Ever wondered how a town gets its name from cobblers? Lapstone, the first town on the Blue Mountains’ eastern edge, holds that unique story. The name “Lapstone” comes from water-worn stones. These stones resembled those cobblers used for working leather when making shoes.
Lapstone sits 62 kilometers west of Sydney’s CBD. It’s part of the City of Blue Mountains. The town offers mostly stand-alone housing. Public facilities are few but charming. In 2016, Lapstone had a population of 961. Arthur J. Hand, a Blue Mountains City Council alderman, originally developed Lapstone.
Let’s journey back to 1813. Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth explored the Lapstone area. They climbed Lapstone Hill. The trio reached Glenbrook Lagoon on May 12th. This trek marked their successful crossing of the Great Dividing Range.
William Cox and a convict gang built the first road around 1815. It went up Lapstone Hill. You can still see a plaque marking the old Cox Road site near the M4 junction on Governor Drive. “The Western Road” replaced Cox Road in 1833. It crossed Lennox Stone Bridge and ascended Lapstone Hill. Later, the railway arrived in 1867. “The Great Western Highway” followed. Today, it remains the main road over Lapstone Hill.
Now, let’s talk about the Lapstone Zig Zag. It opened near Glenbrook in 1867. The steep ascent up Lapstone Hill included the Knapsack Viaduct. This seven-span sandstone structure is impressive. The viaduct was widened later for the Great Western Highway. The Lapstone Zig Zag is now a walking trail. You can find a memorial to John Whitton there. He engineered the Blue Mountains line. One unique feature was the Lucasville platform. John Lucas built it to access his Lapstone property. You can still see its remains.
A new route opened on December 18, 1892. It avoided the Lapstone Zig Zag. After the viaduct, the line curved west. It went through the Lapstone Tunnel. The tunnel stretched 660 meters. It emerged near the Great Western Highway. The Lapstone Tunnel can be viewed from bush tracks. Despite being hailed as an improvement, problems arose. Ventilation and water issues caused trains to get stuck. The Lapstone Tunnel closed on September 24, 1913.
During World War II, the RAAF used the abandoned Lapstone Tunnel for storage. They stored arms like bombs and mustard gas there. The RAAF added a concrete floor. Interestingly, the tunnel has also been used to grow mushrooms.
In 1913, the current route bypassed the Lapstone Tunnel. It went along Glenbrook Gorge. A new tunnel was built at The Bluff. A temporary railway line crossed Darks Common. This was known as the Spur-line. The cutting can still be seen today. The Glenbrook Tunnel opened on May 11, 1913. It remains in use.
The Lapstone Hill Hotel also has a fascinating story. John Lucas owned the land in the 1870s. He built Lucasville, a country retreat, with his private railway station. Charles Smith bought the property later. Smith built Logie house higher on the hill. Herwold Kirkpatrick bought Logie in 1921. Kirkpatrick transformed it into the luxurious Lapstone Hill Hotel.
The Lapstone Hill Hotel opened in 1930. It was a major Art Deco hotel. Its grounds covered 6 hectares. The hotel featured lawns, flowers, and gardens. Water was pumped from the Nepean River. The hotel offered great views and attracted city dwellers seeking mountain air.
In 1949, the RAAF acquired the Lapstone Hill Hotel. It became the RAAF Base Glenbrook headquarters. In 1982, the former hotel became the Officers’ Mess. Downstairs suites were created for VIPs in 1994.
The New Lapstone Hotel was built in the 1950s at Blaxland. It was renamed The Lapstone Hotel after renovations in 2007.
Lapstone’s housing development occurred in the 1960s. Arthur J. Hand developed the suburb. The railway station opened in 1964.
Darks Common became a public reserve in the 1970s. It was named after the Dark family. Walking tracks now crisscross the area.
Today, Lapstone is more than just a name. It’s a place rich with history. From cobbler stones to railway tunnels and luxury hotels, its story is etched into the landscape. As you explore Lapstone, remember the layers of history beneath your feet.