Valley Heights, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Valley Heights New South Wales
Valley Heights Location in New South Wales
Population	1,188 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	2777
Elevation	310 m (1,017 ft)
Location	70 km (43 mi) W of Sydney CBD 33 km (21 mi) E of Katoomba
LGA(s)	City of Blue Mountains
State electorate(s)	Blue Mountains
Federal Division(s)	Macquarie
Localities around Valley Heights: Springwood Springwood Hawkesbury Heights Springwood Valley Heights Warrimoo Springwood Megalong Valley Warrimoo

Valley Heights is a small town located in the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. It is about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of the Sydney central business district. You can find it just east of the town of Springwood.

In 2021, a count showed that 1,188 people lived in Valley Heights. The town sits on a ridge, which has been an important path west from Sydney for a long time. It also has signs of people living there thousands of years ago.

Valley Heights is about 300 to 320 meters (980–1,050 feet) above sea level. This height helps many different plants grow well. The natural plant groups here are like those in other areas with Hawkesbury sandstone. However, they also have special features unique to the Blue Mountains.

Today, new buildings are limited by special areas kept by the local council and the National Park. Valley Heights has its own train station. It also has a rail museum and an old Gatekeepers cottage. This cottage was where the gatekeeper for the railway lived when steam trains were common.

History of Valley Heights

Early Inhabitants

For thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived in the Valley Heights area. Most of them were from the Dharug and Gundungurra groups. They lived here long before Europeans arrived.

First European Sightings

One of the first times Europeans mentioned this area was in 1814. This was when William Cox was building the first road across the Blue Mountains. He wrote about what is now called Sun Valley. He noted, "Water and Forest growth in the valley to the right."

Some of the first Europeans came to this area because of the flat land and rich soil in Sun Valley. It was a good spot for farmers moving cattle from Bathurst to Sydney.

The Valley Inn and Eagers Platform

In 1830, a place called "The Valley Inn" was opened. It later changed its name to the Woolpack, then the Welcome Inn. In 1847, Governor Fitzroy even stayed there.

When the railway line was built, the Inn closed down. In 1870, Geoffrey Eagar bought the property to use as a mountain home. In 1902, he renamed it Wyoming and ran it as a boarding house. The building was taken down in 1937.

Geoffrey Eagar also set up his own private train stop called Eagers Platform. In 1877, this stop was renamed "The Valley" Station. Then, in 1880, it became "Valley Heights Station." This is where the modern Valley Heights railway station is today.

Railway Development and Incidents

A bush fire destroyed the Valley Heights Railway Station in 1911. In 1913, a place to keep and fix trains, called a locomotive depot, was built.

Because the train tracks around the station were very steep, two big train accidents happened. In 1923, a goods train crashed near the station. In 1926, another train lost control and slid down the mountain. It finally stopped in Blaxland. The train station got electricity in 1957.

In 1989, the train depot closed. It was used to store materials until 1993. In 1994, the Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum opened at the old depot site. A steam tramway was added to the museum in 1997.

Heritage Sites

Valley Heights has several places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites:

• 110 and 112 Green Parade: This is the Valley Heights railway gatehouse.
• Main Western railway: This includes the Valley Heights railway station.
• 17b Tusculum Road: This is where the Valley Heights Steam Tram Rolling Stock is kept.

Schools in Valley Heights

• The younger students' campus of the Blue Mountains Grammar School was built in Valley Heights in 2003.
• Other schools for primary and high school students are in nearby towns. These include Springwood and Winmalee.

Getting Around Valley Heights

Train Travel

Valley Heights has a train station on the Blue Mountains Line. This line is part of the NSW TrainLink network for trains between cities.

Valley Heights is where a very steep part of the railway begins. This section goes up to Katoomba. The tracks leading to Valley Heights from Sydney are also steep, but less so. In the past, extra engines were added here to help trains go up the steep hills. This is why the roundhouse, now the Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum, was built here.

Several old railway items in Valley Heights are listed as important heritage items in New South Wales:

• The train station and the locomotive depot, including the roundhouse.
• The railway gatehouse on Greens Parade in Valley Heights.
• Old steam tram parts kept at the Valley Heights locomotive depot.
• A cattle train car, a brake train car, and two old steam engines.

Bus Services

The main office and depot for Blue Mountains Transit are located in Valley Heights. This company used to be called Pearce Omnibus and then Blue Mountains Bus Company.

Fun Places to Visit

The Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum is a great place to visit. It has the oldest remaining roundhouse in New South Wales. It is located about 500 meters from the eastern edge of Springwood town.