Katoomba City

Katoomba, the city of art and history

Multiple towns and civilisations are tucked away in the heart of the Blue Mountains, each of
which is home to a whole host of restaurants and hotels that enjoy the surrounding
landscape all year round. The central and largest of these cities is Katoomba, which sits with
a population of 10,000 people. Katoomba’s name comes from the aboriginal language and
translates into “water which falls over the hill” because of the waterfall in the nearby Jamison
Valley.

Katoomba attracts millions of visitors a year thanks to its proximity to Echo Viewpoint, the
Three Sisters and the Ruined Castle, located just over 1.2 miles away. The city is also the
starting point for multiple walking trails and hikers will delight at the surrounding waterfalls,
forest and hanging bridges.

The Scenic World Railway is another of Katoomba’s attractions and is located in the heart of
the city. The railways was principally built to transport carbon in the mining years but it today
sits as a tourist train open to the public. The Cableway is a similar attraction and another
mode of transportation for getting around the local area.

If you’re looking for a cultural morning in the city, head to the United Church. This place of
worship is home to gothic architecture and was designed by Henry Simonson in 1888. Next
door to the church stands the Carrington Hotel, a lovely structure similarly dating back to the
19th century which has housed members of the British royal family, Australian ministers and
many politicians over the years.

The Mount St Mary´s college and convent is another interesting place to visit, made
significant by its historical content with the congregation of Sisters of Charity. Likewise, you
can visit the house of the court or tribunal, designed by Walter Liberty Vernon, and built in
1897 using sandstone from the local quarries.

For a morning coffee head to the Paragón Coffee shop. This little café is part of a group of
stores built in 1909 and features art deco style. After, enjoy wandering the streets of
Katoomba hopping from artisan store to art gallery, picking up souvenirs as you go.