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/
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/