Lapstone, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Lapstone
state = NSW


caption =
lga = City of Blue Mountains
postcode = 2773
est =
pop = 854 (2006 Census)
elevation=
maxtemp =
loc-x =
loc-y =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov =
fedgov = Division of Macquarie
dist1 = 60
location1= Sydney CBD
near-nw = Glenbrook
near-n = Glenbrook
near-ne = Leonay
near-w = Glenbrook
near-e = Leonay
near-sw = "Megalong Valley"
near-s = "Megalong Valley"
near-se = Leonay

Lapstone is a small village on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. Lapstone is located 62 kilometres west of Sydney in the local government area of the City of Blue Mountains. The village consists mostly of stand-alone housing and has a few public facilities.

History

The Lapstone Zig Zag line ( or "little" zig zag) opened near Glenbrook in 1867. The ascent of Lapstone Hill on a gradient of 1 in 30-33, was built up the side of the range with comparatively light earthwork, includes the substantial seven-span sandstone "Knapsack Viaduct". This was later widened to carry the old Great Western Highway, when the deviation around the little zig zag was built. It is now part of a walking trail on the old railway/highway alignment, including a memorial to the engineer in charge of the construction of the Blue Mountains line and many other early railways, John Whitton.

It has been suggested that Lapstone was named by early explorers who found smooth stones in the area which reminded them of the lapstones used by cobblers. [http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/towns/Lapstone.asp More information about Lapstone]

Public Transport

Lapstone railway station is on the Blue Mountains railway line of the CityRail intercity network.

Accessing Lapstone

Lapstone is accessible in a few different way

* The CityRail intercity line
* The Great Western Highway/M4 Motorway and exiting at Governors Drive.
* Explorers Road from Glenbrook

The Lapstone Hotel

The Lapstone Hotel (also known as 'The Lappo') is not actually situated in Lapstone as many people think but is in Blaxland. Many tourists have unsuccessfully searched Lapstone for the hotel. Located on the Great Western Highway, it was built in 1980 and was refurbished in 2007. [http://australia.shopsafe.com.au/attraction/stopover/entertain/new_south_wales/blue_mountains_area/lapstone/lapstone_hotel/attraction.htm Lapstone Hotel, Lapstone] The original Lapstone Hotel was near the RAAF base at Glenbrook.

Education

* Lapstone Public School
* Lapstone Pre-school

Sport and recreation

Lapstone Oval features;

* Rugby union field
* An artificial cricket pitch (which is taken out during the winter months)
* Fifteen netball courts (10 are grass and 5 are asphalt)
* A play area for young children.

Rural Fire Brigade

Unlike most Blue Mountains villages Lapstone does not have its own Rural Fire Service Brigade but instead has a combined brigade with the neighbouring village of Glenbrook. [http://www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service]

Population

The population was 854 according to the 2006 Australian Census.

References

External links

* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Lapstone/2005/02/17/1108500197533.html Lapstone-New South Wales-Australia-Travel-theage.com.au]