Shipley Plateau

Shipley Plateau is a rural locality near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of NSW, perched above the Megalong Valley and renowned for its agricultural heritage and scenic vistas.​ History Settlement of Shipley Plateau began in the 1890s, when Robert Smith Longton, its first European settler, named the plateau after his birthplace in Yorkshire, England. Orchards and gardens quickly defined Shipley’s landscape, and by the 1930s, Eric Longton (Robert's son) established the Shipley Tea Rooms, becoming a local tourism landmark. Early entrepreneurs, such as the Longton family, promoted the area for fruit growing and as a scenic retreat. Efforts by the Shipley Progress Association helped shape the region’s identity as both an agricultural and visitor destination.​ Population Shipley Plateau remains sparsely populated, housing a small community of residents primarily engaged in orcharding and tourism activity, reflecting its rural nature and conservation focus.​ Attractions Major attractions include working orchards selling local produce, historic walking tracks such as the Double Echo Point lookout. Visitors are drawn by panoramic views over the Megalong Valley, peaceful rural scenery, and the opportunity to purchase jams and fruits directly from growers. Shipley is valued for its natural beauty, heritage orchards, and connections to bushwalking routes in the upper Blue Mountains.