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The story begins late in 1929 when a mineworker named Arthur Mellor was walking with his mate when he noticed a crack in the ground approximately 100ft (30m) from the cliff edge. The crack was only 1ft (300mm) wide when it was discovered and the pair quickly reported it to the mine management. Within a week the crack had widened to a gap of approx 6ft (1.8m) wide and news of this was spreading rapidly. The large section of rock that had moved out towards the valley became known as Dog Face Rock
Sydney newspapers were claiming that the Blue Mountains were falling apart. It was getting out of hand as many thousands of people came to see the crack, stalls were set up selling food, drinks and souvenirs. It became so bad that the Police had to be called in to control the crowds. There were even claims that volcanic activity may be the cause with newspapers reporting that the Mountains may soon erupt.
The newspaper reporters waited in the area for the cliff to fall, they all wanted to be the first with the photos and the story but it dragged on too long, they grew tired and finally gave up.
Dogface was created when the huge section of Dog Face Rock finally fell into the Jamison Valley on January 27th 1931. No one was near the cliff when it fell that night, it wasn’t even heard by the locals. Mr Ted Hardy made the discovery when he was taking the day’s first busload of sightseers to view the large gap in the rock. He pointed towards the gap, which to his surprise was no longer there. News of the collapse spread quickly resulting in another influx of tourists to view the newly formed cliff.
Several theories were put forward with the most likely cause of the collapse being the fact that when the mine below the face was abandoned the props were removed and without their support the ceiling collapsed and eventually so did the massive section of unsupported rock above.
Dogface was first climbed in 1964 by Bryden Allen and Ted Batty. Allen and Batty put up Landslide Chimney (18, 100m) John Ewbank developed most of the area with the help of Kenedy, Tyrrell, Davis, Campbell, Pickard and Giles.
The climbs are described as being soft and scary. The guidebook “Rockclimbs in the upper Blue Mountains” warns its readers not to trust anything and that its not for the inexperienced. The rock is so soft in places that a desperate climber could scratch a placement with a nut tool. Sand from above showers down onto the belay, often preventing the belayer from looking up. Don’t be too scared, every now and then you can find a placement that’s deep enough or seems solid enough to be classed as reasonable. Be warned - climbing Dogface is a serious undertaking.
Regardless of the poor rock quality and scary reputation, Dogface still manages to draw climbers seeking an adventure in the sand. The climbs on Dogface range from grade 18 free climbs to M6 aid routes. Dogface is also popular as an adventurous abseil and many adventure tour operators use the area.
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