Glenbrook, New South Wales

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Glenbrook
Sydney, NSW

Glenbrook Railway Station, Glenbrook
Population: 5,138 (2006)
Postcode: 2773
Location: 70 km (43 mi) west of Sydney
LGA: City of Blue Mountains
Federal Division: Macquarie
Suburbs around Glenbrook:
Blaxland Blaxland Emu Plains
Megalong Valley Glenbrook Leonay
Megalong Valley Megalong Valley Lapstone

Glenbrook is a suburb of the Lower Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 70 kilometres west of Sydney in the local government area of the City of Blue Mountains.

Glenbrook lies between Lapstone and Blaxland at an elevation of 163m (535ft) and is approximately an hour's drive from Sydney. It is home to a large number of tourist attractions, recreational opportunities and native flora and fauna.

The suburb takes its name from Glenbrook Creek, which is on the southern side of the village and must be crossed to enter the Blue Mountains National Park. Glenbrook retains many historical homes and buildings throughout the village, although most homes are occupied and not open to the public.

Contents

[edit] History

Glenbrook took its name from Glenbrook Creek but was originally known as Watertank, when a stop opened here on the original "little" zigzag railway line. A pipe-line brought water from Glenbrook Lagoon to a tank beside the line from which the engines could be refilled. The Lagoon itself had been dammed up to hold more water for the trains. Around 1870, a small loop siding was built for trains to pass each other and the name was changed to Wascoe's Siding, referring to its connection with the railway stopping point of Wascoe (now Blaxland). In 1878 Sir Alfred Stephen, Chief Justice and Privy Councillor, decided to give the station a proper name and called it Brookdale, "because the place was well watered". One year later, amid a general re-naming, the station was given the name of the nearby creek, Glenbrook, which Sir John Jamieson thought came from Regents Glen. When the village was officially proclaimed, six years later, it took the name of the station.

Even the railway station hosts interesting wildlife: here a Bowerbird disports for commuters across the track from the platform
Even the railway station hosts interesting wildlife: here a Bowerbird disports for commuters across the track from the platform

The little zigzag opened near Glenbrook in 1867, a part of the ascent of Lapstone Hill on a gradient of 1 in 30-33, which was built up the side of the range with comparatively light earthwork, although it includes the substantial seven-span sandstone Knapsack Viaduct. The abandoned Glenbrook tunnel was used to store mustard gas during World War II [1][2][3][4]. This was later widened to carry the old Great Western Highway, when the deviation around the little Zig Zag was built, but it is now part of a walking trail on the old railway/highway alignment, including a memorial to the engineer in charge of the construction of the Blue Mountains line and many other early railways, John Whitton.

In recent years, the town has become associated with a railway accident that occurred there in 1999, known as the Glenbrook train disaster.

Since 2005 however, the suburb has become well known as the home of The Australian Gnome Convention organised by the local Rotary Club and held on Australia Day each year where owners of garden gnomes display their garden decorations and compete for various awards to raise funds for charities.

[edit] Transport

Glenbrook railway station is a regional railway station on the Blue Mountains railway line of the CityRail intercity network.

[edit] Landmarks

  • RAAF Base Glenbrook is the home of Headquarters Air Command. The Officer's Mess at RAAF Glenbrook is actually the old Lapstone Hotel. Built in the 1930s, it has been restored and the interior re-modelled, albeit only slightly due to its historical status. The outside remains unaltered.
  • The town also has two fire brigade stations, one which falls under the jurisdiction of the volunteer Rural Fire Service as well as a 'retained' New South Wales Fire Brigades station (station 301).
  • Many traditional Australian buildings, such as the Station Master's Cottage
  • Lennox Bridge (AD 1833) - the oldest bridge in mainland Australia
  • Historic Glenbrook Public School (1892)
  • The old Zig Zag railway and an entrance
  • The New Laptone Hotel was named after the Original Lapstone Hotel which became the RAAF base
  • The Glenbrook lagoon
  • Glenbrook Oval, Glenbrook Park, Whitton Park, Knapsack Oval, Mt Sion Park
  • Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve
  • Entrance to the Blue Mountains National Park

[edit] Recreation

  • Jellybean Pool/Glenbrook Gorge/Blue Pool, entered via the national park (generally free entry on weekdays)
  • Endpoint of the Woodford to Glenbrook bike trail
Kangaroos feeding at Euroka Clearing. Although these animals are used to the presence of humans and appear placid they should not be approached too closely since they can react unpredictably
Kangaroos feeding at Euroka Clearing. Although these animals are used to the presence of humans and appear placid they should not be approached too closely since they can react unpredictably

[edit] References

  • Aston, N. (1988) Rails, Roads & Ridges: History of Lapstone Hill-Glenbrook. Glenbrook Public School Centenary Committee. ISBN 0-9588163-1-X

[edit] External links

Glenbrook is located at 33°46′S, 150°37′E