| Hartley and Little Hartley is located
on the western side of the Blue Mountains. Step back in time and enjoy the wonders
of this quaint village - an essential part of the Grand Circular Tourist Drive.
A drive from Mount Victoria takes you down Victoria Pass between the Kanimbla
Valley and Hartley Valley. Along the Great Western Highway you will notice several
old buildings including 'Sheepcombe', the old 'Rose Inn' and 'Mead's Farm'. Continue
along the Great Western Highway until you enter the 1830's. Hartley Historic
Village offers one of the finest collections of historic buildings in Australia.
Of particular interest is the Sandstone Courthouse. Examine the courthouse for
graffiti and step inside to hear a re-enactment of a court case. Due to the steep gradients on the original
Cox's Road, between 1813 and 1824 a by-pass road was constructed by William Lawson.
The road took the route of what is today known as "Lawson's Long Alley".
A three foot seam of "coal" (which was actually kerosene shale)
was discovered by William Lawson as reported to the Governor. In the 1860's mining
commenced in the area and the ore was carried by horse and cart to the near by
railway and then on to Sydney for refining. The railway was extended to Bowenfels
(near Lithgow).
This railway route from the Causeway to near the top
of the incline still exists today as a walking track and is also suitable for
mountain bike riders.
Operating today in Hartley Vale is the historic Comet
Inn built in 1879. Comet was the brand of Kerosene produced
in the valley. The Comet Inn is one of the History
Highway Inns.
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