HERE IS THE FLICKR LINK to the high resolution 1950’s map which was produced by the NSW Department of Lands. It notes Warragamba Dam as “Under Construction”. Work on the dam commenced in 1948 and finished in 1960. Enjoy scrolling around to see what the Burragorang used to be like!
There are earlier Lands Department maps available to view at Trove…. 1937 & 1910. Also Map World has available for sale a Blue Mountains & Burragorang Wall Map 1939
The “Gundungura Project” undertaken by the Sydney University Rover Crew in the 1960’s also produced maps of the area. More information HERE.
A bushwalker and conservationist named Myles Dunphy is closely linked to the maps that we are referring to on this page. They have a extraordinary amount of detail that only a bushwalker could know… Dunphy did lots of trips in the area and is known for naming many features. He was a significant driving force behind the creation of the NSW National Parks network. Here is an excellent paper on Miles Dunphy by Graham Lalchere of the Oatley Heritage and Historical Society.
In the upper Kowmung, Myles named a series of ridges…. Despond Ridge, Misery Ridge, Mt Misery, all named during a trip in wet weather. He is also responsible for the Dog names (lots) in the Wild Dog mountains south of Katoomba. An important site on the route from Kanangra to Katoomba is Dex Creek – the best water on the High Gangerang area. Dex is named after his dog Dextre.
A quote from oatleyhistory.org.au…. “At the beginning of the 1930s the Surveyor-general agreed to a suggestion from Myles (Dunphy) that a comprehensive map of the Greater Blue Mountains be published by the Dept of Lands. Due to his knowledge and his position at the Technical college he was asked to help with the map’s compilation. Working with a departmental surveyor the map took a year and 6 weeks of painstaking work. In fact there were two editions, one for the general public and a set of full-sized more detailed maps under the title “Tourist Map. Special Walking clubs Issue”. This would prove to be a most useful tool in the campaign for the Blue Mountains National Park.”