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1813 Commemoration Committee

1813 Committee for the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Crossing of the Blue Mountains

This Committee is a sub-committee of the HDPA, formed to organise events and activities in commemoration of the bicentennial  of the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans. The Committee meets bi-monthly, represented by HDPA nominees together with members of the local indigenous community, Lithgow Council and local organisations and individuals with an interest in our local history.

As well as considering possible activities for 2013, the Committee is seeking to establish and develop good working relationships with other similar groups regionally from Penrith to Bathurst which are also focussed on commemorating the spread of the colony into the Central West in the early 19th century. In the process the Committee is locating historical material and local knowledge to support possible activities for the commemoration.

Chairman of the Committee: Duncan Wass ph 6355 2043     e-mail duncbarb@gmail.com

 

1813 Sub-Committee Meeting 14th December 2012

 

1813 Committee Meeting 25th November 2012

 

1813 Committee Meeting 4th November 2012

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1813 Committee Meeting 14th October 2012

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1813 Committee Meeting 20th September 2012

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1813 Committee Meeting 14th September 2012

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1813 Committee 7th July 2012

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Minutes of 1813 Committee 26th June 2012

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1813 subcommittee 24th June 2012

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1813 Committee Meeting May 2012

4 Comments

  1. John,

    Thanks. Let me know if you would like a guide to take you to the incline! kpainter@bigpond.net.au I have found an old track from the creek to the trestle site. I have added more files to the Trove list recently, mainly to do with the directors.
    Regards,
    Keith

  2. Thanks Keith,

    I can see the scars of some contour strip extraction there, between the first and second safety ramps on Victoria Pass – and remains of some concrete footings (?loading chute) immediately above the highway. I spent a little time there looking for any old track up to such – but could not find such. Have also now collected the Trove records of the other one, south of Mount Piddington.
    Cheers, John

  3. Hi John, Some of the remains of the Blue Mountains Shire Council chert quarry can still be seen on the side of the hill above the lower section of Victoria Pass. But it is a dangerous area. Another company supposedly operated a chert and timber operation on the eastern side of Mt Victoria. The Chert Road Metal and Timber Company opened an incline railway in October 1926 but seems to have gone broke within a year. Some details of this venture can be found in my recent book “Great Walks at Mount Victoria”. See website http://www.mountainmistbooks.com
    Also if you look at the National Library digitised newspapers section (“Trove”) you should find a list relating to Mt Victoria chert.
    Hope this is helpful to you.

  4. I am interested in the site of the below (1923 newspaper article). Does anyone know it please? Thanks, John

    :::::::::::::::: Newpaper article ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

    “””””””””””””
    Chert Metal Quarry.OFFICIAL OPENING.
    In the presence of councillors and aldermen, representative of all the towns and districts on the Blue Mountains, the Minister for Local Government and Secretary for Mines (Mr. Fitzpatrick) yesterday officially opened a new stone-crushing plant and chert metal quarry at Old Victoria Pass, Mount Victoria. Those present included Sir Charles Rosenthal, M.L.A., Mr. J. Garlick (Under-Secretary for Local Government), the president of the Blue Mountains Shire (Cr. P. Wilson), the Mayor of Katoomba (Alderman W. J. Rumble), the Mayor of Blackheath (Alderman H. J. Collier), the president of the Blaxland Shire (Cr. J. Commens), and Mr. T. M. Shakespeare (secretary of the Country Press Association).
    The quarry is situated on the slopes of Mount Victoria, on the main western road to Bathurst, within a couple of miles of the railway station, and there is an almost inexhaustible supply of metal. One portion of the Western road has been laid with it for 28 years, and it has proved of excellent quality. Up to the present, supplies have had to be obtained from Kiama, and it is expected that a saving of 2/6 per ton will now be effected. The output from the new quarry is expected to be 100 tons per day, and the metal, in addition to satisfying local requirements, will be sold to councils in surroundings districts, delivery being made by a five-ton steam waggon, which has been purchased for that purpose. The crushing plant is of an up-to-date description. The spalls are delivered from side-tipping trucks to the breaker down an incline chute without handling, and after crushing, the material is delivered automatically over a belt-conveyor to various compartments of the bins, after being sized by rotary screens. A 25-horse-power motor has been installed, the electric current being obtained from Katoomba. A pumping plant brings water from the valley below. The whole of the plant, including the steam waggon, has cost the Blue Mountains Shire Council approximately £8000. Both the crushing and pumping plant are Australian-made, and were designed by Armstrong-Holland, Limited, of Sydney, and installed by them under the supervision of the council’s engineer (Mr. F. V. Wikner).The Minister switched on the electric current, which started the crushing plant, and expressed the hope that the quarry would prove a successful venture for the council. After the ceremony those present were entertained at luncheon at the Imperial Hotel, Mount Victoria, by the president and councillors of the Blue Mountain Shire, and a number of toasts were honoured.

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