Here in The Gully the wind seems to carry echoes of a time long past. This place is more than just a valley. It is a chapter in the story of the Gundungurra and Darug people.
The Gully, also known as Katoomba Falls Creek Valley, holds a significant place in Aboriginal history. Before European settlement, the Gundungurra and Darug peoples used this valley as a summer camp. Imagine their lives here. They lived off the land and moved with the seasons.
As settlers arrived at the foot of the mountains, many Gundungurra and Darug people resettled here permanently. This was well before 1950. The flooding of the Burragorang Valley in the 1950s made this shift irreversible.
In 1946, the valley’s relative peace was shattered. It was developed into a tourist park. Kedumba Creek, which feeds Katoomba Falls, was dammed. This created an ornamental lake. In the middle of the lake, a Catalina PBY-5 flying boat was placed. For a fee, visitors could play with the airplane controls. Speedboat rides circled the aircraft. Tearooms, a miniature train, and even a Ferris wheel added to the park’s attractions.
The amusement park eventually fell into disrepair. In 1952, the government bought the land. The Catalina was sold for scrap. A treated swimming pool was built. A group of local businessmen organized a racetrack five years later. This group was called the Blue Mountains Sporting Drivers Club Limited. The Blue Mountains City Council supported them. By 1959, the last traditional owners were forcibly removed. This removal made way for the racetrack.
The 2.092 km circuit opened on 12 February 1961. Race meetings were staged until 1969. The Australian Racing Drivers Club and the Blue Mountains Sporting Drivers Club put on these events. Fog often caused delays because of the mountain location. The track was very narrow. It was surrounded by walls and hillside.
In the 1970s, The Gully was used for Rallycross. Cars used half the bitumen track and a dirt infield section with jumps. By the 1980s, the track was only used for lap dashes with single cars on track. This continued until the mid-1990s.
On 18 May 2002, The Gully was declared an Aboriginal Place. It became the largest Aboriginal Place in New South Wales. This declaration recognized the cultural connection Aboriginal people have to this land. The Gundungurra and Darug Traditional Owners warmly welcomed it.
Since 2002, reconciliation has slowly grown in Katoomba. One victory is a book documenting the history of the Gundungurra and Darug peoples. It is titled Sacred Waters: The Story of the Blue Mountains Gully Traditional Owners. Anthropologist Dianne Johnson wrote it in close collaboration with the Gully people.
Today, you can still walk around the circuit. Grass grows through the track surface in places. Water seepage has damaged parts of the track. As you walk, remember the people who walked here before. Think of their stories. The Gully is a place of deep history and cultural significance. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Gundungurra and Darug people.