Springwood
& Valley Heights
79km from Sydney
Finding
water in a gully and shelter in a forest, the three explorers
camped for three nights in the Springwood area, striking out
each day to carve out more trail over the Mountains - blazing
trees on both sides of that trail. Several native huts were
found in the region.
The
town was named in 1815 by Governor Macquarie when crossing
the Mountains to Bathurst, inspecting Cox’s Road. It was Cox
who established a military depot in the town while he built
the road using convict labour. A barracks remained here until
1845.
Today,
Springwood is the Mountains’ second largest town and provides
some wonderful bushwalks to Upper Glenbrook Creek, Martins
Lookout, Blue Pool and Sassafras Gully. Waterfalls in the
area include - Clarinda, Magdala and Martina Falls at Sassfras
Gully.
Just
before Springwood at Valley Heights you’ll find the wonderful
Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum in Tusculum Road. The Museum
- which opens on the first and third Sunday of each month
- is the oldest remaining roundhouse in NSW and is well worth
a visit.