Although the views are not particularly spectacular from the Cleary Memorial Lookout, it’s worth a quick stop if you’re descending into the Kedumba Valley along the Kedumba Valley Road. The lookout was constructed to honour Dan Cleary, who built the Kedumba Valley Road, and his son Ken Cleary who tragically lost his life while constructing the road.
During construction Ken Cleary, aged 21, died in a rock fall on the 16 November 1953. That loss is part of the story of Kedumba Pass, and it’s why the landscape itself became the memorial. A section of bulldozer track was left in place and later half buried, rather than removed, as a simple, powerful reminder of the sacrifice made to open this rugged country to regular road access.
Ask Roz Blue Mountains
Unfortunately trees now block some of the views from the Cleary Memorial Lookout, but there is a fairly unobstructed view to the south-west over the Kedumba Vallery and many of the distant peaks of Kanangra-Boyd National Park.
To the south is Lions Head (which from this perspective doesn’t look at all like a lion) and Pearces Mountain on the Kings Tableland.
Getting to Cleary Memorial Lookout
It’s an easy walk down the Kedumba Valley Road from the locked gate for about 2km to the short, signposted trail that goes to the lookout.
All of the walk except for the last hundred metres is on a firetrail.
The locked gate is 6km from the Great Western Highway via Tableland Road.
0 Comments