Tourist Attractions in the Town
In recent years a minor tourist industry has emerged based on a number
of antique, bric-a-brac and pottery shops in Hoddle St (the name of the
Illawarra Highway as it passes through town). Old Time Music Machines,
at Lot 1, is a music memorabilia museum offering morning and afternoon
teas and panoramic views. It is open from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. from
Wednesday to Monday, contact (02) 4885 1133. The Village Woodworks are
at Lot 14. There is a wooden toy factory with arts and crafts and gifts
at The Old Cheese Factory, contact (02) 4885 1133. The are closed on
Tuesdays. Robertson Pottery is opposite the County Inn, and is open Friday
to Monday and public holidays from 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. , contact (02)
4885 1371, and Robertson Recollections at 26 Hoddle St has old wares,
interesting books, curios and antiques. It is open Friday to Tuesday
9.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m., (02) 4885 1080.
Ranelagh House
The town's most distinctive and gracious building is Ranelagh House,
a guest house and conference centre to the east of the town. Built
in 1924 as the Hotel Robertson it was conceived as an imitation English
Manor House and is set in 13.5 acres of landscaped gardens, complete
with statues, swimming pool, fountains and a weir. There are deer
and peacocks on the grounds. There is also a craft cottage on the
grounds.
The original owners must have hoped that they could draw some of the
Sydneysiders who retreated to the cool Southern Highlands to escape
the heat of a Sydney summer and enjoy the beauty of the countryside.
However, it was not really a success and the enterprise folded. In
1930 it was purchased, marketed as an exclusive country club and renamed
Ranelagh House. However, it again failed to make headway. During World
War II it was used as a WRAAF depot before becoming, in 1947, St Anthony's
College, a Franciscan friary and seminary. It was during this period
that the stained-glass windows were incorporated. The house once again
became a private hotel in 1972 and is at last fulfilling its intended
purpose as a retreat from Sydney.
Ranelagh House has its own platform on the Moss Vale
to Unanderra line and hence is easily accessed by means of the Cockatoo
Run which offers an opportunity to see the surrounding countryside
by means of a leisurely train trip in olden-style carriages (pulled
by steam train except in exceptional circumstances) to Robertson or
down to the lllawarra. It operates from Saturday to Tuesdays and on
public holidays, contact (1800) 64 3801.
Bushwalking in the area
The surrounding countryside is ideal for bushwalking. There is an exceptional
5-hectare remnant of temperate rainforest south-east of town at Robertson
Nature Reserve which provides a good idea of how the whole plateau
once looked. To get there from Wallaby Hill Farm, return to Belmore
Falls Road and head back upto Robertson. Turn right into South St
and proceed about 100 m to the car park on the right. There is a
600-m circular walking track around the reserve with interpretive
signage and disabled access.
Belmore Falls
At the end of Wallaby Hill Road, turn left onto Belmore Falls Road.
Follow it for a prrox 2kms and take the left (signposted for Hindmarsh
Lookout) which will take you to the small parking area. It is a short
walk to Hindmarsh Lookout from where there are truly breathtaking
views over Morton National Park and Kangaroo Valley. From Hindmarsh
Lookout there is another trail which follows the cliffline for about
300 metres to an equally impressive lookout over Belmore Falls. They
were named after the then-governor of NSW, the Earl of Belmore. This
isolated and undeveloped site has been a drawcard since a road was
established in 1887, although there are rarely many people about
at any one time. The Fitzroy Falls Visitors' Centre has a pamphlet
on the history of the area and the lookouts. The water that drops
dramatically for over 100 metres from two of the falls into the Barrengarry
Creek Valley joins the Kangaroo Creek and becomes part of the upper
reaches of the Shoalhaven River catchment area. This is an ideal
place for a bush picnic. The facilities are basic but the peacefulness
of the picnic spots beside the river make this a cool and quiet respite
from the bustle of the city. From the parking area just follow the
road which loops back to rejoin Belmore Falls Road. Turn right to
return to Robertson or left if you wish to continue on to Fitzroy
Falls.
Fitzroy Falls
From the Belmore Falls parking area just follow the road which loops
back to rejoin Belmore Falls Road. Continue heading away from Wallaby
Hill Farm on Belmore Falles Road, past the right hand turn to Robertson,
and on past the right hand turn to Wildes Meadow. The road you are
on in now called Myra Vale Rd and after a further 7.5 km there is
a T-intersection. A left will take you to Kangaroo Valley township
and on to Nowra. Turn right,driving past the Fitzroy Falls Reservoir
and picnic area, where there is a children's playground. A short
distance further along is the turnoff to the Fitzroy Falls Visitors'
Centre.
Macquarie Pass National Park
Alternatively, if you head east of Robertson along the Illawarra Highway
to Macquarie Pass, which leads precipitously down a section of the
Illawarra escarpment to Albion Park, you will pass through the beautiful
rainforest scenery of Macquarie Pass National Park. There are three
walks. The Glenview Track, which departs from Glenview Rd (a left-turn
off the middle section of the pass when you are descending), the
Clover Hill Rd Walk (an old logging trail halfway down and to the
right if you're descending) which leads to several falls (6 km return
and only for the experienced walker armed with a compass) and, the
easiest of all, the Cascades Rainforest Walk (2 km return) which
begins from the car park on the northern side of the highway at the
foot of the pass. The park contains lyrebirds, satin bowerbirds,
crimson rosellas, wallabies, wombats and bandicoots. There are several
picnic spots.
Carrington Falls
If you turn off the Illawarra Highway, just east of Robertson where
the highway bends to the left, and turn right into the Jamberoo Rd,
then, after 10 km, you will come to a signposted turnoff to the right
which takes you to Nellies Glen Picnic Area and Carrington Falls.
After 2 km this branch road forks. The road on the right leads to
Nellies Glen and that on the left to Thomas' Place Picnic Area. A
track (2 km return with disabled access) departs the latter and leads
to three lookouts over the beautiful falls which tumble 50 metres
over the Kangaroo Valley escarpment.
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, Gerringong Falls, Jamberoo Lookout and
Minnamurra Rainforest all lie further along the Jamberoo Rd and are
all outstanding spots for walking and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Another alternative is the Kangaloon Rd to Bowral which involves a
turnoff to the right in the middle of Robertson (if you are headed
from east to west along the highway). About halfway along the 24-km
stretch of road is the Wingecaribee Reservoir where there is a picnic
area. En route is some beautiful scenery and the villages of East Kangaloon
and Kangaloon, established around the same time as Robertson by the
same batch of settlers.
Robertson Agricultural Show
The Robertson Agricultural Show is held in March. The Robertson markets
are held on the second Sunday of each month at the old Robertson
school of arts building in Hoddle St.
Taken From walkabout.com.au
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