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William LawsonPrint Page Print this page

21-January-2019
21-January-2019

Photographs supplied by Dave Rave

The bust commemorates the explorer William Lawson who crossed the Blue Mountains with Blaxland and Wentworth in 1813.  

Commissioned by Businesses Supporting Bicentenary founding member, Tom Colless in early 2013 to mark the bicentenary of the first successful European crossing of the Blue Mountains, the artworks were installed by council in the towns named after them.

In 1813, Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth, and Lieutenant Lawson, along with four servants, four pack horses and five dogs, set off on an exploration which was to create history. On the 11th May 1813 the explorers departed from Emu Plains reaching the foothills of the Blue Mountains, or Glenbrook as it is known today.

For Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson, the trip across the Blue Mountains was a tremendous struggle. Having insufficient food for their journey, they recorded the trek required constant hacking through thick scrub and treading through "damp dew-laden undergrowth". They were also in fear of attack by Aborigines. These factors, in combination with sickness, nearly saw the men defeated by the rugged terrain.

Eighteen days later, on the 29th May 1813, the Blue Mountains was no longer considered an impassible barrier following the discovery of the gently sloping mountains to the west.

 

Location

Address:New Street, Town Square, Lawson, 2783
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.720402
Long: 150.429335
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
View Google Map

Details

Monument Type:Sculpture
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Exploration
Actual Event Start Date:1813
Actual Event End Date:2013
Artist:Terrance Plowright
Link:http://adb.anu.edu.au/

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:2015
Front Inscription

    LAWSON
William Lawson
1774 - 1850

A member of the 
Blue Mountains Crossing Party.

William Lawson crossed
the Blue Mountains in May 1813 
with Gregory Blaxland 
and WIlliam Wentworth 
under the direction of 
NSW Governor Lachlan Macquarie

Chamber
of Commerce
& Industry
Lawson

Blue
Mountains
Crossings

Businesses Supporting Bicentenary 

Terrance Plowright       Tom Colless OAM
Sculptor                       Philip Hammon
                                    Benefactors

Source: MA, ADB
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au