Katoomba, New South Wales

Katoomba New South Wales
Katoomba commercial area
Katoomba Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	33°42′45″S 150°18′43″E / 33.71250°S 150.31194°E / -33.71250; 150.31194Coordinates: 33°42′45″S 150°18′43″E / 33.71250°S 150.31194°E / -33.71250; 150.31194
Population	8,016 (2011 census)
Established	1879
Postcode(s)	2780
Elevation	1,017 m (3,337 ft)
Location	110 km (68 mi) W of Sydney CBD 39 km (24 mi) SE of Lithgow
LGA(s)	City of Blue Mountains
County	Cook
State electorate(s)	Blue Mountains
Federal Division(s)	Macquarie
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 16.8 °C 62 °F 8.0 °C 46 °F 1,407.3 mm 55.4 in
Localities around Katoomba: Medlow Bath Medlow Bath Blue Mountains National Park Megalong Valley Katoomba Leura Narrow Neck Plateau Jamison Valley Jamison Valley

Katoomba (postcode: 2780) is the chief town of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia and the administrative headquarters of Blue Mountains City Council. Katoomba is situated on the Great Western Highway 110 km (68 mi) west of Sydney and 39 km (24 mi) south-east of Lithgow. Katoomba railway station is on the Main Western line.

Katoomba is a base for bush and nature walks in the surrounding Blue Mountains. At the 2011 census, Katoomba had a population of 8,016 people.

Kedumba or Katta-toon-bah is an Aboriginal term for "shining falling water" or "water tumbling over hill" and takes its name from a waterfall that drops into the Jamison Valley below the Harrys Amphitheatre escarpment. Previously, the site was known as William's Chimney and Collett's Swamp. In 1874 the locality was named The Crushers after the name of the railway station that served a nearby quarry. The name Katoomba was adopted in 1877 and the town achieved municipality status in 1889.

Katoomba and nearby Medlow Bath were first developed as tourist destinations towards the end of the 19th century when a series of hotels were built and then repeatedly extended.

Coal and shale mining was also carried out in the Jamison Valley for many years, but when the seams were completely exhausted by the early 20th century, Katoomba was an established resort town. By the 1960s, Katoomba had somewhat declined, and several of its guest houses were converted for other purposes including convalescent hospitals. Some succumbed to arson. Housing was inexpensive, allowing many young families to establish themselves, many of whom still live there.

In the 1980s, the guest houses and hotels again became fashionable and many were restored to their former glory. Housing in the Katoomba region has become more expensive, but in general housing prices in the district are still markedly lower than those in the Sydney Metropolitan area. Tourism to the area has increased significantly since 2010.