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The tranquil & picturesque Megalong Valley is accessible, from Blackheath, by a
road which descends steeply through a shady gorge. Alternately, walkers
may enter via the Six Foot Track, & a number of other more exciting
descents.
The first settlement in the area was a miner's village below Nellie's
Glen, which served the Glen & Ruined Castle shale mines. Miners from
the Ruined Castle would make the gruelling & hazardous climb over
Narrow Neck to get to the pub. Returning home meant tackling the climb
again, in the dark & under the influence of alcohol.
With parts of the valley being suitable for pasture, farming settlers
began to arrive. Adapting to the new order, the respected local Aboriginal chief,
'King Billy', determined to open a shop, in Nellies Glen, to sell coffee
& beef sandwiches. A newspaper told of him receiving training in
customer service at a Katoomba hotel, but nothing more is known of the
venture.
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