Somersby Falls – A Hidden Gem That Never Grew Up To Be Famous Near Mangrove Mountain on the Central Coast, only 25 minutes drive from central Gosford, lies one of NSW’s prettiest and least known waterfall systems – Somersby Falls. If it was located in the Blue Mountains it would be one of the highlights of the region, but instead it is found in the middle of a quiet and isolated farming area which is better known for its orchards of oranges and stone fruits. In 1886 Henry Pile and his wife were the first Europeans to settle into Somersby, still wilderness dotted with huge masses of wildflowers. He was told of Somersby Falls by either local Aboriginals or by whites living closer to town. Sometime in the 1880’s/1890’s he started to take an active interest in Somersby Falls and together with a few other locals, they gave their time voluntarily and built paths, handpicked sandstone stones for steps and opened up the little rainforest valley so others could enjoy it. Even by 1901 word had spread and people were already picnicking and exploring the Falls, using Pile’s ‘circuit of steps’ to walk around the area. Around this time it was also designated as a reserve under NSW Department of Lands, and Pile along with others became volunteer trustees. Initially it had been expected that the main Eastern NSW train line would pass through this immediate region, not far from the Falls. But the completed railway in 1889 went a different route, on the foreshores and nearer to the water as seen today. If it had followed the original route, there is every possibility that Somersby Falls could have ended up with its own train station and likely it would have become as accessible and popular as The Three Sisters, or similar. Near the bottom of the walking circuit at the Falls lay a very large tree across Floods Creek, and it became a ‘bridge’ for people to cross the rushing waters. It is unknown if this was a natural coincidence or if talented tree-fellers carefully fell one of the giants in this direction, either way they added a handrail and for many decades it served its purpose. Locals growing up in Somersby in the 1960’s remember that old tree lying across the creek although by then it was rotted and slippery and only for risk-takers. The series of stone steps were built on the west side to lead down to the bridge, and then on the east side, returning to the top, another series of steps was completed. Sometime around WW II the Falls and the bridge fell into general disuse, and over time the steps were forgotten. However the stone steps are still in place today, overgrown but there for all to see. But only if you are fit and agile and with sturdy walking shoes, as the very thick, slope-sided terrain up in there is both dangerous and slippery. Indeed it is a discovery waiting for the experienced bushwalkers. In the early 1980’s the area was taken over by NPWS and now Somersby Falls just sits within the Brisbane Water National Park boundaries. The old wooden steps near the top were immediately replaced and made safer and toilets, a BBQ, picnic tables and parking were added. Prior to that it had been a somewhat primitive reserve under Council supervision and the very last local volunteer to help maintain the site was Ian Moss-Robinson who lived right next door to the front gates. Unfortunately he died of a heart attack in late 1971 after either walking the Falls circuit or working on some repairs of the wooden steps. Ian was the son of one of Australia’s first well-known naturalists, Leslie Mosse-Robinson, who lived at Narara and was quite famous in worldwide scientific circles for his expert knowledge, collection and study of native animals, mainly native butterflies and moths.