NAIDOC Week is a time to come together and recognise the histories, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Here in the Blue Mountains, it’s also a time to listen deeply, learn more and reflect on the legacy of the Gundungurra and Darug peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the region, whose stories, knowledge and care continue to shape this sacred place.
Image: David Hill, Deep Hill MediaGrowing up, Stefanie Habal never felt she belonged.
Just off the Great Western Highway near the village of Leura, where the World Heritage-listed national park meets the community, east meets the oldest continuous culture on earth in a yin and yang of harmony, kinship and respect.
Grace. Humility. Wisdom. Community. Responsibility. Service.
In the mid-19th century, the village of Hartley, just beyond the winding descent of Victoria Pass, was the most significant administrative centre west of the Blue Mountains, its stately Courthouse a symbol of its importance in the colonial judicial system. Perfectly preserved and looking like a ready-made film set, this quaint little collection of cottages and churches is today managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, with a self-guided tour and interpretive signage bringing history to life.
Lording over the main street of Katoomba, its imposing curved driveway announcing its grand and ornate exterior, is one of the Blue Mountains’ oldest hotels – The Carrington. Opened in 1882 and originally called The Great Western, the hotel heralded a new era of tourism for Katoomba, which had until then been a “nondescript little mining town” originally bearing the comical name of The Crushers.
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