The Legend of the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains

This is indeed a very magical place and truly stunning. Looking out over the Jamison Valley one can only imagine what early man made of the contrasting  and ever changing views.

The sounds and smells of the rainforest. The song of the Bell Birds so clear and yet soft, like the tinkling of buddhist prayer  bells, the cackling of the Lyre Birds as they tussle with each in the undergrowth, the sighing of the soft winds  whispering through Banksia bushes, the dripping of the rain through the very vertical blue gum trees.

There are several legends of how the pinnacles known as the Three Sisters came about! Choose your favourite.........

According to Gundungurra Dreaming, three beautiful sisters named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo once lived with the Gundungurra people in the Jamison Valley.

The maidens were in love with three brothers from the neighbouring nation of the Dhamuk people, but marriage was forbidden by tribal law.

The brothers were warriors and decided to take the maidens by force. Tribal war forced the Kuradjuri (clever man) of the Gundungurra people to turn the sisters to stone.

He intended to restore them after the danger had passed and the war had ended. Unfortunately, the Kuradjuri (clever man) was killed in the battle and nobody has been able to turn the Three Sisters back to their natural form!



OR

Three little aboriginal sisters named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo had a witch doctor father called Tyawan.

Only one creature was feared by all - the Bunyip who lived in a deep hole. When Tyawan had to pass the hole, he would leave his daughters safely on the  cliff behind a rocky wall. One day, waving goodbye to his daughters, he descended the cliff steps. On top of the cliff a big centipede suddenly appeared and frightened Meehni who threw a stone at it.  The stone rolled over the cliff and crashed into the valley.

Birds, animals and fairies stopped still as the rocks behind the three sisters split open leaving them on a thin ledge. The angry Bunyip emerged to see the terrified sisters in the valley. Tyawan saw the Bunyip close to his daughters so he pointed his magic bone at the girls and turned them to stone. They would be safe there until the Bunyip had gone and the Tyawan would return them to their former selves.

The Bunyip then chased Tyawan who found himself trapped so he changed himself into a Lyre Bird. Everyone was safe, but Tyawan had dropped his magic bone - and he is still searching.

The three sisters stand watching  from their ledge hoping he'll find the  bone and turn them back into Aboriginal Girls.

As you look at the Three Sisters you can hear Tyawan- The Lyre Bird - calling his daughters as his search for the lost bone continues.

The photos I've taken here today can't begin to impart the beauty, the sound and the magic of this wonderful place. I think of all who have passed here since time immemorial and can truly understand how early man feared and revered nature.