Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package

Mount Victoria was significantly impacted by the Black Summer 2019-20 (and 2013) bushfires and Council has been actively pursuing funding to support a range of upgrades and initiatives that will help reinvigorate this historic area.

Find out more about this exciting package of works below.

Stormwater Works at Mount Victoria Memorial Park

8 October 2024

Blue Mountains City Council will start drainage works at the Mount Victoria Memorial Park from tomorrow, Wednesday 9 October, weather permitting.

The team will not access to the work area through the carpark, and as such there will be minimum impact to the community using the carpark.

Some construction crew member’s vehicles will be parked in the carpark area, however majority of the carpark space will remain open for public uses.

Council will take all the necessary steps to keep the community safe by fencing off the work area and providing appropriate signage, however we do ask the community to be aware that works are taking place.

For more information contact Zubayer Hossain, Project Manager on 02 4780 5460 or 0410 339 607, or email zhossain@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Come along and enjoy a morning of colour, fun and music that celebrates the revitalisation and unique character of historic Mount Victoria at Party in the Park.

Party in the Park will be held on Saturday, 21 September 2024, 10am-1pm, at Mount Victoria Memorial Park.

Against the beautiful backdrop of the recently renewed park, visitors can take part in a range of fun activities:

• Promenade through Memorial Park in their finest vintage costumes (with prizes for the best dressed)
• Explore the culture, history and knowledge of the First Nations people who have cared for this area for thousands of years with a talk by a local Dharug Elder
• Join Sue Collins from Mountain Tales on a short walking tour of Memorial Park
• Discover some of Mount Victoria’s most iconic heritage buildings on the new self-guided heritage trail
• Entertain the kids with a scavenger hunt and giant lawn games
• Sample coffee and refreshments from one of Mount Victoria’s delightful eateries
• Explore the unique shops that line the historic streets of Mount Victoria
• Enjoy roaming entertainment from The Marble Circus Band.
• Pack a picnic and kick-back to the lush big band sound of jazz group The BlackHeathens

Promenade through the park

Promenade through the park is an invitation to informally stroll through the park (on its beautiful new curved pathways) in vintage wear in the spirit of unique and historic Mount Victoria. Prizes include $100 voucher from V&A, bottle of Veuve Clicquot from Closeburn House, Retro Blue Mountains Tea Towel from Mt Vic and Me.

Party in the Park marks the recent completion of improvements made across the village under the Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package, funded by the Australian Government. The recovery package provided:

• Improved village marketing and promotion: a heritage trail and new village signage.
• Enhanced village centre amenity: new plantings, street trees, seating and upgrades to the heritage staircase at the Great Wester Highway.
• Mount Victoria Memorial Park renewals: new park entrance, carpark, accessible footpaths, landscaping, sculptural artwork and improved storm water management.
• Technology: a local weather station to improve bushfire threat knowledge and smart sensors to improve asset management; and
• Business support: mentoring and resources for local businesses.

Park improvements will also continue next year with upgrades to the playspace and tennis courts, made possible through a grant from the Australian Government’s Priority Community Infrastructure Program. Find out more about the project here.

Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package - project update

17 June 2024

Since works began last year following community consultation and feedback, a range of improvements and support initiatives have been delivered in Mount Victoria Village, with several more anticipated to be completed over the coming month.

New Sculpture Installation

A new sculptural artwork ‘Pagoda Woman’ by local artist Clara Hali has been installed at Mount Victoria Memorial Park as a significant part of the park upgrades.

The sculpture references the 2019 bush fires and the subsequent exposed landscapes and rock formations within the Blue Mountains. It aims to address and integrate the influence of the landscape through a bronze, abstracted figurative form.

“Once the sculpture was installed, I could see how well the texture and the patina on the surface of Pagoda Woman related to the grottoes nearby,” Clara said. “It wasn’t particularly planned but it just indicates to me that I was well attuned to the site.”

For more background on the sculpture, please read the media release.

Recovery Package Program Updates

Village Marketing and Promotion

• New Mount Victoria Visitor Information Sign: installed in May 2024.
• New Mount Victoria Heritage Trail with interactive online narratives and audio. descriptions: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/mount-victoria-heritage-trail. Installation of plaques is due for completion in June 2024.
• Visitor attraction signage (Historic Property or Site) application is underway.

Village Amenity

• Heritage staircase: upgraded in February 2023.
• Planter upgrade: completed along the Great Western Highway in January 2024.
• A new seat on Station Street: installed in April 2024.
• Tree planting on Station Street: completed in May 2024.
• Mount Victoria Village Wall: completed in May 2024.

Technology

• Package installed in March 2024 and collecting data, including:
  • People Counters at the amenities block
  • Local Weather Station
  • Bin Sensors
  • A sensor for the accessible parking space in the village carpark will be installed following completion of the carpark upgrade: expected end of June 2024.

Carpark and Water Channel Upgrade (Mount Victoria Memorial Park)

• Carpark: 75% complete, expected completion by end of June 2024, weather permitting.
• Stormwater Channel and Biofiltration System: 40% complete with further work to follow.
• Drainage: Completed near the amenities block
• Paths and Landscaping: 90% complete.

Business Support Package

• Mentoring and workshops held for local business owners: September 2023 - February 2024.
• Advertising for Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains Tourism Magazine (Autumn and Winter 2024 editions).
• Image Library: Professional photography shoot to create a library for businesses to use to promote their business and Mount Victoria Village.
• Visitor Information brochure with map – 7,000 copies printed and distributed to businesses and Visitor Information Centres in the Blue Mountains and surrounding LGAs.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park Renewals

• Formal entrance and seating: completed in May 2024.
• New pathways: completed in May 2024.
• Sculptural artwork: installed in May 2024.
• New landscaping: 90% complete.

A selection of photos of the completed works are available in the 'Photo' tab to the right of this page.

Despite periods of extreme wet weather impacting works, particularly at the park, the upgrades are progressing well. We look forward to celebrating their completion with the community soon.

About the Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package

Under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, Council has secured almost $900,000 to deliver a package of works for Mount Victoria Village Centre.

This comprehensive renewal package will support social and economic recovery through a range of initiatives identified with the Mount Victoria community. It will provide a number of important upgrades to infrastructure and enhancements to village amenity.

Between late 2022 and mid 2024, the following improvements and support will be provided:

Improved village marketing and promotion
An interpretative heritage trail to guide visitors through the village and a new Visitor Information Sign to promote local experiences.

Enhanced village centre amenity
New planting, street trees and seating to revitalise the village. Formal closure of middle section of the heritage staircase at the Great Wester Highway and improved visual amenity to the immediate area of the heritage staircase.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park renewals
A renewed entrance to the park, carpark upgrade including upgrade of the adjacent storm water channel, accessible footpaths, visual amenity improvements to the park water fountain and sculptural installations by local artists.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park Public Art - A public Expressions of Interest process to commission a new sculptural artwork for Mount Victoria Memorial Park closed on 6 April, 2023. Local sculptor Clara Hali has been selected to develop the new work. Read more about this artwork commission and Clara’s practice here.

Technology
A local weather station to improve bushfire threat knowledge and smart sensors to improve asset management; and

Business support package
Mentoring and resources to equip local businesses to better prepare for disasters and enable them to build a strong business support network.

The project will empower and build a stronger community by supporting the social, economic and built environment recovery through:

• better facilities for residents,
• visitor marketing opportunities,
• business support, and
• improved access and amenity.

Read the media release.

View the draft scoping document.

Please subscribe to this project (on the top-right of this page) to be notified when engagement opportunities commence and receive further updates.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.