Lapstone, New South Wales

Lapstone New South Wales
View east from south Lapstone
Lapstone
Coordinates	33°46′26″S 150°38′13″E / 33.77389°S 150.63694°E / -33.77389; 150.63694Coordinates: 33°46′26″S 150°38′13″E / 33.77389°S 150.63694°E / -33.77389; 150.63694
Population	911 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	2773
Location	60 km (37 mi) from Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Blue Mountains
State electorate(s)	Penrith
Federal Division(s)	Macquarie
Localities around Lapstone: Glenbrook Glenbrook Leonay Glenbrook Lapstone Leonay Megalong Valley Megalong Valley Leonay

Lapstone is a suburb on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. Lapstone is located 62 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD in the local government area of the City of Blue Mountains and is part of the federal electorate of Macquarie. Lapstone consists mostly of stand-alone housing and has a few public facilities. At the 2011 census, Lapstone had a population of 911 people. Lapstone was originally bought and developed by Mr Arthur J Hand, an Alderman of the Blue Mountains City Council.

The Lapstone Zig Zag line (or "little" zig zag) opened near Glenbrook in 1867. The ascent of Lapstone Hill on a gradient of 1 in 30-33, was built up the side of the range with comparatively light earthwork, includes the substantial seven-span sandstone Knapsack Viaduct. The viaduct was later widened to carry the old Great Western Highway, when the deviation around the Lapstone Zig Zag was built. The zig zag is now part of a walking trail on the old railway/highway alignment, including a memorial to John Whitton, the engineer in charge of the construction of the Blue Mountains line and many other early railways. One feature of this line was the Lucasville platform, which is now abandoned. Remains of it can still be seen.

A new route was created in 1892 to avoid the Zig Zag. After crossing the viaduct, the new line curved around to the west and went through a new tunnel that emerged further west near the Great Western Highway. The tunnel can still be seen from neighbouring bush tracks.

In 1913, the present route was constructed, going along the escarpment of Glenbrook Gorge and through a new tunnel at the spot known as The Bluff. One of the features of this project was the construction of a temporary railway line that crossed Darks Common south of Explorers Road. The rail line has been removed but the cutting can still be seen, as well as the remains of the winding house base near the escarpment.

It has been suggested that Lapstone was named by early explorers who found smooth stones in the area which reminded them of the lapstones used by cobblers.