On 21 August 1963, Sylvanvale commenced its longstanding relationship in the Blue Mountains when we opened our first residential property in Kurrajong. The property was called ‘Rainbow Lodge’.
Rainbow Lodge was a boarding style house with a capacity for permanent and short respite stays, and included a school for children with intellectual disabilities.
Over the years, our services changed as the needs of the people we support changed. We now have five properties in the Blue Mountains, which support 32 people. Sylvanvale’s Clinical Services Team also provides therapeutic support to a number of residents at our Blue Mountains properties.
Our Blue Mountains People
A diverse and talented group of people have lived and worked at Sylvanvale in the Blue Mountains over the years. Together, they have achieved many goals and helped create our proud Blue Mountains legacy.
Here are some of their stories:
A Passion for the Blue Mountains
Sylvanvale has been instrumental in connecting people to the Blue Mountains. Our Regional Manager, Daniel McCallum, was introduced to the Blue Mountains through his job at Sylvanvale, after regularly visiting for work and participating in events such as Winter Magic.
He loved it so much he moved his family to the area and is now a proud local, having lived in the Blue Mountains for the last ten and a half years.
Daniel’s most memorable experience of working in the Blue Mountains was in 2009 when he helped transition people living at The Eldon boarding house in Katoomba into new accommodation within a very short timeframe.
The Eldon had been in very poor condition and Sylvanvale effectively swept in and rescued the 34 people living there, working alongside the former New South Wales Department of Family and Community Services.
Daniel recently spoke about his Blue Mountains experiences, including the story of The Eldon, when he was interviewed on Radio Blue Mountains. You can listen to the interview below
