Blue Mountains National Park

Saturday 25th May 2013.

Blue Mountains.

Sixty kilometres west of Sydney, Blue Mountains National Park conserves a an area rich in history, wildlife and world famous scenery. The landscape is part of the traditional country of Aboriginal people.

The sandstone which forms the mountains plateau's upper crust was formed from sandy sediments deposited by a giant river system over a period of about 250 million years ago.

The sandy soil of the plateau tops is infertile. Low heaths cover the most exposed places, but in protected pockets and valleys lush vegetation grows. In the main valleys there are tall open forests and patches of rainforest.


The Legend Of The Three Sisters.

According To Gundungurra Dreaming, three beautiful sisters named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo once lived with the Gundungurra people in the Jamison Valley.

The maidens were in love with three brothers from the neighbouring nation of the Dharruk people, but marriage was forbidden by tribal law.

The brothers were warriors and decided to take the maidens by force. Tribal war forced the Kuraadjuri (clever man) of the Gundungurra people to turn the sisters into stone. He intended to restore them after the danger had passed and the war had ended. Unfortunately, the Kuradjuri (clever man) was killed in battle and to this day nobody has been able to break the spell and turn the Three Sisters back to their natural form.

This is one of a number of versions of the legend.


Cultural Connections

Aboriginal people began living in the Blue Mountains perhaps up to 2,000 years ago. The Blue Mountains is rich in axe grinding grooves, rock engravings and charcoal and ochre drawing.

The mountains themselves were only sparsely settled until the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1868 led to development of tourism. Reserves to protect the scenic and natural values of the area began in the 1890's and Blue Mountains National Park was declared in 1959.

Photos from Blue Mountains

 

 

Aboriginal Centre Blue Mountains

 

Matty.