Mount Victoria - Lithgow

Got a late start and enjoyed a coffee at the lovely café in the main street next to the chocolate shop. After the most freezing night we’d spent in the van since I couldn’t remember, we were very happy to be welcomed by not just one, but two open fires. Of course, the poll positions right in front of the fires were already taken, so we sat as close as we could. Never thought I’d be happy to sit on an open fire in the middle of Summer, especially in Australia, but there you are!

We took off up the hill to the lookout on the edge of town and took one of the six walks. It went out to a sheer cliff. It was really steep and very pretty. The views were gorgeous and the dog had a great time.

We then went back to the Café and had their most delicious potato, leak and bacon soup. Along with some crunchy toast and a warm fire – it was delightful!

Since it was now late afternoon, we decided another movie was in order. We went to see View from Greenacres. It was a very funny Australian film with Wendy Hughes and Chris Hayward as the leads and a bit part by Steve Bisley. Very funny. About a grumpy bum who goes on a Mystery Train Trip with his long suffering wife bought by their daughter for their 40th wedding anniversary. Really funny stuff.

Decided it was time to leave this really cute spot before we moved there. Headed on out towards Lithgow.

Next stop was Hartley. It was an all but deserted heritage town. Settled in 1837 after the very successful 1813 crossing by Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth over the mountains. There are two buildings remaining that date to 1840, one is up for lease as a café from the NSW Parks and Wildlife Dept.

There are two magnificent churches made of sandstone as well as the magnificent courthouse. There are a few other buildings scattered about, including a tour guide station that does tours of the magnificent courthouse building. It does look out of place in the desolate unloved town that Hartley has become. It looks like it should be found in the main street of Sydney due to its fabulous proportions and fabulous style. The town eventually died when the road was diverted away from the town.

We then moved on to Lithgow. Lithgow was named by Hamilton Hume in 1827 after the Governor Brisbane’s Private Secretary, William Lithgow. Its really sad when lovely little spots fall off the tourism map due to high costs and a poorly marketed tourism department. We got the Blue Mountains tourist brochure as soon as we arrived at the first town in the Blue Mountains. It’s a little A5 glossy booklet that Lithgow has the inside back cover of. They have the “You’ll Love Lithgow” and a few nice pictures and dates of their annual events, but not one line about their tourism drawcards they have on offer. Its incredibly sad.

The guy at the tourism office said it costs the shire $25,000PA to have that ad, and I think its all but wasted. Anyway glad we took the time to visit as the town has a lot to offer. A very lovely main street. An original theatre, cute shops and a few heritage sites.

Eskbank House was the home of Thomas Brown, founder of the coal mine in Lithgow. Today it’s a lovely restored site with all outbuildings appearing to be intact. Really interesting. It is also home to Australia’s first viable steel works, and Port Kembla owes its existence today to Lithgow’s leading edge technology.

We found a nice spot to stop over the road from Eskbank House.