Spring blooms in the Blue Mountains

Lawson
One of the many townships in the Blue Mountains noted for its excellent bushwalking tracks.
Located 732 m above sea level and 93 km from Sydney, Lawson, originally called 'Blue Mountains', was renamed in 1879 to honour William Lawson who, along with William Charles Wentworth and Charles Blaxland, was responsible for the first successful crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans in 1813.

William Lawson (1774-1850) was trained as a surveyor and arrived in New South Wales in 1800. By 1813 he was a prominent local citizen living in a gracious 40-room, early colonial mansion on 500 acres at Prospect. Lawson was invited to accompany Blaxland and Wentworth as the Australian Dictionary of Biography observes: 'Lawson's knowledge of surveying made him a particularly valuable member of the expedition. His journal, with its accurate record of times and distances, enables the route to be precisely retraced.'

Subsequently 'he is reputed to have taken the first stock across the mountains in 1815' and in 1819 'he escorted Freycinet's party of naturalists and botanists over the ranges'. A small chapel in the town commemorates Lawson's association with the town.

Things to see:  

Blue Mountain Hotel
The first Blue Mountain Hotel was built by Henry Wilson in 1845. The current hotel, located at 286 Great Western Highway was built in 1900 by Sarah Wilson, after Henry had died. It is one of the thirteen historic inns listed on the excellent History Highway Inns website. Check it out at History Highway Inns which offers detailed information about the historic inns in the Blue Mountains.

Bushwalks in the Area
Lawson is the starting point for some excellent bushwalking. The moderately difficult South Lawson Waterfall Circuit (4 km) traverses South Lawson Park which contains Adelina Falls, Cataract Falls, Federal Falls, Junction Falls and Leslie Falls, on Ridge Creek and Lawson Creek. Access is via Wilson St or Honour Ave.

North Lawson Park, on the northern side of the highway, contains Fairy Falls, St Michael's Falls and Frederica Falls. It too is covered with walking trails. The main track is the Dante's Glen/Empire Pass Circuit Trail (3 km). Of medium difficulty it takes in waterfalls, lush vegetation, birdlife, natural ponds, views and facilities. Access is via St Bernards Drive, although other portions of the track meet up with Poplar Crescent and Queens Rd. It is but a short distance from the end of St Bernards Drive to Fairy Falls and St Michael's Falls.

Just to the west of Lawson is Bullaburra where Genevieve Rd heads south off the highway. De Quency Rd branches off to Red Gum Park, wherein lies Minnatonka Falls. For further information ring the National Parks and Wildlife Service on (02) 4787 8877.

Aboriginal Rock Art
At the eastern edge of Lawson, Queens Rd heads north off the highway. Te first turnoff on the left is Kangaroo St. Along here is an old quarry site which contains examples of Aboriginal rock art.

	Hotels
	Blue Mountains Hotel 286 Gt Western Hwy Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 1023
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Araluen Bed & Breakfast 59 Wilson St Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 1610 Facsimile: (02) 4759 2554 Rating: ****1/2
	Pegums Guesthouse 25 Honour Ave Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 1844 Facsimile: (02) 4759 1844 Rating: ***1/2
	Restaurants
	Badgery's Cafe & Restaurant 3 Badgery Crs Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 1888
	Happy Gardens Restaurant Loftus St Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 2912
	Lawson Pizza & Taco Tavern 293b Great Western Hwy Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 1078
	Mountain Magic Restaurant 300 Great Western hwy Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 3145
	Pegums Restaurant 25 Honour Ave Lawson NSW 2783 Telephone: (02) 4759 1844