Discover down under! Each day a different picture pertaining to Starfire's tour of Australia is featured, along with a brief explanation written by Australia enthusiasts.
2005 July 1
What are some of the best ways to see the Blue Mountains?
Click on the picture to see other viewing options.
In the 1870's there were no taxes in Australia. Gold had been discovered 20 years earlier and rushes were still occurring. The economic climate was ripe for development schemes. In the Blue Mountains, several kerosene shale and coal mining operations were started, but most failed. One that survived was the Katoomba Coal Mine, which operated from 1880 until 1945.
When the mine closed,
Harry Hammon and his sister Isobel Fahey.
had an idea for using the equipment that hauled the coal out of the mine and up a steep cliff to waiting railroad cars as a tourist attraction.
They gambled that people from Sydney and around the world would be willing to pay to see the beauty of the Jamison Valley with its scenic spots, such as Katoomba Falls, Govett's leap, and the Ruined Castle rock formation. They were right. In fact, business was so good that they added the Scenic Skyway in 1958 and the Scenic Flyway (originally called the Sceniscender) in 2000. In 2004, the Scenic Skyway was replaced by a new one that has an electro-sceni glass floor, which can turn from frosted glass to clear in an instant so you can see the valley below!
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Authors & editors:
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