The Imperial Hotel

 

Mount Victoria
The most westerly township in the Blue Mountains.
The most westerly village/township in the Blue Mountains is Mount Victoria. Located 120 kilometres from Sydney and 1043 metres above sea-level it is a small and charming settlement of some 900 people. Originally known as One Tree Hill it was marked on an early map dating from 1834 by the Surveyor General, Sir Thomas Mitchell. The town's name wasn't changed until 1876 when the first Post Office was built.

By the late 19th century it was a prosperous settlement. The railway terminated here. There were exclusive private schools and it was seen as a popular 'hill station' retreat for wealthy Sydney families who would take the train and stay either in the large guest houses or in the mansions they built for themselves.

Today it is a pleasant township with a large number of impressive and substantial historic buildings.

Things to see:  

Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls Road is located on the right (coming from Sydney) about 500 metres after the large sportsfield on the left and 500 metres before you reach Mount Victoria township. Continue down the road until you come to the parking area. There is a walking track to the falls. For the fit and hardy it continues on through open forest to Burra Korain Flat where there is a camping ground. This extended walk is 6 km return.

 

 

The Toll Keeper's Cottage at the Toll Bar near Broughton's Waterhole

 

The Toll Keepers Cottage
The well-known Toll Keepers Cottage is located about one kilometre east of the town. Known variously as the Toll Bar or Toll Keepers Cottage it was built in 1849 and is a reminder of a time when travellers along the road had to pay a toll. The toll house was used between 1849 and 1876. Coaches were charged according to how well sprung they were. A heavy coach without springs was free because it was believed that it helped to crush the stones and smooth the road. Lighter coaches with springs were charged one shilling and six pence.

 

Mount Victoria Historical Museum
Located in the old refreshment rooms at the Railway Station, the Mount Victoria Historical Museum has an interesting collection of documents, photographs and artefacts from the local area. The railway station was opened in 1868 and the refreshment rooms were closed in 1960. It is open from 2.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, Public and School Holidays.

 

Old Vic Post Office Gallery
The former post office is now a gallery displaying the works of local artists, as well as antiques and collectables. It is open from 10,00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Thursday to Sunday and, on Tuesday and Wednesday, from midday until 2.00 p.m., or by appointment, tel: (02) 4787 1900.

 

Station Street
A large number of important historic buildings which give the town an olde worlde charm. In Station Street there is the old Bank Building at 22 Station Street which was built in 1885, the Mount Victoria Police Station (1887) at 32 Station Street, the Library (1875) at 30 Station Street, the gracious Victoria and Albert Guest House or Hotel Mount Victoria (built on the site of the Royal Hotel), and the impressive and ornate Imperial Hotel (1878). The Imperial Hotel was Australia's first tourist hotel. 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.

At the top of the street the local Post Office dates to 1897 and on the Great Western Highway St Peters Church of England (1874) is a charming small stone church.

 

Westwood Lodge
These are minor attractions when compared to Westwood Lodge in Montgomery Street which was built as a summer retreat by John Fairfax in 1876. At various times it has been a guest house and the Coopers Grand Hotel, a typical luxurious mountain retreat. It was purchased from Fairfax and opened as a hotel in 1887.

 

One Tree Hill
Mt Piddington Rd heads off to the left from the Great Western Highway, if you are heading westwards. Near the point where Mt Piddington Rd intersects with Apex Ave is One Tree Hill, which is the highest point in the entire Blue Mountains.

 

Mt Piddington
Mt Piddington Rd continues on to the top of Mt Piddington itself. A walking track extends southwards into Fairy Bower Reserve.

 

Kanimba Valley Walking Tracks
Along Kanimba Valley Rd it is possible to pick up a couple of walking tracks which extend along the cliffline of the Kanimba Valley, taking in Bede's Lookout, Pulpit Rock, Reinitz Pass and Ross Cave. For further information ring National Parks and Wildlife Service on (02) 4787 8877.

 

Sunset Rock Lookout
At the western end of Mount Victoria is a turnoff on the left into Grand View Rd. Near its end turn right into Beaufort Ave which leads to this fine lookout over Wilsons Gully.

 

Berghofers Pass
About 1.5 km west of Mount Victoria Village, there is a turnoff on the right into Mt York Rd. Mt York lookout is along here to the left. Further along the road is a sign indicating the start of the Berghofers Pass Walk on your left. This 3.2-km return walk is considered one of the easiest and most pleasant bushwalks in the mountains, offering lovely views. The walk is based on an early road which leads down from the mountains to the western plains. From this road it is possible to see the convict-built ramparts supporting the Great Western Highway and a drovers' dog trough cut from sandstone.

 

More Walking Tracks
Directly opposite the start of the Berghofers Pass Walk is the start of two further tracks: the Lawson's Long Alley/Lockyer's Loop Walk (11 km, medium difficulty) and the Cox's Rd/Mt York Rd/Lockyers Rd Walk (12 km, medium to hard difiiculty). Both take the bushwalker to Hartley Vale and both follow historic early European routes. The latter follows the final section of the original road across the mountains and it provides access to convict-built elements such as steps and the enormous boulder located 100 metres from the top of Mt York which was cut back to allow Governor Macquarie's coach to pass.

 

Mitchells Ridge Lookout
Further west again a small loop road heads off the highway (to the left if travelling westwards) to an excellent lookout.

 

Victoria Pass
Slightly further west again is Victoria Pass which, even today, seems like a masterpiece of engineering as it winds down the western slopes of the Blue Mountains crossing a narrow ridge at Mount Blaxland. There is a stone column which records the completion of the pass in 1832 - a triumph to the engineering skills of the early 19th century. The equally famous 'Convicts Bridge', an outstanding engineering achievement, is still used by all traffic travelling across the Blue Mountains. It was completed in 1832.

 

 

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Mount Victoria