Blue Mountains News

The Burragorang Valley, once a thriving rural community, was flooded in the 1950s to give Sydney a more permanent water supply. Families were forced to leave their homes and farms to make way for what is now known as Lake Burragorang, which is contained by the walls of Warragamba Dam.

Robyn was first invited to visit the Burragorang Valley in 1973 by The Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board. She was again invited for return visits and commissioned to paint a series of paintings featuring the catchment areas. These privileged visits into inaccessible lands of immense beauty provided the inspiration for two major exhibitions in the 1980s.

During the 1990s, Robyn ‘walked away’ from the Burragorang, taking up bushwalking and traveling to many remote parts of Australia. She has continued to paint Australia’s vast wilderness ever since.

In 2014, Robyn conceived the idea for a book on the Burragorang, where she could tell her story through paintings. Access to the valley had become even more restricted under current policies with both Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Undeterred, Robyn was granted permission and support by key people and managed several visits during the past three years, including by boat, to produce a series of new paintings. Her book, Burragorang ‘The Lost Valley’ is 168 pages, with 68 full-colour plates. The book includes a foreword by former politician and environmentalist Bob Brown, together with an in-depth introduction by renowned historian Jim Smith.

Blue Mountains Historical Society - Meeting and Public Talk

Date:
Saturday 4th May 2019

Time:
Meeting commences at 10.30am - Morning tea will be available from 10am.

Venue:
The History Centre, 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls

The meeting and talk is free for members, $5.00 for non-members.