerous in the district. South
Creek takes its name from a considerable
tributary to the river Hawkesbury, into
which it eventually flows near Windsor.
Parkes Platform, 31 miles; about 100
feet above sea-level.-After passing by the
South Creek station a fine view of the Great
Western Highlands is gained to the right of
the line and to the westward. There is then
a flat partially wooded country for 2 miles
until you arrive at the Parkes Platform and
Siding, 3 miles from Penrith.
Penrith Station, 34 miles ; 88 feet
above sea-leve1.-Penrith, 12 miles west of
Blacktown, is a quaint old inland township,
the last station reached by travellers in the
so-called " down" trains before they begin to
ascend the Blue Mountains. In the "coaching
and bullock-driving days"-when the
neighbouring river had to be crossed by
vehicles in a punt-Penrith was a very bustling
and flourishing place, and it appears
sufficiently prosperous at present-certainly
far from going back. It is surrounded by
broad pasture lands, and alluvial plains, of a
great extent and singular fertility; bounded
westerly by the river N epean, soon to
assume the better known name of the
Hawkesbury. The town itself is a municipality,
with ratable property reported to be
of upwards of £120,000 value; the population
of the township was in 1881 1,467 ; it
has 45 miles of streets, roads, and lanes.
There are four churches, belonging respectively
to the Protestant Episcopalian, Roman

ITINERARY-PA.RRAMA.TTA TO BOURKE. 35
Catholic, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Communions,
and a fine Town Hall has recently been
erected. The course of the N epean runs
parallel to the town, at the distance of about
a mile from the station, where it is crossed
by a boldly designed and admirably constructed
iron tubular bridge-supported by
four huge piers of solid masonry, the two
centre ones being 58 by 17 ! feet at their
foundation, with an extreme height of 59
feet. These piers are 186 feet apart. Altogether
it is one of the finest works of the
kind in the Oolony, and of itself worth going
to Penrith to see. (See view of Nepectn.)
5 miles to the south of the town the river
flows down northerly through a tremendous
gap in the hills ; and, the heights on either
side being well-wooded, many charming effects
are produced. The visitor will find good
accommodation at Mr. Squire's private establishment,
situated on the banks of the N epean.
A steam launch is kept here, and by it the
visitor will be enabled to take a trip up the
river. The views of river scenery are
unrivalled, and 12 miles from Penrith, near
where the W arragamba flows into theN epean,
you will reach the basin, an immense natural
bath. The depth of the water in it has never
yet been ascertained. A writer says, '' It
would be difficult to conceive scenery more
beautiful than that which characterises the
junction of the N epean with the Warragamba.
The Blue Mountains close in upon the rivers,
while the latter winds round about all the
points and corners as though loath to leave
places so pleasant." There are several good
inns in Penrith, one of these being not far
from the station. Penrith is the place of
nomination for the N epean Electorate. The
places near Penrith (besides those already
mentioned as having been traversed by the
line), are Mulgoa, Greendale, Regentsville,
Luddenham, Bringelly, Castlereagh, and
Emu.
Emu Plains Station, 86 miles ; 87 feet
above sea-level - The attention of the
traveller by the train leaving Penrith for the
mountains must ( even previous to his .arrival
at the tubular bridge over the N epean) be
agreeably occupied with the scenery before
him to the westward, where he observes
verdant plains, fringed in the distance by the
winding edge of a rolling country, the grassy
knolls of which are pleasingly dotted here
and there with clumps of trees. Beyond this
charming picture the majestic "Blue Mountains
" rise abruptly, like a vast natural
fortification, overgrown almost everywhere
with sombre foliage, and extending for many
miles from the south to the north towards
Castlereagh, their base being washed by the
N epean. ( See view of the Nepean-evening.)
Along the broken face of this grand barrier,
not cerulean here but dark, green, and grey,
the Railway line may be seen winding upwards-past
huge rocks and deep declivities,
alternating with dense woods, the noble
viaduct across Knapsack Gully being hence
already distinguishable. The train sweeps
noisily over the tnbular bridge above described
; crosses the rich alluvial plain beyond
the river and under cultivation-where grain,
fruit, and vegetables appear to be the chief
products-and at the distance of 2 miles from
Penrith, quickly reaches the Emu Plains
Station, where the first ridge of the mountain
begins. This station commands a comprehensive
view of the First Zigzag, by means
of which the heights of Lapstone Hill are to
be gained and passed. The immediate neighbourhood
of the Emu Plains Station (having
been successfully occupied as an agricultural
settlement from the earliest day of the
Colony) presents many pretty rural pictures
of gardens, orchards, corn-fields, homesteads,
and villages-assimilating, in many of its
features, to portions of moorland scenery in
the west of England.
Lucasville Platform, 39 miles; about
700 feet above sea-level.-Lucasville Platform-standing
on the upper edge of the
eastern face of the Blue Mountains, where
the line turns off to the westward-is merely
a solitary spot at which the train stops when
signalled for; but between it and the Emu
Plains Station beneath there is a shifting
series of panoramic views of all the lowland
country in the county of Cumberland, such
as for extent and beauty can hardly be surpassed.
As you leave the Emu Plains Station
and begin gradually to ascend the steep incline-away
to the south towards Mu1goa,
Greenda1e, and Luddenham-your eyes can
first feast themselves for a moment on that

36 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
fair prospect in mid distance--the already
mentioned Gorge of the N epean. Then, a
few yards further on, as the train rises more
slowlytowardsthe FirstZigzag,you arecarried
past trees and woodland scenery to the left,
with a deep gully (or "ghyll," as Wordsworth
would have termed it) to the right; after
which, "as from the stroke of an enchanter's
wand," a wide and magnificent expanse of
level county, stretching away far below,
bursts, in all its unexpected glory, upon your
dazzled sight. In this great range of open
plains-the extreme limits of which are faintly
defined by the ethereal outlines of the light
blue hills on the coast--the to,vn of Penrith
(at the distance of 4 or 5 miles) is displayed
to the greatest advantage, with its public
buildings and churches on the other side of
the N epean. The winding course of this
truly royal stream, stretching for miles and
miles like a broad blue "garter ribbon," is
seen traversing the westerly portion of this
unequalled champaign, the land near to its
banks being, for the most part, treeless/
although a long thick belt of forest landmore
or less enveloped in hazy atmospheric
tints of grey, cobalt, or purple--is visible
beyond the plains. All the nearer portion
of the lowlands is either cultivated or laid
out in bright verdant pastures, especially
rom1d about Penrith, along the N epean, and
to the north-eastward ; the open country
being dotted here and there with villages,
farms, homesteads, and orangeries-and intersected
by narrow roads and picturesque
remnants of forest. As you continue to rise,
and shift from slope to slope of the " Zigzag,"
the prospect before you is more and more
displayed,-back to the south-east, towards
Camden, and directly to the southward,
whence the N epean flows placidly do-,':"n, from
the junction of the Cowpasture and vV arragamba
Rivers, on its way to the distant sea.
You have by this time arrived at the Knapsack
Gully Viaduct (245 feet above Emu
Plains), boldly erected across a steep and
stony gorge by the genius of the Engineerin-chief
John Whitton. This admirable and
imposing structure (which Imperial Rome,
in her palmy days, might have been proud
to claim), consists of seven successive
arches-five of 50 feet span, and two of 20.
It is of solid masonry throughout, the
stones having been set in the best Portland
cement-built for a single line of railway,
and with an incline along it of 1 foot in 30
feet. The length of this viaduct is 388 feet,
and its greatest height, from the foundation
in the rock to the level of the rails, is 126
feet. Several panoramic views of Cumberland
increasingly developed are shown to the
traveller and abruptly withdrawn, as the
train proceeds. First, it goes 200 or 300
yards in one direction, rising slowly every
yard until it stops; then, by the co-operation
of the skilled engineer and the watchful
pointsman, the train is quickly "reversed"
and launched back upon another ascending
gradient, in an opposite direction, up to a
corresponding point. From that, the zigzag
mode of progression is once more resumed ;
until at length (by successive changes of direction,
and in an incredibly short time) the
train is found to have deftly climbed to an
elevation of nearly 700 feet. The consequent
alteration of climate at the top of the Zigzag
is very remarkable; exhilarating and sudden,
not unlike what may sometimes be experienced
after ascending to the summit of a very
lofty tower, like the campanile of the Town
Hall of Sydney. This mode of ascent incidentally
develops in a very striking manner
the beauty and the variety of the scenery.
Glenbrook Platform, 41 miles ; 766 feet
above sea-level.-After passing the Lucasville
Platform the line is continued, first
westerly, and then with a bend to the northward,
until after an interval of rather more
than 2 miles the summit of :Gapstone Hill,
near "The Old Pilgrim Inn," is attained.
About half way between Lucasville Platform
and the summit of the hill is Glenbrook,
formerly known as Brookdale or W ascoe's
Siding, where water for the engine is obtained.
This platform is properly the first of the
mountain stations and on the comparatively
level land running alongside the railway
between here and Mount Victoria, numerous
country residences have been erected which
provide a cool and quiet retreat for busy
city workers in the summer time "after the
heat and burden of the day " Glenbrook
is well laid out and the provision of wide
reserves will in time make this place very
attractive.

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 37
* Bla'dand's Platform, 42 miles ; 766
feet above sea-level.-This platform, formerly
designated "W ascoe's," is 1 mile north
of Glenbrook. An accommodation house has
been established here for visitors who desire to
make a stay. Many fine views can be obtained
in the vicinity of the platform, and the gullies
abound in choice specimens of ferns and
flowers. Leaving Blaxland (about half a
mile from " The Old Pilgrim Inn") the line
directly proceeds to follow the main range,
dividing the tributaries of the N epean and
the Cox from those of the Grose River, to
the north and to the north-westward. The
Railroad naturally winds considerably as it
follows the top of the range, but takes for the
most part a north-westerly direction, continuing
still to rise until it comes to Springwood,
rather more than 4 miles further on.
The Valley Platform, 46 miles ; 1,048
feet above sea-level.-N ear this quaintlynamed
platform in the br:~ezy highlands
stands " Wyoming," on the north side of
the Railroad, with its pretty garden and
grounds. Wyoming offers excellent accommodation
for visitors. Near by is the post
and telegraph office, and the country residences
of Mr. Russell, Mr. John Rae, The
Hon. Geoffrey Eagar, Mr. Deane, and other
citizens, who have sought here the re-in-
* The nomenclature of three of the stations on
the vVestern line of Railway has recently been
changed, viz., Wascoe's, now named ''Blaxland,"
Blue Mountain, now named "Lawson," and
Weatherboard, now named "Wentworth Falls," to
commemorate the first successful exploration of the
Blue Mountains. "It was not till 1813 that a
route across these mountains was discovered. A
severe drought had aroused grave apprehensions for
the safety of the flocks and herds of the Colony,
which were even at that early date beginning to be
appreciated at their true value. Many an arduous
search for water was the result. At length, when
every resource was apparently about to fail, Mr.
W entworth, the pioneer of material and social progress
in Australia, in conjunction with Messrs.
Blaxland and Lawson, organized an exploring party
to endeavour to penetrate to the interior through
some of the mountain gorges. After encountering
many difficulties the party were fortunate enough
t o discover a pass by wa.y of the valley of the
Grose, which soon led them to the land of plenty,
a~1d the route was immediately marked out as the
lughway to the interior, and has ever since formed
part of the old Great Western Road. The Railway
follows nearly the same course."
vigoration of mountain air and the refined
pleasure afforded by the contemplation of
beautiful scenery. " The Valley " derives
its name from a very lovely far-off prospect
commanded herefrom down the valley (which
is beautifully grassed, open, and park-like)
to the eastward towards the N epean. A
considerable extent of land has of late years
been here taken up on the ridge to the north
of this hamlet, and west of Fitzgerald's Gully,
dividing the watersheds of the Grose and the
N epean. This gully or creek is well worth a
visit, and has the recommendation of being
convenient to the station and easy of access.
Springwood Platform, 47 miles; 1,216
feet above sea-level.-Leaving the charming
little mountain village designated " The
Valley," the Railroad winds away westerly
for a mile, and after rising l 00 feet it
brings the traveller to Springwood. The
visitor to Springwood will find excellent hotel
accommodation at the Royal, immediately
opposite the station, or accommodation can
be secured at Martyn's Hotel, a short distance
off. The chief site at Springwood
is Sassafras-so called from the number of
sassafras trees-or Flying Fox Gully. Formerly
in the fruit season the trees were black
with thousands of those strange creatures,
half animal, half bird-flying foxes-and the
sportsman could have plenty of sport, while
doing a good service to the fruit-growers, but
the flying foxes have recently been so much
hunted that they have sought fresh haunts.
The road to the gully starts from the ba0k
of the Hon. J. B. Hoare's new residence.
After a walk of about three-quarters of a
mile, the visitor leaves the main track, to take
a not well defined one on the right.-It would
add much to the convenience of visitors if a
finger-post were placed at this junction and
the road to the gully better cleared.-After
following this track for a short distance the
head of the gully is reached, and the visitor
descends and follows the course of a stream
which increases in volume as it flows on.
From the stream- the sides of the gully,
thickly timbered, run up in places to three
or four hundred feet. The gully contains
several small but pretty waterfalls. Som,~
little distance down there are some large ponds
of water, the largest being at the junction of

. 38 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
Sassafras with Clear Water Gully, and here
the luxury of bathing may be enjoyed. The
gully is the home of many varieties of ferns,
fine specimens of the tree, staghorn, and
bird's-nest ferns growing here in profusion;
there are also splendid specimens of the
sassafras trees, which unite overhead and
give a grateful shade. In addition to Sassafras
there is a pretty glen called Madoline,
opposite and but a few yards from the
station. Springwood is said to be one of
the finest places on the mountains for all
kinds of ferns and lycopods. It possesses an
equable climate-in winter it is not too cold,
and in summer the mountain air, morning and
evening, is fresh and cool. A number of
influential gentlemen have residences here,
including the Hon. James Norton and the
Hon. Mr. C. Moore.
Faulconbridge Platform, 49 miles;
1,463 feet above sea-level.-Still following
the topmost ridge of the mountains to the
westward for 2 miles further by a sinuous
course, the traveller reaches the Faulconbridge
Platform, named from the adjoining
property of Sir Henry Parkes, about 500
acres in extent, and chiefly valuable perhaps
for the salubrity of its situation and the
singular beauty of the scenery it commands
to the southward, -overlooking a rugged and
broken country forming part of the watershed
of the N epean. In the neighbourhood
of Sir Henry Parkes's residence-a pretty
mountain chalet, the Terrncecl Gardens, the
Rocklily Glen and the Rocklily Cave, are
very characteristic and charming localities
much admired by visitors. As you pass
Faulconbridge to the westward, the top of
Mount Hay becomes vis-ible about 9 miles to
the north-westward. The scenery on either
side of the road now becomes intensely
interesting, presenting surprises which seem
like gorgeous glimpses of fairy-land, so suddenly
are they manifested and withdrawn.*
* A recently published work of standard merit,
compiled under authority by Mr. James Tingle,
speaking of the Hartley District, says : '' We have
said that this is a remarkable district, and justly
so, because for magnificence of scenery, wealth of
mineral resources, and monuments of engineering
skill, it is probably without a rival in the southern
hemisphere. The Blue Mountains, with their innumerable
hills and ravi1tes, present extensive
panoramas of the grandest description. As the
Numantia Platform, 52 miles; 1,672
feet above sea-level.-When the tmin has
passed the platform at Faulconbridge its
course for a few hundred yards is due west;
it runs south-south-west for about a mile,
passes the residence of Mr. A. H. M'Culloch,
M.P., on the left, and so trending somewhat
westerly reaches the platform at N umantiathe
classical name selected for the mountain
residence of His Honor Sir James Martin,
the Chief Justice. N umantia lies 3 miles
from Faulconbridge,-to the south-west of it.
There are some good views from N umantia
to the southward.
Linden Platform, 52 miles.- This place,
recently established, is more useful at present
to the Department than to the public. The
scenery in the vicinity is singularly wild and
romantic, and the bush abounds in a great
wealth of ferns and wild flowers. Here the
engines take water, the supply being drawn
from a dam romantically lying in the basin
of the hills about ! a mile from the station.
Woodford (late Buss's) Platform, 55
miles ; 2,191 feet above sea-level.-As
the traveller proceeds on his journey westward
past N umantia, he can catch a lovely but
fleeting glimpse of home view scenery to the
northward; another view-nearly in the same
direction-of the Pass of Broken Back in the
far off Sugar-loaf Range, in the county of
N orthumherland; two views over the rugged
ravines to the southward and south-eastward;
and distant but approaching views of Mount
Hay and Mount King George. The line
after leaving the Numantia Platform takes a
sharp turn to the southward, and continues
on the ridge in that direction for nearly 2
miles, in the middle of which stands a handsome
stone gate-house where the Old Road
(which has been running parallel with the
Railroad nearly all the way from "Blaxland")
traveller in the Railway is sped along the summit
of the range, and catches glimpses of the thousand
valleys stretching like ocean waves to the horizon,
on both sides of the line (which for a considerable
distance is laid on a narrow causeway that looks as
if built up for thousands of feet out of awful depths
of precipice and ravine), he finds it difficult to
imagine a nobler representation of the grandeur and
sublimity of nature. "-Scind.s' Official Post Office
Country Directory and Gazetteer of New South
· JV ales for 1878, 1879, page 267.

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 39
again crosses the line. The gate is now but
seldom opened, for the Qld Road is practically
superseded by the Railway. This gate-house
is 53 miles from Sydney. 1 mile south-west
of this gate-house and 2 miles in the same
direction from Numantia stands the Woodford
Platform, about 520 feet higher than Numantia
and Alphington, &c. Mr. Alfred
Fairfax's late residence and large gardens
(Woodford), from which the Woodford Platform
takes its name, has been opened for the
accommodation of visitors. Before you get
to Woodford there are several :fine glimpses
of scenery, and especially the grand unfolding
of a long pale blue broken line of mountains
in the extreme distance to the north-eastward
beyond the Brisbane Water district, and in
the direction of Maitland. Woodford is only
3 miles from N umantia ; and, although
perhaps somewhat exposed in wintry weather,
it is noted for its fine bracing atmosphere,
which resembles that of the more elevated
portions of the West of England.
Lawson Station (" Blue Mountains"),
58 miles; 2,399 feet above sea-level.-At
about 1 mile due west from the Woodford
platform the line takes a turn and runs for
a mile to the west-north-west; then due west
for another mile, and then west-south-west for
a fourth mile; to the "Old Blue Mountain Inn
Station," now proposed to be distinguished
by the name of "Lawson"-the vague,
equivocal designation of "Blue Mountains,"
often misleading unobservant travellers.
Lawson has a telegraph station and post
office, &c. Close to the station are establishments
where accommodation can be secured.
Lawson is noted for having near it several
views of great beauty and deep interest on
either side of the line, and at comparatively
short distances in places easy of access. This
place is much resorted to by invalids, who
can here without fatigue enjoy the mountain
scenery, and the pure, invigorating air.
There is a fine prospect to the north from
near the station. It takes the railway
traveller about three hours and a half to
arrive here by train from Sydney, and about
two hours to come up to this spot from Penrith.
Here the tourist can conveniently visit the
Adelina Falls (two of 40 feet descent, one of
60, and one of 70 feet), or the Junction Falls
on the south side of the line; with Dante's
· Glen and three other waterfalls on the
northern side-one of 40 feet, one of 90, and
one (the most remarkable of them all) with a
descent of 120 feet. Perhaps a short description
of these two adjacent localities may not
be unacceptable to the reader.
The Adelina Falls.-The Adelina Falls
are, all four of them, grouped together,
at a distance of a mile or so to the southeastward
of the station; and from the platform
to the first and most important of
these beautiful cascades ( see View) there
is an excellently formed road, by which the
visitor soon arrives at the edge of a line
of rock, whence he can readily descend into
the immediate vicinity of the waterfall by a
convenient flight of rudely constructed steps.
A smooth path leads him from the foot of
the steps straight down to a craig on the
eastern side of a small ravine, over the
rocky (northern) wall of which the clear cold
waters of a mountain stream leap headlong
into an abyss. These Falls-the Adelina
Falls-are not less than 70 feet in their
unbroken descent, and are justly admired,
tumbling over a mass of dark shining rock
into the scene of sylvan beauty represented
by our artist. This water-formed chasm ( or
" gh ·wy 11 " as the Welsh would call it) is
fringed with masses of green brushwood and
long reedy grass, well shaded everywhere by
the white-trunked eucalyptus, the narrow
semi-circular valley itself, into which the
streamlet dashes, being partially filled up
with tall straggling gum-trees. Near the
base of the grand cascade there is a fine display
of ferns and such like plants. Ferns
and creepers overhang this beautiful waterfall
like waving tresses, and bedeck the
sombre wall of cliff over which the sparkling
rivulet descends. Near to this Fall are
several elegant coachwood trees and other
arborescents such as are usually seen in
these moist and secluded localities. The air
is deliciously fresh and cool, even during the
hottest summer day. Seated in the shadefrom
his dry and elevated look-out on the
solid rock-the visitor may pass many an hour
of delicious repose listening to the murmuring
plash of the water, the faint whisper of the
wind, and the joyous "sweet jargoning" of

40 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
the birds. To reach the three other cascades
on the south of the road, the visitor must
cross the head of the Adelina Falls-an old
track to the westward, here running southeasterly,
being available for that purpose.
The streamlet is one of the many minor
tributaries of the Cox, a river which falls
into the Warmgamba, destined, when joined to
the Cowpasture River, to become the N epean.
Dante's Glen and Waterfalls.-Leaving
the Blue Mountain or Lawson Station, and
proceeding for a few yards to the northnorth-west,
by a well-formed road, the visitor
passes two stone tanks or reservoirs for the
supply of the engines with water ; and then
following a recently cleared downward path,
trending northerly, he arrives (after walking
for about half-a-mile) at the edge of a sloping
r eedy marsh draining into the watershed of
the Grose. A little beyond the eastern
extremity of this out-of-the-way and desolate
spot, a rough but well-defined path for
awhile leads him on, until at length by an
abrupt descent he reaches the precipitous
side of a wide and dark tree-shaded valley,
suddenly revealed in all its immensity, and
resounding with the continuous rush of concealed
waters in its mysterious depths. The
lonely devious path and the steep declivities
of this. cavernous glen are difficult enough
and wild enough to remind the student of the
"selva oscura" mentioned in the opening of
the grand and gloomy poem of the " immortal
Florentine," there being a weird
character about the whole place calculated to
inspire the soul with admiration and with
awe. Hence, doubtless, the expressive name
of Dante's Glen by which this valley has
lately been distinguished. In Dante's Glen
there are three waterfalls which can be
reached by an adventurous and active tourist.
The :first-about t hree-quarters of a mile
from the station-is seen to the right, soon
after you enter the glen. The easterly stream
here falls over a ledge of rock to a depth of
40 feet, and becomes invisible during the
r st of its course down the valley. Beneath
thi first, a few chains further on, there is a
second waterfall of 90 feet. A small steep
track lead down towards both of these from
th topmo t rid e of the v~lley. The lo_wer
rtion of th path thus wmding down mto
this sequegtered locality is thickly wooded,
and ends in two deep precipitous gorges,
uniting at an inaccessible rocky northern
outlet. To the right is the lower (or second)
cascade already mentioned-the largest waterfall
of all three being away in the gully up
to the left. The western extremity of this
intersecting ravine is a huge black cliff,
hemmed in on all sides by tall trees, and
overhung with ferns, creepers, and parasitical
plants. Over this dark precipice a fine
stream falls 120 feet in sheer descent, its
broken feathery sprays being caught and
collected at the foot of the cliff in a basin
like a Naiad's bath hollowed out of a flat
rock. The course of this stream, descending
therefrom to its junction with the other, is,
like the rest of the glen, densely timbered
with coachwood, tree ferns, a kind of alder,
and sassafras. There is a _rocky shelf beside
the pellucid pool at the bottom of the cataract,
curiously over-arched by the cliff, and of
course a favourite haunt for excursionists.
You can pass right under this Fall if you
choose to be so foolhardy, but you had much
better not do so, for the feat is not unattended
with danger. Looked up to from the end of
the over-arched ledge above referred to, the
effect of this waterfall is exceeding solemn and
grand. It has been justly said by an excellent
authority (Burton): "There is nothing
more beautiful to be seen in the whole of the
Blue Mountains than this wonderful spot."
In addition to the views fully described,
there are many other scenes of great beauty
around Lawson-one of these, the Junction
Falls, is reached by following a track leading
from the Adelina Falls ; after a short walk
the visitor reaches a lonely glen which is
almost hidden with magnificent ferns. Here
. three creeks empty their waters into the
glen forming three separate and pretty waterfalls.
Another waterfall and romantic glen
in which some splendid fern-trees are growing,
are reached by following the main road westward
for about 2 miles, and then turning off
at a track leading to the left. The track is
not, at present however clearly marked, :1-nd
the services of a guide will almost be reqmred
to reach the spot.
Wentworth Falls, or Weatherboard
Platform, 62 miles; 2,856 feet above

Wentvvorth Falls.

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 41
sea-level-On leaving Lawson Station near
the "Old Blue Mountain Inn," the line runs
for 2 miles along the ridge to the westsouth-west,
and then (by a sharp turn) trends
wes~-north-west for 2 miles further, when it
reaches the locality generally known as the
"Weatherboard," where there is a platform
and a pointsman's house. The railway excursionist
is now on the confines of that
considerable extent of level ground upon the
mountains, about 24 miles in length, and
formerly known by the appellation of "The
King's Table-land," a name given to it (as
early chroniclers inform us) by Governor
Macquarie himself, during an adventurous
vice-regal tour in this direction, when deeply
impressed with the "majestic grandeur of the
situation, combined with the various objects
to be seen from the spot." On the southwest
side of this table-land the mountain
terminates, as an old colonial annalist informs
us, "in abrupt precipices of immense depth;
at the bottom of which is seen a glen as
romantically beautiful as can well be imagined,
bounded on the further side by mountains of
great magnitude, terminating as abruptly as
the others, and the whole thickly covered with
timber." The glen thus graphically described
-and named Prince Regent's Glen by Governor
Macquarie-appears to be identical with
one of the north-westerly prolongations or
branches of that great Cunimbla Valley,
which is now known to be more or less connected
(at its north-westerly extreme) with
the beautiful Valley of Hartley. The name
of "Prince Regent's Glen" should therefore
now, perhaps be judiciously restricted to a
north-westerly and less extensive ravine,
reaching from its intersection with the great
Cunimbla Valley back to an abrupt rocky
end in the neighbourhood of the far-famed
Waterfall of the Weatherboard, the true
historical appellation of which, by the way, is
Campbell's Cataract--a name bestowed upon
it by Governor Macquarie in honor of the
Colonial Secretary of the period. The upper
or north-westerly extreme of Prince Regent's
Glen is, it may be remarked, of a somewhat
circular form, presenting a grand coup cl' ceil
of mountains rising beyond mountains, with
stupendous masses of cliffs in the foreground
and in mid distance, reaching almost round
the vast and deep well-wooded hollow to the
west and to the southward; except, indeed,
where the Prince Regent's Glen opens out
on to the great sunken valley above-mentioned,
and so displays a glorious, many-tinted
and distant view of vast shadowy walls of
precipice on the other side of that valley,
many long miles away. 'fhis circular termination
of the Prince Regent's Glen, at its
northernmost end, was named by Governor
Macquarie the "Pitt Amphitheatre" in honor
of the Right Honorable William Pitt, and is
what is usually referred to by tourists under
the very vague and most inexpressive name
of the ·weatherboard. From any good point
on King's Table-land-such, for example,
as the verandah of Mr. Charles Wilson's
accommodation house, about 2,900 feet above
the sea-level-the light-house at the Sydney
South Head, on a clear night, looking due
east, is distinctly visible at a distance of 62
miles. The same well-known beacon can,
it is said, at times, be seen from Blackheath,
nearly 500 feet higher, and 11 miles further
away from the coast.
General Description of the Weatherboard.-Mr.
C. A. Wilson's accommodation
house lies about 50 yards from the pointsman's
house, on the southern side of the
Railway, not far from the semaphore, and an
old powder magazine in the open-both conspicuous
objects. Near the semaphore is a
tombstone-" Sacred to the memory of James
Ferguson, who was killed by lightning on
21st December, 1859; aged 22 years and 10
months." Formerly, as it would appear,
there was a burial-ground now traversed
by the Railway in this seclnded spot,
of which this ndw seems to be the sole
remaining tomb. A few cottages are to
be found in the vicinity. The air is fresh
and wholesome, as might be expected at such
an elevation ; but in stormy weather it is
not a locality where there is much that can
be pleasant for the tourist out of doors.
The old Western Road, between the Weatherboard
and Blackheath, is now almost wholly
disused, except when fat cattle are occasionally
driven over it by night. In many
places this picturesque old road is utterly
dilapidated, torn and worn away by the
wind and rain. At the back of Wilson's
there is a ruined bridge, through the broken

42 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
arch of which a fine stream (Jamison' s Creek)
flows away southerly for lk or 2 miles to
the neighbouring gorge. The road to the
Weatherboard Falls from the so-called
"station " leads by this broken bridge,
through the bush south-westerly to the edge
of that celebrated chasm and most enchanting
view. There is als9 a pleasant walk on
the north side of the line, to the north-west
of the semaphore. North of the Railroad,
but somewhat more to the eastward, lies the
winding track to " The Water Nymph's
Dell," which is difficult to find unless under
the guidance of some resident.
Visit to the Weatherboard Gorge and
Falls.-" Starting from the accommodation
house with a guide, I crossed," says a recent
visitor, " the ruined bridge at the back of
Wilson's, struck into the bush to the southwest,
and-after walking along a pretty fair
road for about I} mile-I reached at the end
of a rather devious path the framework of a
hut erected by the Government for tourists
and others, a~d wantonly and basely destroyed
(like that at Govett's Leap) by
thoughtless or selfish persons. (A commodious
hut has since been built here.) From the
elevated point thus arrived at on the topmost
edge of this titanic gorge, there is a steep
and almost precipitous descent to the southward,
partly shaded with stunted trees, and
terminating-after passing a flight of steps,
cut boldly out of the solid rock-in a broad,
natural platform of waterworn stone, immediately
opposite to "The Campbell Cataract,"
or .Falls, and overlooking that vast amphitheatre
named after the renowned statesman
William Pitt, which here terminates the
Prince Regent's Glen. The platform seems
actually to overhang the Great Falls, which
are, however, at some distance from it
to the left (the eastward), across a huge
semi-circular abyss, hollowed out of red and
grey rocks, and overshadowed everywhere with
trees and ferns. In front of the spectator is
the chasm's edge, stretching along like the
elevated margin of a bay; and beyond this
rough but well-defined line is that fairy-land
of mountain, cliff, and forest which no pencil
can perfectly depict or pen adequately describe.
To the left is a small tract of barren
and mountainous country, of an immense
altitude, coming up from the southward, and
forming the easterly frame of this vast and
marvellous picture. Its westerly frame presents
rude cliffs and a wooden talus towards
the entrance to the Pitt Amphitheatre ; and
on its upper surface are seen mountain streams
and rivulets hastening to unite themselves to
the main stream coming from the opposite
direction (J amison's Creek) and then to dash
themselves into a cylindrical abyss, whose
falling waters resound in your ears like an
everlasting sigh. Approaching cautiously to
the edge of the platform, or (what is perhaps
more safe) lying down to look over, you
see the stream wildly precipitated over
broad stratified rings of grey, red, and black
rock, into the bottom of this grand mountain
glen, a distance of (apparently) not
less than 1,000 feet in sheer descent. The
waters of the cataract drain away into the
far off depths of the densely wooded valley
beneath, the lowermost line of which seems
ultimately to indicate a south-easterly direction.
When I first approached thi8 spot at
about 9 a.m., the falls were threefold in
their development, and stood in a deep and
misty shadow. Near the bottom of the first
fall, breaking into feathery spray, long before
it reaches a slightly projecting mass of
broken fragments of stone, about half-way
down, there is to the south a long thin line
of forest trees, the foliage of which looks
dim and soft when seen from the great
height of the platform on the rock. These
trees, half-way down into the abyss, spread
all along the surface of the small projecting
ledge in the precipitous wall on the eastern
side of the gorge ; their irregular masses of
greenery contributing greatly to the charm
of the scene. Below these broken masses
of stone and trees and brushwood a second
dreadful precipice descends, and a second
fall may, by a daring spectator be seen, far
below the dizzy altitude-so far that no
murmur from this and the next succeeding
fall ascends to break the silence. It is only
the everlasting sweep of the upper portion
of the cataract which makes itself distinctly
audible. Below, as I have intimated, the
stream follows unseen its appointed course
through the sylvan depths of that enchanted
valley. Anything more sublime and aweinspiring
cannot possibly be imagined. On

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 43
the western side of the gorge of the Weatherboard,
at the distance of about f a mile,
there is a second wall of parti-coloured rock,
with a huge talus of rocks and trees, and a
towering royal crest of trees and undergrowth.
Further away to the south-westward
(on the north-west side of the amphitheatre)
comes an abrupt break; and then
more cliffs and declivities, and another wide
valley of low-lying forest and hill scenery is
displayed, enclosed by another and yet more
extensive range of rocky wa11 and talus, or
slopes formed of detritus or decayed rock.
This range of brightly-tinted cliffs (in which
deep red colour predominates) trends easterly
£or some miles, and at last-having almost
traversed the entire picture-ends with an
abrupt descent into the Prince Regent's
Glen. Beyond the eastern extremity of the
distinct line thus furnished in mid-distance
is another stretch of woodland, dim and
cerulean in its many shadowy gaps and hollows.
Beyond that line again comes another
more shadowy tract in bright cobalt; and
beyond that yet again appear the far off
outlines of a mountainous country, wrapped in
a mantle of denser blue, its summits crowned
with cliffs in exquisitely blended tints of
pink and yellow. Over all that again at
intervals (and especially from the ruined hut)
can be seen an ethereal light blue outline of
lofty hills in the extreme distance. On the
rocky platform which overlooks the Falls,
the aspiring mind of Young .Australia has
prompted the inscription of names and surnames
of parties not yet otherwise distinguished.
These names have been boldly
carved on the ledge of stone, in the vain hope
of thereby securing some adventitious immortality.
The whole of the rocky ledge which
overlooks the gorge is public property, but
some of the land in the vicinity has already
been alienated. ' The Weeping Rock,' for
instance, is on private property, belonging to
Mr. D. Fletcher, of Sydney. This 'weeping
rock,' an object of great interest to those
who visit the Weatherboard, stands above
the 'Great Fall,' on the east side of the
gorge, and well deserves the name which
has been given to it. The continuous flow
of water which trickles over this curious
half-isolated mass of stone is occasioned by
a rivulet breaking away from the main
stream, known as Jarnison's Greek-the same
which feeds the Great Fall, or Campbell's
Cataract."
Another description of the Campbell
Cataract and the Gorge at the Weatherboard.-The
following description of the
Campbell Cataract and the adjacent gorge is
taken from Mr. Ed win Burton's Guide, an
admirably compiled and useful little work.
Mr. Burton's Guide, page 118, says:-" The
Campbell Cataract is, however, the great
attraction to tourists. The water leaps over
the tremendous precipice into the glen below.
The scene has thus been depicted by the
Rev. Dr. Lang:-' .At the point where the
rivulet from the Weatherboard hut discharges
itself there is a break or bay in the line of
cliffs on that side, as if a vast portion of the
wall of rock had been quarried out £or the
purpose, the two points appearing from behind
like two lofty headlands jutting out into
the valley, and bearing a remarkable resemblance
to the Heads of Port Jackson. The
rivulet, which in its course of 2 miles and
a half has been swelled by one or two
smaller streams issuing from lateral valleys
to the size of a common mill-stream, precipitates
itself all at once over the rocks at the
head of the bay and is lost in the abyss, the
fall being at least 1, OOO feet. On gaining
the edge of the precipice the waters of the
rivulet seem to shrink instinctively from the
frightful leap to which they have been conducted
in their course down the valley, each
individual drop appearing endowed with
separate volition, and seeming determined to
shift for itself, and the whole mass of fluid
resolving itself into what appears like innumerable
particles of frozen snow. Many
hundred feet below, the tops of apparently
lofty trees are seen at the bottom of Prince
Regent's Glen, and so completely do the
cyclopean walls of rock which form the
glen defy aJl direct communication between
the heights and the hollow, that the shortest
practicable route from the place where the
rivulet leaps over the precipice to the bottom
of the cliffs, over which it falls, is 16 miles.
Governor Macquarie named the waterfall the
Campbell Cataract, in honor of the Colonial
Secretary of that period. At the time we
visited the Fall there was a strong wind

44 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
blowing up the glen. The wind caught the
falling waters before they had time to reach
the bottom, and scattered them into mist,
carrying them to great distances. The sun's
rays falling on the particles produced the
phenomena of innumeraole rainbows, the
effect of the whole scene being indescribably
beautiful.' Connected with this wonderful
place there is a legend about the inhumanity
of the keeper of a 'shanty' near by the
precipice, in the ea.rly days of the Colony.
Before railways were thought of, lucky diggers
had to use the road, and this 'shanty,'
where grog was sold on the sly, was often
resorted to by those who wanted shelter and
rest. As the story goes-and there are
more improbable stories-the keeper used to
lure them to the precipice, rob them, and
then pitch them over into the valley beneath.
The Falls are about l!- mile from the railway
platform. There is a small accommodation
house near the platform, where a guide may
be procured. Persons may leave Sydney by
the morning train, visit the Falls, and return
to Sydney the same night."
The Water Nymph's Dell.-Directly
opposite to the Weatherboard Station ( or
rather Platform) there is a very pretty waterfall,
in a curiously secluded narrow glen ;
both waterfall and glen being ·well worthy of
a visit. You cross the Railroad a little to
the west of the pointsman's house, and turn
do,Yn at once into an adjacent scantily
wooded valley, wherein flowering shrubs and
rushes appear as the principal features. A
path leads down a continuation of this valley
to the eastward, on somewhat firmer ground,
for about a mile and a half; and then, by an
abrupt turn to the right, a winding and precipitous
track takes you down into the upper
encl of a deep and rocky gully. The hottom
and sides of this gully are shaded with tall
trees of coach wood and sassafras, everywhere
interlaced with vines ; and in the lower
portions of the gully there is an abundance
of ferns, mosses, and lycopods of all descriptions-some
of them very choice and rare.
Tree ferns-the Alsophila aiistralis and the
Dicksonia antarctica) display their graceful
fronds on all sides of you, in this cool umbrageous
place ; and when you stand upon
the lower ledge of rock, at the ba e of the
tortuous path, the pleasant rippling sound of
falling water becomes distinctly audible.
Proceeding further still, the noise of a waterfall
is soon heard, and over the grey cliff
opposite, across the gorge ( draped in the
glittering, dark foliage of trees and arborescent
plants) a charming cascade comes
down, whispering and mur.muring into the
glen. Following the rough and difficult path
to the westward, up this lovely but lonely
place, the end of the gorge becomes suddenly
revealed. At the termination of the path,
and below the cliff, lies a pool of limpid
water, wherein Egeria herself might not have
disdained to bathe. This pool is supplied by
the waterfall, descending at the back of it,
from the precipice, in several broken rills, for
more than 50 feet. The dark sides of the
rock and the edges of the basin in this Water
N yrnph's Dell are fringed and decked with
mosses and creeping plants of a wonderful
beauty and variety. The path down the hillside
appears to be by no means an easy one,
but the youthful, smiling guide speaks admiringly
of the indomitable energy and
daring of the lady visitors to thir:i beautiful
and romantic spot. Another less hazardous
ramble may be found by leaving the semaphore
near the line, and following up a
bubbling stream, by the edge of a marsh, to
the north-westward. The visitor may do this
for some considerable distance and find his
gravelly path bordered by a profusion of
mountain flowers, ferns, lycopodiums, and
those other plants which, in Australia, appear
to take the place of the heather in the
uplands of Scotland and other parts of
Europe.
Katoomba Platform, 66 miles ; 3,349
feet above sea-level.-Leaving the platform
at the W eatherboar

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 45
splendid climate, Katoomba is fast becoming a
township of some importance. Two large
hotels have been established, one of which,
the "Great Western" (Carrington) is equal to
the "Imperial" at Mount Victoria, for the
amount of accommodation it gives, and for the
excellence of its appointments. Biles' hotel,
opposite the station, is a well kept and comfortable
hostelry. A Public and Private
School has also been erected. Probably there
is no place on the mountains where so many
beautiful views can be so easily and conveniently
seen within a short distance of the
Railway as at Katoomba. The main attraction
is the Katoomba Falls and the views of
Cunimbla Valley. Passing along a well laid
out road, starting from the southern side of
the Railway Station, the visitor, after a walk
of about a mile, reaches the edge of the
Cunim bla Valley. Here, standing on a
rocky promontory, a glorious view of the
extensive valley is presented, the mounds in
the valley thickly covered with timber, rising
like waves in a deep sea; afar off on the
opposite side groups of rocks are seen, their
heads mantled with a wreath of white fleecy
clouds, resembling some old baronial castle;
and in the centre of the valley the course of
a creek is clearly marked, its waters as they
flow onward being hidden by a thick growth
of brushwood. Just before reaching the
rocky promontory overlooking the valley the
road crosses the creek which makes the
waterfall, and a considerable body of water is
generally flowing. At Katoomba, unlike the
'\Veatherboard and Govett's Leap, the visitor
can reach the bottom of the valley, and the
waterfall is seen best from a point in the
track as it leads to the bottom of the valley.
The track, overhung with ferns and :flowering
shrubs, is clearly marked, and for some
distance comparatively easy of descent. Somo
little distance down a view is obtained of a
section of the valley, and through an opening
in a thick growth of ferns and umbrageous
trees, the water resembling a beautiful bridal
veil, is seen tumbling down upon the dark
depths of rocks below. The pathway then
passes between two massive rocks, the main
walls of the valley on one side and a detached
mass standing alone on the other. This rock
towering up for a couple of hundred feet like
some turreted castle, receives, on account of
its isolated position, the name of the Orphan
Rock. If the visitor is not afraid of a little
exertion, he can follow the track: until it
brings him to the bottom of the valley, where
he will reach the coal drive opened up by Mr.
North. A tramway runs from Katoomba to
the mine ; it is on a gradient of 1 in 2 from
the rocks fringing the valley to the minea
stationary engine at the top drawing up
by a wire rope the trucks of coal. In addi-­
tion to the coal there is a good seam of shale
in the valley, which promises to create a large
trade. A great deal of the prosperity at
Katoomba is due to the enterprise of Mr.
North in developing the coal and shale mines ;
and since the tramway has been made, a sawmill
has been started in the valley, a large
quantity of timber of excellent quality being
obtainable. In the vicinity of the saw-mill
and mine numerous splendid specimens of
fern trees are to be found. There is much
else to occupy the notice of the visitor at
Katoomba. At the proper season mountain
mosses, ferns, and :flowers are numerous and
beautiful. Although the main Katoomba
Falls, on account of their volume, attract the
greater notice, there are others smaller but
not the less beautiful ; particularly the Leura
and Lurline Falls.
A writer describing Katoomba., says:­
Katoomba is situated on t.he Blue Mountains,
66 miles from Sydney by rail, and
3,349 feet above sea-level. Leaving the busy
Redfern Railway Terminus, in about thirty
minutes we pass the pretty town of Parramatta
; then on either side may be seen some
fine orchards and orange groves, lightly timbered
grass lands, hills, and small streams.
We arrive at the quaint old town of Penrith
; here the train stops about ten minutes
for refreshments. Proceeding on our journey
we pass the N epean River, with its romantic
and picturesque scenery, and its massively
constructed iron tubular bridge. We soon
commence the ascent of the Zigzag, and as
we near the top a grand. panorama spreads
out before us. The scene is indescribably
magnificent ; we begin to breathe the deliciously
cool mountain air, being now about
700 feet above sea-level. The language of
the poet can alone describe the splendour of
the scenery which meets our view as we are

46 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
whirled along over gullies and hills ; the
hurrygraphs of scenery that come and go
like the sliding scales of a magic lantern, the
windows framing picture after picture, till at
length we get a fine view on our left of the
Kanimbla Valley; then there is a grinding
of the brake, and the station-master is seen
bustling about the platform, informing us
that we are at Katoomba. The hotels must,
of necessity, be a subject of interest to those
who visit the Mountains. Of these there are
three, all good and respectable, besides boarding-houses
for all classes-from those who
take their champagne, to those who hire
humble lodgings and take their own provisions.
The "Great Western Hotel" which is situated
on a high eminence just above and to the
left of the station, commands the only real
mountain view to be obtained without travelling
some distance from the line. The design
of the hotel is on the modern American style,
with a larg~ flat-top roof, from which can be
seen the city -of Sydney and its noted harbour.
It has accommodation for seventy to eighty
persons, contains nearly sixty rooms, consisting
of a large dining-room, general ladies'
drawing-room, and gentlemen's smoking and
reading-room. These are arranged, with
their necessary retiring rooms, at opposite
ends of the building, while the intermediate
space is divided into suites of private sitting
and bedrooms. A remarkable feature in the
planning of the structure is its large, wide,
and lofty corridors, which, in wet weather,
serves admirably as promenades, as also a
large verandah in front of the building, which
faces the east. All the principal rooms have,
therefore, in summer and winter, the benefit
of the cheerful early morning sun. Gas is
laid on, electric bells, and hot and cold water
baths are fitted to all the rooms. An excellent
provision for water-supply is now being
made by means of a Blake's hydraulic ram,
which is situated in a large spring of water in
the valley, about 1,000 yards distant.
Biles' Hotel, which is situated immediately
to the right of the station, is a large,
well-conducted hotel. Mr. Biles, who it will
be found is a most agreeable Boniface, has a
reput,ation for the abundance and excellence
of his dinners.
"Katoomba Hotel," about i of a mile on
the Bathurst road, is a wayside inn, where
every attention is shown to visitors by Mrs.
Curnow.
The principal sights of Katoomba, all of
which are within easy walking distance of
the hotels, are the following !-
Katoomba Falls.-The I~oomba Falls
are as pretty, and as well worth a visit, as
any on the mountains. Although an excellent
view is obtained from the rocks overlooking
the valley, the Falls are seen best by
taking the track on the right, and from an
opening near the Orphan Rock a splendid
view of the Falls and the valley below is
obtained. The Orphan Rock, standing solitary
like a sentinel on duty, is a prominent
object from the rocks near the head of the
Falls.
The Witch's Leap.-By following the
winding path at the foot of the Falls you
will pass Maud's Wonder, from which can be
had a splendid view of the Falls and the
Glen, and pursuing the path by the first
opening on the left, the excursionist will
come upon M. Q. Any sound produced here
will be reverberated for several seconds.
Another very good view of the Falls can be
obtained from this point. Passing the Orphan
Rock, and descending the Gully, the
scene chanaes at every step. On the right
may be see~ the coal-tram ~merg~ng out of a
cleft in the rock. Descendmg a little further
(carefully) the valley can be reached, and following
the track to the left past the Sawmills
you will arrive at the foot of the Falls.
The tree ferns hereabouts are very fine.
The Bluff at Engine Point.-To the left
appears the Three Sisters, in front is the
Corowal or Solitary Mount, and on the extreme
left of the Mount and near the top is
the Crouching Lion, inclining to the right is
the Ruined Castle, Megalong, Mount Clear,
and in the distance some 50 miles away are
the Picton and N attai Ranges.
Grace's Hill.-From this point you can
see Jamison Valley to the south-east. ·when
stationed on this ~ill, the Three Sisters, a
portion of the Kanimbla Valley, Blackheath,
Mount Victoria, and the Boar's Head, &c.,
can be seen.

Katoomba Falls.

(/l
~
0
(/l

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 47
The Gap and the Neck of Land.-The
sight of this rugged and grand crater-like
abyss should not be missed by the tourist.
Birdie's Dell or Silver Spray Waterfall
is an enchanting spot, from which can
be caught a glimpse of the meeting of the
waters at Nelly's Glen.
Nelly's Glen is a remarkable gorge extending
from the top of the mountain to the
Kanimbla Valley, sloping rapidly for about
500 feet, and varying in width from 20 to 60
feet. At the top a meeting of two watercourses
forms the cascade. A thrice repeated
echo is heard here.
Leura and Lurline Falls.-A little above
these will be seen some beautiful cascades,
and .the meeting of two water-courses which
flow over beds of moss and rock to the verge
of a precipice, down which it suddenly leaps
in an almost unbroken sheet a descent of 800
feet, creating a deep hollow sound, while the
trembling waters shoot up their silvery spray
sparkling and flashing and foaming with tbe
dancing sunbeams bright and perfect rainbows.
The Fossil Rock is another marvel which
should not be forgotten.
The Coal-mine is well worth a visit. The
tramway is one mile and a quarter in lenO'th
from the Railway Siding and the trucks ~re
drawn by a steel cable, measurinO' 2J_ miles
0 2
and weighing 5! tons.
_The . Jenolan (formerly called the
Fish River) Caves.-Many inquiries have
been made as to the new route from Katoomba
to the remarkable caves which lie
a_t a dista~ce of about 18 miles in a straight
line, and m a S.W. by W. direction. As
the journey via Tarana and Oberon is
about 90 miles in length from Katoomba,
a shorter cut has long been a desideratum
ancl as a step in this direction the hotel~
keepers of Mount Victoria some years ago
cons~ru?ted a ~uggy track from that place
to withm 2 miles of the caves. The distance
between the two places is 44 miles,
and from one cause or other this track has
not been made much use of by the public.
Of course, from Katoomba this route, though
shorter than that by Tarana, would also be
very roundabout, and several attempts were
accordingly made to find a track direct ;
among others by Mr. Peter Fitzpatrick, of
Burragorang, who was connected with some
mining operations near Katoomba, and who
brought the matter under the notice of the
late Premier (Sir A. Stuart) on one of his
visits to that favourite resort. The result
was that first Mr. Rossbach, road surveyor,
and, later on, Mr. W. M. Cooper, Surveyor
of Public Parks, were sent to inspect and
report on the feasibiljty of the route and to
find the best line for a horse track. Mr.
Rossbach's inspection was only a preliminary
one, extending over a single day; Mr.
Cooper, who followed, spent ten days on the
work, and marked out a line from end to
end. The number of detours necessary to
earry a track with reasonable gradients
over so mountainous a country caused the
distance traversed to be 25 miles from the
starting point, or 26} from the "Great
Western Hotel," Katoomba. Special care
was taken to mark the line, so that it could
not easily be mistaken, by blazing trees in
a distinctive manner, and by affixiDg to the
trees at various intervals, corresponding
to the nature of the ground, squares, or
rather diamonds, of white calico, with black
figures conspicuously printed thereon, running
consecutively from 1 to 105. The
work wa8 completed in April, 1884, and
the following is a description of the route
which has been adopted between the two
places, and of the country passed through
on the way. A number of persons have
already made the journey on foot; any one
accustomed to walking can do it comfortably
in twelve hours ; and as the track becon1es
opened up, an increasing num~er of s_eekers
after health and pleasuro combmed will probably
follow their example. Whe~ t~e
proposed horse-track is completed it will
be a very enjoyable ride. of five. hours.
There is a good deal of variety and mtcrest
in the scene en route, and a short account
of its principal features will doubtless prove
acceptable to tourists, whether on foot or
horseback.

48 THE RA.IL WA. Y GUIDE.
Of the nature of the country passed
through it may be generally remarked that
it consists, first, of the great depression of
the Cox Valley, some 7 miles wide and 2,500
feet deep, and then of three spurs of the
Main Dividing Range of the Colony, the
range itself being followed for about a
mile, but not crossed, and attaining the
summit level of 4,040 feet at 21 t miles from
Katoomba.
On leaving Katoomba, the Main Western
Road is followed for lf mile until the
E xplorer's Tree is reached. This is a
venerable relic of the early history of the
Colony, an old battered W and L cut in its
trunk (the B which was originally also there
having become obliterated by decay) telling
the story of the first successful attempt made
to surmount the hitherto impassable Blue
Mountains and penetrate the unknown interior,
by Wentworth, Lawson, and Blaxland.
The tree is fenced round and buttressed
with masonry, and bears the following inscription
affixed thereto :-
This wall and fence has (sic) been erected by the
H on. J. S. F arnell, Esq., Minister for Lands, to
preserve this tree marked by
BLAXLAND,
LAWSON,
WENTWORTH,
being the farthest distance reached in their first attempt
to cross the :Blue Mountains in the month of
May,
A.D. 1813.
The expedition, which consisted of William
Charles Wentworth, Gregory Blaxland, and
Lieutenant William Lawson, started from
South Creek, near Penrith, the residence of
Mr. Blaxland, on May 11, 1813, and reached
its farthest point on June l. The following
passa,ge from Oxley's Journal refers to the
state of things at this time:-
They now conceived that they had sufficiently accomplished
the design of -their undertaking, having
surmounted all the difficulties which had hitherto
prevented the interior of the country from being explored.
They had partly cleai:ed, or at least marked
out, a road by which the passage of the mountain
might be easily effected. Their provisions -were nearly
expended, their clothes and shoes wer~ in _very bad
condition, and the whole party were 111 with bowel
complaints.
The expedition completed its return to
South Creek on June 6, having thus been
out less than a month. In order to do justice
to the courage, perseverance, and public
spirit displayed on this expedition, it should
be remarked that many previous attempts to
penetrate the barrier of the Blue Mountains
had returned unsuccessful, the first of which
was undertaken by George Bass in 1796.
Bass reported, on his return, that it was
" impossible to find a passage, even for a
person . on foot." In consequence of the
success of the former expedition, Governor
Macquarie dispatched George William
Evans, Deputy Surveyor of Lands, to extend
the discoveries. He crossed the N epean on
the 20th November, 1813, arrived at the termination
of Messrs. Wentworth, Blaxland,
and Lawson's journey on the 26th, and prosecuted
his undertaking for about 100 miles
further to the west to the Bathurst Plains.
On December 18 he commenced his return,
and on January 8, 1814, he arrived home
again. The construction of a road across
the mountains was immediately commenced,
and carried on so vigorously that on January
21, 1815, it was completed from Sydney to
Bathurst.
At this point the route to the caves commences,
following at first a cart track, which ·
turns off to the left, and presently turning
off to the left again it arrives (2 miles from
Katoomba) at the head of the Megalong
Cleft. This is a na,rrow chasm in the great
sandstone wall, which is so remarkable a
feature in the Blue Mountain scenery. It
is quite practicable for travellers on foot,
though steep and slushy, from the con~tant
trickling of water from its head and sides,
and almost filled with magnificent tree and
other ferns, which thrive luxuriantly in the
constant shade and damp. Halfway down
the steep incline the musical sound of
falling water is heard, and a cascade of
some 30 ft. in height is seen on the left.
The cleft is about 3,280 ft. a born the sea at
the top (Katoomba is 3,350) and 2,690 at
the foot, thus making a descent of some
600 ft. in 21 chains, or an average grade of
1 in 2t, which might be impr?ved by zi~zaging
to 1 in 5 or 6. On emergmg from this
gorge of gloom, profound even at mid.-d:1y,
and from many points further on, strikmg
views are obtained of the long line of sandstone
cliffs behind and on each side, the

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 49
outlines and the great masses of light and
shade bein~ very bold and varied, and the
colouring of yellow, red, purple, and green
superb. In many places the cliff overhangs,
and one craggy mass to the west of the cleft
bears a strong resemblance to a huge castle,
with its great square towers, battlements,
buttresses, and turrets, even the lines and
joints of the masonry being distinctly visible;
and another to the e:1st, on which has been
conferred the name of the Boar's Head, is
curiously like the head of an heraldic dragon,
with pomted ears and open jaws. When
flushed with the morning or evening glow,
this mighty natural rampart is a sight worth
going far to see.
Proceeding onwards, a mile or so of rough
ground is passed over, a slope strewn with
angular rocks of different shapes and sizes,
the accumulated wreck of ages from the cliff
above, and covered with rather thick bush
and scrub. After this the track pasrns
through capital walking country, with sandy
or gravelly soil, open bush, and no scrub.
It is almost level for the next 3 or 4
miles to Megalong Station, where some
huts are seen on the right. After striking
the S.E. corner of the paddock fence the
track runs alongside the fence for about
a mile, and at the S.W. corner (6-! miles
from Katoomba, and 1,870 ft. above the
sea) lea,es the course of Megalona Creek,
which we have followed from the cleft thus
far, and, bearing to the left, sidles the
sloping ground on the left bank of the
Cox, which foams a.long its rocky bed far
b~low. An easy gradual descent for 3l
miles takes us to the crossing, passing on
the way, between marks 47 and 48 some
picturesque granite rocks, which h~ve in
past ages come tumbling down from the hill
a?ove . ( called the Pinnacle) like colossal
mne-prns ; one group, to which, from its
shape, the name of the Toad has been given
bei~g curiously perched one upon another:
wh1ls~ across the river a ridge, with three
promrne~t knobby peaks, attracts. attention
on the right. At lOi miles we arrive at
the crossing of the Cox, at its confluence
with the Gibraltar Creek, the level of which
is only 940 ft. above the sea, so that we
have descended no less than 2,500 ft. since
we left the Western Road. The river bed is
well worth noticing : it is composed almost
entirely of grey granite, mostly solid, but
with loose rocks and boulders strewn about,
some of them of huge dimensions, whilst the
clear green water forms deep mirror-like
pools among them, or tumbles over in
brawling cascades. A mile or so further up
the stream the valley is crossed by a dyke of
red granite, of a lovely rose colour, well
worth turning aside to see, if time allows,
or it could be taken on the return journey,
and a cut across made afterwards to rejoin
the track above. In its ordinary state the
river can be crossed dryshod, and if the
water should be unusually high a log whieh
spans the stream a few chains below is
available, but in the case of a flood it would
not be wise for an inexperienced person to
attempt the passage, whilst it is needless to
say that during a high flood nothing can
cross without swimming. Ralf a mile below
the crossing is the comfortable hut of Peter
Reilly, a free selector, who acts as stockrider
on the adjacent hills, which are well
grassed. H~ and his wife are the only residents
on the route, for Megalong Station is
only occasionally inhabited. Any travelJer
who spends an evening with Peter will be
entertained with a number of racy anecdotes
concerning the wild bush life which he and
so many others have led in the days gone by.
The track follows up the Gibraltar Creek,
and after crossing it three times, sidles up
the steep slopes of its right bank. It is easy
going, with the exception of two sharp
pinches, which can be avoided by side cutting
when the track is made, and brings us at 121
miles to a low saddle (2,310 ft.) across the
Mini Mini Range, an off-shoot of the Main
Divide, forming the northern boundary of
the Little River Valley, into which we
descend by an easy spur, and at 13t miles
we reach the bank of the river, 1,830 ft.
above the sea. Here, bordered by low hills,
is a small flat which will be a capital position
for a half-way house hereafter. Follow_ing
the left bank of the clear, pebbly, musical
stream for half a mile, we cross it and commence
the ascent of the Black Range, another
off-shoot of the Main Divide,runningeasterly
from it, and separating the waters of the
Little and J enolan Rivers. By a long easy
spur we rise 1,400 ft. in the next mile and a
D

•
50 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
half, this gives an average grade of 1 in G,
so that it is a task of no difficulty, except
for one stiff pull, where the grade of the
natural surface is about 1 in 4 for 60 cha.ins,
and where the going condition of the traveller
jg put to the proof. On reaching the top
(15t miles, height 3,200 ft.) the bron,d and
apparently flat range extends westward for
4 miles, then turns north for a mile so as to
head a gully of great depth, in which rises
one of the heads of the J enolan River; and,
bending to the west again for half a mile,
joins the Main Dividing Range of the Colony
at 20{ miles, and at a height of 3,980 ft.
above the sea. All along the Black Range
an olcl cart track is followed, used in former
years for the transport of bark to Bindo and
Hartley. Although: as might be expected,
pursuing a very serpentine course, it makes
a cn,pital walking track, quite equal if not
superior to the average Sydney foot pavement,
and much better than the Sydney
macadam. Here and there, where the track
approaches the edge of the ridge, extensive
views are obtained to the north, north-east,
and south-deep gullies plunging steeply
down into the great valleys, seas of dull
green foliage out of which rise the bluegreen
hills, with light yellow scars on their
distant flanks, plainly denoting the ss.ndstone
formation. About a mile further, at a point
4,040 ft. high, the Main Range, which in this
part of its course forms a remarkable ru
curve, turns to west and north-west, and our
trar.k leaves it and follows a spur trending
almost due south right away to the caves.
Along this spur runs the buggy track from
Mount Victoria before alluded to, which,
being cleared 10 or 12 ft. wide, and the ridge
being nowhere steep, affords another 3t miles
of excellent walking. Some extensive views
to the eastward are to be had from several
points on this part of the route, embracing
to the left Katoomba, with the "Great
\V estern Hotel" standing out against the
sky ; to the front the Cox Range, Medlow
Gap, and the striking two-peaked hill of the
Brothers visible through it, reminding the
travelled Australian of the Mythen on Lake
Luzern ; and to the right the profound recesses
of the great J enolan Gorge, terminating
in the mount of that ilk, one of the
hills which has the honor of being named
on Sir Thomas Mitchell's excellent feature
map, still by far the best in existence of
the mountain district within 100 miles of
Sydney. On the west is the deep gorge of
the J enolan Creek, clothed in luxuriant
timber, and on its further side the long wall
of the Main Range stands up high against
the sky. The descent of the spur we are
on is so easy that at 25 miles we are still
3,770 ft. above the sea; and then commences
the descent to the caves, which are 1,200 ft.
below. The spur plunges irregularly down
to its termination at the caves, so that it is
inexpedient to follow its ridge, and hence a
narrow track has been trenched in its side,
up or down which it is easy for man or horse
to walk except after dark. This brings us
to the Easter Arch of the caves-a natural
bridge of limestone striding over the J enolan
(M'Keown's, or M'Ewan's) Creek, from the
spur we have come down, to another which is
followed by the road from- Oberon. The
top of this archway is strewn with slippery
limestone rocks, and sundry holes descend
to the regions below, so that wary walking is
necessary in this neighbourhood. A track
is, however, marked out which there is no
difficulty in finding by daylight; and following
this down we come at" last, after a journey
of 26! miles, to our destination. In 11armony
with the philosophy of the American, who
said that there was no prospect, however fine,
which was not improved with a good hotel in
the foreground, the traveller who has come
thus far will probably deem the sight of the
accommodation house stretching across the
narrow valley in front of him one of the
pleasantest on the journey, the more so as
for the last 13 miles since leaving Little
River there is only one place where, excepting
just after rain, water is conveniently to be
had. He will be sure to receive every comfort
and attention from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson,
and under the experienced guidance of the
former or his brother can proceed next
morning to explore the caves, which may
be aptly termed the Australian fairy land,
and to the examination of whose charms
several days should be devoted. For extent,
variety, and wonderful beauty combined, this
series of caves has few equals in the world.
The present writer is aware of only one, the
grotto of Adelsberg, in Carniola, 12 miles

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE.
5l
S.E. ·of Trieste, where the features are very
similar, and command the unbounded admiration
of travellers from every part of
Europe. Considering their attractions, it
seems surprising that our caves have not
been visited by every intelligent person in
the colony who possesses the time and means
necessary to enable him to make the expedition.
No doubt a ]arge number have been
deterred by the tedious and roundabout route
at present employed, and the limited number
which the house at the caves has hitherto been
able to accommodate. Both these difficulties
areincourseof being remedied to some extent:
the one by the horse track which is in course of
construction along the line marked out by Mr.
Cooper, and the other by an enlargement of Mr.
Wilson's house, which has been recently completed,
thoughit appears to be still inadequate
to public requirements on special occasions.
It 1s understood that arrangements are in
contemplation to exhibit their marvellous
beauties in the only way by which anything
like justice can be done to them,-by lighting
up the caves by electricity. This, if carried
out, will add tenfold to their charms, and
cannot fail to induce a much larger number
of persons to visit what will then certainly
be one of the sights of the world.
In conclusion, we can confidently recommend
any one of good health and vigorous
constitution, who has an eye for natural
beauty, and a love of fresh air and exercise,
t? take. this trip. By starting early, say 6
o cloc~ m the morning, it can be comfortably
made m ~he day on foot, and it will probably
~e of assrntance to him and give an additional
u~terest to his journey if he will carry with
him these notes and the accompanying map,
showing the natural features of the country
traversed by the track. It will be observed
that it is intersected from north to south
and south-east by the great deprernion of
the Cox Valley, from 2,000 to 3,000 feet
deep, bounded on the east by the long wall
of sandstone cliffs which is so well known
to tourists in the district. The remarkable
shape assumed by the island-like hills hereabouts
cannot fail to strike the observerislands
and promontories they once were,
no doubt ; they once bathed their feet in
the surge of the Pacific, and the oceans of
ancient days hollowed out their cavernous
sides, at the time when the coral insects
were slowly building up the limestone ridge
which now contains the wonderful series of
caves that are the object of the journey.
On the west of the valley, and ut an avern,gc
distanc·e of about 8 miles, it is bounded by
the line of the Main Dividing Range, a.bout
4,000 feet in height; numerous lateral spurs
rising from it divide the intervening space
into tributary vulleys, and along one of
these spurs, called the Black R.ange (from a
dark-coloured stone found upon it), the
track is taken to its junction with the Main
R.ange. As the range at this point bends
almost back again on itself in a curious (\)
curve, the track leaves it and takes udvantage
of a spur running southwards right to
the caves themselves.
A sum of £2,500 has been voted by Parliament
for the construction of a horse track
by this route, and the work has been commenced
at the Megalong Cleft, where a zig-zag
is being cut, partly in solid rock, which when
completed will be usable by horses without
difficulty, the steepest gradient being I in 5!.
Summary of Distances and Heights on Track from Katoomba to Jenolan Gares.
Mark.
Place.
Distn,nce from
Railway Station,
Ifatoomba.
Height
above
Sen,.
0
6
16
26
42
54
62
65
71
88
99
105
~at~omb,a Railway Station • , •.... , , , , , • , , , . , .... , , , , , , , , . . ... , . , •.... , ....... .
T xp of~ s Tree ......... ,., ....... ,,,,,, , ,, .. ,, ... ,,,,,,, ........ ,,,,,,,,, .... .
F~~t 0 0£ J[o~af {:; 0 Jf !it · · · · · · · · · · · · · ' · · ' ' ' ' · · ' · · · · ' · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ' ' · · · · ·
~t~f Q}l;:.:/!//!/!Iti!\//
Main Dividing Range and bu"'gy track fro~1 ·M~uht vi~t~;·i~ · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · · .....
Top of descent ....... , , .... ~ ........... , , , ..... , ..... , . , : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
Caves ...... , , ......... . , ............. , , . , . , .. , .•.. , .. , . , .. , .. , , ...... , ...... .
miles
chains
1 40
1 73
2 14
3 22
6 61
10 17
12 38
13 62
15 25
21 29
24 73
26 37
feet
3,350
3,440
3,280
2,690
2,110
1,870
940
2,310
1,830
3,200
3,980
3,770
2,540

52 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
When you leave Katoomba there are peeps
to the left as you proceed for about 2 miles
further to the westward. Mountains then
become visible to the right, and distant
views are to be seen to the left, with lofty red
cliffs and dark blue and grey ranges. Then
the road-at Pulpit Hill-takes a sharp turn
to the northward, and runs through many
deep cuttings on this prolongation of the
table-land still lying between the two great
watersheds; winding a good deal, and showing
many glimpses of blue mountains and
magnificent cliffs of red and grey sandstone.
To the left, over the Cunimbla Valley, views
are occasionally to be seen of wondrous
beauty, and strangely diversified with rich
varieties of colour and atmospheric effects.
The line passes a pretty Gothic gatehouse
(for the benefit of those drovers· who may
still have occasion to use the Old Road) and
soon after you catch sight of the far off
ranges of mountains, which lie in the direction
of Windsor and Richmond, and even of
Brisbane Water-the " Gap" beyond Cooranbong,
in the Broken Back or Sugar-loaf
Range, being readily distinguishable on a
clear day by those who know where to look
for it. Then there are several hastily displayed
and as rapidly withdrawn views of
the Cunimbb Valley away to the southwestward
; and so, after a very pleasant
t1'a:J°et of 7 miles, the traveller finds himself
arrived at Blackheath, in the immediate
vicinity of Govett's Leap and Gorge, overlooking
to the north and north-eastward the
Great Valley of the Grose.
A visit to Katoomba, Blackheath, &c., has
been pleasantly described by Locksley in the
Melbourne" Argus." He says:-
" You take the train at Redfern at 9 o'clock
in the morning, and soon leave the city and
its straggling suburbs behind. The day was
bright and sunny when we began our trip,
and the country was fresh and green from the
recent rains. We pass groves of oranges,
where the winter crop of the golden fruit
shines out brightly from the rich green foliage.
The considerable town of Parramatta is
passed, and further on that of Penrith, on
the banks of the fine N epean River, which
flows just at the foot of the Blue Mountains
which here rise steep and high, a colossal
barrier, right athwart our course. The line
runs straight for them, and soon you feel by
the heavy beats of the engine that you are
labouring up a very stiff ascent. Some
distance further on you come to the first
Zigzag in ascending which you obtain in
various aspects some very charming views of
the plains you have quitted, with the gleaming
river winding through them. As you
advance you steadily rise, and climb up to
the higher part of the great mountain mass.
The road presents constant changes to the
eye; now you are looking over miles of blue
hills and bluer valleys, now passing some
wild fantastic glen, now looking onward to a
strange notch in the ridge of a

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 53
all covered with small ranges of hills like the
blue, storm-tossed billows of a mighty sea.
But in the midst of the valley right before
us rises a massive hill, level with the ground
we stand on, and showing on its red-tinted
cliffs lines of stratification exactly corresponding
to those visible in the bounding-walls of
the valley. This is the Solitary, but its
savagely isolated, inaccessible look, and its
general conformation, first a huge talus, then
a wall of perpendicular cliff, and on the top
a forest-covered table land, reminded us of
views we had seen of the great unscaleable
mountain of Roraima, on the borders of
British Guiana. Below where we stood on a
jutting point of cliff, a huge rock, fantastically
shaped like a colossal natural cathedral, stood
in the valley below. A walk of a mile or
two took us to another point of view, just
over the Katoomba Falls, where a slender
stream leaps as though with fear and reluctance
over the lip-edge of a great precipice,
and descends in finely divided, wavering,
lace-like tracery to the depths of the valley
below, where it is lost among the trees of
which we just discern the tops. On the
other side of us rises from the profound gulf
a tall, rudely pinnacle-shaped rock, all
shaggy with trees which found root-hold in
its rugged joints and recesses. But the sight
of all was the long lines of battlemented
cliffs, now redder than ever in the light of
the afternoon sun, while the depth of the
valley was growing bluer, as though by
reflection from the sky above. They seemed
like mighty fortifications remaining from a
time when giants warred with gods, with
their curtains and ravelins, scarp and glacis,
and jutting bastions, the dimensions of which
were not in yards but in furlongs. And so
these enormous ramparts stretched away for
miles down the valley, where, at its lower
end, the strange formation breaks up into
formless disorder, and confused masses of blue
hills bound the prospect.
" The afternoon air at the altiLude of this
magnificent sanitarium for the people of
Sydney is warm and genial, but as the sun
approaches the horizon and the shadows
grow long the temperature rapidly falls, and
you are glad to get inside the house. But the
air is al ways light, and fresh, and free, and
as stimulating as champagne. From the
verandah of the hotel the great electric light
in the lighthouse at South Head, which
iJlumines the whole harbour with its revolving
blaze, can be seen scintillating and flashing,
like a more brilliant Venus, on the horizon.
" When we rise in the morning the easterly
plains are covered in patches with a low mist,
and seem as though covered with the sea.
From the great valley close at hand rise the
ragged edges of enormous boiling mists, which
dissipate as soon as they ascend ab.ove the
sides of the mighty cauldron. We take a
walk of about a mile to the historic tree
where the three gallant explorers, Wentworth,
Blaxland, and Lawson, in their first attempt
to penetrate the huge barrier of the Blue
Mountains in 1813, carved their names before
turning back, as they were forced to do, for
fresh supplies. The tree is now protected by
a wall, built by the Government, containing
a large inscribed stone to commemorate the
circumstance. It then became a question
what was to be the programme for the day.
We could not, indeed, reach the Lithgow
Valley, or even the Second (which is the
greater) Zigzag, and get back to Sydney, as
we wished to do, that night. But we could
go on as far as Govett's Leap and see the
similar, and it is said even more awful, Valley
of the Grose ; or we could go down to the
next station and see the Wentworth Falls,
at the famous Weatherboard. We were
persuaded to choose the latter, in which
I think we made a mistake, inasmuch as
we thereby only saw one of the great
gorges instead of the two. Not that the falls
themselves were anything less than wonderful.
Their depth must be enormous, including the
space where the little stream rushes down for
perhaps one or two hundred feet in white,
foaming, plashing, rapids between the rocks,
then falls for hundreds of feet through the
air in slender threads, projected on the black
background of the overhanging cliff, swaying
in the breeze, and at times caught by the
gusts and whirled wildly about 'like a .mad
witch's hair,' and carried right back agam to
the top of the fall, but all ultimate~y descending
in spray and rain among the nch :7eg.etation
at the foot, where it collects agam rnto
a stream before taking its final plunge over
another vast cyclopean wall into the valley
beneath. From this point you undoubtedly see

54 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
the valley in its most impressive aspect. The
precipices here are more imposing, the effect of
the mighty containing walls of the gorge
is grander, and the great Solitary looks more
like Roraima than ever. When you try to
analyse the impression these sights stamp on
the mind you find a difficulty in resolving it
into its elements. It is too strange for sublimity,
too overpowering for beauty, too stern
for the fantastic, too severely wild for the
grotesque. The impression, like the scene, is
unique, and will not come in place under any
of the familiar terms of description. The
feeling which rises in the mind as you look
at the scene and give yourself up fully to the
sentiments awakened by the view of these
awful precipices, these vast distances, these
strangely contrasted colourings of bright red
cliff ancl intensely blue valley, these enormous
depths, that ·wildly confused floor covered
with hills and forests many hundreds of feet
below, is that you have been brought nearer
than you ever stood before to the workings
of some strange and mighty and unsuspected
forces in the great arsenal of nature.
'' And with this our views of the Blue
Mountains had for the time to encl. They
are well and happily named. All of our Australian
mountains are blue in the distance,
but none I think so blue as these. Their
blueness, or 'blueth,' as some of our old
writers used to write the word, seems a
positive colouring and not a mere effect of
distance. It begins so very close to you, and
deepens into such deep ultramarine farther
away.
One more word about the Blue Mountains.
These are capable of being regarded in many
different aspects. For a long time they were
looked upon as an enormous tract of waste
and useless land, lying like an enormous
obstruction in the middle of the Colony. It
is impossible to regard them in this way now.
They have been proved to be amazingly
rich in mineral treasures of the most varied
characters. Few places rival the famous
Lithgow Valley in the abundance and variety
of their mineral wealth. And even here,
in these nearer parts we have visited, the
same character of mineru.l richness holds
good. Just within sight of the picturesque
Katoomba Falls the upper works of a
coal-mine are perched on the very edge of
the vast prec1p1ce, and the coal is hauled
from the pit by a wire rope right to the side
of the railway."
Mount King George, Mount Hay,
Mount Toomah, and Mount Wilson.­
Lying north-eastward and north of the linP,
between Katoomba and Blackhe~th-from 6
to 13 miles away, and in the almost inaccessible
country which constitutes the watersheds
of the Grose and the Colo RiYers-are
the four lofty mountains of King George,
Hay, Toomah, and Wilson. Mount King
George, on the north-west side of the Grose
-the Saddle-backed Hill, visible from
Sydney-is 3,620 feet high; Mount Hay,
on the south-east side of the same river,
2,400 feet; and (more northerly between the
Colo River and the Wollangambe Creek)
Mount Wilson, 3,580 feet. Eastward of all
these stands Mount Toomah, 3,240 feet high.
These mountains, the most conspicuous points
in the whole range, can be seen from Sydney,
and are sometimes spoken of collectively, as
" The Dromedary." Some of them can :first
be seen from the verandah of the " Old Blue
Mountain Inn," at the Lawson Station; but
as the traveller proceeds to the westward,
they become gradually more and more developed.
"Mr. Charles Moore, of the Sydney
Botanic Gardens," says Burton's Guide (page
121), "has drawn attention to the fact that
on these four hills the soil is of the richest
kind, composed principally of disintegrated
trap, and clad with noble timber trees of a
brush character, the undergrowth being
chiefly tree and other ferns. This is the
more extraordinary from the fact that they
are surrounded in all directions by others of
a sandstone formation, covered by a wretched
and sterile scrub, and some eucalypti of
miserable growth." For long after the opening
of the Main Western Road, Mount Hay
was supposed . to be inaccessible, until -that
indefatigable explorer, Count Strzelecki, successfully
crossed the ravines and ascended
the summit. "Some idea," says Sir Thomas
Mitchell, in his work on Australia, "may be
formed of the intricate character of the mountain
ravines in the neighbourhood, from the
difficulties experienced by the surveyors in
endeavouring to obtain access to Mount Hay.
Mr. Dixon, in an unsuccessful attempt, pene-

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 55
trated to the Valley of the Grose, until then
unvisited by man, and when he at length
emerged from the ravines in which he had
been bewildered four days, he thar.ked God
(to use his own words, in an official letter)
that he had- found his way out of them."
Even Count Strzelecki tells us, that in the
course of his researches he was engulphed in
the endless labyrinth of the almost subterraneous
gullies of Mount Hay, and was
unable to extricate himself and his men until
after days of incessant fatigue, danger, and
starvation. "But," he adds, "the ascent of
Mount Hay, whEn these difficulties are once
surmounted; repays richly the exertions and
fatigues which it entails. From its basaltic
top the distant views to the south and
weRt are somewhat intercepted by King's
Table-land and other mountains somewhat
higher than Mount Hay ; but to the east,
the sea-coast, bordering the interesting basin
through which flows the rivers N epean and
Hawkesbury, the vicinity of Farramatta
River, together with Sydney and Botany
Bay, are distinctly visible. To the north also
the prospect is extensive. In the intervening
space may be noticed the vast gorge at the
head of the Grose River. In a westerly direv
tion, in the valley, lie the towns of Hartley
and Bowenfels, ,vith Mount Lambie in the
background." Mount King George, Mount
Hay, and Mount Toornah, form conspicuous
objects in the grand view from the edge of
the gorge near Blackheath, which generally
goes by the odd but well-known name of
"Govett's Leap."
l Blackheath Platform, 73 miles ; 3,494
feet above sea-level.-The visitor may
either leave the train here, where he will find
good accommodation, or journey on to Mount
Victoria, from which place Blackheath may
be readily visited either on foot or on horseback,
there being a good road near the line
all the way, a distance of about 4 miles.
On the eastern side of the hotel standing near
the station a road branches off to the northeastward,
and leads the tourist, after a walk
or ride of 2 miles, to the edge of the gorge.
Mount King George is found rising to the left
of the traveller when he reaches this interesting
spot, and Mount Hay appears in front
of him, at the distance of rather more than 5
miles. "as the crow flies." Between the hut
and lYiount Hay there is a general and almost
continuous descent to the extreme depth of
1,850 feet, the vast densely wooded basin
beneath converging towards the gorge of the
Grose, presenting a coup d'(J!,il which can never
be forgotten. On the right of the ruined
hut, at the distance of about half a mile, is
the "G.ovett's Leap," or Falls, an unbroken
descent of about 500 feet. Far below, in the
valley, is "The Trinity Cascade," and to the
westward (nearly on a line with Govett's
Leap) is another waterfall, not so easy to see,
known as "The Left-hand Fall," for want
of some more fitting designation. There is
also yet another cascade formed by one of the
minor tributaries of the Grose, away to the
eastward, at the distance of 2 or 3 miles
from the hut. Another track-ending on the
west side of the accommodation house-leads
to " Ferry's Look-clown" into the Grose
Valley, near Hat Hill-some miles further to
the north of Govett's Leap. From "Ferry's
Look-down" the track is continued past
"Docker's Ladder," down to a place called
"The Gap," and so on to "Junction Camp,"
in "the Gorge of the Grose," properly so
called, 2,150 feet below the Blackheath
platform ; but no ordinary visitor should
on any account attempt to visit these lastnamed
spots without a thoroughly competent
guide.
Govett's Leap: Waterfalls and Gorge.
-From a bold and rugged mass of rock in a
J;ay or bend at the southern extremity of
the valley or chasm, and near the ruined
hut at the end of the road, the visitor may
perhaps obtain the best general view of this
wondrous spot. To the right, at the distance
of about half a mile, the Govett's Leap, or
Fall, pours itself, headlong, over a perpendicular
wall of dark tinted rock, 520 feet in
sheer descent, on to a mass of black fragments
of stone which has in the course of ages
accumulated at the base of the cataract.
This descending mass of water-white and
misty as the driven snow-sways, as the
wind blows, to and fro, like the veil of a
bride ; the vast height of the waterfall, the
strong contrast of colour, and the undulating
motion so produced, imparting a very singular
and most charming effect. When the sun

56 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
attains to a certain altitude, a rainbow plays
for hours around the cloudy folds of this
Fairy Veil. From the neighbourhood of the
hut the other cascades are not visible ; but on
turning a few yards to the westward the deep
whisper of the Left-hand Fall may be distinctly
heard. The whole of this rock-enclosed
valley before the spectator is for the
most part hemmed in with titanic walls of red
and grey rocks from 400 to 800 feet in height,
and from the irregularly defined base of these
outermost and uppermost walls of the valley
there is everywhere a steep rocky incline, or
talus, covered with thick woods down to the
lowest depths, 1,200 feet below the level of
the rock on which the traveller stands. Here
and there in this broad and verdant expanse
of tree-tops, rising and falling according to
the varied surface, may be seen a few grey
patches of half denuded rock; but for the
most part all these lowest slopes (on either
side of the devious but invisible central
stream) are densely shaded with primeval
forest trees, the tops of which, from the alt.itude
occupied by the spectator, appear
strangely soft and dim in their outlines.
Beyond the " Leap" -apparently a Cumbrian
provincialism for wate1fall, named after W.
R. Govett, a Government surveyor, who first
explored these parts-and round the first
point to the eastward, there is another deep
" bay" of precipitous rock ; and from the
furthest limit of this bay there is a winding
channel leading down to the centre of the
whole tableau. From the easternmost end of
the Govett's Leap Gorge the rocky walls trend
north-westerly, until, ending sharply as before,
the semicircular barren top of Mount Hay
becomes visible, with long lines of blue hills
in the extreme distance. The Govett's Leap
Gorge is shut in on the western side of its
northern limit by a boldly projecting termination
of cliff and talus; and thence inside of
that outer boundary a grand sweep of rocks,
mountains, and declivitous slopes comes back
to the left of the spectator. To the west of
the hut, as you go towards the Left-hand
Falls, there is a most extraordinary echo, by
which short sentences are distinctly repeated
nearly half a minute after they have been
uttered. In the slopes many hundred feet
below, in the vicinity of the Left-hand Fall,
there are large and lovely groves of tree fern
and such like products, the rocks behind
them being beautifully decked with trailing
creepers and arborescent plants. Mount
King George (here assuming the outline of a
couchant lion) overlooks the western side of
the Govett's Leap cha~m-a southern offshoot
of the Valley of the Grose, the course of
which, by the way, is here from north-west
to south-east. The glorious character of the
entire scene, in all its vastness and sublimity
-cliff, mountain, forest, and shadowy distant
hills-impresses the beholder with admiration
and with awe, the never ceasing sigh of unseen
and remote waters naturally conducing
greatly to the general effect.
Another description of Govett's Leap.
-The following description of the Govett's
Leap Gorge and Falls is from the accomplished
pen of Mr. E. Du Faur, F.R.G.S.: "Leaving
the Blackheath Platform (7 3 miles from
Sydney) the tourist follows a road trending
east-north-east, through an uninteresting
scrubby forest, for about 2 miles (having
gradually descended about 320 feet), when
he arrives at the edge of a gorge hemmed in
by perpendicular cliffs of sandstone, lying in
horizontal strata, and varying generally from
400 to 800 feet in depth. From the foot of
these cliffs a steep talus descends to the
centre of the gorge, at a depth of 1,850 feet
from th.e edge of the precipice. The width
of the gorge varies from three-quarters of a
mile to a mile and a-half, and its length, in a
straight line, to its confluence with that of
the Grose River, is 3-l miles. At a distance
of 520 yards from the end of the road a small
watercourse abruptly terminates in the Falls
known as Govett's Leap, the perpen

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 57
limited, being confined to the northern slopes
of the main ridges along which the Railway
passes; but being fed from swamps or
'sponges,' they are perennial, and show little
variation in the quantity of water passing
down them in winter or summer, except immediately
after heavy rains. The descent to
the foot of the Falls is at present impracticable
from their immediate neighbourhood. It was
reached for the first time-at least for many
years-in the month of October, 1875, from
a sketching camp formed by the writer, at
the junction of Govett's Leap Gorge with the
Valley of the Grose, to be hereafter described.
That junction is situated about 12 miles
down the Grose Valley from the Hartley
Vale Siding (80 miles from Sydney), and
2,270 feet below the Railway _; thence, owing
to the roughness of the upper part of
Govett's Creek bed and the denseness of the
scrub, fully three and a half hours are
required to reach the foot of the Falls,
although the distance, as above stated, is only
about 3-1- miles in a straight line. As
described by its visitor'l3 on that occasion, the
scene at the bottom of the Falls is, if possible,
grander than that from above. From the
top you can see nothing distinctly, only an
awful gulf, with a confused mass of foliage
far b~low; but from below it appears a large
amphitheatre, filled with trees of luxuriant
growth, and ferns and mosses. The water
corning down sometimes like falling rockets,
sometimes dissipated by the wind into clouds
of spray before it has half completed its
downward course, is wafted over a large area,
and insures the conditions of perennial
moisture so plainly evidenced by the luxuriance
of the surroundin()' verretation. Then
, f O 0
agam, rom below you have a sky-line broken
into many fantastic shapes, and lighted up in
parts with delicate bright hues, while others
are in deep shade, in lieu of the almost
uniformly level horizon seen from above.
Standing at the basin at the foot of Govett's
Leap, which is only about 25 yards from the
perpendicular wall of rock, it is almost impossible
to look up at the Falls. The better
plan is to lie on one's back, and look upwards
to the zenith, when the 700 feet cliffs forming
the ends of the horse-shoe bend in which the
Falls are situated tower above you on either
side, while the waterfall appears to be coming
down from a depression in their centre almost
on to your face. Few persons perhaps could
lie in that position for more than a minute
or two at a time without feeling giddy, the
sight is so grand. Besides the three principal
falls above referred to, there are many others
in this valley and in that of the Grose of
almost equal depth, which have not yet been
clm;ely approached; while some of the minor
cascades-notably the 'Trinity Falls'-are
of excessive beauty. Before leaving the
subject it may be as well to record the origin
of the name of' Govett's Leap.' Mr. W. R.
Govett was a Government surveyor who, in
the year 1832, under instructions from Sir
Thomas (then Major) Mitcell, the Surveyor­
General, 'to survey the features of the county
of Cook,' is supposed to have first discovered
the Falls. He made some unsuccessful
attempts to descend into the gorge ; but his
plarn; of the contour of the ranges and gorges,
as partly traversed and otherwise sketched in
from above, and which illustrate an area of
some 650 square miles, are proved to be
remarkably accurate, when the early date and
limited means at his disposal, in country
of so remarkahly difficult a character, and
entirely uninhabited, are considered."
Another description of Govett's Leap.
-Mr. Edwin Barton's description of Govett's
Leap and its vicinity will also Le re.ad with
interest. That indefatigable litterateiir says :
" One of the greatest natural ,vonders of the
world is Govett's Leap, 6 miles from Mount
Victoria Station. The goods train, which
leaves soon after 10 o'clock every morning,
will drop the excursionist at Blackheath
Platform, and a walk of a mile and a half
through some pretty scenery will bring him
to the Gap itself. There was once a stockade
here, and the ruins of the officers' quarters
may still be see.n lying on the ground, whilst
on the opposite side of the station is an old
graveyard. The track leading to the 'Leap,'
which is wide enough for buggies, is entered
amidst some tea-tree scrub a hundred yards
or so to the left of the Main Western Road,
and not far from the hotel. Once on the
track the visitor has nothing to do but to
follow it up until he reaches the tremendous
rent or depression in the earth, which is said
to be the deepest chasm with perpendicular

58 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
cliffs in the known world. It is almost sur-·
rounded with these cliffs, which are believed
to be nowhere less than 3,000 feet above the
level of the sea. The full sublimity and
majestic grandeur of the scene is not realised
at a first glance. After contemplating it for
a time the mind becomes filled with awe and
wonder as it vainly strives to comprehend
" ---The vast immeasurable abyss
Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild."
The trees in the valley below, although one
or two hundred feet high, or perhaps more,
are undistinguishable in their individuality.
Standing on the abrupt precipitous wall, one
cannot help feeling a strong desire to reach
the depths of the gorge. But the closer one
seeks for a spot at which a descent can be
made, the more certain does it appear that
such an object is unattainable. It is recorded
that Sir Thomas Mitchell (formerly
Surveyor-General for the Colony) endeavoured,
first by walking ancl then by crawling between
the great fragments of sandstone, to ascend
the Gorge through which the river Grose
joins the Nepean, but in vain. Near to the
shed which was erected by the Government
on the occasion of Prince Alfred's visit, and
which overlooks the ravine, a track may be
noticed winding down 200 or 300 feet, to
where a rock juts out, and on which those
who are fearless enough may recline, and
endeavour, if they can, to form some conception
of this wonderful place. The scenery is
full of grandeur, and to add to its beauty
there are two streams, which are precipitated
into the mighty chasm, and a~though meeting
with no impediment but the atmosphere in
their descent, they are dissipated into mist
long before their waters can reach the bottom
j and often when the wind is favourable
the spray is wafted upwards and along for a
considerable distance. To a few members of
the New South Wales Academy of Art is the
horror due of having explored the valleys which
lead up to this tremendous gorge. For some
days this gallant band made their home in the
ravines, and succeeded in ascertaining the
heights of the hills, and taking a number of
excellent photographs of the scenery."
The Mermaid's Glen.-The visitor to
Blackheath should 11ot omit to pay a visit to
a pretty dell known as the Mermaid's Glen.
To reach it you leave Blackheath platform,
and after following the Railway line in the
direction of Sydney for about half a mile the
word "Cave" will be found written on the
~ailway fence (southern boundary), a little
distance beyond the furthest distance signal
from the station. From the fence a welldefined
track leads into the valley. At the
bottom of the glen the track passes between
two rocks into a lovely natural basin, dense
with ferns, into which a streamlet falls.
Leaving this and passing to the right a larger
stream is found running through the valley j
the stream is hidden in many parts by masses
of ferns and shrubs; in places forest trees,
. their trunks covered with moss of years'
growth, have fallen across it; while the living
trees, with foliage beautifully green and dense,
t!1row a grateful shade over the whole glen.
Mount Victoria Station, 77 miles;
3,422 feet above sea-level.-4 miles northwest
from the Blackheath PlaHorm is the
Station of Mount Victoria, not the less remarkable
for the centrality of its position
and for its bracing atmosphere than for the
grandeur of its scenery. Mount Victoria is
a place of some importance, being a very
favourite place of resort for tourists and invalids.
Already it contains numerous villa
residences, a post office, a telegraph station,
two or three stores, and three excellent
hotels-the "Royal," Perry's "Imperial,"
and the " :Manor House." There is also
a Public School and an Anglican Church.
The "Imperial Hotel" is a large castellated
edifice, occupying a commanding situation
between the two other hotels. In the immediate
vicinity of Mount Victoria are many
localities of great beauty and peculiar interest
to the traveller. Amongst these are: Mount
Piddington; the Fairy Dell; the Engineer's
Cascade ; the Little Zigzag ; the Fairy Bower;
Cox's Cave and Waterfall, below Mount
Piddington; and the Mount Victoria Pass.
There are few places throughout the whole
Blue Mountain Range where a more pleasant
variety can be found for the lovers of the
picturesque or more comfortable accommodation.
. It is usual for tourists to make Mount
Victoria their head-quarters, and thence to
make excursions in different directions-up

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 59
and down the line, away into Hartley Vale,
and into the great Cunimbla Valley and
elsewhere.
Mount Piddington.-A favourite much
frequented spot is Mount Piddington, to the
south of Mount Victoria, one of the highest
points in the vicinity, and about a mile from
the Station. Mount Piddington received
its name in commemoration of the enterprise
and public spirit of the Hon. W. R. Piddington,
who felled many trees on the summit,
formed the roads, and caused seats to be constructed
by the Government for the convenience
of pedestrians. The place is now
vested in the hands of three Trustees (Mr.
Cousins, Mr. Benson, and the Hon. Mr.
Piddington), who have done a great deal
towards making the many places of note easy
of access to the crowd of tourists who visit
hero. On Mount Piddington a commodious
hut has been erected, from which the visitor,
protected from sun or rain, may see the glorious
view spread out before him. Thi::i grand
eminence, Yisible from the Railway on the
Sydney side, overlooks a portion of the Vale
of Hartley and the broad Cunimbla Valley,
amongst the undulating hills and forests of
which there are numerous homesteads. To
the south-east are the uplands of the country
near the town of Camden; and to the north
may be seen the distant ranges which lie
away in the direction of Singleton, on the
Hunter. Much nearer, at the distance of
only a dozen miles or so, may be recognized
the four mountains of King Georg0, Hay,
,vilson, and Toomah. The view from Mount
Piddington ( everywhere traversed by admirable
roads) is extremely fine in the early
morning, when the varied depths of the whole
Valley of Cunim hla often lie whelme:l in a
misty moving se:i of blue ( cobalt) tipped here
and there with the rosy ( or golden) light of
the sun. Mr. E. Vickery's country residence,
on some far-away hill in the great valley
below, is at all times a conspicuous and
interesting feature in the charming prospect
here unfolded to view. It is near Vickery's
only 2 or 3 miles beyond it, that the Blackheath
Creek falls into the river Cox.
The Engineer's Cascade.-The Engineer's
Cascade is a fine waterfall a mile or so
at the back of Ferry's " Family Hotel," about
midway between Mount Piddington and the
Little Zigzag-a little to the left of the road
as you go down towards the Pass. Here,
as in many of the other dingles and glens,
wild flowers, mosses, and ferns abound. The
view from this spot to the south-westward is
very highly spoken of.
The Little Zigzag or Cunimbla Pass.­
Not far from the Old Main Road, and to the
rear of "Ferry's Hotel," there is a bridle-track
laid out by the Roads Department, leading
from the mountain down the face of the
precipice into the Cunimbla Valley. This is
generally known as the Little Zigzag or
Cunim bla Pass, and is well deserving of a
visit. This pass, formed with much shill on
a series of zigzags, is 46 chains in length.
There are sixteen of these traverses on the
side of the mountain, each averaging about
190 feet in length. The scenery from these
successive terraces ( and especially from the
upper ones) is very grand. To the. right is
Mount Victoria, with its connecting pass on
the Old Road, in full view, and there is
moreover an unbroken prospect stretching
over all the lower country. Half-way down
this road are some remarkable :fissures in the
rocks, known as the Cunimbla Caves. These
extend into the mountain for some depth.
The Mount Victoria Pass.-The Monnt
Victoria Pass-ahout 2 miles from the Mount
Victoria Station, on the Old Road to the
westward leading towards Hartley-was constructed
many years ago by prison labour,
under the supervision of Sir Thomas Mitchell.
In the old clays, before the existence of
Railroads, it was regarded as a triumph of
engineering skill, and it is still well worth a
visit. After passing through a deep cutting
at this spot the visitor should turn off the
road for a few yards to the right, and he will
then have spread before him a magnificent
panorama of mountain, vale, and forest ;
Little Hartley lying at his feet, Great Hartley
beyond, and Bowenfels in the distance. Here
Hartley Vale ( containing the measured lands
of the New South Wales Shale and Oil Company,
with Mount York and Mount Clarence
adjoining-in fact the whole upper basin of
the river Lett and other minor tributaries of

60 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
the Cox) lies away to the north and west of
this road and pass, hemmed in by the steep
mountain ridges upon the east and north.
Mount York.-Another pleasant walk
from Mount Victoria may be found along the
ridge to Mount York, one of the most prominent
elevations on the western side of the
range. This mountain-which is named after
Her present Majesty's uncle, the Duke of
York-terminates abruptly to the westward
(at about 6 miles from the Mount Victoria
Station) in precipices of over 750 feet in
height; its topmost point being 3,292 feet
above the level of the sea. On the one hand,
at the base of this mountain lies the Valley
of Clwydd·:

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 61
and Lithgow. The principal hotel is the
"Imperial." It is one of the largest out of
Sydney, contains seventy rooms, and has
accommodation for eighty people. Opposite
the hotel the proprietor has laid out a recreation
ground for his patrons, tennis-court, &c.
Guides, horses and vehicles, are always to be
obtained, and excursions are now frequently
made from here to the Fish River Caves, the
distance being 31 miles. The oldest established
house, kept by Mrs. Perry, and the
"Royal,." are also comfortable well-appointed
hotels, situated in close proximity to the
station. Visitors who desire more private
accommodation can secure it at Manor
House, a private hotel, well conducted and
favourably situated. In addition there are
several other private establishments, so that
a large number of visitors can be here accommodated.
Excursion from Mount Victoria to
the Weatherboard.-An artist, or any real
lover of the picturesque, may take a very
pleasant excursion from Mount Victoria to
the "Weatherboard," by starting early in
the morning, and walking all the way down
by the side of the Railway, a distance of 15
miles. Much lovely scenery may thus be
observed by a pedestrian tourist, which he
cannot otherwise see, either from the line
or the Old Road. At about a mile to the
eastward of Mount Victoria he will come,
al ways looking to the right, upon a bold
bluff in the foreground, fringed with woods
along its outline; sweeping round from the
Railway range to where it ends, in a cliff
with a well-wooded talus. Beyond this
stands disclosed an enchanting prospect of
the Great Cunimbla Valley to the southeast-spread
out before you as on a model
map. These distant reaches of country are
beautifully diversified in outline and colour,
and when seen early in the morning, or
(better still) in the evening, are full of great
effects of light and shade. Further on, at
the top of a deep perpendicular cuttingnear
the staff of the telegraph line-there is
another grand view of the same valley, the
chrome-coloured cliffs in the foreground
lending to it a strange but striking attraction.
Then the tourist has to scramble,
at some risk, past three precipitous cuttings,
and he will at length find himself rewarded
with the unexpected prospect of a curious
grey rock to the west of a great gR.p to the
southward-best seen from an old disused
road to the south of the line. Another
grand view is next disclosed further on to
the eastward, the Great Cunimbla Valley
appearing over the broken edge of a shelving
semicircular basin of rock, with sloping
woods, set off (laterally) by tall and brightly
tinted cliffs. The next ·change presents a
modification of the same kind of scene,
· dotted everywhere with broken fragments of
isolated grey rock and rough pyramids of
stone; Mount Piddington reappearing in
the distance to the westward. This pretty
well occupies the first 4 miles of the trip;
but (near the Blackheath Platform) there
are still occasional peeps of the Great Valley
worth going many miles to see, and not
visible from tlie adjacent line. Passing
Blackheath and continuing along the line
towards Katoomba there will be found a
varied succession of views to the south and
south-east - at least six - that are well
deserving of the artist's pencil. Having
reached Katoomba-11 miles from Mount
Victoria-the tourist will find several grand
views of huge parti-coloured cliffs and
shadowy ranges-especially one which he
will open out soon after he has passed the
siding and telegraph station. Good accommodation
can be had at Katoomba, and
after obtaining refreshment the visitor can
resume his walk to Wentworth Falls, distant
4 miles.
Hartley Vale Platform, 80 miles; 8,818
feet above sea-level.-After leaving the
Mount Victoria Station the Railway takes a
northerly and sometimes even a north-easterly
direction, along a narrow ridge, known as
the "Darling Causeway," and dividing the
watersheds. The waters fall into the Grose
to the eastward ; whilst, on the western side
of the ridge, the heads of the river Lett, and
other affiuents of the Cox, although eastern
waters, commence their course by flowing to
the westward. As the traveller proceeds
towards Lithgow and Bathurst, he may first
observe a fine view to the left opening up a
deep well-wooded valley-that of Clwydd;
whilst to the right (the eastward) Mount

62 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
King George, with its singularly stratified
cliffs, is · seen in mid-distance. Next he
catches, on the same side, a passing glimpse
of a wild and stony country ; and then-as
by a magic shift of the camera-a grand and
more distant view is seen of Mount King
George and Mount Hay. After that (still
to the eastward) he has a brief out-look over
the upper portion of the gorge of the Grose,
stretching past the northerly mouth of the
gorge of Govett's Leap. To the westward
the traveller can occasionally see peeps of the
beautiful Vale of Hartley, which, curiously
enough, gives its name to the next Railway
platform after Mount Victoria, upon the
mountain ridge.
Kerosene Mines in Hartley Vale.~
"The Kerosene Mines in Hartley Vale," says
Burton, "are well worth seeing, not alone on
account of the scenery but also becaus~
there is some interest attaching to a successful
and important industry. There is a
siding laid down from the Great Western
Railway, about 3 miles from Mount Victoria,
and the goods and passenger trains may be
availed of. Visitors will be put down at the
Hartley Vale Siding if previous notice be
given to the guard. Then a walk of a mile
and a half will bring them to the face of an
almost perpendicular rock 600 feet high, up
which the shale is hoisted by a wire rope
worked by steam. The shale is conveyed to
Sydney, the bulk of it for making oil at the
Western Kerosene Company's Works at
Waterloo, some for the manufacture of gas,
and some for export. The main road from
Mount" Victoria to Bowenfels passes within 4
miles (to the south) of the mines." The best
seam of petroleum oil coal here is 3 feet 2
inches thick. It has been pronounced by the
Examiner of Coal Fields to be equal to any
known seam in any other part of the world.
It yields from 150 to 160 gallons of crude
oil to the ton, with an illuminating power
equal to forty candles.
The Valley of the Grose.-From the
Hartley Vale Platform, on its eastern side,
the traveller may, with some necessary assistance,
find the best track down into the Valley
of the Grose, following that river from its
head down to the " Junction Camp," already
spoken of under the section of Blackheath
and Govett's Leap, a distance of about D
miles. The Valley of the Grose, says Mr.
Du Faur, "may be taken as typical of the
character of the ravines by which the Blue
Mountains are intersected in all directions;
their geological character will be treated in
a separate paper. Possessing at present
but a limited watershed of about 268 square
miles, it is bounded on the south by the
main ridge which has been chosen for the
Railway line; on the west, for about 6 miles,
by the Darling Causeway above referred to ;
and on the north by the main ridge along
which 'Bell's Line of Road,' a route for
stock only, passes over Mount Tomah and
the Kurrajong Hills to Richmond. Its
course in a direct line, from the Darling
Causeway to its confiuence with the Hawkesbury
River, a little above Richmond, does
not exceed 26 miles; yet within this limited
area, through which flows a stream that
may generally be forded, though at times
an impetuous torrent, are everywhere present
evidences of the silent workings of
Time and Nature on a stupendous scale ;
no sudden upheavals of volcanic force, hut
the gradual disintegration due to atmospheric
and pluvial forces, commenced probably
under very different condition& to those
obtaining at present, but still continuing.
The valley was traversed throughout in 1859
by a party of sappers and miners, with a
view to testing its practicability as a route
for the Western Railway; since that date
it has only been visited occasionally at long
intervals. In 1875 it was determined to
form a sketching and photographic camp at
about 12 miles down the valley, with a view
to roughly illustrating it, in order to bring
it under the notice of artists and lovers of
natural scenery ; and also, as previously
stated, to explore a route to the foot of
Govett's Leap Falls. On a preliminary trip,
made in July, it was found that the sappers'
and miners' track were so overgrown, encumbered
by fallen trees, and obliterated in parts
by landslips, that a considerable amount of
clearing was necessary to enable packhorses
to pass down the gorge with reasonable safety.
This having been done, two camps were at
last formed in October-the upper one at
about 7 miles below the Railway, and the

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 63
lower at the junction of Govett's Leap Creek
with the river, under the magnificent cliffs
of Mount King George. The transport of
instruments and chemicals, by hand, down
such a path, and the limited time for which
the services of the photographer (supplied by
the Commissioners for the Philadelphia Exhibition)
were available, precluded any hope
of obtaining results of finished excellence.
Each spot, previously selected, had to be
taken when reached, irrespective of adverse
conditions of light or weather, and of chemicals
constantly disturbed; and the strength
of the party was altogether inadequate for
making the clearings in timber and scrub,
without which many of the finest views could
not be favourably reproduced by photography.
At the utter camp, at which operations commenced,
a depth of 1,880 feet had been
reached; but between that point and the
Junction Camp, although the actual difference
of level was only 390 feet in 5 miles, the
track was particularly hilly, passing over the
lateral spurs which descend very abruptly to
the river bed; in some places also the width
of the gorge is so little, in comparison to the
stupendous heights of the adjacent cliffs, that
the latter subtend a larger angle than can
be compassed by the camera. The scenery
in many pa1·ts of the river bed is remarkably
picturesque ; the colours of the rocks of most
varied hues; the foliage on the river bank,
more especially on its left bank, of a luxuriance
so seldom met with in the Colony; while
the rush of the water amongst the obstructing
boulders, and its perfect transparency in
the still pools or slighter rapids, affords fresh
charms to the artist at every turn-charms
·which, unfortunately, cannot be reproduced
by photography."
Mount Wilson Platform, 88 miles;
3,478 feet above sea-level.-3 miles north
of the Hartley Vale Siding, and 6 from the
Mount Victoria Station, stands the Mount
Wilson Platform, erected at the western
termination of the Bell's Line of Road from
Richmond, between 4 and 5 miles to the
westward of Mount Wilson, from which it
takes its name.
Mount Wilson.-Speaking of Mount
Wilson itself, where the scenery is as striking
as it is uninteresting at the "Platform" of
that name, Mr. Du Faur has remarked on
the beauty of the vegetation, and the fertility
of the soil. That gentleman says-" The
scanty vegetation and miserably stunted and
gnarled timber which everywhere surround
the tourist on the Blue Mountains and
obscure his view-except when, standing on
the edge of a precipice, he looks down on the
more luxuriant growth which is barely
visible in the gorges beneath him-detract
immensely from the interest of the scenery.
There are but two striking exceptions to this
general condition, viz., at Mount Tomah, on
Bell's Line of Road (which is unfavourably
situated, owing to its distance from the
Railway), and at Mount Wilson, the position
of which has already been generally described.
A ride of about 5 miles (from the Mount
Wilson Platform) along the northern watershed
of the Grose, and of about 3 miles
further along a spur trending to the northward's
from Bell's Line of Road, and leading
down into some of the heads of tne Wollangambe
Creek and the Colo River (also
affiuents of the Hawkesbury River), brings
the tourist to the foot of a ridge, which
on his right hand appears to be bounded
by the usual perpendicular escarpment of
horizontal sandstone of the Hawkesbury
formation; but the denser undergrowth,
the increased size and improved symmetry
of the trees, and the rich black soil beneath
bis feet, tell of a sudden change. A few
yards further on, along a rather steep ascent
of about 1 in 7, is disclosed a charming
avenue cut through this dense undergrowth,
on a steep sideling bordered with clematis,
wild tobacco plants, native raspberry, and
ot~er luxuriant shrubs, amongst which tower
lofty blue gums (Eucctlyptiis botryoides),
stringy-bark (E. amygdalina), black butt (E.
pilularis), and other eucalypti, interspersed
with clumps of sassafras (Doryophora sassafras),
acacias, and tree ferns (Alsophila
australis, and Dicksonia antarctica) of an
unusual height. The cause of this sudden
change is at once apparent. The upper bank
of the road is studded with boulders of
basaltic rock, a dyke of which has burst
through and overcapped the sandstone, and
its disintegration has formed the rich black
chocolate-coloured soil which has favoured

- - ------
64 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
this special vegetation. A rise of 260 feet
in less than half a mile leads to the summit
of the ridge, which extends in an east-northeast
direction for about 10 miles, but has not
been fully explored for more than half that
distance. Bounded on all sides by steep
thickly wooded slopes, penetrable with difficulty
by man or beast, and by precipitous
cliffs, this remarkable oasis appears to have
been scarcely visited until ten years ago,
except by Mr. Surveyor Govett, who traversed
the western portion of it in 1832.
In 1869 the present road up the mountain
was cut by the Government, and the richer
portion of the land measured for sale ; it
remained, however, unnoticed until 1875,
when the sixty-two allotments previously
measured, and containing in all about 1,025
acres, were taken up by thirty-three purchasers.
The distance of Mount Wilson
from the Railway,* and the large amount of
available land, barren as it is, within easier
access, has hitherto militated against its
settlement; but there can be little doubt in
the minds of those who have once visited it
that it will eventually become a favourite
resort by those requiring a change from the
relaxing climate of Sydney, as it affords a
climate as bracing as that of Tasmania, and
a vegetation and scenery not inferior to that
of New Zea.land. In the winter season occasional
falls of snow occur, and ice lies in the
shady spots for several days together-the
thermometer falling at night as low as 22°
]'ahr., and for weeks in succession below
freezing point, but the shelter afforded by
the vegetation protects the locality from the
bleakness experienced in the more exposed
parts of the mountains ; and in June and
July it is not uncommon on still bright
mornings to find the thermometer standing
at 60° in the sun, while the frost still lies
untha wed in the shade. The summit of the
ridge is chiefly covered with a dense growth
of eucalypti (the mere trunks of which almost
obscure the horizon), and in the undergrowth
* About 8 miles, by Bell'a Line of Road. After
the turning-off to Mount Wilson, " Bell's Line"
continues to take a south-east direction for nearly 2
miles, and then follows up a ridge to the north-east,
between the waters of Bowen's Creek and the
affiuents of the Grose, passing Mount Bell on the
right, and '' The Haystack" on the left, towards
Mount Tomah and the Kurrajong.
it is no exaggeration to say that thousands
of tree ferns, ranging up to 30 feet in
height, are' visible in every direction; it is on
the southern slopes that the sassafras jungle
is found, in which mosses and orchids luxuriate,
and festoons of lianes hang from the
topmost branches. There are two peculiarities
in this vegetation which are worthy
of notice : (1) that the tree ferns (Alsophila
aiistralis) frequently bifurcate at a short
distance from the ground, and in many cases
divide into three or four, and sometimes into
five and six stems, from one root; (2) that
tree-ferns (which must be of very ancient
date) are frequently almost entirely absorbed
by the growth of forest trees ( Qiiintinia
sieberii) which germinating in the axles of
their fronds, send down suckers to the ground,
and enclose within their solid tim her the fern
stems from which they derived their first
support. In some cases are seen ferns which,
having attained a growth of 20 feet in height,
have been laid low by the wind, and where
some portions of their heads have touched
the ground a second growth of equal altitude
has succeeded,· which, in its turn, has been
subsequently enclosed by a quintinia of large
diameter, while the roots of the original treefern
still retain their vitality. The measured
lands on l\fount Wilson include the greater
part of the rich basaltic formation interspersed
with poorer sandstone soil, which
frequently leads to abrupt precipices forming
its boundaries ; from the edge of these,
extensive views are obtained over the
broken uninhabited ranges and gorges which
surround it in all directions. 'I'his scenery
extends as far as Capertee, 32 miles distant.
From other points the dividing ranges forming
the watershed of the Hunter River are
visible (W arra W olong, distant 60 miles in
one direction, and W erong and Coricudgy, 50
miles in another), while from the cliffs first
mentioned as lying to the right hand of the
traveller when ascending the mountains, the
view has been considered almost unsurpassed
on the Blue Mountains : it embraces Barranjuey
(Broken Bay Heads), on the horizon to
the east, and Mount ,J elore (60 miles distant),
to the south ; the Flagstaff Hill, Mounts Victoria,
King George, Hay, and Tomah, and
the Haystack in the middle distance; and
the northern watershed of Bowen and W ol-

Lithgow Valley Zig-Zag.

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 65
langambe Creeks, a succession of broken
ravines more than a thousand feet below the
stand-point, form the foregronnd." Mr. E. C.
M erewether, Mr. E. King Cox, Mr. vVynne,
Mr. Stephen, and others, are the owners
of land in this picturesque and beautiful
locality.
Clarence Siding Platform, 88 miles ;
3,658 feet above sea-level.-The line
having made a slight descent between Mount
Victoria and the Hartley Vale Siding, rises
160 feet before it reaches the Mount Wilson
Platform, and continues to rise 180 feet more
during the next 5 miles to the north-west,
when (at the Clarence Siding) its greatest
altitude is attained-upwards of 3,650 feet.
Here there are signs of cultivation, a large
siding and several houses for persons employed
upon the line. At a short distance
to the west of the platform there is a tunnel
539 yards in length, lined with cemented
masonry throughout. The Mount Clarence
Tunnel is about a mile on the Sydney side of
the Lithgow Valley Zigzag. The features of
the country hereabouts were such that the
surveyors who marked out the line had to
be lowered down over the rocks with ropes,
the contractor having also to commence his
work in a similar way. Emerging from the
long dark tunnel the traveller finch; abundant
occupation in lookin

66 TH]!} RAILWAY GUIDE.
situated, and it is at Eskbank the principal
portion of the Rail way business is done, the
Lithgow platform being merely for passenger
and parcels traffic. "Attention," says a
journalist, "has rather despondently been
drawn to the supposed circumstance that an
extension of Railway to some retired inland
towns, both here and in England, not only
fails permanently to advance their relative
importance, but even that such a direct connection
with the more stirring centres of
population and commercial activity appears
frequently and actually to cause a sort of
retrogressive effect-especially when the
line passes further on into the depths of
a hitherto wholly undeveloped country.
There is, as in all such generalizationEI, no
doubt a certain degree of truth in that remark;
but it by no means conveys the true assertion
of an absolute and general fact, for very often
a decaying inland town (like Parramatta, for
example, in this Colony) will, through the
action of a Railway, gradually, and in the
answered the call of Australian enterprise,
and what no longer back than eight years
ago was almost untouched bush, boasting bnt
one or two inhabitants, is to-day a busy
manufacturing community, who are solving
some of the most important problems connected
with industrial pursuits in New South
Wales. Bountifully supplied as the locality .
is with rich deposits of minerals and clays,
and well provided as it is with means of communication
by which markets in various
directions can be found, the land lay for some
time uninterfered with, and then, its great
value suddenly becoming better known and
understood, a mania to possess it seized upon
various persons and it was speedily taken up,
principally under lease."
General description of Lithgow.-
Lithgow, 96 miles from Sydney and 49 miles
east of Bathurst, is now a rising mining and
industrial township, situated in the wider
and westerly portion of that secluded, rocky,
most astonishing manner, revive and receive glen into which the "\Vestern Railway
a new and healthy impetus ; such an un- abruptly descends by the well-known Great
expected reinvigoration as may also be seen Zigzag. This town, called into existence
already manifesting itself at Bathurst, Goul- by the Railway, and not above ten years
burn, and elsewhere. Nor is that all; for in old, already numbers over 2,000 inhabitants;
many places (such as Lithgow and Blayney, having several excellent hotels, stores, and
for example) which hut for the Railroad must dwelling-houses, with a handsome and cornhave
remained mere picturesque solitudes, the modious Bank, Telegraph Office, Court-house,
arrival of the 'iron horse' has shown a really Public School, Insurance Offices, Assembly
marvellous tendency to create industrial Rooms, Club-houses, and such like comcentres,
thriving townships, and busy mercial and social institutions. Everywhere
populous communities. We may take Lith- substantial buildings are in the course of
gow as an instance of this creative action of erection in its long wide streets, and every
the Railway everywhere, and especially in day some new sign of the rapid developsuch
a country as New South Wales." ment of this Railway township is forced
Another writer, referring to its progress, upon the observation of the astonished visitor.
writes-" In no place out of Sydney within Lithgow stands in the entrance or more
the Colony are there to be fonnd greater open part of Lithgow Valley-a picturesque
evidence of progress in the past and solid locality, enclosed by precipitous, well-wooded
prosperity in the future than in the little mountains, and is undeniably a place which
thriving town of Lithgow-or Lithgow, Esk- but for the Railway would most certainly
bank, and the Vale of Olwydd, for the three have remained to the end of time-as it did
are in reality one-situated just the other side for countless ages after creation, and for
of the Blue Mountains, and within easy reach many long years subsequent to the foundaof
Sydney by means of the Great -western tion of this Colony-unknown to the civilized
Railway. As in the instance of the won- world, and utterly useless and unproductive.

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 67
factory, a tannery, a brewery, and such like
industries. Coal is of course cheap and
good, and firewood (as yet) abundant; water
also is plentiful and of an excellent quality.
At almost all of the collieries coal is readily
obtained by running " drives" into the hillsides,
which is a decided economy of labour.
Good pi pecla y and firecla y are to be found everywhere,
and potteries and brick-kilns are therefore
attached to most of these establishments.
The Lithgow Valley Colliery Company's
Works are carried on at the distance of about
a quarter of a mile from the Lithgow platform,
and close to the mouth of the colliery the
same Company are engaged in brick, pipe,
and tile making. The seam of coal operated
upon by the Lithgow Valley Coal Company
is 10 feet in thickness, and is worked from
the adit. There is a tramway with a
siding to the adjacent trunk line, by means
of which the coal can in all weathers be
expeditiously despatched to the market.
The coal, on "skips" or trucks~ is drawn out
laterally from the mine by a small steamengine
with a tail rope of wire. The tramway
on entering this mine follows the dip
of the seam for about a quarter of a mile,
and then the skips are loaded from the
workings. The coal is finally transferred
from the skips by a platform and shoot at
~he pit mouth into the waggons, in which it
1s thence taken away to the line by Government
engines. The number of men constantly
employed on this colliery is twenty.
Two horses are engaged for wheeling the coal
in the skips inside of the mine. The brick
and tile works of the same Company, adjacent
to the mine, within half a mile of the
Railway, are well deserving of a visit. Here
(by machinery) are made fire-bricks, pressed
bricks, and common bricks. They also make
sanitary drain-pipes (for sewers) of a very
superior quality and of large size-from 3
inches to 2 feet in diameter. Drain-pipes of
a small size, for the purpose of draining land,
are also here made to order for agriculturists.
These are from 2 inches in diameter up to 6
inches. Tiles of various shapes and colours
are here also deftly manufactured. A firstclass
machine is here now for the 1rnrpose of
making bricks by steam, and this enables the
Company to turn out 12,000 bricks per diem,
and to furnish tiles of various descriptions to
order, with equal expedition and perfect
finish. The bricks are made by the dry
process and by the semi-plastic process.
Olay for that purpose abounds ; and the fireclay
(supposed to be quite equal to any found
in the Australian Colonies) is all obtained
from the shale, crushed by a disintegrator
worked by steam. In the kilns the bricks,
pipes, and mouldings for windows, &c., &c.,
are burnt by the over-draft. The fire-bricks
here made have been well tested, and have
been proved to be of far better quality than
than those commonly sent out from the Horne
Country. Jn the brick and tile works of
the Lithgow Valley Coal Company there is
a steam-engine of 40-horse power, working
with a wire-rope on a barrel, by means of
which coal is not only brought up for immediate
consumption, on a tramway from the
pit mouth, but all the elaborate machinery
is moved for the pipe, tile, and brick making.
The same engine is also connected with a
pump to keep water out of the mine and to
supply the same element for the brick-making,
&c. There are large sheds for drying the
bricks, pipes, and tiles ; and hard by also
stand constantly shifting stacks of all that
has been manufactured for sale. The brickmaking
machine on a new model (by Whitehead,
of Preston, in Lancashire) is the
first of the kind ever imported into this
Colony. The new disintegrator works at 500
revolutions per minute, having a double
motion of the wheels. To an inquiring min

68 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
property of the Company ; the ore operated
upon is found in quantities on the low
fiat near the foundry (just beneath the
surface) on a neighbouring hill to the
north-east, but a considerable quantity is
brought from outside sources. Coal may
be readily procured for this Company on
their own ground, and freestone, loam, and
sand are all ready to hand. Here the
Proprietary Company have a large blast
furnace, capable of producing from 100 to
120 tons of pig iron per week, a 70-horsepower
engine, two boilers, and all other
needful apparatus. There is also a foundry
connected with the great furnace producing
castings for the rolling mills. The Company
make their own castings for use, and can
supply whatever may be in

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 69
Vale of Cl wydd Colliery, though close to factory. To the south of the factory, on
Lithgow, is shut out from it by a gentle the road towards Hartley, at the distance of
emirnmce. A sort of village, or rather a mile or so, and soon after you have passed
hamlet, embosomecl in the hills and woods,
has here sprung up, the miners' homes in
the village near the station, there is a
tannery.
this spot being perhaps less comfortable than
picturesque. Their habitations are for the Excursion from Lithgow to Hartley.-­
most part huts of mud or wood ; but some, A pleasant excursion may be made from
manifesting an Arab-like independence, Lithgow to Hartley, either on horseback or
apparently prefer to live in tents. In in a buggy; starting from Lithgow at an
this colliery there is a perpendicular shaft
sunk to about 250 feet below the surface ;
and from this shaft there are long drives
in various directions, the prevalence of water
in one of them, which runs under a neighbouring
swamp! being often rather troublesome
early hour, and going round the mountain
past Bowenfels. Bowenfels and Hartley, two
small townships on the Old Western Road,
are separated from the Lithgow Valley by a
steep chain of sandstone hills, forming a
spur or off-shoot of the Blue Mountain
to the engineer and inconvenient to the range to the west,vard. These eminences,
miners. Good limestone is found with the on their southern face, terminate ahruptly
coal, and is burned on the spot, for use and towards the Valley of Hartley, in boldly
for sale. H ere also (as in the neighbourhood defiu ed precipices, which go by the fanciful
of Mr. T. Brown's colliery) copper-smelting name of '' Hassan's Walls," and overhang
works have been established. A tramway the road, south-easterly, to Hartley, for
connects this colliery with the ,V estern several miles. The views from the summits
R ailway.
On the northern side of the R ail way, and
connected ·with it by a branch line, is the
of these grey masses of rock are said to
be grand and extensive; and along the
irregular line which they disclose and guard
Bowenfels Coal-mine. This mine is the furthest
are several cascades and almost inaccessibie
west of the Lithgow Collieries, and is at glens, of more wildness perhaps than
present least actively worked.
beauty. From the heights of Hassan's
About a mile or so from Lithgow, on the Walls the country in the direction of
other (western) side of the township, and Mudgee and of Bathurst is distinguishable
not far from the Bowenfels Station, is a for a great distance. The tourist's road
tweed factory, built by lVIr. Andrew Brown. from Lithgow lies first to the westward,
In this long brick and stone building (which along the side of the Railway, for rather more
contrasts curiously with lVIr. A. Brown's
pretty rural homestead and gardens) about
forty hands find constant and remunerative
than a mile; he then turns sharply off to
the left (near the schoolhouse to tlte east of
Coerwull) aud so follows down the Old Road,
employment. In the factory are twenty-four southerly, as far as Bowenfels, just round
power looms, three sets of carding machines, the end of the mountain range. In this road
and all the other requisite appliances, £18,000
having been here invested in the best and
there is much agreeable scenery-first, the
tweed factory, away in the fields, with l\Ir.
most recently devised machinery. 4,000 A. Brown's horn,e and gardens ; then a
yards of good tweed are here manufactured
every week, the beautiful fabric so made
finding a ready sale at Sydney and in the
tannery, a good country-house, and an old
road-side inn; then a quaint old church and
churchyard; and last, not least, a lock-up.
adjacent Colonies, where (for the integrity of This is Bowenfels. On gaining the elevated
its workmanship) it is justly esteemed. The ground to the west of the end of the sandstone
wool used is of course Colonial-brought
range a fine view of the Hartley
from the interior to this spot by the Railroad, Valley is obbined. When you get round
and here prepared for use. The machinery into Bowenfels another and more extensive
is driven by steam power. Cottages have view is opened up to the south-east-looking
been erected for the workpeople, of whom clown towards the Victoria Pass. The now
forty are employed, near to the walls of the somewhat decayecl village of Bowenfels has

70 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
still many large houses in it, and is a cheerful,
healthy, and pleasantly situated spot.
By a turn in the road, soon after leaving it
en route for Hartley, you come full in sight
of Hassan's Walls, at an end of which (to
the southward) towers a curiously isolated
rock, presenting a singularly exact facial
outline peculiar to the " Great Iron Duke,"
but loyally and rather absurdly called " King
George's Head"-being probably one of the
discoveries of the Georgian era. Some of
the distant country of the Great Cunimbla
Valley may now be perceived as you come
clown the winding road ; where, ii1. many of
its essential features of copse, headland, and
streamlet there is a great resemblance to the
scenery of South Devon in England. The
road itself is pretty, and along it are poor
but picturesque homesteads-such as cottages
and gardens, old inns with oak-trees, and
other attractive features-until you reach
the end of the wall of cliffs already mentioned.
Then there is a dull mile or two
before you come to the edge of the deep
descent into Hartley, standing on the rocky
banks of the murmuring Lett, about a mile
or so above the point where it falls into the
river Cox, draining the whole region from
beyond Bowenfels, until it :finally falls into
the W ollondilly. At the foot of the last hill
you pass over the Lett by a very fair wooden
bridge, and so, entering Hartley, you :find it
a quaint old-fashioned place. Here you can
put up at the village inn, and either return
by the road you came, or ( sending back the
horse or trap) regain the line by walking on
to Mount Victoria ; or you may ride across
the mountain to the north, over the "Gap,"
and so back again into Lithgow. For an
invalid or an over-wrought jaded man there
can be few more acceptable retreats than
Hartley. It has two pretty stone churches,
a Uourt-house, and a store or two; but it is
quite a rural village. The distance from
Lithgow to Hartley, as above indicated, is
about 10 miles. Across the mountain, by
the new road over the "Gap," it is not more
th::m 6.
Bowenfels Station, 97 miles ; 2,972
feet above sea-level.-Bowenfels station-
3 or 4 mile north of the town of Bowen£ els,
and 1 mile north-west of Lithgow-is by no
means a large place, the majority of the
houses being at Cooerwull, a short dist11nce
from the line. The district is agricultural,
pastoral, and mining. The surrounding
country is mountainous and well wooded.
Between this place and the next Railway
Station--Wallerawang to the north-westthere
is a rather dreary track, with tunnels
and cuttings.
Marangaroo Platform, 101 miles;
3,073 feet above sea-level.-Marangaroo
is a platform, 4 miles west of Bowenfels
Station and 4 miles east of W allerawang.
It is one of the most elevated spots between
the Great Zigzag and Bathurst. A short
distance beyond the platform the train passes
through Marangaroo platform, 264 yards in
length.
Wallerawang Station, 105 miles; 2,928
feet above sea-level.-Wallerawang is a
small but busy place, being the spot where
the line to Mudgee joins the Great Western
line. Wallerawang has a small street, with
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian,
and Wesleyan places of worship-and a
Public School, capable of holding 120 children.
The Inns are-the "Royal Hotel,"
the "Commercial Hotel," and the "Railway
Inn." 7 miles from W allera wang is W olgon,
a sunken valley, which is very beautiful, and
well worth a visit. The district is principally
agricultural, although it possesses mineral
resources which only need developing.
Rydal Station, 111 miles; 3,117 feet
above sea-level.-Returning to the Main
Western line, soon after passing Wallerawang
the line trends sharply to the south-west, and,
rising to a somewhat higher level; passes to
the eastward of Honeysuckle Hill. Before
the line takes its southerly turn the road to
Ry ls tone (which has been running near to
the rails) branches off to the northward.
Rydal is but a small place, with a quaintlooking
stone church and three inns. These
inns are th~ "Globe Hotel," the " .Freemasons'
Hotel," and the "Commercial Hotel."
Country adjacent-agricultural and pastoral;
ruggedmountainscenery,andheavilytimbe~·ed.
Near Rydal, on the southern side of the lme,
is the extraordinary rock known as "Evans'

ITINERA.RY-PA.RRA.MA.TTA. TO BOURKE. 71
Crown." Within the last few years a great
impetus has been given to the trade of Rydal
by the discovery of the rich silver mines at
Sunny Corner (Mitchell) 15 miles from the
Station. A. large population bas already been
gathered to the vicinity, and the field promises
to last for many years giving large
returns.
Sod walls Platform, 114 miles; 2,850
feet above sea-level.-A.fter passing Rydal
the line begins to descend, and continues to
do so, following the winding valley of the
Fish River, towards Bathurst. The country
adjoining the Sodwalls Platform is of an
agricultural character, with farms and some
sort of cultivation ;-rather pretty. The
traveller has now left the County of Cook,
and is pushing on, westerly, through the
County of Westmoreland. It is hereabouts
that he catches the first glimpse of the Fish
River-a stream which he has to cross nineteen
times before he finally leaves it, not far
from Macquarie Plains. The Fish River
having joined the Campbell River, a few
miles south of Bathurst, becomes thenceforth
known as "Macquarie," the native name of
which is "Wambool." The Macquarie is an
affluent of the Darling.
Tarana Station, 120 miles; 2,561 feet
above sea-level.-At Tarana Station there
is a watering-place for the engines. It is a
pretty place, but dull. The country round
about is partly used for agricultural and
pastoral purposes. In the Isabella District,
50 miles away, a large quantity of tobacco is
grown. There is one hotel at Tarana­
Fa wcett' s. Here you can get a carriage or
buggy and go to Mutton Falls, westerly,
about 4 miles off. From the Mutton Falls
you can ride or drive to a small township
called Oberon-agoodagricultural settlement,
with mineral resources-and go on thence to
the Fish River Caves. Tarana, 35 miles
from the Fish River Caves, is the most convenient
point of the line to those vast
limestone caverns. There is some nice
scenery along the road in that direction.
The Fish River Caves.-The celebrated
limestone caverns on the Fish River (near
O'Connell in the neighbourhood of Bathurst),
commonly known as the Fish River Caves,
are of vast extent, and singularly attractive;
having a great variety of very intricate
galleries or passages, only to be traversed
safely under the care of the experienced local
guide employed by the Government. The
subterraneous scenes herein disclosed are
indeed magnificent-well worth the time and
trouble of paying them a visit. There is a
whole group of these grand subterraneous
halls and bewildering galleries, and each one
of the series is known by a different name;
the New Cave, Lucas Cave, the Bell Cave,
the Lurline Cave, the Imperial Cave, the
Elder-tree Cave, &c. Several oqiects of great
interest are to be viewed at and in the Fish
River Caves; and amongst these are the
Great Archway, the Carlotta Arch, the
Meeting of the Creeks, the Pinnade Rock,
the interiors, the outside entrances, the
waterfall, and adjacent woodland scenes.
The Carlotta Arch-a curious natural archway
in the rocks--excites much astonishment
and admiration. These caves, so remarkable
for their stalactitic and stalagmiticformations,
are of such an immense 8xtent that whole
days are necessary for their due exploration.
One of these enormous caverns is estimated
to be not less than 500 feet in height,
and of a proportionate length and breadth.
The strange forms gradually assumed by
the drippings of the limestone rocks throughout
are almost infinite, and not to be anywhere
else surpassed in beauty. In one
place there is tbe weird, rock-like semblance
of a well-stocked menagerie; and in another
place the pendants from the roof and slabs
below are of a still more fantastic and
extraordinary character. ,vhen lighted up
with the magnesium wire these sublime
palaces, "which Nature's hands have deftly
formed," present a truly gorgeous spectacle,
being filled with delicate pendants and
drooping sprays, gigantic columns and
shadowy arches-all resplendent with
dazzling, illusive gems. In the "New Cave"
the scene developed by the magnesium light
is described (by Burton) as "one of surpassing
loveliness," the appearance of a heavy fall of
snow being produced; the rocks in the rear
presenting to the imagination a black, frowning
sky. Occasionally a sparkling waterfall
heightens the effect of the scene. The caves

72 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
are in the charge of Mr. Jeremiah Wilson,
who receives remuneration from the Government.
It was found desirable to place
them under control, as visitors often committed
ruthless destruction. The Government
has had constructed a number of wire
ladders for the convenience of . visitors in
ascending and dey letter) Mr. Wilson will meet a party at
Tarana with horses or a waggonette. It will
greatly lessen the fatigue of the journey from
Tarana to the Fish River Caves and increase
the comfort of the tourists if the party of
excursionists stop for the night en route,
either at Mr. \Vilson's house, at Oberon, or
at one of the two hotels, Yiz., the " Royal"
and" W elcome Inn."
A fuller description of the caves, contributed
by C. S. Wilkinson, Government Geological
Surveyor, will be found in the Appendix.
Locksley's Platform, 130 miles; 2,428
feet above sea-level.-The country in the
neighbourhood of Locksley Platform is on
the whole not interesting, hut there are
views on the line near it not unworthy of
some notice. This platfor m was formerly
known as L ocke's.
Brewongle, 135 miles; 2,476 feet
above sea-level.- Leaving Locke's P latform
behind him to the eastward, the railway
traYeller passes through an open treeless
country, having only here and there a few
patches of bush. Then undulating plains,
with sheep and cattle feeding, are opened
up ; and so the traveller, after an interval
of 5 miles, finds himself opposite to the
well-built station of Brewongle-being
on the easterly boundary of that singular
tract of country adjoining Bathurst, and
giving to that city one of its distinctive
appellations. A good deal of wheat is grown
in the vicinity of Brewongle. The district
offers good shooting to sportsmen ; hares
are very numerous, and excellent sport can
be had at but a little distance from the
station. Brewongle receives traffic for
O'Connell, a township with a population of
about 200, 3 miles distant, and for Wiseman's
Creek, 7 miles, where a copper-mine
is worked. Tobacco is also cultivated in the
district. ·
Raglan Station, 140 miles; 2,436 feet
above sea-level-Raglan is a station in the
midst of the Macquarie Plains, where a road
from the north of that tract joins on to the
Old -western Road. Here you first catch a
distant but impressive view of the city of
Bathurst, to the westward. At Raglan there
is an Anglican Church and a Public School.
Kelso Station, 143 miles; 2,154 feet
above sea-level.-Kelso Station is the
stopping-place on the Railway for Kelso, a
populous suburb of Bathurst, on the eastern
side of the Fish River, or (:ts it is here
called) the "Macquarie." The Bathurst city
station is 2 miles distant to the southwestward.
Bathurst Station, 145 miles ; 2,153
feet above sea-level.-Bathurst, the "City
of the Plains" and metropolis of the western
geographical di \-ision of the Colony, is
situated on the left bank of the Macquarie
River, 145 miles from Sydney. Originally
founded by Governor Macquarie, on 7th of
May, 1815, just after the discovery of the
country beyond the Blue Mountains, it has
gradually risen to its present position of great
influence and established wealth. A whole
book might be written about this city, but
the description of it in an "itinerary" must
necessarily be very brief; notwithstanding its
political, social, and physical importance. A
few miles before reaching Bathurst, the
traveller cannot help being struck with the
altered appearance of the country. I nstead
of wooded mountains and ridges of sandstone,

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 73
the eye rests everywhere on a fine open
tract, about 12 miles square, almost devoid
of trees, and covered with a rich soil. This
treeless character becomes still more confirmed
when the traveller passes the Brewongle
Station, but the aspect of the
country is undulating, and even hilly at
times, though usually and familiarly spoken
of as "plains." Bathurst occupies a commanding
situation, on a gradual westward slope
down to the Macquarie, with a beautiful and
extensive prospect in every direction for miles
around. Within comparatively a short distance
of the city gold and copper mines are
worked. The climate, like that of a town in
England, is frequently very cold in the
winter months, but extremely healthy and
invigorating. In some respects Bathurst
is entitled to be considered as nRxt in rank
to the capital. It is laid out in blocks of
10 chains square, with many miles of streets
99 feet wide lighted by gas; and it is the
seat of a Bishopric, both in the Anglican
and the Roman Catholic Churches. There
are two Cathedrals, with colleges in connection
with each of the largest communions,
and a handsome Presbyterian Ohurch; also
a Wesleyan Church, and other places of
worship. The Roman Catholic Cathedral,
although not quite completed, is a noble
structure, and near it stands the convent
and its school, in buildings of an imposing
appearance. There is a School of Arts, with
4,000 volumes, a fine Hall, excellent stores,
banks, and hotels ; local newspapers are
here published, as at n.11 the principal inland
towns. The annual receipts of the Bathurst
Hospital amount, it is said, to over £500.
Bathurst also possesses a large gaol and a
splendid range of Government buildings, Post
and Telegraph Office, &c., which are probably
tho best out of Sydney. Bathurst enjoys
the advantage of a great variety of local
institutions, and was proclaimed a munici-.
pality in 1862. The population of Bathurst
and its environs is now 7,500. At the
Bathurst Station (on the south side of the
city) there is a large and convenient refreshment-room
for the use of travellers. Persons
intending either to go inland towards Orange,
or "up" the line, towards Mount Victoria,
will do well to remember this. The places
near Bathurst are-Black Springs, Box
Ridge, Caloola, Cow Flat, Dirty Swamp,
Dunkeld, Duramana ( or Back Creek), Evan's
Plains, Glanmire, The Lagoons, Lirnekilns,
Meadow :Flat, Mitchell's Creek, Oberon,
O'Connell, Palmer's Oakey, Peel, Quartz
Ridge, Rockley, Sofala, Trunkey, Turon, and
.Wattle Flat. Coaches run from Bathurst to
Sofala, Hill End, and districts.
Perth Platform, 149 miles ; 2,225 feet
above sea-level.-The platform of Perth,
4 miles from Bathurst, presents nothing
remarkable. The adjacent country is of an
open character, with peculiar-looking bare
hills beyond it. Between Bathurst and Perth
several country residences and farms are
passed.
George's Plains Station, 151 miles;
2,260 feet above sea-level.-There is some
fine scenery, with a wide stretch of arable
country, lying between Perth Platform and
the George's Plains Station, a distance of
about 2 miles. The Station is the centre of
an extensive agricultural district, and a large
traffic is done. 6 miles from the station are
the Cow Flat Copper Mines, and 13 miles the
Thompson's Creek or Burraga Mines. Burraga
is an extensive and rich mineral district, •
and gives employment to a considerable
nnmber of men.
Wimbledon Platform, 158 miles; 2,737
feet above sea-level.-The Wimbledon
Platform is a convenient stopping-place for
tl1e inhabitants of an extensive tract of
agricultural country, 34 miles from Orange
and 13 from Bathurst. Near Wimbledon is
the fine country residence of Mr. Joseph
Smith.
Newbridge Platform, 164 miles; 2,877
feet above sea-level.-:N' ewbri

74 THE RAILWAY GUIDE . .
tract of cultivated country. Near the Trunkey
Creek Diggings are the Pine Ridge and
the Grove Caves, &c. There is a fine and
comprehensive view over the whole country
to the north-east, a mile or two to the westward
of the N ewbridge Platform-on the
line towards Blayney, at the Stringy-bark
Cuttings. Newbridge was formerly known
as Back Creek. The name by which it is
known in the Post Office Directory is the
aboriginal name of Duramana. The roads
lead south by the shortest way to Caloola,
where alluvial gold is still being worked, to
Tuena, and to Trunkey, at one time the scene
of great activity in quartz-mining. Quantities
of wool and live stock also arrive at the
station from the surrounding districts, so
that N ewbridge is likely to become a very
important position in connection with the
traffic on the Great Western Railway. An
iron mine has been opened within 300 yards
of the Railway Station. A deposit of asbestos
has been discovered about 2 miles away.
Blayney Station, 172 miles ; 2,841 feet
above sea-level.-Blayney is one of the
new and rising townships owing its prosperity
like Lithgow, to the Railway. It is quite a
new place, and promises soon to be a large
town ; for it is the centre of a great squatting
district, and is closely connected with mining
interests, while in the surrounding districts
large quantities of wheat are grown. The
town possesses four churches, two flour-mills,
a brewery, Court-house, and handsome Post
and Telegraph Office. The principal hotels
are the "Royal," "Club House," "Albion,"
"Cosmopolitan," "Commercial," "Exchange,"
and ''Criterion." Blayney stands on the Belubula
River, 8 miles from the junction of the
roads from Calder and ·Grenfell. From this
station fat stock are sent "up" by the trains,
in large numbers for the Sydney Market.
There are churches for the Anglicans and
Presbyterians; and a Roman Catholic church
is building on the right side of the line.
There are also two large flour-mills at
work. To the right, as the traveller goes
towards Orange, there is (beyond Blayney) a
curious conical hill. Coaches run from Blayney
to Carcoar, Cowra, and Grenfell, and
districts. Blayney will in a few years become
a place of still greater importance, for it
is from here that a Railway-line is being constructed
to meet the Great Southern Railway
at Murrumburrah. In addition to this line,
opening up much fertile country, and providing
for many populous districts, it will afford
travellers from the far Western to reach the
Southern districts without the necessity of
first going to Sydney. It will also encourage
~ommunication between Melbourne and the
far distant Western districts, and no doubt
when the line is constructed large numbers of
cattle will be sent from Dubbo, Bourke, and
other pastoral centres to the Victorian capital.
The construction of the line will shorten the
rail journey between Melbourne and the
western towns beyond Blayney to the extent
of 375 miles.
Milthorpe Station, 179 miles; 3,138
feet above sea-level-This Station is the
most elevated of any on the Main Line
between Lithgow and the Western terminus.
The country around is open bush land,
and used for pastoral and agricultural purposes.
Goods are received at Spring Grove
for Icely, Byng, Gulgong, Forest Reefs,
Cadia, &c. Spring Grove is in the centre of
a mining district, rich gold-mines being situated
at Forest Reefs, 6 miles, and extensive
copper-mines at Byng. A large flour-mill is
noticeable after leaving the station.
Spring Hill Station, 183 miles; 3,086
feet above sea-level.-The country hereabouts
is not very interesting. The land,
divided by queer-looking fences, is used for
agricultural and pastoral purposes.
Huntley Platform, 186 miles; about
3,000 feet above sea-level.-A small platform
between the Spring Hill Station and
Orange, about 6 miles from the latter township.
BetweenHuntleyandOrangotheOrange
Meat-preserving Company have established
works. Large paddocks surround the works,
in which the stock are kept till required.
The machinery, refrigerators, &c., are of the
latest and most approved kind. The works
are divided into five chambers, capable of
holding some hundreds of sheep and cattle.
The meat is dispatched by special trucks to
Sydney, and loaded without delay into the
refrigerating chambers of the steamers ap-

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 75
pointed to receive it. A number of shipments
of meat from this Company have been
placed successfully on the London market.
At the present time this industry is not in
working.
Orange Station, 192 miles ; 2,843 feet
above sea-level.-Between Spring Hill
and Orange the railway traveller will find
arable land under cultivation on either side
of the line. Orange is one of the most
progressive towns of the Colony, remarkable,
amongst other things, for the unusual
excellence of its hotels, stores, and banks.
It adjoins a fertile and wealthy district,
and is the busy centre of a considerable
amount of trade of all kinds, agricultural, pastoral,
and mining. The manufactories include
three breweries, three large flour-mills, sawmill,
boot factory and tannery, brickworks,
timber-yards, &c. The town is well laid
out j the wide, well-built streets presenting
an imposing and well nigh metropolitan
appearance. The population by last Census
was 2,700. Orange has a School of Arts, a
Masonic Hall, a Hospital, Churches for the
four chief Denominations, and other places
of public worship. There are two large
Schools, a commodious Court-house, and
three local newspapers. The principal hotels
are---The "Royal," the "Club-house Hotel,"
the "Occidental Hotel,"and "Kenna's Hotel,"
opposite to the Railway Station. Orange is
in the centre of a large and rich auriferous
di::;trict, and it was here ( at Ophir) the first gold
was discovered in Australia. Ophir is still
worked, and reefing is being carried on with
considerable success in the fields around, viz.,
at Belmore, Lucas Gully, Jaw-bone, Golden
Point, Blacksprings, and at Lucknow. Orange
is surrounded by a reliable agricultural district,
rust being unknown, and even in the
dry seasons the crops around Orange have
not been affected as in many other parts of
the Colony. Orange is also the centre of
a large and important pastoral area, goods
being received here for Parkes, Forbes, Condoholin,
stations on the Lachlan, Cudal,
Cargo, Cadia, &c. A large portion of this
traffic will however be lost when the Rail way
line to Forbes is constructed. Orange possesses
a handsome Railway Station, the appearance
of which is much enhanced by the well-kept
garden, gay with flowers, immediately in
front of the Station-house.
For some time Orange was the terminal
station for the Western line. In June,
1880, the extension westward was opened to
Wellington, and since then extensions have
been opened to the '\V estern Terminus,
Bourke. A railway has been approved of
by Parliament from Orange to Wilcannia, on
the Darling, via Forbes.
Extension, Orange to Molong.-The
extension from Orange to Molong was
opened at the close of last year (1885), and
it has proved a great boon to the many
settlers in and about the district. The
extension joins the '\Vestern Railway two
miles from Orange, and is about ~2 miles in
length. The line passes through a country
well watered by t,he Cheeseman's, Boree, and
Molong Creeks, and the district is largely
devoted to agriculture. The country is of
basaltic formation and the timber principally
box. · There are stopping places between
Orange and Molong at Amaros, Borenore,
and Cargo Road, -provided for local traffic.
Molong is a town of some importance, numbering
over 1,000 inhabitants, and is a
municipality. It possesses ample hotel accommodation
and a considerable husincss is
transacted. As the district is well settled
principally by farmers, the crops grown
being wheat-in connection with which there
are two fiour mills-oats, maize, and Hay,
while a large variety of fruits grow particularly
well in the district, including grapes,
cherries, apples, and plums. This place also
possesses mineral resources, being the centre
of a gold-field, and in addition silver has
lately been discovered and copper. Splendid
flagging is obtainable and abundance of lime.
Molong being the terminns of the line
receives a large quantity of goods. Forbes
(partly), Parkes, Obley, Cummock, Buckinbar,
Yarra Bell River, etc., drawing supplies
frorn this station. The distri0t is not devoid
of the picturesque. The country is billy, and
some splendid views are to be had of the
Conoblas and in the Continubul mountains.
Mullion Creek, 203 miles : 2,827 feet
above sea-level.-After leaving Orange a
fair amount of cultivated land is seen on

76 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
each side of the Railway, but the greater
portion of the country is devoted to pastoral
purposes, grass being plentiful in good seasons.
11 miles from Orange, Mullion Creek is
reached, the line crossing the creek by a
bridge of three 26-feet timber openings. The
Railway between these two places is comparatively
level, Mullion Creek being only
16 feet lower than Orange. The only signs
of population about Mullion Creek are the
Railway Station buildings and a few scattered
hamlets in the vicinity. The station
only receives a small local traffic, principally
agricultural.
Warne, 217 miles : 2,072 feet above
sea-level.-After leaving Mullion Creek the
line commences to descend from the higher
table-lands towards the lower interior plains,
there being a fall of nearly 800 feet between
Mullion Creek and Warne, a distance of 14
miles. The cuttings between these two
stations are both numerous and heavy, and
some of the gra

ITINERARY-PARRAMATTA TO BOURKE. 77
vicinity of Wellington there is much that
is interesting and beautiful to be seen.
There is first the celebrated Wellington
Caves, 6 miles out on the Ironbarks Road.
A writer in speaking of them says,-" The
vVellington Caves have always had a large
amount of interest attached to them, not
only on account of their natural beauty and
peculiarity, but because of the strange remains
of a bygone time that every exploration of
their depths brings to light. Remains of
men have been found there, ::tnd strange tools
and weapons; grotesque drawings, indicating
a poetic conception and stirring times, tell of
a people who have passed away as entirely as
has the time in which they lived. Save the
deeply graven lines on the face of the rock,
the strange and petrified forms of tools and
utensils for household use, the footprints of
ages ago firmly fixed in a clay that has long
since turned into rock, no record remains
of the people or the period when the Wellington
Caves were places of common resort,
either for purposes of security or comfort."
A little distance from Wellington the waters
of the Bell and Macquarie unite, the place
receiving the poetic name of the "Meeting
of the Waters." Towering above the town
is a majestic hill called Mount Arthur, from
which a splendid view of the rivers is obtained,
as they wind like streaks of silver over the
plain. The scenery along the banks of the
river is in places very pretty, and the rivers
themselves furnish plenty of sport-the cod
and silver bream, delicious fish, being caught.
Wellington is also rich in minerals, and
should ere long become a more important
town. Copper is obtained here. A coal-field,
the Belmore, is situated 15 miles away; and
in the district are the gold-fields of vVoolaman,
Goodrich, and Mitchell's Creek. Ample
and good accommodation can be had here ;
the principal hotels being the "Royal,"
" Exchange," "Occidental," " Commercial,"
"Bridge," "Railway," and "Telegraph."
Railway refreshment-rooms have been esta:blished
at Wellington, and as the train passes
through at seasonable hours the refreshmentrooms
prove a great convenience to travellers.
Maryvale, 254 miles; 1,000 feet above
sea-level.-A little distance beyond W ellington
the Railway crosses the Macquarie, by
a handsome iron bridge, of 3 spans of 150
feet each and two of 60 feet each, with brick
abutments, &c. The total length of the
bridge is 648 feet. The height of the rails
above the level of the river is 70 feet. It
will be remembered that this is the second
time the Macquarie is crossed by the Railway,
and further west, at Dubbo, the line
again crosses the su.me stream. In the
vicinity of Wellington the land is largely
under cultivation, a considerable quantity of
wheat and oats for hay being grown. Maryvale
is in the centre of wide-stretching
wheat-fields, and a large quantity of produce
is annually sent from this platform. At 267
miles there is another platform, Murrumbidgerie,
from whence a large quantity of
timber-principally Railway sleepers, which
are obtained in the vicinity-is despatched.
Dubbo, 278 miles; 865 feet above sealevel.-The
country between Maryvale and
Dubbo is uninteresting, and is used almost
entirely for pastoral purposes. The line
between Wellington and Dubbo generally is
level, although at one point there is for a
short distance a gradient of 1 in 40. The
sha1:pest curve is 40 chains radius. Dubbo
is au important trucking place for cattle,
and just before reaching the station the
train passes extensive trucking yards. The
town is situated on the edge of the salt-bush
or pastoral country, and is the centre of
one of the richest mineral and pastoral
districts of New South Wales. The population
of the town, according to the Census of
1881, was 3,324, and of the surrounding
district 12,000. Dubbo is, though one of
the most recent of the new townships which
have sprung up during the last twenty years,
op.e of the most flourishing. Its buildings
are handsome and substantial. Some splendid
stores are to be seen. In public buildings
the most noticeable are the Church of England,
Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan
Churches. The first three are built of white
sandstone, taken from the quanies at West
Dubbo, 2 miles from the town. The supply
of this stone is unlimited. The Government
buildings-viz., the Court-house and
Post Office-are soon to be replaced by str11ctures
more in accordance with the present
wants of the place. The Railway Station is

'
78 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
an imposing building, erected in 1880. It is
constructed of stone. There is a nice Stationhouse
attached, around which a well
arranged garden has been planted, in which
the choicest plants and flowers are blooming
in all seasons. The Masonic Halla
roomy building-is also one of the most
prominent edifices. It possesses a fine hall,
a roomy stage, and besides there is one
of the best lodge-rooms in the Colony.
There are three Banks-Commercial, Joint
Stock, and New South Wales. Dubbo is
the circuit town for the whole north-west,
as far on one side as the Queensland boundary,
north and south-west. There is a firm
wooden bridge spanning the Macquarie at
Dubbo ; it is 300 feet long. About half-amile
higher up the river, the Railway bridge
( a very fine bridge) is in course of construction.
The educational requirements of the
town are well attended to. Besides private
and denominational schools, there is a large
public school with an average attendance of
about 400 pupils. The leading hotels are
the "Royal," "Macquarie View," "Great
Western," "Post Office," and "Imperial."
The district in years past was principally a
pastoral district, but within the last fifteen
years a considerable quantity of land has
been taken up for farming purposes. However,
the soil seems best for the pursuits of
grazing and farming combined. The climate
and soil are admirably adapted for the growth
of the vine, and at two vineyards--Eumalgo,
7 miles away, and Mount Olivet, 2 miles
distant--some excellent wines are made.
The Dubbo district is rich in minerals. 20
miles, on the Tollragar or Erskine, is the
Baltimore Coal-mine. A very rich seam of
excellent coal is being worked. About 25
miles from the Railway siding at Tranjie, on
the extension to N evertire, is the Caroline
Copper-mine; and at Girilambone, 25 miles
from Nyngan, is the Girilambone Mine.
35 miles from Dubbo are the auriferous
quartz-reefs of Tomingley. About a dozen
claims are on gold, and the Mint returns
are very promising. There are on the
West Bogan, west of Tranjie and Nevertire,
some as yet undeveloped copper-mines.
The wool traffic is large-about 40,000
bales being loaded at Dubbo. The whole
of the Castlereagh traffic comes to Dubbo,
and the Railway returns show that there has
been a great revenue collected at this station.
The towns which will make Dubbo their
station are as follow :-Cobbora, Obley,
Coonamble, Collie, Gilgandra, Garalgambone,
M undooran, &c. Warren will be served by
N evertire, and on the line is N arramine,
which will be used by the middle Macquarie
residents. Tranjie will serve the Upper
Bogan inhabitants.
Nyngan, 377 miles.-In October, 1882,
an extension from Dubbo to Nevertire, 63
miles, was opened, and on the 9th June, 1883,
the line was completed to Nyngan. After
leaving Dubbo the line runs over the Macquarie,
which is crossed by a substantial iron
bridge. Between this and N yngan no engineering
difficulties have been met with, but
numerous cuttings are passed through; from
the largest of which, near 283 miles, 27,292
loads of stuff were taken. A number of
creeks are crossed, timber openings allowing
their waters to run under the line. The
steepest gradient on the extension is 1 in 50,
but this only occurs for a distance of 30
chains. Generally the line is comparatively
level ; the country for some 10 miles out of
Dubbo is fertile, but then poor land covered
with stunted .pine and ironbark is passed
through. At N arrarnine, 300 miles from
Sydney (22 from Dubbo), the great western
salt-bush plains are entered upon. The plains
extend for miles, in many places devoid of
trees, or covered with small scrub, varied by
occasional patches of myall. A platform is
passed at Trangie, 320 miles, and at 34: 1
miles N evertire is reached. There is no township
at N evertire, the nearest place being
W arren-11 miles off-a pastoral centre with
a population of 429 souls. The line between
Nevertire and Nyngan is of a light character,
being straight and almost level. The
Western District is very rich in copper j
some mines-the Great Cobar especiallyshowing
ore in sight that will furnish
employment to thousands of miners for years
to come. This mine has led to the foundation
of the town of Cobar, which contains
some three or four thousand inhabitants.
To provide for the trade of the district a
railway has been approved of from N yngan,
and no doubt before long it will be corn-
,I
,I

ITINERARY-WALLERAWANG TO MUDGEE. 79
menced, as the working plans, &c., have been
prepared, and only await the final approval
of the Legislature.
Giralam bone, 405 miles ; 637 feet
above sea-level.-When the extension was
opened to Byrock, in September, 1884, a
wayside station was _openecl at Giralambone,
around which some settlement had been
gathered by the development of some copper
rnine8 ; but at the present time the mines are
not being worked. The station is now kept
up by the produce from the sheep stations
known as Murrawombri, Gradweed, Booramugga,
Budgery, Sussex, and Wilga Downs,
and the goods to these runs. The district is
an uninteresting one being very sparsely
settled, level, and used exclusively for pastoral
purposes.
Byrock, 455 miles ; 499 feet above
sea-level.-Byrock is a town of mushroom
growth called into existence by the opening
of the railway to it in September, 1884, and
judging by appearances does not seem destined
to have a long life as its buildings have been
designed apparently for merely temporary
purposes. At present a fairly large number
of cattle are trucked from here, coming via
Brewarrina, and the station receives the Brewarrina
goods; but an agitation has been set
on foot to have a branch railway to this town
from Byrock.
Bourke, 503 miles; 349 feet above
sea-level.-The Great Western Railway is
an immense chain uniting Sydney and Bourke,
and being in length 503 miles. Its links
have taken many years to form, but the final
one was completed in September, 1885, and
the line was opened on the 3rd of that month
to Bourke, the most important t.own in Central
Australia. It lies on the River Darling,
but it is only at uncertain periods that the
river is navigable, and in times of drought the
town has almost been reduced to famirie,
stores being so scarce and transit so difficult;
but the railway puts an end to all such contingencies,
and the Bourke people are now
brought within a day's journey of the metropolis.
The town is not particularly picturesque,
lying on a long flat stretching back
from the river, but it is the centre of an
immense district, and transacts a large business,
and is every year rising into more
importance. It is a municipality, proclaimed
in 1878, and contains a population of 4,140.
It offers excellent hotel accommodation. The
traffic from Bourke is entirely of a pastoral
nature, wool and cattle being sent away in
immense qnantities, as Bourke is the entrepot
for a pastoral district that stretches through
the heart of Australia away to the far north
of Queensland ; and at times wool is brought
by river to this station. At the present time
Bourke is dependant for grains and greenstuffs
upon the more favoured stations on the
Western Line, such as Wellington or Orange,
where wheat can be grown to advantage; but
if a system of irrigation and water conservation
can be perfected, as it is believed it can,
it will add immeasurably to the wealth and
productiveness of these western districts.
IV.-EXTENSION WALLERAWANG TO MUDGEE.
THE history of the Railway Extension to
Mudgee shows a splendid proof of the success
o~ persistency. For many years this extens10n
was fought for determinedly by the
Mudgee people ; but various Governments,
deterred by the heavy estimates given
as to the cost of the line, and the dim
prospect of a remunerative return, would not
for a long time listen to the appeals of those
interested, until at last one Ministry, seeing
beyond the mountain barrier a wealthy land
of promise and the opening up and development
of mineral resources and wide areas of
land, determined to propose the line, a proposition
which met with the approval of the
then Parliament. Accordingly the line was
proceeded with, and in September, 1884, the
Mudgee people heard the whistle of the iron
horse as it gaily made its way across the
plains bordering the quiet Cudgegong. The
line starts from W allerawang, which long
enjoyed a greater share of prosperity by

80 THE RAILWAY GUIDE.
reason of its position as the junction of the
Mudgee road with the ·western Railway.
Piper's Flat, 110 miles; 3,187 feet
above sea-level.-The line runs north-west
from Wallerawang outwards to Piper's Flat,
the first station j the country is uninteresting,
the land being poor and timbered with stunted
specimens of white gum. The station is kept
busy only by the mineral traffic, the W allerawang
Compa.ny's Coal-mine being in the
vicinity, which, in 1884, had a contract to
supply the Government with some 75,000
tons coal at the remarkably low rate of 5s.
per ton. The district is essentially a mining
one, near the station coal is in abundance,
and spread over the locality are extensive
deposits of lime, which is principally shipped
from the next platform, Ben Bullen, at 121
miles.
Capertee, 127 miles; 2,739 feet above
sea-level.-The line from Ben Bullen to
Capertee is uninteresting until within a short
distance of Capertee, when, after emerging
from the darkness of the Capertee tunnel,
the traveller sees spread before him a glorious
panoramic view of Capertee Valley. The
railway skirts round its edges, and down
below him extends the valley, its uneven and
thickly timbered irnrface heaving, it would
appear, like mighty waves. Far back stands
a frowning battlement of dark bold rocks
forming a head and crown to the body of
the valley below, these cliffs wonderfully
square and regular being aptly termed the
Crown Ridge. The train in the fall of
the year clears this spot towards sunset,
and the long golden sunbeams of the evening
as they gleam across the waving tree-tops
in the valley, light up this cro"\'·n with a
golden refulgence of light smoothing down
its forbidding sternness and setting gems
over its rocky face. The railway runs round
this valley for some distance on its way to
Rylstone, and between the steep cuttings
a fair vista of this picturesque valley is every
now and again seen. The valley contains
good timber j but of course the difficulty of
transit militates against any use being made
of the forests. Good sporting is to be bad
in among the tall grey-gums, game being
plentiful in the valley, and the kangaroos are
as thick as sheep on a good run. Capertee
cannot be called a thriving place j it boasts
of one inn and occasionally sends a little
traffic over towards the Turon (14 miles),
where some gold seekers are working.
Ilford, 149 miles; 2,450 feet above
sea-level.-Between Ilford and Capertee
the line runs for some distance as already
mentioned along the head of the Capertee
Valley, the line crawling as it were along the
side of the cliffs that drop down into the
valley. The cuttings are both numerous and
extensive, and at times an uneasy feeling
creeps over the traveller, that one of the
overhanging rocks above him will fall acrmm
the ironway. The nature of the country at
this place is that known as "rotten," and in
order to make traffic secure, and to prevent
the probability of danger, the trains always
run through in the day light. The scenery is
bold and striking, the mountains towering
hundreds of feet overhead and the passing
views are sufficiently varied to show a long
succession of panoramic Yiews as the trains
sped onwards.
Rylstone, 158 miles; 1,993 feet above
sea-level.-From Ilford the line becomes
more even and the country better grassed,