The very picturesque Lawson Cave Falls just below Podgers Glen was first documented and photographed in the early 1900s, and then “re-discovered” in 2005 by Brian Fox. The waterfall drops about nine metres into a deep pool, surrounded by a natural amphitheatre. The falls may have been named after the large overhang next to the falls – or from a camp cave high up on the left before the falls.
A very early photo of Lawson Cave Falls is on display at the Lawson Library, and a trip to the waterfall was documented in the Nepean Times in 1912:
The Lawson Tourists’ Association, following up their policy of catering for the entertainment of visitors, conducted a party of tourists to the Lawson Cave Falls on Wednesday afternoon. Coaches left the railway station at 2 p.m. with a party of 20, and although the walk was rough and precipitous, the visitors thoroughly enjoyed it, and were unanimous in their praise of this little known beauty spot. Afternoon tea was provided by the association, and the party returned to town about 6 p.m. well pleased with their trip.
Nepean Times, September 1912
Another account of the same trip in the Blue Mountain Echo described Lawson Cave Falls as “undoubtedly one of the finest, though, perhaps, the least known of any of the Mountain Falls”.
Intrigued by the photos of this unknown waterfall, Brian Fox relentlessly explored all the creeks in the area, before locating the waterfall (not helped by the fact that old photo in Lawson Library was reversed). Fox estimated width of the pool to be about 22m and the length 18m, and deep enough for a swim – but the water is chilly and the grotto gets almost no sun!
Below Lawson Cave Falls are some small very cascades along the creek.
Getting to Lawson Cave Falls
Lawson Cave Falls are in Podgers Glen (or just below the glen) and accessed via the historic Bruces Walk track from either:
- the end of Kent St (Bullaburra) – 3.8km return
- the end of Lawson View Parade (Wentworth Falls) – 6.6km return
- it should also be accessible from the end of Booth Road (Bullaburra) where there is an easement following the powerlines, although a sign suggests that the firetrail traverses private property.
From Bruces Walk, follow the creek upstream from where it’s crossed by the trail at GR 594 663. It’s only a few hundred metres, but slow-going with slippery rocks and scrambling; it’s sometimes easier to walk up the the creek (getting wet feet), while a few sections are best tackled by scrambling a short distance above the creek.
More information
- The Bushwalker magazine (Volume 38, Issue 4, Spring 2013) – Lawson Cave Falls [PDF]
- The Nepean Times (Saturday 7 September 1912, page 6) – Lawson [PDF]
- Blue Mountain Echo (Friday 13 September 1912, page 1) – Mountain Memoirs [PDF]
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