Leura, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leura Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Leura's main street, Leura Mall, looking south-east
Leura Location in New South Wales
Population	4,503 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	2780
Elevation	985 m (3,232 ft)
Location	100 km (62 mi) W of Sydney CBD 2 km (1 mi) E of Katoomba
LGA(s)	City of Blue Mountains
State electorate(s)	Blue Mountains
Federal Division(s)	Macquarie
Suburbs around Leura: Katoomba Blue Mountains National Park Wentworth Falls Katoomba Leura Wentworth Falls Katoomba Jamison Valley Wentworth Falls

Leura (postcode: 2780) is a lovely suburb in the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. It is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Sydney's city center. Leura is one of many small towns found along the main railway line and Great Western Highway that cut through the Blue Mountains National Park. It's right next to Katoomba, which is the biggest town in the upper mountains. The two towns even blend together on Leura's western side.

Leura's Past: A Journey Through Time

First People: Living in the Area for Thousands of Years

The first people to live in the Leura area were the Dharug and Gundungurra Aboriginal groups. Scientists have found old tools and signs of life at Lyrebird Dell in South Leura. This shows that Aboriginal people might have lived here for more than 12,000 years!

Early European Explorers and Settlers

The first Europeans to explore this area arrived in 1813. This group included Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson, and William Charles Wentworth. They were followed by George Evans later that year. In 1814, William Cox led a team that built a road through the mountains.

When the railway line was built across the Blue Mountains in 1867–68, a gatehouse was set up near where the railway crossed the main road. The gatekeepers were the first Europeans to live there permanently. Later, in the 1880s, coal was found in the Jamison Valley, which led to a coal mine being built.

How Leura Got Its Name

The name "Leura" first appeared on a map in 1881. This map showed land owned by Frederick Clissold. He named a special waterfall "Leura Falls." No one is completely sure where the name "Leura" came from, but many ideas have been suggested. When the land was sold later in 1881 as the "Leura Estate," the name became very popular.

Growing into a Town

Some of the first big homes in Leura were built in the late 1880s and 1890s. A railway platform was added in 1891, making it easier for people to visit. On Christmas Eve in 1892, the Leura Coffee Palace opened, which was a large hotel. Postal services started in 1893. Over the next 20 years, more land was divided up and sold. A new railway station was built in 1902.

At first, most of the activity was along the main road. But once the Coffee Palace and railway station were built, Leura Mall became the main hub. Many of the shops and buildings you see there today were built between 1900 and the 1920s. The Mall is still the heart of Leura's daily life.

Who Lives in Leura?

In 2016, about 4,644 people lived in Leura. Most people (66.1%) were born in Australia. The next largest group (6.5%) came from England. About 81.7% of people spoke only English at home. When asked about their religion, many people said they had no religion (39.8%). Others were Anglican (15.7%) or Catholic (14.0%).

Exploring Leura: The Garden Village

Leura is located high up, about 985 meters (3,232 feet) above sea level. This means it sometimes snows in winter, and you can clearly experience all four seasons.

The center of the village is on Leura Mall. This street has a wide grassy area in the middle, filled with beautiful flowering cherry trees. These trees were planted by a Danish landscape gardener named Paul Sorensen. The old buildings on the street have been mostly kept as they were, which gives the area a historic feel. In 2010, a new shopping complex was built, which now has a supermarket and other shops. The old post office building still works as a post office, but it also has a real estate office. The Alexandra Hotel, which is near the railway station, has amazing views from its back balcony. You'll find many restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops along Leura Mall, along with unique boutiques, gift shops, and antique stores.

Leura is famous for its many formal, English-style gardens. Many of these were influenced or designed by Paul Sorensen. These gardens are beautiful to walk through and are often open to the public in early October each year.

In 2016, Leura was even named one of the top 50 most charming and picturesque small towns in Australia!

Fun Things to Do in Leura

A small waterfall at the Leura Cascades. You can see rainforest plants here, like the Southern Sassafras.

Visiting Historic Homes and Gardens

One of Leura's most well-known historic homes is Leuralla. This was once the home of Clive Evatt, who was an Australian politician and lawyer. His brother, H.V. "Doc" Evatt, was also a very important person. He was a judge, a leader of a political party, and even the third President of the United Nations General Assembly. For many years, Leuralla was home to the NSW Toy and Railway Museum, but it closed in 2022.

Another popular place to visit is the Everglades Gardens. This beautiful property used to belong to Henri van de Velde, a businessman from Belgium. Now, the National Trust looks after it. The Everglades includes van de Velde's modern-style home and 5 hectares (13 acres) of amazing gardens designed by Paul Sorensen. The Everglades also has an outdoor theater that often hosts plays and festivals, like the Leura Shakespeare festival.

Festivals and Events

Leura calls itself "the Garden Village," and for good reason! The Leura Gardens Festival happens every year in October. This festival is a charity event that raises money for the Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital in Katoomba. It does this by opening up many private gardens for people to visit. At the same time, the popular Leura Village Fair is also held.

Exploring Nature and Bushwalking

Leura has many natural attractions. Sublime Point to the south and Gordon Falls park offer amazing views of the Jamison Valley. The Leura Cascades in the southwest are also beautiful. There's a network of walking tracks called the Prince Henry walk. These tracks go from Wentworth Falls all the way to Echo Point. Along the way, you can see many sights in the Leura area, such as the Pool of Siloam, Elysian Lookout, Olympian Lookout, Leura Falls, and Linda Falls. This area is a great place for bushwalking and taking photos.

Gallery

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  View of Mount Solitary from Sublime Point lookout

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  A small waterfall in the Leura Cascades

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  Leura Falls

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  Leuralla historic house, Olympian Parade

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  Old Leura post office

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  View from Gordon Falls, looking towards the Jamison Valley

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  View south down Abbey Street

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  Victory gates commemorating war dead, Lone Pine Avenue

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  Mural on laneway wall, opposite the Wayzgoose cafe, Leura Mall

Famous People from Leura

• Aaron Blabey: A children's author and an actor who has won awards.
• Patti Crocker: An actress and writer.
• Matt Drummond: A film director who has won an Emmy Award.
• Paul Sorensen (landscape gardener): A famous landscape gardener who designed many gardens in the area.
• David Stratton: A well-known film critic and TV personality.
• Murray Wilcox: A former judge and president of a big conservation group.

See also

In Spanish: Leura para niños