Where is Echo Point?
By Brad Baker
Thursday, August 08, 2002
Are you are wondering what and where the image at the top this page is all about?
Its a photo taken from the famous Echo Point Lookout in the Blue Mountains, looking out towards the south east.
The Blue Mountains are located about 70 kms due west of Sydney, Australia. If you ever visit Sydney, be sure to check them out. By world standards they are not very high, less than 1200 metres, which some might call hills. But what they lack in stature they make up for in scenery.
![[Image]](../Images/echopoint_threesisters.jpg)
The Blue Mountains are named because on a hot clear day, eucalyptus oil evaporates into the atmosphere from the eucalyptus gum trees. A blue haze is then produced when the mountains are viewed from a distance. You can sort of see it in this image.
The prominent rock formation you can see is called "The Three Sisters". The background is part of the Megalong Valley.
Their name is taken from the following Aboriginal myth :
Long ago in the Blue Mountains, three sisters named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, lived with their witchdoctor father, Tyawan. They lived happily in the mountains but they shared one fear - the bunyip, who lived in a deep hole nearby. So, to protect his daughters when he was away, Tyawan would leave them high on a cliff behind a rock wall.
One day, after waving goodbye to his daughters, Tyawan descended into the valley. However, when a large centipede appeared on the cliff top sanctuary, it so frightened Meehni that she threw a stone at it. But the stone rolled over the cliff.
Suddenly, all the animals were silent and the rock behind the three sisters split open, leaving them isolated on a thin ledge. There was a rumble below and all the creatures began to flee yelling "quick, here comes the bunyip!". Horrified, the three frightened sisters huddled together.
The angry bunyip, who had emerged from his sleep, looked up to see what had rudely awakened him. When he spotted the sisters, perched on the thin ledge, he lurched furiously towards them.
In the valley, Tyawan had heard the commotion and looked up to see that the bunyip had almost reached his daughters. Frantic, the witchdoctor pointed his magic bone at his daughters and turned them into stone. It would keep them safe until the bunyip had gone, after which Tyawan would return them to their former selves.
The bunyip became even more enraged when he saw what had happened. He turned on Tyawan and chased him. While fleeing, Tyawan became trapped by a rock which he could neither climb not circle, so he quickly changed himself into a lyrebird and dissapeared into a small cave. But alas, although everyone was safe, Tyawan had lost his magic bone!
After the bunyip retured home, Tyawan crept out of his cave to search for his magic bone. And he is still looking for it to this day.
Meanwhile, the three sisters standing silently watching from their mountain ledge, hoping one day he will find the magic bone to bring them back to life.