History at a Glance

The Blue Mountains region is rich in history. Once considered an impassable barrier, the Blue Mountains is now a major gateway to Western New South Wales.









1770

Captain Cook lands at Botany Bay

1788

Captain Phillip established the first settlement at Sydney Cove

1789

Captain Tench reached the foothills of the Blue Mountains and named the Nepean River

1789

Captain Tench and Lieutenant Wiliam Dawes were unsuccessful in crossing the Blue Mountains

1813

Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson crossed the Blue Mountains

1814

Building of the Bathurst Road by William Cox

1815

Governor Macquarie names Springwood and Blackheath

1816

The first Blue Mountains Building established by Governor Macquarie

1831

The Scotch Thistle Inn is built in Blackheath

1833

Lennox Bridge / Mitchell’s Pass constructed by Major Mitchell

1849

The Old Toll Bar House erected in Mount Victoria

1860s

Railway line first constructed from Lithgow to the Blue Mountains

1867

First train journey from Penrith to Wentworth Falls

1866

The Fish begins its service (train service from Sydney to the Blue Mountains)

1874

First railway platform at Katoomba

1876

Full operation of the Springwood Hotel

1877

Katoomba named

1879

Katoomba becomes known due to J.B. North’s Coal Mine

1882

Great Western Hotel erected in Katoomba

1886

Great Western Hotel renamed "The Carrington"

1898

“The Mountain Gazette” registered as a newspaper under the newspaper act

1904

First motor vehicle descends Victoria Pass

1910

New 10 tunnel deviation forming the Zig Zag railway

1931

Major rock landslide caused from erosion at Narrow Neck near Katoomba

1958

The original Skyway was installed at Scenic World Blue Mountains

1979

The Mountains Gazette changed its name to the Blue Mountains Gazette

2000

Greater Blue Mountains was announced as Australia’s 14th World Heritage Area on 29 November


Information courtesy of http://www.bluemts.com.au/info/about/history/

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