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Blue Mountains businesses are adapting to the “new normal’’ by creatively embracing new business practices and digital technology. Blue Mountains Tourism president Jason Cronshaw praised the ingenuity and flexibility of businesses, especially small enterprises. Blue Mountains Tourism president Jason Cronshaw at Echo Point. Photo: David Hill, Deep Hill Media. “The response has been fast and enthusiastic,’’ he said. “Of course there’s been tears and tantrums as people are under

Traipsing the Victorian goldfields with his father in the 1960s, a young Ron Fitzpatrick could never have known how those gold hunting jaunts would influence an art show at Hartley, NSW, in November 2019. The Blackheath metal artist’s show, Adorn, at Hartley Historic Site, blurs the line between jewellery and sculpture by upscaling jewellery designs into forged iron sculptural pieces incorporating semi-precious gems and opals. “When I was young I was interested in being a gem

An example of what participants will make. Photo: David Hill, Deep Hill Media By Ellen Hill for Talisman Gallery Unleash your inner creative fire, work off some energy and learn an ancient art under guidance from an experienced artisan at Talisman Gallery this festive season. Burgeoning metal artists will create their own piece of art in the 30-minute blacksmithing session on the anvil by beating red hot steel into the shape of a fire poker, decorative wall hook or small scul

By Ellen Hill            Photos: David Hill, Deep Hill Media The chirp of cicadas competing with Christmas carols, an awe-inspiring backdrop of towering golden escarpments and dramatic valleys and a cooling breeze carrying the subtle scent of eucalyptus. Welcome to an Aussie bush Christmas and summer holiday season in the Blue Mountains. PRE-CHRISTMAS: GIFT IDEAS: Give your adult loved ones some grown-up time with a Faeriestorm Nanny Service voucher. Available in hourly block

Metal artist Ron Fitzpatrick of Talisman Gallery with one of his sculptures at Everglades Historic House & Gardens By Ellen Hill for Talisman Gallery        Photos: David Hill The avant garde curves of Everglades Historic House & Gardens will be given a contemporary edge when metal artist Ron Fitzpatrick displays his distinctive garden art at the Blue Mountains heritage property this month and next. The selection of outdoor pieces will be exhibited in the terraced space benea

By Ellen Hill for Lithgow Tourism         Photos: David Hill & Ben Pearce Australia’s biggest community Halloween dress-up party, biggest Trick or Treat lolly grab and record-breaking dance-off is on at Lithgow this Saturday, October 29. Strut your hair-raising stuff in a kooky costume parade, enter a spook-tacular image in the photo contest and support Lithgow Tidy Town’s Laneways project by buying a piece of abominable art at the skulls auction in the library. Vampires and

By Ellen Hill for Lithgow Tourism           Photos: David Hill Dreadful Draculas, grisly genies, creepy clowns and terrible trolls will mingle with loveable fairytale characters, superheroes, goblins and fairies when Lithgow hosts Australia’s largest Halloween celebration on October 29. The main shopping area will be transformed into a fun-filled pedestrian zone with themed precincts, non-stop entertainment, Australia’s biggest Trick or Treat for children and a public Thrille

(l-r) Liv Evans, 6 of Portland, with Naturally by Kelley owner Kelley Crane. Photo: David Hill, Headline Publicity By Ellen Hill for Lithgow Tourism Australia’s largest Halloween celebration will host the nation’s biggest Trick or Treat for children when Lithgow holds a hair-raising community party on October 29. Organised and hosted by Lithgow City Council, with support from local sponsors including Lithgow McDonald’s, Centennial Coal, Energy Australia, Village Voice and Lit

Lenore Davi of Katoomba Amusement Company and Vicki Hartley of Lithgow Living History By Ellen Hill for Hartley Historic Site                    Photos: David Hill Convict lashings and historic re-enactors will mingle with 21st century lasers at the annual Back to Hartley event at Hartley Historic Site on October 30. To be held on All Hallows Eve, the family-friendly Back to Hartley event is an opportunity for locals and visitors to the area to explore one of the finest examp

St Bernard’s Presbytery at Hartley Historic Site. By Ellen Hill for Hartley Historic Site            Photos: David Hill New upmarket accommodation at the gateway to the NSW Central West gives visitors the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Australia’s colonial past. St Bernard’s Presbytery and Old Trahlee properties at Hartley Historic Site will open for bookings from June. Managed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) since 1972 under the NSW Office of Envi

Autumn at Everglades Historic House & Gardens at Leura By Ellen Hill           Photos: David Hill From thrilling interactive history, magical adventures, lolly stores overflowing with sweet treats, exhilarating physical activity and gourmet delights, the Greater Blue Mountains and Lithgow region has the autumn school holidays sorted for frazzled parents and bored kids. Whether you visit for the day or stay a night or more, families can experience an activity-filled break toge

By Ellen Hill for Hartley Historic Site              Photos: David Hill The only dedicated indigenous art gallery in the NSW Central West showcases the evolution of art from the ancient culture to convict Australia and then to modern Aboriginal talent. The Kew-Y-Ahn Art Gallery was opened by then NSW Governor Professor Dame Marie Bashir AC CVO in June 2013 at Hartley Historic Site east of Lithgow. Hartley Historic Site manager Steve Ring said the gallery aimed to forge new re

Paranormal Pete (aka Pete Clifford) shines the spotlight on dark tourism By Ellen Hill                                                            Photos: David Hill This article was written for and published in the Blue Mountains Gazette monthly Review magazine on September 16, 2015 “Is there anybody here tonight?” With the agony of long-gone tortured souls reaching out from the sandstone walls at your back and the sticky black of darkness all around, you nervously prepare to

(l-r) Lithgow Living History members Robyn Burton, Vicki Hartley, Ian Rufus and Alexa Burton bring Hartley Historic Site to life. By Ellen Hill for Hartley Historic Site                                                  Photos: David Hill Explore one of the best examples of colonial history afresh when Hartley Historic Site holds its annual Back to Hartley family fair on Sunday, October 25. Be entertained with live music by Lithgow Folk Club; take a trike or pony ride; have a

(l-r) Professor Dame Marie Bashir inspects the new-look Bygone Beautys with proprietor Maurice Cooper OAM By Ellen Hill for Bygone Beautys               Photos: David Hill Whether you like English or Irish breakfast, Oolong or Russian Caravan; white, green, orange or red; weak, strong or smoky, the long-awaited Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms revamp has been steeped to perfection and is ready to savour. (l-r) Professor Dame Marie Bashir inspects the new-look