Blue Mountains Journal

Time for us to take another walk in the bush but by special request from my husband it had to be near a coffee shop. So I chose the short circuit neat the old kiosk near the Katoomba Falls ... currently called the Arts Cafe.

So as I walk along our newly paved and streetscaped footpaths and notice old homes being treated with renewed respect I feel pleased but also a little sad that our down at heel little town is fast becoming a model of modern suburbia, something that has never been to my taste.   But I have to admit that people like me contributed to the gentrification process when we moved here 18 years ago. I spoke to a young mum pushing a stroller the other evening. She was thrilled with the smooth new paths.   I guess I will appreciate them too sometime in the future when I am driving along in my electric oldies cart.

There is no end to the new amenities in Lawson. Glass bus stops and the poshest public toilets in all the mountains.

The shops began to be demolished a year ago and they say the rest a due to go this week. The good news is that some of the new ones, set further back from the new road, are being built but we've had a lot of rain so I guess progress has been a little slower than hoped.

Douglas Square was always a little odd with its strange cement sculpture. Today the new "amphitheatre" is certainly neater but a bit too much cement for my taste.

The lamp erected in honour of the centenary of the first crossing of the mountains has been moved back a little with nice landscaping added. Can't complain about this result.

Two years ago they were fighting for the old Mechanics institute to be saved.  The battle was won with just the front portico removed but a year ago I was worrying that it looked very close to the widened highway.  As you can see all has come out out well.  The building itself will be refurbished over the next year.