Lawson

Postcode: 2783

Lawson is a town in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It has evolved into a commuter suburb of Sydney located on the Great Western Railway and Great Western Highway.

One of the first settlements on the eastern slopes of the Blue Mountains, Lawson was identified on early maps as 24 Mile Hollow - a name which was changed, curiously, to Christmas Swamp for a few years.

When the Blue Mountain Inn was opened in 1848, the locals adopted the name Blue Mountain for this picturesque village two-thirds of the way up the range. This name was also given to the original railway station after the rail line was pushed through in 1867. The presence of a Blue Mountain on the Blue Mountains, however, became so confusing to visitors that the authorities stepped in and renamed the village Lawson in honour of William Lawson who, along with William Wentworth and Gregory Blaxland, blazed the first trail across the Blue Mountains in 1813.

The current population together with Bullaburra is 3637 (Census 2001).

The first Blue Mountain Hotel was built by Henry Wilson in 1845. The current hotel, located at 286 Great Western Highway was built in 1900 by Sarah Wilson, after Henry had died. It is one of the thirteen historic inns listed on the excellent History Highway Inns website. Check it out at History Highway Inns which offers detailed information about the historic inns in the Blue Mountains.

Lawson is the starting point for some excellent bushwalking. The moderately difficult South Lawson Waterfall Circuit (4 km) traverses South Lawson Park which contains Adelina Falls, Cataract Falls, Federal Falls, Junction Falls and Leslie Falls, on Ridge Creek and Lawson Creek. Access is via Wilson St or Honour Ave.

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