Blaxland, New South Wales

Blaxland is a town in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. Blaxland is located 70 kilometres west of Sydney in the local government area of the City of Blue Mountains. It is at an altitude of 234 metres and borders the townships of Glenbrook, Mount Riverview and Warrimoo.

Blaxland
New South Wales
Remains of Pilgrim Inn, c. 1825
Blaxland
Coordinates33°45′S 150°37′E
Population7,451 (2016 census)[1]
Established1830
Postcode(s)2774
Elevation234 m (768 ft)
Location70 km (43 mi) west of Sydney
LGA(s)City of Blue Mountains
State electorate(s)
Federal Division(s)Macquarie
Localities around Blaxland:
Warrimoo Mount Riverview Emu Heights
Blaxland
Glenbrook

History

Blaxland is named for Gregory Blaxland who along with William Lawson and William Wentworth, led the exploration that discovered a route over the Blue Mountains in 1813. Prior to 1879 the area was known as Wascoe.

The Pilgrim Inn was built c. 1825. It was a significant element in the area for some time, but eventually decayed. The remains, which are now adjacent to McDonald's, are heritage-listed.[2]

The Rev. Joshua Hargrave became a major presence in the area in the early 20th. century, and a significant force in the growth of Blaxland as a village, especially South Blaxland. He built the first church in the area and, with his family and the Calver family, is associated with four homes that still survive: Tanfield in Hope Street, Menahne in Hope Street, Rosedale in View Street and Nardi in View Street. The homes are all heritage-listed.[3]

Heritage listings

Blaxland has a number of heritage listed sites, including:

Population

According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 7,451 people in Blaxland.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 2.0% of the population.
  • 82.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 5.0%.
  • 92.1% of people spoke only English at home.
  • The most common responses for religion were No Religion 30.2%, Catholic 22.7% and Anglican 19.0%.[1]

Transport

Blaxland railway station is on the Blue Mountains Line of the NSW TrainLink intercity network. It is a disability-accessible station.

Commercial area

The village of Blaxland received a major overhaul in 2001 with the widening of the Great Western Highway. This work included the controversial planting of Canary Island Palm trees along the highway, but also created space for more shops and led to many refurbishments. These changes, combined with the upgrade of Blaxland Station, have improved business in Blaxland.

Blaxland also has a small industrial estate and the only remaining land fill waste facility in the Blue Mountains.

Services

Schools

Sport and Recreation

Bushwalking Tracks

Blaxland includes the Florabella Pass and Pippas Pass tracks. The Lennox Bridge (Lapstone Hill) and Knapsack Viaduct could be approached via Mitchell's Pass, but do further investigation if planning to hike some or all of the way there.

Blaxland Redbacks Soccer and Netball Clubs

It is home to the Blaxland Redbacks soccer and netball teams.

The Soccer team was established in 1965[5] and resides at the home ground of St. Johns Oval, Blaxland. St. Johns Oval was named after the local St. Johns Ambulance Brigade who original donated the land for the soccer fields to the club.[5]

Wascoe Siding Miniature Railway

The Wascoe Siding is a Miniature Railway was established in 1964 by John Green. It is a conversion of a disused railway cutting from the railway line for Glenbrook Station, then named Wascoe Siding.[6] Today is serves as spot for hobbyists and historians for miniature trains.

It is located on Grahame St (see map detail above), open to visitors on the 1st Sunday each month (10am to 4pm).

Scouts Club

It is also the home of the 1st Blaxland Scout group [7]

  • Pilgrim Inn, c. 1920s
  • Tanfield, part of a heritage-listed group of homes in Hope and View Streets[3]
  • Menahne, a heritage-listed home in Hope Street
  • Rosedale, a heritage-listed home in View Street
  • Blaxland Presbyterian Church, Wilson Way

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Blaxland (NSW) (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  2. State Heritage Register
  3. State Heritage Register
  4. "Blue Mountains Walking tracks". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00980. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. "Blaxland Football Club". Blue Mountains Australia. Stralia Web. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  6. "Railway society marks 50 years at Wascoe Siding". infobluemountains. infobluemountains. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  7. http://www.whitepages.com.au/wp/li/1st-blaxland-scout-group--blaxland-nsw-N13W.html%5B%5D

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