Blackheath

Located 114 km from Sydney and 1064 metres above sea level, Blackheath (population 4119) is one of the more substantial and interesting settlements in the upper Blue Mountains.

It was first named by Governor Macquarie who, passing through the area on his way to the new settlement at Bathurst, declared 'it having a rather wild heath-like appearance, I have named it Hounslow.' On his return sixteen days later he changed his mind and on 15 May 1815 he wrote in his diary 'This place having a black wild appearance I have this day named it Black-heath. It affords however plenty of good water for man and beast and tolerable good feed for the latter.'

Today the town is famous for its superb rhododendron displays, the magnificent northerly views at Govett¹s Leap, the bushwalks around the edges of the Grose Valley and the range of expensive and classy Guest Houses which have become part of the town¹s appeal to Sydneysiders.

---

Things to see:

Govett's Leap
The story of Govett and his 'leap' belongs more to mythology than to fact. It is claimed that a bushranger named Govett, being chased by the police, spurred his horse on and died rather than surrender as he disappeared off the waterfall which drops 450 m into the Grose Valley. Unfortunately, even though the story deserves to become part of Australian history, it is more likely that Govett's Leap was named after William Romaine Govett, a young surveyor who arrived in Sydney in 1827, spent many years surveying the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury area, and returned to England in 1834 after the government had reduced his surveying establishment.

The evidence for the 'leap' being simply named after Govett is overwhelming. In the early 1830s the Three Sisters were known as Govett's Point, suggesting that he was well known and admired in the area. And, in 1835, Govett wrote 'The bold broken nature of the country on either side is peculiarly grand, and the streams which at first commence in swamps soon make their way into inaccessible gullies, until they arrive at the cliffs of the main channel where they fall in cascades....The most remarkable of these cascades is the one near the Weatherboarded Hut [Wentworth Falls] and that which falls into the head of the Grose River; which the surveyor general named 'Govett's leap' from the circumstance of my first having come upon the spot when surveying with Mr Rusden.'

Govett's Leap Road extends eastwards off the Great Western Highway out to the lookout which is the start of a network of walking tracks.

Bushwalking in the Area and the National Parks Centre
Along Govett's Leap Rd is a National Parks and Wildlife Heritage Centre with information and displays relating to the many outstanding local walking tracks and natural attractions, camping areas, guided walks, Discovery Programme and historic site tours, tel: [phone]. There are also gifts, souvenirs, videos, an art exhibition, an interactive educational display and books.

The centre is the start of the Fairfax Heritage Track (2 km one way) for wheelchair users and people with poor vision. It offers excellent views, glimpses of birdlife, views of waterfalls, rainforest environs and facilities.

This is one of several tracks associated with Govett's Leap. Another, the Pulpit Rock Walk, heads north then east past Cripps Lookout to Pulpit Rock (2.5 km one-way). Passing through verdant rainforest, it furnishes attractive views of Horseshoe Falls and excellent birdwatching opportunities in the late afternoon. This track connects up with both the Popes Glen Walk, which leads west to Popes Glen Reserve in Wills St, and the Rodriguez Pass Walk, which heads east past Trinity Falls (on Govett's Leap Brook).

Another track (3 km one way) heads south from Govett's Leap past Bridal Veil Falls and Luchetti Lookout to Evans Lookout (see subsequent entry). This track intersects with the Braeside Walk (3 km return) which can also be joined at the other end by following the road which runs off Braeside St.

Evans Lookout
Evans Lookout Road extends eastwards from the Great Western Highway, at the southern edge of Blackheath, out to Evans Lookout which offers more spectacular views over Blue Mountains National Park. It is another node within a network of local waliing tracks. One heads north to Govetts Leap Lookout (3 km one way), and another leads south for 1.5 km to Beauchamp Falls. A walk of medium difficulty, it is a very pleasant trek. A longer trek which starts from behind the shelter shed at Evans Lookout is the Neates Glen/Grand Canyon Circuit Walk (5 km) which allows occasional glimpses of lyrebirds.

Grose Valley
Hat Hill Rd (which becomes unsealed after 3 km) extends north-eastwards from the Great Western Highway out to further walking tracks which take in Anvil Rock, Perrys Lookdown and the Grose Valley. Perry's Lookdown picnic and camping area is the obvious place to make base camp if you wish to explore the Grose Valley. However, access to this campsite is by foot, only overnight stays are permitted, no campfires are permitted (fuel stoves are okay) and it is a very small area with ony five sites, making it unlikely that space will be available in peak periods. Pit toilets are suppliedn but bring your own drinking water.

Hargreaves Lookout and the Megalong Valley
The northern side of Blackheath offers further natural attractions in the area which are, in fairness, as popular as those on the more famous southern side. Shipley Road runs off the Great Western Highway to Hargreaves Lookout. Megalong Road branches off Shipley Road and heads down to the Megalong Valley and Cox's River. Horseriding is available at Megalong Valley Farm (tel: [phone]), Carlon's Packsaddlers (tel: [phone]) and Werriberri Trail Rides (tel: [phone]). All three are located on Megalong Rd.

Megalong Valley Farm
This tourism venture has an animal farm which is open daily with shows and demonstrations on weekends and holidays. The farm's Adventure Horse Riding Centre is open every day with hourly trail rides, day rides, cattle drives and overnight rides. The Outback Pub Steakhouse is a licensed restaurant open for lunch from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., and the Country Shop sells gifts and Devonshire teas every day. Accommodation is available in the form of a lodge, cottages and camping and there is a function hall. For further information ring [phone] or visit http://www.megalong.cc

Rhododendron Garden in Bacchante Street
It would seem, if you arrive in season, that everyone in Blackheath plants rhododendrons in their garden. For the serious admirer the Rhododendron Garden in Bacchante Street (at the northern end of Blackheath) is open from 9.00-5.00 daily and has established a careful harmony between native flora and the rhododendron displays. There are more than 1500 rhododendrons in the gardens. The Rhododendron Festival is held each year in the second week in November when the flowers are in bloom.

Historic Blackheath
Blackheath developed as a township with the arrival of the railway line in 1869. At the time it was known as Govett's Leap. Initially it had no railway station. The current Blackheath Railway Station dates from 1883. St Aidan's Church of England was consecrated in 1884. The popularity of Blackheath as a 'hill station', and the increased numbers attracted to the church, resulted in it being expanded in 1902. The Post Office was completed in 1910 although the original post office was completed in 1885.

Gardner's Hotel
The original inn was built in 1831 by the freed convict Andrew Gardiner who had completed his sentence in 1826. It is one of the thirteen historic inns listed on the excellent History Highway Inns website. Check it out at History Highway Inns which offers detailed information about the historic inns in the Blue Mountains.

---

Motels

Blackheath Motor Inn
281 Gt Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***1/2

Redleaf Motor Lodge
cnr Evans Lookout & Valley View Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***1/2

High Mountains Motor Inn
193 Gt Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***1/2

---

Hotels

Gardners Inn Hotel
Gt Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

New Ivanhoe Hotel
Cnr Gt Western Hwy & Govett¹s Leap Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

---

Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses

Blue Mountains Bed & Breakfast
200 Wentworth St
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]

Kubba Roonga Blackheath Guesthouse
9 Brentwood Ave
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***1/2

Norwood Guesthouse
209 Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****

St Mounts Guesthouse
194 Gt Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***1/2

Balquhain Country Guesthouse
161 Govetts Leap Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****

Glenella Guesthouse
56 Govetts Leap Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****

Harrow Cottages Guesthouse
21 Brentwood Ave
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****

Kanangra Lodge Blue Mountains
9 Belvidere Ave
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***1/2

Misty Hideaway
49 Dell St
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Montrose House
15 Hathill Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Parklands Country Garden & Lodges Guesthouse
132 Govetts Leap Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****1/2

---

Apartments

Lakeview Holiday Park Apartments
63 Prince Edward St
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: **1/2

---

Holiday Flats & Units

Some Days - Some Nights
21 Day Cres.
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****1/2

---

Cottages & Cabins

A Days Delight
38 Days Cres.
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****

Secrets Hideaway
173 Evans Lookout Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****

Werriberri Lodge
Megalong Valley Rd Megalong Valley
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***1/2

Agapanthus Cottage
Dell St
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Allandale Cottage
Popes Glen
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Amani Cottage
31 Days Cres.
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Greentrees Cottage
19 Burton Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

---

Farm & Eco Holidays

Woolshed Cabins
Kanimbla Dr
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone] or 040 447 4304
Email: [e-mail]
Rating: ****

---

Lodges & Chalets

Jemby-Rinjah Lodge
33 Evans Lookout Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***

Jemby-Rinjah Lodge Cabins
336 Evans Lookout Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Rating: ***

Werriberri Lodge
Megalong Valley Rd Megalong Valley
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Rating: **

Possums Hidaway
185 Evans Lookout Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ****

Federation Gardens Lodge
185 Evans Lookout Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Rating: ***

Jemby-Rinjah Lodge
336 Evans Lookout Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***

Kanangra Lodge
9 Belvidere Ave
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Rating: ***

---

Caravan Parks

Blackheath Caravan Park-Council
Prince Edward St
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Rating: ***

Lakeview Holiday Park
63 Prince Edward St
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]
Rating: **

---

Restaurants

18 At the Ivanhoe
Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Ashcroft's Restaurant
18 Govetts Leap Road
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

High Mountains Motor Inn Restaurant
193 Gt Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Ho's Palace Chinese & Seafood Restaurant
244 Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Lucinda's Restaurant
209 Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

New Ivanhoe Hotel Restaurant
Cnr Gt Western Hwy & Govett¹s Leap Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Redleaf Motel Restaurant
Brightlands Ave
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Scotch Thistle Restaurant
Gt Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

St Mount's Guesthouse & Restaurant
194 Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Vulcan's Restaurant
33 Govetts Leap Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

---

Cafés

Banksia Cafe
246 Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Bushrock Cafe
198 Evans Lookout Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Gardeners Cottage Gift Shop & Tea Rooms
355 Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Govetts Eats
Colliers Arcade
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Shipley Tea Rooms
Shipley Rd
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

Wattle Cafe
240 Great Western Hwy
Blackheath NSW 2785
Telephone: [phone]

---