Walking through history at Woodford Reserve

A new heritage trail at Woodford Reserve was launched on Saturday, thanks to a collaboration between Council, Traditional Owners and Woodford Academy. 

Layers in Time takes visitors on a self-guided 1.4km loop of the central estate grounds of Woodford Academy, capturing the site’s history and sharing these stories in an accessible and engaging way. Illustrated signage along the heritage trail features QR codes to quickly, and easily, access detailed information.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill, who officially opened the heritage trail, said: “This is a new, innovative and interpretive visitor experience that activates the significant heritage values of this place.  

“The Layers in Time walk respects and acknowledges the deep and unbroken connection to this part of Country, held by its Traditional Owners. It also places the subsequent, and much more recent, rich European history of the place in perhaps a more confronting, but certainly more honest, context.

“This is exemplified no better than in the wonderful artwork done by local Darug man, Chris Tobin that represents the complex, ancient and unbroken connection of the Traditional Owners of the Blue Mountains,” Cr Greenhill said.

“The Woodford Reserve Heritage Trail is a collaborative project between Council, Traditional Owners and the Woodford Academy and is the culmination of the dedicated work of local residents, and members of the Woodford Academy Management Committee, over many years.”

The project was also assisted by the NSW Government through the Heritage Near Me program. The $75,000 heritage grant was awarded to Council in August 2018. 

The launch, held on the same day as the monthly Woodford Academy Open Day, was attended by more than 50 guests. Richard Silink, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust, also spoke at the event.

Council has also recently received a total of $97,000 in NSW Government Heritage funding in 2019/20-2020/21 to deliver a number of projects including the Echo Point Acknowledging Ngurra project, a first stage Aboriginal cultural heritage study under the Local Government Heritage Studies stream, re-instate the Blue Mountains Local Heritage Assistance Fund and continued funding towards Council’s Heritage Advisor. 

Council also continues to deliver its existing heritage grant projects including the Pulpit Hill Heritage Interpretation Project, the Lennox Bridge Stage 2 Conservation Works and the Gully Plan of Management Revision on behalf of the Gully Traditional Owners.

Woodford Reserve is open throughout the year and there are no entry fees for the heritage trail. Get more information at bmcc.nsw.gov.au/WoodfordReserve.