Faulconbridge, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Faulconbridge Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Former chapel in Carpenter Gothic style, Great Western Highway
Faulconbridge Location in New South Wales
Population	4,025 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2776
Elevation	450 m (1,476 ft)
Location	77 km (48 mi) W of Sydney CBD 27 km (17 mi) E of Katoomba
LGA(s)	City of Blue Mountains
State electorate(s)	Blue Mountains
Federal Division(s)	Macquarie
Localities around Faulconbridge: Blue Mountains National Park Grose Valley Winmalee Blue Mountains National Park Faulconbridge Springwood Linden Blue Mountains National Park

Faulconbridge is a small village in the beautiful Blue Mountains of New South Wales. It's about 77 kilometers west of Sydney, and sits 450 meters above sea level. In 2021, about 4,156 people called Faulconbridge home.

Exploring Faulconbridge's Past

Ancient History and First Peoples

Long before Europeans arrived, Indigenous Australians lived in the Faulconbridge area. They left many signs of their lives behind. One amazing example is the group of rock carvings in Ticehurst Park. These carvings show different things, like two emus. There are also grinding grooves and waterholes. These waterholes were made or changed to collect rainwater.

Aboriginal carving of an emu, Ticehurst Park

European Settlers Arrive

European explorers first came to this area in May 1813. Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson camped nearby. They were looking for a way to cross the mountains. Faulconbridge was settled in the 1870s. This happened after the railway line opened up the mountains, making it easier to get there.

Sir Henry Parkes: Father of Federation

One of Faulconbridge's earliest and most famous residents was Sir Henry Parkes. He is known as the "Father of Federation." This means he played a huge role in uniting Australia's states into one country. Sir Henry moved to the area in 1877. He bought a large piece of land, about 600 acres.

It's believed that the original Faulconbridge railway station was built just for him. His home was called Faulconbridge House, and the town was named after it. Faulconbridge was also his mother's maiden name. A small waterfall nearby, Clarinda Falls, was named after his first wife, Clarinda Varney.

Sir Henry Parkes is buried in Faulconbridge Cemetery. His first wife and other family members are buried there too. A plaque on his grave tells about his important life: "Sir Henry Parkes, Father of Australian Federation, five times Prime Minister of New South Wales, arrived in Australia 25 July 1839, he worked as station-hand, Customs Officer and bone and ivory turner. In 1850 became proprietor of Empire Newspaper. Member of New South Wales Parliament from 1854-1894, Sir Henry Parkes is especially remembered for his efforts to develop New South Wales Education and Railways and his work for Federation earned him his title Father of Federation."

Graves of Henry Parkes and his first wife, Clarinda, Faulconbridge Cemetery

Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks

On Sir Henry's Parade, you'll find Jackson Park. This park is home to the Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks. In 1933, Joseph Jackson, a local politician, gave the park to the council. He wanted every Prime Minister of Australia to plant an oak tree there. If a Prime Minister couldn't, a close family member would plant it.

Jackson greatly admired Henry Parkes. He believed this "Corridor of Oaks" was a perfect way to remember the person who helped create Australia as a nation.

Ben Chifley shortly after planting a tree at the Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oakes, Faulconbridge, 1947

Norman Lindsay's Artistic Home

Faulconbridge was also the home of the famous artist and author Norman Lindsay. His former home and studio is now the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum. The National Trust of Australia owns and looks after it. You can find it at the end of Chapman Parade.

Some streets in Faulconbridge are named after characters from Lindsay's popular 1918 children's book, The Magic Pudding. These include Bill Barnacle Avenue and Watkin Wombat Way. While Lindsay's name is used for a political area called the Division of Lindsay, Faulconbridge is actually in the Division of Macquarie.

Artist and author Norman Lindsay lived and worked in Faulconbridge

The Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum, the artist's former home and studio

Eurama Ruins: A Glimpse of the Past

About two kilometers west of the Faulconbridge station are the ruins of a house called Eurama. This large stone house was built in 1881. It had unique Tudor-style chimneys. The house was so important that it even had its own railway platform nearby, called Numantia.

The house was later destroyed by bushfires in 1968. The area faced fire threats again during the 2013 New South Wales bushfires.

Ruins of Eurama

Important Places and Landmarks

Faulconbridge has several places that are important for their history or special features. These are called heritage-listed sites:

• Blue Mountains National Park: Blue Mountains walking tracks
• 14-20 Norman Lindsay Crescent: Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum

Faulconbridge's Community

Population Snapshot

In the 2016 Census, there were 4,025 people living in Faulconbridge. Most people, about 82.8%, were born in Australia. The next largest group, 5.3%, were born in England. Almost everyone, 92.7%, spoke only English at home. When asked about religion, the most common answers were No Religion (34.8%), Catholic (19.7%), and Anglican (18.3%).

Local Shops and Services

Faulconbridge has two main shopping areas. One area, known as Coomassie shops, has a petrol station, a Chinese restaurant, a tax accountant, a hairdresser, a vet, a takeaway shop, a pharmacy, and a liquor store. The second area is close to the railway station. It has a tea room called Chapters & Leaves, another petrol station, a hairdresser, a physiotherapist, a beautician, a home builder, and a large preschool.

Nature and Environment

Unique Plants

Faulconbridge is home to a rare plant called the Faulconbridge Mallee Ash. This special plant is found only in this area.