Stairs & Staircases

The ‘Golden Staircase’

The ‘Golden Staircase’ on Imita Ridge, Papua New Guinea, was made famous as part of the Kokoda Track used by World War II Australian soldiers. It is infamous for its steepness and ruggedness, as well as its strategic location during 1942. It was considered the final obstacle to the Japanese objective of capturing Port Moresby, so the soldiers were told to fight to the death and to the very last man. Each step was battened at its edge by a rough log, often broken and covered with slippery mud. When climbing the stairs, soldiers had to lift their leg over the possibly rotted log and put their foot down on the step which was frequently a puddle of mud up to six inches deep.

In 2007 the Golden Staircase was supposedly rediscovered, as Charlie Lynn disagreed with where the current Kokoda Trek traversed, arguing that it did not match up with soldier’s recollections. So armed with a GPS and the help of local landowners they set out to find it. Through matching army survey maps, GPS coordinates, grid references and the lay of the land they were able to locate the original Golden Staircase. It was also confirmed by the finding of a number of old ammunition dumps and weapon pits around it.

The Kokoda Trail

The Kokoda Trail is a track that runs for 96 kilometres through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea, notoriously difficult, it was made famous as one of the most significant battles between the Japanese and Australians during World War II. It is now a popular trek for Aussies wanting to experience history.

The Japanese landed at PNG on July 21 1942 intent on capturing Port Moresby. It is argued that had they succeeded mainland Australia would have come under dire threat. It is also significant as more Australians died in the seven months of fighting in PNG than in any other campaign, as they were massively outnumbered and fighting in treacherous conditions.

Katoomba, NSW

Katoomba is a thriving tourist town in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, overlooking the Jamison Valley. One of the main attractions is a rock formation called The Three Sisters, named Meehni (922m), Wimlah (918m) and Gunnedoo (906m).

They are named after a legend, though it is uncertain whether it is an Indigenous legend or one made up by the tourist industry, that says that three sisters were turned into stone to protect them from three brothers from a rival tribe whom they had fallen in love with but were not allowed to marry. The upset brothers decided to try and capture the sisters, so a witchdoctor turned them to stone to protect them, but died before he could undo the spell again. Another great attraction of Katoomba is the Giant Stairway.

The Giant Stairway

The Giant Stairway of Katoomba was hewn out of the cliff face next to the Three Sisters, providing a spectacular descent into the Jamison Valley. It descends approximately 300 metres (or 1000 feet) via more than 800 steps (896 to be exact!). Of course the builders took advantage of natural ledges and projections, as well as installing metal stairs where necessary. It terminates at the base of the Scenic Railway, and provides incredible views over the valley. From the bottom visitors can choose to continue along the Federal Pass to the beautiful Katoomba Falls, furber Steps and Scenic World, or towards Leura Forest.

The Chief Ranger Jim McKay came up with the idea of the Giant Stairway in 1914, after already planning and building the Dardannells Pass. Initially hesitant due to the scope and cost of the project, the coucil approved the plans in 1916. However after only a quarter of the distance had been built, the project ground to a halt because of the expense of carving steps out of the sheer rock face. Eventually, building re-commenced in 1932 after lobbying by a local photographer.

The Queen’s House

The Queen’s House was a late addition to the Palace of Greenwich, designed as a place for private retreat as well as a bridge for the Queen Anne, wife of King James I (reigned 1603 – 1625), and guests to pass between the Palace Gardens and the Royal Park unseen. In was eventually completed in 1635 by King Charles I for his wife Queen Henrietta Maria, as construction was halted when the former queen became ill.

Since its completion the building has served a variety of different functions from prisoner of war camp during the Civil War, an official government residence, to the official residence of the Ranger of Greenwich Park in 1690, a charity for the orphans of seamen in 1805 (the Naval Asylum School), to the National Maritime Museum in 1937.

It was left to fall into disrepair, then refurbished, expanded for various royal residents, suffered additions to meet the needs of the school, closed for six years in the 1980s for restoration, and finally re-opened in 1990 as a representation of the style of the House circa 1660.

The Tulip Staircase

The Tulip Staircase is an elegant spiral staircase with wrought-iron tulips composing the balustrades along it. It is thought to be the first unsupported spiral staircase in Britain, and is held up through a combination of support by cantilever from the walls and each stair resting on the one below. Although well-known, it was made world famous by a photograph taken in 1966 by the Rev Ralph Hardy, a retired clergyman from British Columbia. He and his wife were touring the House on their vacation, took a photo of the staircase with his wife standing next to him and a ‘No Admittance’ sign suspended on the staircase.

When the photograph was developed, an ethereal hooded figure holding the rail with both hands. Both the minister and his wife confirmed that there was no-one of the stairs, experts have confirmed that there is no evidence of tampering with the original negative, and the custodians and visitors of the Queen’s House reported that there had been unexplained figures and footsteps sighted and heard in the past. It remains a mystery.