Wynnes Rocks in Mount Irvine is both a trig station and a lookout, which offers panoramic views over the Blue Mountains to the south.
Wynnes Rocks Reserve was gazetted as a trig station on 11 September 1912, and the trig consists of a steel pole on a concrete base, with a mount on the top.
The view from Wynnes Rocks includes the distinctive Mount Banks to the south, Mount Charles, Mount Bell and Mount Tomah to the south-east and the deep gorge of Bowens Creek below. It has been described as “the finest look-out on the mountain” (Gilbert Hughes, The story of Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, 1955).
A concrete plinth shows the key geographic features that can be seen from here.
The lookout is somewhat unusual as most of area is fenced, but if you prefer a more natural setting, there is a large, unfenced platform that can be easily accessed to the right of the formal lookout.
The lookout was named after one of the major founding families of the Mount Irvine, the Wynnes of Wynstay. Richard Wynne (1822-1895) was born in Dublin and arrived in Sydney in 1842, eventually purchasing a substantial holding on Mt Wilson with a vision establishing an English Park estate with grand architecture. This vision was ultimately completed by his grandson with the construction of Wynstay in 1923, which is now heritage-listed. Wynnes Rocks was at the south-west end of the original Wynstay estate.
After the trig reserve was gazetted in 1912, Wynnes Rocks was set aside as a reserve (which was gazetted on 5 December 1924) and managed by the Mount Wilson Group of the Blue Mountains Sights Reserve Trust as a lookout and picnic ground. The Blue Mountains Shire Council took over the management of the reserve in the 1950s.
Getting to Wynnes Rocks Trig and Lookout
The trig point and lookout is very easily reached, via Wynnes Lookout Road, which is off Queens Road in Mount Wilson. It’s 7km (10min drive) from Bells Line of Road, and about 60km (one hour drive from Richmond). It’s an easy 300m return walk from the parking down to the lookout, where there are a few covered picnic tables.
More information
- Blue Mountains Heritage Register Review – Wynnes Rocks Lookout Reserve [PDF]
- Wynnes Rocks Lookout and Daintree Lane [PDF] outlines a 6.6km loop walk that passes Wynnes Rocks Lookout
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