In the Blue Mountains village of Blackheath the original cottages are slowly disappearing. We are losing something special….beautiful old windows with coloured glass panes or leadlights. Some are very simple; an inexpensive way of adding a little elegance to a humble home. Light is the operative word
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A REFUGEE SPARROW FROM THE CITY Some time ago a sparrow living in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens was assaulted by a giant white ibis. A dispute had broken out over crumbs at the café and the little fellow came off second best . He went into hiding, but
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FOR THE FIRST PART OF MY ROUND TRIP TO BLACKEATH VILLAGE CLICK HERE. On the way home from the village I look across at the mural on the wall of the Antiques Centre. It was designed by the well known artist, designer, and local resident Jenny Kee.
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When I lived in Sydney years ago I loved going to the art-deco, Cremorne Orpheum Theatre on the Lower North Shore. It was wonderful to find an equally special theatre right here in the Blue Mountains. The building above, at 2a Harley Avenue Mount Victoria, dates
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Nobody loves our beautiful Australian birds more than I do. I photograph them and write about them daily. BUT, this is a plea not to feed the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos here in the Blue Mountains (or anywhere else for that matter). The population of these birds has
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EARLY HISTORY OF BLACKHEATH DUCK POND When the Great Western Railway crossed the Blue Mountains of New South Wales in the 1860s a reliable water source was required for the steam engines. In the village of Blackheath a catchment area to the north and east of Gardners
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A WANDER ALONG WENTWORTH STREET. Since the Great Western Highway from Sydney to the Blue Mountains was upgraded there has been a huge rise in visitor numbers. My home of Blackheath is one of the highest villages, and in autumn Wentworth Street in particular is a joy
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Mrs Eva Hallett arrived in the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba by rail in the autumn of 1916, accompanied by her 16 year old daughter Violet. For a few days the pair stayed in a well known boarding house. However, Mrs Hallett then visited a local estate
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Recently I conducted a little social history survey on how the various towns and villages of the Blue Mountains are perceived. Do they have a distinct character? Well certainly most of them do. Most surprising of all to me was that Glenbrook is considered by many to
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Lonicera nidita is a type of honeysuckle used in topiary and hedging. It’s often known as box honeysuckle. Tiny birds such as blue wrens love to hop about in it…… and on it, searching for bugs. It will cope with frequent, light clipping and becomes dense and
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