Glenbrook, New South Wales

Glenbrook New South Wales
Glenbrook railway station
Glenbrook
Population:	5,138
Postcode:	2773
Coordinates:	33°45′59″S 150°37′10″E
Location:	70 km (43 mi) west of Sydney
LGA:	City of Blue Mountains
Federal Division(s):	Macquarie
Localities around Glenbrook: Blaxland Blaxland Glenbrook Lapstone

Blue Pool, Glenbrook Creek

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. At the 2006 census, Glenbrook had a population of 5,138 people.

Glenbrook lies between Lapstone and Blaxland at an elevation of 163 m (535 ft) 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.

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 renaming, the station was given the name of the nearby creek, Glenbrook, which Sir John Jamison thought came from Regents Glen. When the village was officially proclaimed, six years later, it took the name of the station.

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. 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. The abandoned Glenbrook tunnel was used to store mustard gas during World War II.

Lennox Bridge built in 1833 and designed by Scottish stonemason David Lennox is the oldest surviving stone bridge on the Australian mainland. In 1999, the town was associated with the Glenbrook train disaster. Since 2005, the suburb has been the home of The Australian Gnome Convention organised by the local Rotary Club and held on Australia Day each year. Owners of garden gnomes display their garden decorations and compete for various awards to raise funds for charities.

Transport

Glenbrook railway station is a regional railway station on the Blue Mountains railway line of the CityRail intercity network. Also, the Great Western Highway passes through the town.

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 surviving stone arch bridge in mainland Australia
• Historic Glenbrook Public School (1892)
• The old Zig Zag railway (bushwalk rail trail) and a tunnel entrance
• The New Lapstone 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, Sir Douglas Smith Park
• Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve
• Entrance to the Blue Mountains National Park
• Wascoe Siding Train Park
• Glenbrook Swim Centre
• Glenbrook Cinema

Bowerbird across the track from the railway station platform

Kangaroos feeding at Euroka Clearing

Recreation

• Jellybean Pool/Glenbrook Gorge/Blue Pool, entered via the national park (generally free entry on weekdays)
• Endpoint of the Oaks Firetrail, a popular off-road bike route between Woodford and Glenbrook
• Camping at Euroka Clearing where kangaroos can be seen at all times of the day and year (especially summer)
• Bushwalking: Via Euroka Clearing to the Nepean River, Via Evans Track to Warragamba Dam
• Glenbrook Cinema (one of three in the Blue Mountains)
• Glenbrook Swimming Centre (also considered to be in Blaxland)
• The Glenbrook/Blaxland Cricket Club
• The Blue Mountains Soccer Club
• The Glenbrook Panthers Bowling Club

See also

• List of Blue Mountains articles

External links and references

• Aston, N. (1988) Rails, Roads & Ridges: History of Lapstone Hill-Glenbrook. Glenbrook Public School Centenary Committee. ISBN 0-9588163-1-X
• Blue Mountains National Park - Glenbrook - attractions and walks
• More Glenbrook Information
• Glenbrook Chamber of Commerce