Jamison, Burragorang Valleys and Yerranderie

[Rob Thompson]

I am wondering if there has been historically much link up and connectivity between our end of these valleys and the Southern end.
It appears that there are old roads going into the Jamison and some old farms down there. Before Warragamba Dam went in I guess it is possible that there were transport routes all the way down south from the bottom of the Scenic Railway through the Burragorang Valley to Yerranderie.
Rob

[Philip Hammon]

Not from bottom of Scenic Railway, all access to Burragorang was via Kedumba Pass and before that “The Goat Track”. The other access was through Camden. There was no road access North of Maxwells until fire trails in the 60’s.

[Rob Thompson]

Below is an old map from before the building of Warragamba. If you keep clicking on it, you can zoom in to get some very good details:

It looks like there was a track going south from Maxwell’s farm which could possibly have connected to the road to Yerranderie. There is also another track which is an extension of Tablelands Road past McMahons Lookout which went down to the Lower Burragorang township.

This photo is from the Wollondilly Heritage Centre. It looks to me like it is taken from our end of the Burragorang Valley. Maybe McMahon’s Lookout?

 

EDIT UPDATE: After looking at the map and the satellite imagery, I think the photo above was taken a few kilometres to the South East of McMahon’s Lookout between Pocket Creek and Gogongolly Gully overlooking the Cox Junction as marked on the map below.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Rob Thompson.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Rob Thompson.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Rob Thompson.

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[Rob Thompson]

Here is an interesting web page on the History of the Maxwell’s farm in Kedumba Valley by John Low (with acknowledgement to Jim Barrett) .

https://bmnature.info/stories-maxwells.shtml

Here is a panorama taken from the farm site:

https://embed.panedia.com/vtlite3/8337?o=p&h=hubfdms&p

[Philip Hammon]

Here is Maxwells Hut before restoration by NPWS started.

 

[Philip Hammon]

[Philip Hammon]

The famous Lion and Emu watch over Maxwell’s hut.

[Rob Thompson]

What a fantastic spot! It looks like the Rotary Club was involved with the restoration. I think the Kedumba Pass road has a locked gate. Do they allow vehicles? Maybe vehicles in a Rotary club convoy? It would great to organise an excursion there if it is possible.

 

[Rob Thompson]

Here’s another photo which looks like it could have been taken from somewhere around McMahon’s Lookout at the end of Tablelands Road. By the look of the shadows and the line of the valley, the camera is pointing somewhere close to south. Is it possible that the road down from McMahon’s into the Burragorang Valley was ever this good?

EDIT UPDATE: After looking further at the old map (link in my post above) this must be the road from Oakdale down to Central Burragorang. I will keep looking for info on the road from McMahons Lookout down into the valley. I am intrigued as to what reasons a transport link was used between Wentworth Falls and the Burragorang/Wollondilly region.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Rob Thompson.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Rob Thompson.

[Rob Thompson]

Got this info and photo from the Bushwalker magazine Volume 32, Issue 3, Winter 2007

“The Jump Back Pass or the ‘one in four’ road off the end of McMahons Lookout (Bimlow Topographic Map) was a key access for the residents of the Burragorang Valley. The 1930’s picture is from the John Hollingdale collection. The car is a 1930 Model A Ford.” 

….and here’s another one from the Camden Historical Society collection. I am wondering now what reasons this road was built and why people used it.

[Linsi Braith]

A 98 year old friend of mine said she often went horse riding in the Burragorang Valley with her sister and she is maybe (?) 20 years old in these two photographs.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Linsi Braith.

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[Rob Thompson]

Do you know which route she took to get there?

Rob

[Linsi Braith]

Rob- Sorry I don’t know but I’ll ask her when I visit after lockdown.

[Linsi Braith]

This photo has a note on the back: Janie (Heather), Wig (Estelle) and Dr Vince Cottell, Burragorang 1948. Heather’s entire family had nicknames! Before living in the Blue Mountains, Heather & family lived at Mortdale and I’m sure they would have taken the easy route to Burragorang.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Linsi Braith.

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