Blaxland East

Back in the day we’d traipse down to the Blaxland East Public School hall on a Wednesday and feel like we’d stumbled into the unofficial parliament of the Lower Blue Mountains. The Blaxland East Playgroup — run by Belong Blue Mountains — used to meet there from 9:30am–11:00am, and if you were anyone, you were there. At least, that’s what the Blue Mountains Mums listings remembered (they published the playgroup post May 5, 2021 and even keep us in the round-up of local groups).

Our weekday routine was gloriously ordinary: school-hall acoustics, too many toys, and the kind of neighbourly small talk that makes the commute to Sydney feel like a myth. The Blue Mountains Playgroups guide (updated for 2024, yes we checked the archive) still has Blaxland East on the map — though it sensibly tells you to check the playgroup’s social pages before making plans, because things change.

There’s not a lot of scandal to roast here. The real local drama is logistical: will the playgroup still be on? Did someone update the listing? Riveting.

Who would hate living here: anyone seeking a 24/7 city buzz or curated latte art — this is school halls and community-run connection, not boutique urban theatre. Who would love it: young families and anyone who wants the kind of small-town knit where Belong Blue Mountains turns strangers into allies over a borrowed set of stacking cups.

We wear the postcode 2774 with pride. We might not be flashy, but we’re loud when the kids are loud and stubbornly good at being a community.