- Katoomba - Wikimedia Commons
Katoomba is the main town in the City of Blue Mountains and the administrative centre of the Blue Mountains City Council. "Ka-toom-ba" is a derivative of an aborigine word that means "shining falling water" and takes it's name from the waterfall that drops into the Jamison Valley. The town was earlier known as William's Chimney and then Collett's Swamp, followed by The Crushers, the name of the railway station for a nearby quarry. It got it's present name in 1877 and the status of municipality in 1889.
History of Katoomba
The town of Katoomba became known to the rest of Australia in 1879 when the Katoomba Coal Mine was opened. The town began to attract tourists in the late 19th century when a few grand hotels were established, notably the Carrington and the Belgravia (later known as the Hydro Majestic). Although mining was beneficial in the first years of the mine, the coal and shale seams were exhausted by the early 20th century, and Katoomba was established as a tourist destination.
By the 1960s, Katoomba began to decline and several guest houses and hotels had to be converted into convalescent hospitals, while many others were burned down. As housing became cheap, many young families settled down there, some still call it home. The guest houses were reopened in the 1980s and many were expanded, making Katoomba what it is today.
Tourism in Katoomba
Katoomba is the most visited town in the Blue Mountains and has grown substantially in the last 20 years due to the burgeoning tourism industry. The scenic beauty of the area has attracted many visitors from nearby Sydney, the mountains being perfect for some peace and quiet.
The most famous feature of the town is the rock formation of the Three Sisters, viewable from Echo Point. The lookout offers a panoramic view of the Jamison Valley, including Mount Solitary, with it's rock formation called the Ruined Castle. In the distance can be see then hills that house the Jenolan Caves, the oldest open caves in the world. There are numerous tracks for hiking in the area of various lengths and grades of difficulty. Some may not be very well marked and is suitable only for experienced walkers.
Another attraction in Katoomba is a large tourist complex called the Scenic World. It is home to the world's steepest funicular railway, wherein cables are attached to tram-like carriages on rails to keep them moving safely on the steep slope. The railway takes visitors down to the valley floor through a steep descent past Orphan Rock, where the Katoomba Coal Mine was established. The Sceniscender is the steepest aerial car in Australia and takes visitors on a 545 metre ride into the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area forest of the Jamison Valley. The Scenic Skyway is the glass bottom cable car that also takes visitors on a similar journey over the valley floor.
In the valley, visitors can choose to hike through the many trails, or take the short walk to the Bottom Station passing the models of the Katoomba Coal Mine Office, the first train carriage that brought visitors down, an old furnace and the main entrance to the Katoomba Coal Mine Tunnel. The forests around are filled with birdcall, tree ferns, eucalypts and large Lillipilli trees. For the enthusiasts, there is the 800 stairs of the Grand Stairway descending to the valley floor.
There are festivals held in the town throughout the year. Some of the more popular ones are the Katoomba Wines of the West Festival held during the last weekend of January at the Carrington Hotel, the Blue Mountains Festival of Folk, Roots and Blues held in March, Chestnuts in the Mist held from March to the end of June and the Winter Magic Festival.
Katoomba Heritage Walk
The streets of Katoomba is lined with art-deco buildings and there are many small boutiques that are worth a visit. It is a wonderful place to explore by foot and the Katoomba Heritage Walk encompasses the historical buildings, the natural beauty of the area, the shopping and the artistic section of the town. There are murals that can be seen depicting the community - some are of past events while others are a celebration of life.
Katoomba is about 100 km from Sydney and is well connected by train and is an easy drive as it lies strategically on the Great Western Highway. There are many hotels and guest houses to choose from catering to every budget and some wonderful places to eat and enjoy a drink as well.
Sharmishta Sarkar - I hold a Masters degree in ecology and have been a wildlife biologist for about 5 years. I decided to give up on an active life of field ...
