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In 1813 Gregory Blaxland, William
Lawson and William Wentworth found a way across the Blue
Mountains, reaching what is now Wentworth Falls on Sunday 22nd
May 1813.
The job of building a road
across the mountains was awarded to William Cox, in 1814. In six months he and his convict
workers - who were rewarded with their freedom - built the road
4 metres wide and 170 kms long, from Emu Plains to Bathurst.
Wentworth Falls was originally known as Weatherboard because
of the weatherboard construction of the first building in the
area. This continued until 1879 when the name became
Wentworth Falls due to other towns already having the name of
Wentworth.
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| Cox's Weatherboard Hut |
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On 8th October 1814 The Weatherboard Hut was completed at
the site on the eastern side of the Jamison Creek, approximately
at the rail embankment below the road bridge at Wentworth Falls.
It was used to house the men and tools as they pushed the road forward
(Blaxland Road). The straight stretch that borders the BMHS
was constructed by Lt Thomas Hobby, and called by Cox Hobby's
Reach.
The hut was in use as a military post, by soldiers stationed there
to check passes allowing travelers to use the road. It ceased
to be used in approximately 1832.
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| The Weatherboard Inn |
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The Weatherboard Inn raised the standard
of accommodation in 1827.
The site is on the southern border of Pitt Park, on the western side of Jamison
Creek. It was built in 1827 when licenses were not yet issued.
The first license was issued in 1833 and it was named The Bathurst
Traveller.
On 17th January 1836, after tethering his horse at The Weatherboard
Inn, Charles Darwin walked to the Wentworth Falls along the
wooded valley (now known as Darwin's Walk). On 23rd January,
on his return from Bathurst en-route to Sydney, he stayed overnight
at The Weatherboad Inn.
It was not named The Weatherboard Inn until 1847 and was in operation
until 1867 when the railway arrived, causing the closure of most
of the inns.
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The picture above, from near
the original Hut, shows what is now Sinclair Crescent crossing Jamison
Creek, with the Inn in the background.
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Close-up of the Inn, from the drawing above. |
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Additional Information
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- Map
- Aerial photo map showing locations of Weatherboard Hut and
Weatherboard Inn.
- Info Blue
Mountains - Making the Way
- Essays on explorers and road builders. External link.
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