Blackheath, NSW 2785

Lived and worked for over a decade in the area and unfortunately over time it changed.
60 percent of housing is vacant so if you want a friend get a dog, that's what everyone else has done !
Weather is bad that it physically effects your health, respiratory issues etc.
Council overcharges locals and tourists alike to live and visit here ( pay to park and take your kids to the playground, anyone ??).
Surrounded by national parks which is good if your into the outdoors.

There are not enough trees, clifftops and views in the world to make up for this crushingly depressive place.
Plus, I've never seen so many old farts who think they can act and write and yet can do neither. It's the last refuge of the has-been or never was.

Such a lovely little village in the mountains with a quaint private school. So exciting that Blackheath is considered part of westie Sydney after getting substantial monies for WestInvest. Blackheath is going places and just love the chef Mousey Moo near the public toilets in Blackheath, as he does the meanest bacon and egg burger. He’s taken over the vigilante group in Leura after the Randall’s left the neighbourhood. The Mixed Martial Arts MM is my hero. Shanks for keeping the disabled people in the upper mountains so safe! XOXO

No town is perfect. Every place has its drawbacks. Still, Blackheath is a beautiful village. So many good people here. Close enough to Sydney when you need it, with city rail trains too. Gorgeous walks, beautiful waterfalls - and so many good hearted souls. I've just come back from lunch with a mate. Best hot chips in town, ever.

Never have I lived in a place with so many failed and mediocre writers, artists and 'actors'. And on top of that the climate is crushingly depressing. The shops are rip-off. The locals are self-consciously try-hard Bohemians. You need to take Prozac to survive this place.

I’ve read all the reviews and can’t believe the negativity. We have lived here 18 months now. We do love cold weather and hate the heat. So if you like warm summers and mild winters this is not the place for you. The village shops have everything you need in a pinch. Not gonna lie, the shops are expensive. They are for the tourists mainly. To grocery shop you head to Katoomba ( 10 mins away). But the little shops shops are fun to poke around in especially Victoria Theatre Antiques. I’ve never met an unfriendly person here. Our neighbours are lovely. I’ve had both of them in for afternoon tea and they have wonderful stories of Blackheath since they have both lived here over 45 years. One of them even came in and gave us a hand to chop up some firewood. We live walking distance to Govetts Leap Lookout and the walks from there are amazing. Dining is fantastic too. There is Cinnibar and Ates for fine dining and plenty of options for a quick bite to eat. The pool is the best country pool I’ve visited, although it could do with more shade. I can’t speak for young families as my daughter attends a private school at Wentworth Falls and I’m not sure about kid friendly activities as we move here in her late teens. We are in our early fifties and plan to live out our retirement here.

Blackheath is the best kept secret of the Blue mountains just an hour and a half to two hours from Sydney , great cafe and antique shop, restaurants and pubs. You can find anything you need at the supermarket and vegetables shop. There are chemist, doctor, hairdresser, post office and art galleries. The walks in the Blue Mountains from Govett Leap look out are fantastic and cater for all, even there is one walk accessible for the push chair and wheel chair therefore you can enjoy with family and friends of all ages. I am the owner of an holiday house for the past 20 years. My partner and I have enjoyed the weekend and holiday break with my young children and so much so that now my son with his girl friend are always looking for their break there as we still do too. And I know my guests enjoy Blackheath too. Some of them are coming back every year. Blackheath as been and still is a safe heaven, free of pollution and noise. You feel rejuvenated after only one day sleeping at Blackheath. Great parks, especially the rhododendrons parks is amazing in November when all the flowers are in bloomed, unbelievable sight. The open air swimming pool situated in one of the park, is wonderful. You feel so refresh when you are getting out of it. Blackheath has a great community spirit and the neighbors are always there to help and always greet you. The parks and garden can be enjoyed equally, showing a different background of colour with the season changing. It simply wonderful. am actually astonished of the negative comments, if you want to enjoy calm and great quality of life come and live in Blackheath, great place to be.

Blackheath is the saddest place I have ever lived. The people are as cold as the climate. It’s home to has-beens and never-have-beens. If you are a complete failure in life, move to Blackheath.

I can’t believe there are such negative reviews of beautiful Blackheath on this site! I grew up in Sydney and moved to the mountains in my twenties. After twenty five years I still find it the most wonderful place to live. I had always wanted to try being a ‘Blackheathan’ as, until I saw these reviews, I’ve honestly never met someone who isn’t happy with living here. And that’s after seven years to date of being a Blackheathan myself now. My family loves being a part of this warm, creative, friendly, basically happy community. It’s small enough that people smile and say hello but big enough not to feel insular or claustrophobic. Don’t know where these unfunny snobbish people hang out (see earlier review) - I’ve never come across them. My son attends the excellent Mountains Christian College (3 minutes drive away) which as a small, flexible,independent school is able to offer him the extra support he needs and we have the option of high schooling there also. (And no, you don’t have to be Christian to attend; the school welcomes all families, including atheist ones! Kids at his school climb trees and build stick forts in the bush at lunchtime, with a backdrop of spectacular escarpment views). I love the cooler weather, clear spring days, stunning autumn colours, and the chance of snowfall in winter. My main gripe about the weather is that climate change is making Blackheath significantly hotter now in summer than when we first arrived. We have recently moved house but decided to remain in Blackheath. (Also in reference to another review, all the houses I have owned in the mountains have offered very generous capital gains returns! Our money was very well invested in Katoomba, Leura and now Blackheath real estate).

Lived in Blackheath and Mt Victoria for 10 years. It is cold; one of the coldest places in the state. Expect some Summer nights to have single figure temperatures and daytime maximums in Winter to be single figures. It is not cozy, or fun. In Winter all outdoor pursuits are unpleasant. However some summer afternoons are glorious. Rainfall is higher than Sydney and expect fog. Once had snow showers in November!!! Great for bike riding as this area is on a plateau so few hills except for Mt Piddington. The air is so clean you can taste it. Expect endless roadworks on the mountains or the M4. If you are over 60, DO NOT move here. Health services at Katoomba hospital or Lithgow are limited and Nepean isn't much chop either. Some mountain drivers, tradesmen and business owners can be aggressive. Houses are cheap for a reason...it is miles from anywhere and prices do not appreciate much so don't expect a great deal when you sell. If you sell up in Sydney, you may NEVER get back. If you have the trifecta...ie, family, a good job and friends ALL on the mountains with little need to travel east of Penrith it may work out. Would only recommend it for young families but once your children are teenagers they will be bored stiff so expect to be driving them long distances unless you want them on trains at night. If you want a holiday house terrific...you can have a cold getaway in Winter but a few weeks in Summer is even better!