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Bush Explorers Encyclopaedia

Mount Dixson

Located 700m south, south east of Hartley Vale between Lockyers Road walking track and Waltons Road, Hartley Vale at an altitude of 1000m. In 1855 Mr Dixson of Newcastle was engaged to find the extent of the coal seam. By digging a shaft he found the coal seam to be 4.5 feet thick. Shown on Survey Plan No C259.1507 of 50ac of land at Mount Dixson surveyed April 1865. Ref: The Shale Railways of NSW map by Eardley and Stephens, 1974, p.16. NSW Gazetteer and Road Guide by Robert Whitworth, 1866, p.258, records, " A most valuable seam of bituminous coal has recently been opened at the base of Mount Dixon, (sic) about 2 miles due N. from here; (Hartley) it is of a most peculiar quality, and from experiments made, from 160 to 160 gallons of crude kerosene oil to the ton have been extracted."


Mount Flaherty

Is located 2.7km north west of Marrangaroo, height of 1149m. This name is shown on the maps Geological Map of the Districts of Hartley, Bowenfells, Wallerawang and Rydal, compiled by Charles Wilkinson, 1875 and Map of the Western Coal Fields, 1906.


 - Mount Gundangaroo
Mount Gundangaroo *

Refers to the northern section of a mesa, 789m high. Located 1.8km south of the junction of Glen Davis Road and Glen Alice Road and 5km west of Glen Davis. The south western part of this mesa contains Mount Canobla. Mount Gundangaroo is shown on the map Parish of Gindantherie, 1892. The name is Aboriginal in origin. Unfortunately, it is not recorded as to which dialect the name came from. For example, the suffix "garoo" refers to "hungry". Ref: Curr, Edward M. The Australian Race, 1886, and also recorded as "magpie", Watson, G. Mouths of the Burdekin River and Science of Man, 1898.


 - Mount Harvey
Mount Harvey *

Is located midway along a ridge line which divides Sapling Flat Creek from Red Rock Creek. It is 6.7km due east of Pantoneys Crown. Shown on the map Parish of Goollooinboin, 1884. Most likely, Harvey was a person who took out a Conditional Purchase Lease in this region, but no definitive origin for this name has been found.


 - Mount Horne
Mount Horne *

is a hill, 1170m, on Waratah Ridge Road, 3.3km east, north east of Bungleboori Camping Ground. Mount Horne appears to be a misspelling, as the Parish of Clwydd, County of Cook, 4th and 5th editions, 1917 and 1928, as well as Wilson, Alex. Map showing the various attempts to find the best route from Mount Victoria to the Western Country NSW,1914, all record the name as Mount Horn. Most likely, it was named after Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America that was the halfway point and fastest route from Australia to England. It is isolated, has notoriously rough seas and icebergs. Maybe this area was a land equivalent to the similar isolation and ruggedness of Cape Horn. The Aboriginal grinding grooves and water basins on top of this hill have been referred to as The Tool Factory by Wendy Lewis, who is legally recognised as a traditional owner of Wiradjuri lands. Correspondence, 8th April 2010.


 - Mount Innes
Mount Innes *

Is located on the eastern end of Stack Ridge and is surrounded on three sides by a cliff line. It is 3km north of Glen Alice. Dr James Innes (1796-1846) married Jane Alicia McLeod in 1828. James was granted 1760ac in October 1831 at £14 per annum. He named his cattle station Glen Alice. Jane Alicia was born c1800 and died on the 2nd December 1881. James’ brother George, (1802-1839) took over the property a few years later and when he died, his wife Georgianna Lorn Moorshead sold the property. Also see Glen Alice.


 - Mount Jamison
Mount Jamison *

Is a small hill, 1050m, on the mesa between Mount McLean and Mount Davidson, 5.3km south east of Pantoneys Crown. Accessed via Baal Bone Gap and McLeans Pass. GNB notes, 27th August 1970, record only a hill but retention of "Mount" in name is recommended. Shown on the map Parish of Wolgan, 1884. Named after Sir John Jamison (1776-1844) in this region, are (see separate entries) Sir Johns Point and Sir Johns Mouth. His first grant of land was near Glen Davis, Capertee Valley, in 1825, where he purchased 4000ac. Ref: Glen Alice School Centenary, 1884-1984, p. 16. The Sydney Gazette, 25th June 1836, p. 4, records, "900,800, 860 and 1200 acres applied for by Sir John Jamison at Capertee at five shillings per acre." The NSW Government Gazette, 1836, pp. 468-469 records,  "Sir John Jamison having the following acreages at Capertee, 1100, 640, 900, 800, 860 and 1200ac granted at five shillings an acre." The SMH, 29th September 1846, p. 4 records the auction of the Estate of Capertee, property of the late Sir John Jamison, 14,788ac (5989ha). Jamison was a name that appears so often on early parish maps (for example Parish of Wolgan, 1884) and in general text was spelt incorrectly as Jamieson.


 - Mount McLean
Mount McLean *

Also see McLeans Pass. A mountain, 1065m, 1km east of Baal Bone Gap and on the western side of McLeans Pass. Shown on the map Parish of Ben Bullen,1885. At one stage, John McLean and his family owned or leased properties from the Upper Turon to Sunny Corner, a distance of 95km, and employed close to 100 men. He was known as the Lord of Capertee. Ref: Coxon, Betty. Not Lost but Gone Before. A Family History of the McLeans of Capertee, 1999. It was Jonathan McLean and his two brothers, George R McLean and Donald McLean, who in 1870 were the first to discover kerosene shale deposits and open up a mine in the Glen Alice area. Ref: Carne, Joseph. The Kerosene Shale Deposits of New South Wales, 1903, p. 38. A number of the McLeans are buried at Glen Alice Cemetery. The cemetery land was originally purchased and set aside by John McLean.


Mount McLean Trail

This track leads from the road to Cape Horn via The Bicentennial National Trail in a generally north direction to Mount McLean. This track gives access to Stargate Tunnel, McLeans Pass and all the named features along the Wolgan / Capertee Divide.


 - Mount Norris
Mount Norris *

Is a hill on the western end of Railmotor Ridge, rising above Nayook Creek. Situated about 300m east of the saddle (Deep Pass) and 5.2km east of Cockatoo Hill Trig Station. Named by Wilf Julius Hilder (1934-2011), c1970, after John Norris who held the lease at Deep Pass in 1960. John had built a hut within the clearing and used the area to grow potatoes, a vegetable that would keep in the ground until needed. Ref: Correspondence with Wilf Hilder, 19th December 2009. Special Lease, Norris LB60/7.


 - Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai *

Is a small hill, elevation 1015m, about 2km north of Clarence Trig Station and 1.4km south west of Clarence Railway Station. The Main Western Line passes below via a tunnel on the north east side and the Zig Zag Historical Railway circumvents this hill from east to west. Mount Sinai in Egypt is the site where the prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments. May have been renamed from Bald Hill as shown on the Parish of Lett, 2nd edition,1890, to the more significant name, as it is located on the highest point where the railway started the main descent from the Blue Mountains Range to the valley floor. Parish of Lett, 4th edition, 1st November 1897.


 - Mount Sinai Halt
Mount Sinai Halt

Is one of the names of the platforms on the Zig Zag Railway.


 - Mount Stewart
Mount Stewart *

Rises to 985m, 4.4km south east of Pantoneys Crown and above the northern end of Hughes Defile. Shown on the map Parish of Goollooinboin, 1884. Named after Reverend Colin Stewart (1803-1886). Born in Scotland, he arrived in New South Wales in 1839. Upon his arrival, he was sent to Hartley and was granted 130ac of land in the Lithgow Valley. Between 1839 and 1842, his area of ministry extended from Bowenfels to the Queensland border. He held the first Presbyterian service in Capertee Valley in 1839 and opened the first church at Glen Alice in the 1860s. Ref: Palmer, Freda and Scurrah, F L. Tour of Rylstone and Capertee Valleys, 1969, Pt: 2, pp. 4-5.


Mount Torbane

Is the alternate name for Blacks Corner. See also Blacks Corner. It is 2.7km north of Mount Airly. Name created by the original three who proposed the Gardens of Stone National Park, Rodney Falconer, David Blackwell and Dr Haydn Washington, November 1984.


Mount Tricky

Is a hill at an altitude of 925m located on a small ridge line 1.1km north of Little Capertee Camping Ground at Newnes. David Noble called it Mount Tricky in 1978 since it didn"t have a name and was tricky to get off, particularly in the dark! That was when he was walking in a westerly direction.


Mount Walker *

Is named after James Walker (1785-1856), who was granted 2000ac at Wallerawang in 1824. The name Mount Walker is shown on an early map, Plan of Bathurst by James McBrien,1823. Note: this map was a work in progress and additional information was added to the original map. The Aboriginal name for this high point was Giligarambala, as recorded on map showing the various attempts to find the best route from Mt Victoria to the Western Countries, 1914. Different spelling, Gilligarambala, is recorded on the Geological Map of the Districts of Hartley, Bowenfells, Wallerawang and Rydal compiled by Charles Wilkinson, 1875. Located 5.5km due west of Lithgow within Marrangaroo National Park.


 - Mount Walker Trig Station
Mount Walker Trig Station

Has a height of 1189m. Located on Mount Walker. Named after James Walker (1785-1856), who was granted 2000ac at Wallerawang in 1824.


Mount Wolgan

See Wolgan.


 - Mount Wolgan
Mount Wolgan *
See Little Donkey.

 - Mugii Dhudungura Point
Mugii Dhudungura Point

Is located on top of the cliff line, at the easternmost point of Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area on the section of the mesa known as The Hammer. Named by Dan Slater 26 January 2021. Dan recorded, "I'd love to name the pointMugii Dhudungura - Owl's Rest. I imagined Charlie Riley walking out here as we did and resting to enjoy the view, but it also works for the eponymous mopoke."


 - Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area
Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area

Was created on the 4th March 2011. It covers an area of 3650ha. This area is on the northern side of the Glen Davis Road, 8km east of Capertee and includes Mount Airly and Mount Genowlan. The park contains a great diversity of ecosystems, supporting several threatened plants and animals and two threaten ecological communities. It also contains heritage stone dwellings of New Hartley oil shale ruins near Airly Gap. Named after the Wiradjuri Elder, Charley Riley. Mugii is Riley's Wiradjuri name and means a Mopoke Owl, while Murum-ban means eldest son in the Wiradjuri language.

On the 14th September 2016 a further 274.2ha was added to the northern boundary. This addition results in the northern boundary adjoining the Capertee National Park.


 - Murdocks Creek
Murdocks Creek *

Is a non perennial creek rising on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range 2km north east of Ben Bullen. It flows generally north for about 6km into Watch House Creek. The headwaters of Murdocks Creek are 2km south east of Rowans Hole. Rowans Hole was named after Walter Rowan, who in 1875 took out three Conditional Leases. When he died in 1882, the leases were transferred to his wife, Sarah. Walter had married Sarah Murdock in 1863, she died in 1879. Ref: NSW BDMs and Conditional Purchases Register Book, State Records, Kingswood.


Murdocks Creek Trail

Intersects with Moffitts Trail, at the headwaters of Murdocks Creek. It extends generally in a northward direction until it intersects with Airly Creek, where the name changes to Airly Creek Trail. Shown on the map Parish of Coco, 1883. Murdocks Creek Trail is about 9.5km in length.


 - Murrays Line
Murrays Line

Is a natural walking track below the cliff line off the "nose" of Joseph and Carne Creeks. Located at southern end of Firetrails No. 5 and 3. Named after Stephen (Steve) Murray, Former Bush Club member and at the time a close walking companion of Michael Keats. Michael named it on their Bush Club walk on 16th February 2007.  Starts at GR 423 096, continues south, then east and finishes at GR 423 091.


 - Murrays Mount
Murrays Mount

Is located 4km due north of Galah Mountain. It is a small volcanic basalt peak rising only about 10m from the surrounding area. Accessed via Galah Mountain Road and Deanes Creek Trail. Mount Morgan Topo Map, GR 472 186. Edward (Ned) Murray (1791-1862) was one of the earliest farmers in the Wolgan Valley. He worked for the property owner James Walker from 1824. Ref: Descendants of Edward Murray and Rosannah McConvil, prepared by Ean Jones. But it was most likely named after his grandson, Samuel Murray (1853-c1900). Sam was a landholder in this district. Ref: Interview with Danny Whitty, 19th February 2010. See more under Murrays Swamp. Described in Carne, Joseph. Geology and Mineral Resources of the Western Coalfield, 1908, p. 135 as “A small patch of porphyritic columnar basalt resting on Hawkesbury Sandstone …Area, 0.9 acres.” Mount Morgan Topo Map, GR 472 186.


 - Murrays Swamp
Murrays Swamp

Is located in the vicinity of Red Hill Road and Glowworm Tunnel Road. Part of the headwaters is between the Glowworm Tunnel Road and Camp Road. Murrays Swamp is shown on map Parish of Cook; County of Cook, 1st edition, 1883. "From Summit, (The Summit Loop elevation 3,960 feet on the Wolgan Valley Railway), the line began to descend an almost continuous grade of 1 in 50, over sharp curves, to 12miles to 20 chains, where Murrays Swamp was crossed on a timber culvert. Ref: Eardley, G H. and Stephens, E M. The Shale Railways of NSW, 1974, p. 128. The Summit referred to above is the present day Cockatoo Hill Trig Station, 12 miles or 19.3km from Newnes Junction. A sawmill in this vicinity was used for cutting the bulk of the timber sleepers for the construction of the railway to Newnes. Mill mountings and foundations can still be identified. Edward (Ned) Murray (1791-1862) was an assigned convict to James Walker and he completed his sentence on Walker's Wolgan Valley outstation (now part of the Emirates owned Wolgan Valley Resort). Following his pardon in 1843, he and his wife Rosannah (Rosa) continued to live there in Walker's employ until he purchased his firs t30ac in 1853 at the head of the Coxs River. Ref: Survey Plan C14.1507. Survey Plan C117.1507 and 210.1507, dated 1863, records 40ac of land on Kangaroo Creek, Parish of Cox in Rosa Murray's name. Samuel Murray (his grandson) purchased 32ac on the 10th September 1857 and the adjoining 40ac on the 8th December 1881. Parish of Cox; County of Cook. Survey Plan 124 and 1157.1507 and CP120-81. The Lithgow Mercury, 5th April 1907, recorded, "At Murray's Creek, two or three miles further out, we passed stacks of sleepers and waste timber, the product of the sawmills that worked there."


 - Mushroom Rock
Mushroom Rock

So named by Yuri Bolotin on a Bush Club walk, 15th December 2013 due its mushroom shape, one is able to stand underneath on one side and squat on the other. Located on one of the pagoda ridges south of Baal Bone Point.


 - Music Bowl Cave
Music Bowl Cave

Is located at the eastern end of an old overgrown forestry track off Galah Mountain Road, 1.8km north west of Mount Budgary. It measures 20.6m in width, 9m in height and in depth. Named by Yuri Bolotin, March 2012, to coincide with the music theme name, Orchestra Pit Cave, which is 200m to the north east.


Mutiny Point, Mutiny Spur, The Binnacle, The Wheelhouse

Is a 950m spur within the area known as The Barnacles. GR 491 911 to 495 904. The northern end was named by Yuri Bolotin on 18th January 2013, when in 40 degree plus heat, Brian Fox, Emanuel Conomos and Michael Keats mutinied refusing to continue the walk, deciding that it was unsafe. Just below Mutiny Point is a rock feature named by Michael Keats, The Binnacle, GR 493 909, and at the southern end of the spur is a tilted rock and cave that Michael named, The Wheelhouse. All these names are associated with the nautical theme of the other names in this area.


 - Mystery Mountain
Mystery Mountain

Is located to the east and directly opposite the veranda of the old Newnes Hotel and the summit is 340m above the Wolgan River. The mountain is part of what is called (see) Island Mountain. Allan Watson of the Newnes Hotel explains," When you sit on the veranda and ask, I wonder what it is like up there?" Since there is no intention of actually going to find out, the answer is a mystery." Allan is not sure how the name came about, but it was so called prior to the 1950s. Ref: Interview with Dick Bird, 29th January 2010, who recalls his father Jim called it Mystery Mountain, because in the 1940s, three sovereigns were found at the base of the mountain. A third suggestion comes from Thomas Ebersoll, proprietor of the Newnes Holiday Cottages, who says the name is a corruption of Misty Mountain, because for many months of the year in the early mornings the mountain is shrouded in mist. A fourth explanation comes from a previous resident of the valley who also recalled Jim Bird telling him that a group of people went up the mountain but one of the group never came back. Ref: Oral history Bruce Tweedie, 2nd May 2016.


Mystery Mountain Slot
Named by Michael Keats and Brian Fox on a bushwalk of 28 July 2014. Michael recorded, “Soon we felt a strong breeze and the canyon walls became very high, about 25 m high. There was a reason for this breeze as a few more steps took us to the edge of the cliff line and a yawning void down 300 m into the Wolgan Valley. We had stumbled across the much talked about non-negotiable slot that separates Mystery Mountain from Island Mountain”.

 - Mystery Mountain Traverse
Mystery Mountain Traverse

Is a continuous ledge that trends at a uniform altitude below the top cliff line of Mystery Mountain opposite the Newnes Hotel. The ledge is accessible from GR 437 245, north west of Zobels Gully, around Mystery Mountain, until GR443 255 above Galaxies Gully, a distance of over 3km. Using this ledge, a circumnavigation of the entire Mystery Mountain plateau (the north western part of the Island Mountain) is possible within one very long day. Named by Yuri Bolotin on a Bush Club walk 26th September 2017.


Natural Bridge *

Is a descriptive term for a narrow saddle 5.8km north east of Cockatoo Hill Trig and 2.6km due north of Deep Pass. Geographical Names Board records, 5th March 1975, " A well known feature, a fire trail follows the watershed over this narrow saddle." In 1998, the NPWS blocked off the Mount Cameron Track 300m before the Natural Bridge with a permanent barrier. Ref: David Warren Noble's canyon archive reports. Lieutenant Colonel Clews, army surveyor, in his article, "The Bad Bit across the River" records that, when he was using the bridle track to Mount Cameron, "Natural Bridge is a very low saddle." This track was well in use from 1903 and Clews (in the 1930s) most likely was just referring to the already local name.


 - Natural Throne
Natural Throne

Located at Hassans Walls, Lithgow is an armchair rock formation on the edge of a singular rock, which was the original Bracy Lookout. It has views over the Hartley Valley. Underneath this rock is the overhang known as Sandford Cave. Recorded by Jim Smith 2002.


 - Nayook Creek
Nayook Creek *

Is a perennial creek that has its headwaters on the eastern side of the junction of Deep Pass Trail and Mount Cameron Trail. It flows north east, east and south east for about 34km into the Wollangambe River. Nayook is the Aboriginal word for Cockatoo, and this creek rises about 1km east of Cockatoo Hill Trig Station. Ref: Bunce, Daniel and Graeme, Butler. The Australian Race, Lower Yarra. A History of the Buln Buln Shire, 1979. Possibly named by Lt.Col. Hugh Powel Gough Clews, known as "The Major" (1890-1980), Australian Survey Corps. He named Dinner Creek, which is near the headwaters of Nayook Creek and Clews Ridge and is midway and on the north side of Nayook Creek. Clews had surveyed the Wollangambe one inch to the mile topographical map inthe early 1930s.


 - Nellies Cave
Nellies Cave

Is a series of very large hemispherical caves on the eastern side and midway along the State Mine Gully Road north of Lithgow. Known by this name at least from 1912. Ref: Lithgow Mercury 5th June 1912, p. 2. Ken Poppett, local resident, oral history, 25th February 2012. These caves have been mapped and named Twilight Cave for the northern cave and Aledged Cave for the lower cave by Erik Halbert and Ross Ellis in 2006. Ref: The Journal of the Sydney Speleological Society, 2007, 51 (6): pp. 174-178.


 - Nellies Glen
Nellies Glen

Possibly refers to the gully midway along the western side of Hassans Walls and the eastern side of the First Lookout, Lithgow. It may have been named after Nellie Constance Hoskins, who died aged 18 years, 1914. Nellie was the daughter of Charles and Emily Hoskins who had given 50,000 pounds to build the Hoskins Memorial Church (Presbyterian) at Lithgow.


 - Nerve Test Rock
Nerve Test Rock

A narrow vertical slice of rock, like a razorblade, jutting out from the main cliff line, 40 m south west of Nose Rock. 700 m south west of Baal Bone Point.  Named by Paul Ma on a bushwalk of 5 September 2020. Paul records,“it requires nerve to stand at the tip of this rock.”


 - Neubecks Creek
Neubecks Creek *

Is a water course about 4km long. It rises approximately 4km south east of Cullen Bullen and flows generally south into Wangcol Creek. Alois Joseph Neubeck (1821-1904) and his wife Clara arrived from Germany on the ship, Peru, in 1855. He and his family settled in Blackmans Flat in 1862 near the present day Mount Piper Power Station and operated a blacksmith shop and staging area for Cobb and Co on the Mudgee run. They eventually owned 180ac (72.8ha). Alois's grandson, Francis (Frank) Joseph Neubeck (1889-1976), owned an open cut and underground coal mine as well as 5151ac (2084.5ha) in the Wolgan Valley and several houses in Lidsdale. His main house Lidsdale House was constructed in 1912. Ref: Survey Plans 485.1507, 40ac; 524.1507, 50ac; 525.1507, 80ac and 1967.1507, 240ac. Neubeck family history compiled by Dorothy Neubeck.


 - Neubecks Spur
Neubecks Spur

Is located 1.3km due east of Invincible Trig. It is 700m in length. It commences at spot height 1098, and extends south to GR 266 082. Named by Michael Keats on a Bush Club walk, 19th October 2012.


 - Newnes
Newnes *

Is located in a scenic valley on the Wolgan River about 7km south west of Glen Davis, 35km via road from Lidsdale and 50km from Lithgow. The SMH, 14th November 1907, p. 8, records, "the Department of Lands decided to adopt the name Newnes for the proposed village in lieu of Wolgan as previously approved."  Newnes was proclaimed a village on the 8th April 1908. Named after Sir George Newnes, a British Knight, and head of a group of London investors responsible for the development of the oil shale deposits. During the early operational years of the Commonwealth Oil Corporation Ltd and the Fell Company, Newnes had a population of 1652 (1911 census). The 1921 census listed 820. Ref: Taylor, Greg. J. Newnes, History of a Blue Mountains Oil-Shale town. Undated, p. 30. The Lithgow Mercury, 25th October 1907, records a notification of the listing in the Government Gazette of the village of Wolgan and setting out the boundaries of this village. Six months later, the name was changed to Newnes. The SMH, 13th May 1911, p. 5, records other names that were used for Newnes, such as Jones Township, Government Township and Company Township.

Note: During the period 1907 to 1909 the present location of Newnes was known as Newnes South, Newnes North was located at the present Glen Davis. Plan of Portion ML 12, dated 30th May 1908 shows Newnes North and track from Newnes South with significant buildings and tunnels into the shale mines. Lithgow Mercury 1st March 1907, p. 8, records the bridle path linking Newnes North to Newnes South.


 - Newnes Afforestation Camp
Newnes Afforestation Camp

Was located about 400m west of Glowworm Tunnel Road within Newnes State Forest on Camp Road. The Newnes Afforestation Camp (also known as Newnes Forestry Camp and/or the Newnes Prison Farm ) opened on 26th June 1968 with 80 inmates. It closed on 10th September 1982. During this time, the inmates built and maintained bowling greens, later converted to basketball and tennis courts, playing fields, a swimming pool, a lake, and a natural rockfountain. Between December 1985 and January 1991, the Department of Sport and Recreation ran the camp at Newnes. In this time frame, they conducted a range of camps for children, families and senior citizens. Activities included abseiling, archery, canoeing, bushwalking and swimming. The next use of the site was The Newnes Young Offenders Correctional Centre, which was officially opened by the Minister for Justice, the Hon. Terry Griffiths on the 16th August 1991. The NSW Department of Corrective Service ran this centre until its closure on the 9th March 1993. Ref: Herbert, Michael. Newnes Young Offenders Correctional Centre, October 1993.


 - Newnes Balcony East
Newnes Balcony East

Is a ledge below the top cliff line within the area known as Red Cliffs above and on the north side of Capertee Creek. This balcony level above the Capertee Creek Valley extends for 1.5km. Named by Yuri Bolotin on a Bush Club walk, 20th April 2013.


Newnes Balcony West

Is a ledge below the top cliff line above and on the north side of Capertee Creek valley. It extends for about 1.1km. Named by Yuri Bolotin on a Bush Club walk, 2nd December 2013.


 - Newnes Flat Picnic Area
Newnes Flat Picnic Area

Is located on the  Wolgan River side and 50m before Little Capertee Camping Area, Newnes. Ref: As per NPWS signage. The area is just inside the Wollemi National Park boundary.


 - Newnes Galleries
Newnes Galleries

Refer to a number of overhangs with exquisite coloured and fine filigree  rock formations. Located at the top northern end of Cathedral Canyon and 1km above and north of Newnes camping ground. Named by Yuri Bolotin on a bushwalk, 15 April 2019.


Newnes Holiday Cabins
Are located on the Wolgan Road immediately north of the Newnes Hotel, within the Wolgan Valley. Built, owned and operated by Thomas Ebersoll and Helen Drury, these individually styled cabins located alongside the historic Newnes Hotel provide a great, comfortable base for exploration in the area.

Newnes Hotel
The complete story of this hotel is published in Book 7 Gardens of StoneNational Park and beyond.

 - Newnes Junction
Newnes Junction *

Was a railway station on the Main Western Line. It is about 1km east of Clarence Railway Station and about 3km south, south east of Bald Trig Station. It was at Newnes Junction where the Wolgan Valley Railway joined the Main Western Line.


 - Newnes Natural Arch
Newnes Natural Arch

Is located on the western side of Little Capertee Creek Camping Ground at Newnes, half way up (240m)  the side of the steep hill, overlooking the camping ground. This arch is one metre wide and about five metres in length, but what makes this arch so special is that the arch spans a large sandstone overhang and the top of the arch is about ten metres from the base of the sloping cave. Shown on map within Penney, Andrew & Taylor, Pete. The Wolgan Guide, 1984, p. 184, recorded as "natural arch".Full name recorded by Brian Fox, 13th June 2011.


 - Newnes Plateau
Newnes Plateau *

The name is misleading as it refers to the area south of Newnes and extending back to Clarence that also contains the Newnes State Forest. A central point of the plateau is Bungleboori, (what was a picnic ground) and an important road junction. The Newnes Plateau is approximately 200sq km in area and has a general elevation between 1100 and 1180 metres.


Newnes Pondage.

See also The Pondage. The name Newnes Pondage has been recorded by Dug Floyd within his on line track notes in 2005. Also known as Dead Tree Camp.


 - Newnes State Forest
Newnes State Forest *

Was dedicated on 21st May 1920. Original approximate size was 30,000 acres (12,140ha). Since then, various extensions have been added.


 - Ngamperi Rock
Ngamperi Rock

Is the distinctive, high, pointed pagoda on the top of Point Cameron, located 700m north west of Mount Davidson and Wolgan Trig. This Wiradjiri name means "Nipple". It is also the property name of Dominic Dellalibera that has the "nipple view" of Pantoneys Crown. The Wiradjiri people have endorsed this name.


Nile Mile Creek

Is now known as (see) Bungleboori Creek. Nine Mile Creek was the local and previous name for the south branch of Bungleboori Creek. The north branch used to be called North Branch Bungleboori Creek. The name Nine Mile was derived from the (mileage) distance from Newnes Junction.


 - Nobles Canyon
Nobles Canyon

Starts 3.3km north of the road intersection of Glowworm Tunnel Road and Old Coach Road. A 700m track in westerly direction leads to this canyon. As part of the TAFE Outdoor Guide course, c1984, students explored this canyon. They collectively decided to call it Nobles Canyon, after two members of the group, Olive and John Noble. Ref: Correspondence with Olive Noble, 25th March 2010. Also known as Wolgan View Canyon and Dry Canyon. An easy, dry canyon, close to Glowworm Tunnel Road. Car park GR 409 166.


North Branch Bungleboori Creek

Now known as (see entry) Dingo Creek.


 - North East Split
North East Split

Is a narrow parallel sided slot that completely slices the north east section of Rock Island. The slot is about 240m in length, the centre of the slot rising towards the top. Negotiating one section needs rope for security. Located 2.1km nearly due south of Constance Gorge and Deanes Creek junction. Named on a Bush Club walk, 18th February 2013, by Michael Keats and Yuri Bolotin.


 - North West Split
North West Split

Is located on the north western side of Deanes Plateau. An overhang develops into a tunnel that then becomes a short stub canyon. Positioned on the top cliff line above and on the eastern side of Deanes Creek. So named by Yuri Bolotin on a Bush Club walk, 8th February 2016, as the North East Split on Rock Island is opposite and 1km to the north.


Nosedive Creek

Has its headwaters on the southern side of Railmotor Ridge, 3km due east of Deep Pass. This creek flows generally south for 3km to join Dingo Creek at GR 527 048. This name is derived from the name Nosedive Canyon, a canyon that is located in the lower section of the creek. Ref: Jamieson, Rick. Canyons near Sydney, 1993, p. 39.


 - Nose Rock
Nose Rock
Is a large, 10 m high solitary rock located 600 m south west of Baal Bone Point. The rock resembles a nose on the western side of the one-kilometre neck of a cliff-lined wall. Named by Paul Ma, 5 September 2020.

 - Nuggety Gully
Nuggety Gully *

Is a non perennial and scrubby watercourse about 2.5km long flowing generally south east into Coco Creek. It rises on the southern side of Glen Davis Road about 5.5km north by west of Pantoneys Crown. So named due to the gold nuggets once found within this gully. Nuggety Gully was discovered by a shepherd known as Scotch George in 1864. Ref: Carne, Joseph. The Kerosene Shale Deposits of New South Wales, 1903, p. 132. Shown as Nuggetty Gully on the map Parish of Coco, 1883.


 - Numietta
Numietta

Numietta used to be the name of the locality 2km north east of Glen Alice and the flat expanse east of Mount Innes. The name still applies to Numietta Creek, Numietta Road and Numietta homestead. Peter Grant Ogilvie assistant surveyor to Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell first recorded this Aboriginal name on his map 31st January 1830. Ref: State Records, Surveyor Generals Maps, 2509.


 - Oaks Ridge
Oaks Ridge

Is a 5km long ridge running off the Blue Mountains Range, which separates Lambs Creek from Kangaroo Creek. The Oaks family were early settlers in this area.This old local timber cutter name was in use when the bullockies pulled timber from the area. The name was in use up to the 1950s. Ref: Oral history, local historian, Ossie O'Brien, 20th April 2012.


Oaky Creek *

Is a partly perennial creek rising about 5km north west of McDonalds Mountain. It flows generally south east and north east for about 15km into the Capertee River. The Casuarinas growing along the creeks, known as River Oaks, have given rise to this creek's name. The spelling as Oakey Creek is shown on the map Part of New South Wales, The Interior from Sir Thomas Mitchell's Map and the Coastline from HMS Acheron 1851. The map Parish of Airly, County of Roxburgh, 1st edition, 1884, records on the same sheet two spellings, Oakey Creek and Oaky Creek. All subsequent maps record the spelling as Oaky Creek.


Oasis Spring *

Is a natural spring near the headwaters of Genowlan Creek. 1.6km north, north east of Genowlan Trig. Named by Col Ribaux during his diamond mine construction period, c1967.  Ref: Report to Department of Mines 6th October 1967, letter from Col to Capertee Valley Alliance, March 2011 and oral history from Col, 4th April 2016.


 - Obelisk Cave
Obelisk Cave

Is a beautiful camping cave, surrounded by rainforest. Located in the headwaters of Penrose Gully, 1.7km north east of the Glowworm Tunnel. It is about 30m long by 9m wide by 15m high, with a perfectly level floor of tightly packed sand. In the middle of the cave floor and at its northern end, stands an obelisk, a single, 1.2m high spearhead shaped shard of grey rock that looks completely like someone had carved it and installed it here on purpose. Named by Yuri Bolotin and Brian Fox on a bush walk 23 December 2016.


Observation Point

Yuri records “What we now stared at was in fact one of the best views of the Wolgan Valley and the Wollemi I had seen. The breath-arresting 360-degree panorama included the thick pagoda forest crowning the Watch Tower Spur to the immediate west; the striking stone pyramid of Alcatraz, just below our eye level and some 200m away; the dramatic, sharp, rocky edge of Woolpack Rock close to the south east; further to the west, there was Red Rock Creek and Capertee Valley, and to the east – Donkey Mountain, Mount Wolgan, the endless stretch of Wolgan Valley rimmed by high cliffs, with Sunnyside Point and Cape Pinnacle jutting out in the far distance; Cape Horn could be seen closer to us to the south west; in the far north, the outlines of Mount Coricudgy and the high mountains of the Wollemi Wilderness appeared in a blue haze.”

Named by Yuri Bolotin on a bushwalk on 17 August 2018.


Ocellus Pass

Is a bush walking pass 2.8km north, north east from Mount Budgary which leads into Rocky Creek. Named by Michael Keats, 5th August 2009. This and Frenulum, Lanceolate, Pheromone and Spiracle Passes, all near Mount Budgary, is named after an anatomical parts of a Moth. Michael had encountered a large numbers of Moths during his walks on Mount Budgary Plateau.


 - Ochre Pass
Ochre Pass

Breaches the top of the western side of the Wolgan cliff line. Located 560m south, south east of the track junction, Long Swamp Road and The Bicentennial National Trail. Named due the very different colours of ochre so close together in the ledge near the top of the pass. Named by Michael Keats and Brian Fox on a Bush Club walk, 16th February 2015.


 - Old Baldy
Old Baldy

Is a name given by the rock climbers to a cliff face 1.3km north east of Newnes. It consists of towering 360m sheer cliffs. And overlooks Newnes camping ground. First documented climb, July 1960. Ref: Taylor, Pete and Penney, Andrew. The Wolgan Guide, 1984, p. 25 and 61.


Old Baldy Slot

Is a very narrow, steep slot, on the eastern side of Old Baldy, 1.1km north east of Newnes Camping Ground. The slot initially is only 30cm wide, leading to a short scramble, after which it gradually expands to a couple of metres. The first section is about 50m long. Within 20m, it is followed by another section, slightly wider and at 90 degree angle to the first one, which leads all the way to a wonderful flat platform above the cliff line. Outstanding views of the Wolgan Valley can be seen from the top. Named by Yuri Bolotin and Brian Fox 14 July 2017, as this very useful bushwalking twin slot breaches the top cliff line giving access to the top of Old Baldy.


 - Old Bells Line of Road
Old Bells Line of Road

See Bells Line of Road.


 - Old Coach Road
Old Coach Road

Was constructed between Clarence and Newnes and closely follows the route of the former Wolgan Valley Railway line from Clarence. The road is still in use today (from near Deanes Siding, GR 424 140, to the information board at GR 425 180) and is maintained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in case access is required to fight bushfires. Alongside a part of this road can be seen steel stanchions and steel bars, which were used to support the petrol pipeline from Glen Davis to Newnes Junction. Cullen Bullen and Ben Bullen Topo Maps.

The Lithgow Mercury 8th June 1906, p. 4 records “ the road from Clarence to Wolgan is now 21 miles from Clarence, among the gorges. A good road has been found down Penrose Gorge…should be through to Wolgan in a few weeks”.

This road was used in part to deliver construction materials for the Wolgan Valley Railway line (April 1906 -1907) and also to provide access to the new township of Newnes. Ref: Parish of Barton, 1915, notation LB07.921. (Note: LB07 refers to Land Board 1907).

A map dated 10th April 1907, which accompanied an application for a Post Office at Greens Camp (near the present day Glowworm Tunnel), shows the name Coach Road.

The term ‘Old Coach Road’ was recorded in Stephens, Eric. Wolgan Railway Notebook, 1934-1937 and Lithgow Mercury 2nd May 1934, p. 4. The railway coach used on the railway line consisted of a general passenger compartment to seat 30, guard’s compartment, a special compartment at the end with folding table and lavatory. The coach was constructed by Metropolitan Amalgamated Railway Coach Works, Lancaster, England.


 - One Percent Slot
One Percent Slot

Is located at the apex of a cliff lined, V shaped gully, a southern tributary of Capertee Creek on the western end of the property,Red Cliffs, Newnes. Named by Brian Fox and Michael Keats on a Bush club walk, 6th May 2016, as the leader Yuri Bolotin said at the walk brief, there is only a one percent chance of finding a way to the top of the cliff line via this gully.


 - Oration Chamber
Oration Chamber

Is a slot within the northern rim of the Pentafid. Giving access from the base to the top of the cliff line. Road access via Old Coach Road and Tiger Snake Track. So named by Yuri Bolotin on a bushwalk, 30th October 2015, as within this slot there is a rostrum-like rock.


 - Orchestra Pit Cave
Orchestra Pit Cave

Is a very large cavern 31m wide, 25.5m deep and 12m high at the front. It is located on a side creek on the eastern side of Rocky Creek, 950m north west of Mount Budgary. Michael Keats on his Bush Club walk, 25th March 2009, recorded, “the floor is almost dead level and large enough to contain a complete symphony orchestra.”


 - Orchid Slot
Orchid Slot

Is located within the upper headwaters of Little Capertee Creek, Newnes. Named by Graham Conden on a Bush Club walk, 31st August 2006, due to the profusion of three species of orchids encrusting the walls,   Dendrobium speciosum, D. striolatum and Liparis reflexa.


Orpheus and Eurydice Pagodas

See Poseidon Arena.


 - Paddys Creek
Paddys Creek *

Has its headwaters near the junction of State Mine Gully Road and Old Bells Line of Road about 4km north west of Bald Trig Station. It flows in a north east direction for about 3.5km into Bungleboori Creek. Shown as Paddys River on the Blue Mountains Burragorang Valley Tourist Map, 1932 and within Stephens, Eric. Wolgan Railway Notebook, 1934-1937. Before Bungleboori Creek was named, the whole of this drainage system was known as Paddys River. Lithgow Municipal Council Minutes, 12th January 1942, record the name Paddys Creek. Patrick (Paddy) Mullens (c1831-1876) had placed advertisement in the Town and Country Journal, 26th September 1872, "To Drovers, a new track has been discovered which avoids the Toll Gates," There was a toll gate at Blackmans Flat. The track went from Bell to Ben Bullen. The Lithgow Topo Map shows the main access road near Bungleboori and Paddys Creek as Old Bells Line of Road. Ref: Brown, Jim. Bent Backs, 1989, pp. 275-276. The spring within Paddys Creek would have been used by the drovers to water their cattle and sheep.


Paddys Creek Canyon

Is located near the junction of Paddys Creek and Bungleboori Creek. Named by Michael Keats on his Bush Club walk, 24th October 2007.


Paddys Mountain

Paddys Mountain. An old ‘mud map’ compiled for the Cowie family reunion in 1984 shows a ‘Track to Paddys Mountain’. Paddys Mountain was the name the locals of Airly Town used for what is now the segment of the mesa between Gap Creek and Genowlan Creek, which includes spot height 1031. The mud map also shows the track extending from Jackass Gap, just below the cliff line. 


Paddys Swamp

Is located at the headwaters of Paddys Creek on the eastern side of GlowwormTunnel Road. Ref: Wilson, Alex. Map showing the various attempts to find the best route from Mt Victoria to the Western Country NSW, 1914.


 - Padleys Lookout
Padleys Lookout

Refers to the area where the Padley Memorial Pavilion was located, at Hassans Walls Reserve. This is now the location of Sir Joseph Cook’s Boardwalk. James McMillian Padley (1851-1918) was the driving force behind the development of Hassans Walls. Lithgow Mercury, 14th February 1944, p. 2. Pillars under Padleys Lookout were in doubt due to mining subsidence activity. Ref: Lithgow Mercury 4th July 1945, p. 2. Hartley Topo Map, GR 353 882. Remains of Padley Memorial Direction Dial are at the right hand side at the end of the boardwalk. Padleys Pedestal Trig is at the end.


Padleys Pass

See Undercliff Track


 - Padleys Pedestal Trig Station
Padleys Pedestal Trig Station

Is located at Padleys Lookout on the southern point of Hassans Walls, Lithgow. Named after James McMillian Padley (1851-1918). Constructed on 1st January 1932 by the Royal Australian Survey Corps. Height 1129.902m. Ref: Lands Department SCIMS Survey Mark Report.


Padleys Undercliff Walk

See Undercliff Track


Pagoda Amphitheatre

Is located on Citadel Spur above Amphitheatre Pass, 400m south west of GenowlanTrig. This circular space, about 50m across and surrounded on all sides by soaring pagodas. The floor of this space is tufted with bright green grasses and occasional Xanthorrhoea. Named by Michael Keats on a Bush Club walk, 2nd March 2015.


 - Pagoda Heaven
Pagoda Heaven

Is a magnificent pagoda studded area on top of Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area. Located midway between Genowlan Trig and Genowlan Mountain at the edge of the escarpment. It extends approximately 400 m to the east of Genowlan Mountain Trail between GR 267 and GR 271 (eastings), and for 600 m south between GR 333 and GR 327 (northings) Named by Yuri Bolotin and Brian Fox on a Bush Club walk, 4 May 2018.


 - Pagoda Lookout
Pagoda Lookout

Is located on the highest point of the saddle that divides the Wolgan and Capertee Valleys and 50m to the east from the Pipeline Track.The signage is recorded as September 1987 in Lord, Stephen and Daniel, George. Bushwalks in the Sydney Region; Volume 1, 1989, p. 52.


 - Pagoda Maze
Pagoda Maze

Consists of two parallel arms of pagoda studded ridges surrounding a deep ravine that drops 140m from the highest northern edge down to the southern edge and the Moffitts Trail. The highest concentration of pagodas is in the north east sector. Located 1.6km south east of Rowans Hole. Access via Moffitts Trail. Named by Michael Keats on a Bush Club walk,16th February 2010. Michael records,"Everywhere on this crest the pagodas crowd one another. The slots are convoluted and exciting."


 - Pagoda of Death
Pagoda of Death

Is located on the top of the Wolgan - Capertee Divide above the headwaters of Little Capertee Creek, 300m north of Gindantherie Pinnacle. When you approach it from the north, it does look like a death defying pagoda climb. However, when you actually get to it and start climbing, it is fairly easy, with many handy steps available. Named recorded by David Noble on a bushwalk, 22-23rd September 2007.


 - Pagoda Road
Pagoda Road

Was named by Peter Fox and Michael Holt on a bush walk, 28th September 2013. Michael records, "Even though most of these pagoda systems are usually disjointed, we thought there was enough long distances of contiguous stone to warrant the name."This undulating ridge line of pagodas starts from spot height 1054, 2km north, north west of Gardiners Gap and continues in a northern direction for 1.6km.


 - Pagoda Track
Pagoda Track

Is a 700m walking track that links the southern side of the Glowworm Tunnel Track to the Old Coach Road.


 - Pagoda World
Pagoda World

Was named by Yuri Bolotin on a Bush Club walk, 6th September 2013. Yuri named it so as,"it is a castellated wonder land, where pagoda after pagoda filled your scope of vision."Located on the southern side at the end of Fire Trail No. 4, off Sunnyside Ridge Road, Newnes Plateau.


Painted Walls

Are on the eastern cliff face of Cleft Point peninsula. This near vertical sandstone wall some 700 m long and 50 m high has weathered to a palette of red orange and fawn colours. Named by Michael Keats on a bushwalk, 22nd November 2013.


 - Palatine Rock
Palatine Rock

Is a rocky out crop on the Great Dividing Range overlooking Coco Creek and Rowans Hole, 300m north, north west of Tarpeian Rock. Named by Michael Keats on a Bush Club walk, 16th February 2010. As it is in close proximity to the previously named Tarpeian Rock, Michael called it Palatine Rock after the Palatine Hill that adjoined the Capitoline Hill, on which the Tarpeian Rock was located in ancient Rome.


Paling Yard Creek *

Is a non perennial stream rising 3.5km south east of Genowlan Mountain. It flows generally south, south east for about 3km into Dog Trap Creek, which in turn flows into Coco Creek. A descriptive name from a wooden fenced cattle yard located in the area. Shown on Carne, Joseph. Geological Map of the country in the vicinity of Capertee, 1900.


 - Pandoras Ravine
Pandoras Ravine

Is a long, continuous ramp through about 60m of vertical descent from Witches Watch near the western side of the track to Mount McLean down into Hecates Cauldron.  At the base and to the north of it, a 3m long tunnel leads into a chamber with five amazing, separate, hidden, almost dry waterfalls / ravines which feed into it. Michael Keats on a Bush Club walk, 5th March 2011 named both these features, the latter, Pandoras Box.


Panoramic Hill

Has a height 1180m, on which Bald Trig Station is located, is now known as Bald Hill. Named by Surveyor Robert Hoddle, 20th October 1823. Ref: Colville, Berres Hoddle. Robert Hoddle Pioneer Surveyor 1794-1881, 2004, p. 43.



Airly Turret