Hartley Vale

Hartley Vale is a small rural village in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, located about 150 kilometres west of Sydney and 12 kilometres south-east of Lithgow, within the City of Lithgow local government area. The area is noted for its open countryside and historical importance as a centre of oil shale mining and refining between 1865 and 1910, primarily under the New South Wales Shale & Oil Company. Hartley Vale is home to several heritage sites, including the Comet Inn (built in 1879) and Collits Inn (dating to 1823), and historic walking tracks like Lawson’s Long Alley and Lockyers Road connect the village with surrounding areas. Remnants of the village’s mining era, scenic views, and proximity to the main Western Railway and river valleys make it a point of local interest for bushwalkers and history enthusiasts.