These natural wonders were a drawcard for visitors early last century
Waterfalls are probably not something that you associate with the appeal of the Northern Beaches, but this was not the case early last century. As the tramline reached Narrabeen and the motor car came into more general use, the beauty of our waterfalls was one of the reasons for visiting the area.
An article in the Sydney Mail of 7 September 1910 by WF McLean extolled the virtues of seven of those waterfalls, ranging over territory from Brookvale to Warriewood. He described not only the beauty of the falls but also the relatively unspoiled nature of their locations. He saw wallabies and even lyrebirds, but was most impressed by the pristine forests that many of them lay in.
Eighteen years later in the Sydney Sun of September 1928, an article entitled ‘The unbeaten track – a tour for today’ gave a detailed description of how to find a delightful picnic spot near a waterfall located a little past Oxford Falls. These falls were known as Cabbage Tree Falls and were also described in the earlier article by McLean. Their name arose from the surrounding forest of ancient Cabbage Tree Palms.
All of these falls still exist today. Some of them, such as Brookvale Falls in Allenby Park, are still much as they were 100 years ago, albeit without the lyrebirds. Others are less so.
A small mystery is why the Cabbage Tree Falls lost their original name. They are now called, somewhat confusingly, Oxford Falls Cascades and there was a recent proposal to change them to Caley’s Falls.
Under whatever name, they are located on Oxford Creek just a little to the west of the well-known Oxford Falls and are easily accessible, being adjacent to the start of Kelly’s Way. Two lonely Cabbage Tree Palms remain nearby.
Richard Michell is the vice-president of the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Historical Society and the secretary of Friends of Dee Why Lagoon. Visit mwphs.org.au and fodyl.au