Many place names are now merely vague recollections of the past; of its people, history and traditions. Some mountains suburbs take their names from Aboriginal words: Katoomba and Bullaburra, for instance. Others were named by early white pioneers for their physical beauty or natural resources: Springwood and Glenbrook come to mind. And some are named to honour colonial expansionism: Blaxland, Lawson or Wentworth Falls. Yet the suburb of Yellow Rock is the source of some speculation on this matter.
The yellow rock of Yellow Rock is an obvious physical feature of the suburb that inspires its name. But how did the yellow rock get there and what is its significance? There is no definitive answer.
However, there are several schools of thought on this matter. The Anthropological school of thought posits that the rock was a sacred Aboriginal site and is evidence of sun worship among mountains Aboriginal groups. Colonial Historians argue that the rock has been significant in several stories of little known colonial incidents in the area. One story goes that an early gold prospector, Desperate Dan, got lost on his way to the Bathurst gold fields, and in need of funds, tried to sell the rock to unwitting buyers. Unfortunately for Dan, the buyers were very witting, indeed, and he was sentenced to thirty days of dancing like a chimpanzee in the Springwood town centre, all the while singing "The Governor is not a chump!"
Historians specializing in the Federation period have pointed out that the presence of Henry Parkes in the mountains made it a hotbed of historical debate concerning the vexed questions of state and federal rights. One rumour has it that some of these debates, fueled by port wine and too little sleep, were resolved at the yellow rock, once and for all, much like the English school boys of yore, with certain manly endeavors that left the rock as we see it today.
Riots, rebellions, assassinations - the Rock has played a part in all of these things, or so some claim. Some legends speak of dark and desperate deeds. Many of the stories, of course, are simply not credible, and any suggestion that the rock might just have been painted are not to be believed. After all, there's an academic industry riding on this!
So you are welcome to join in the speculation. The controversies are bitter. The claims are outrageous, but obviously true. It's time for the yellow rock of Yellow Rock to have its story told, once and for all. It's time for the yellow rock to have a cache!
Now go out and get it!
Congratulations to bisygisy & Azazzlenic on their first FTF