Author(s): Keith Painter

Blue Mountains History

James McMillan PadleyDraper, reporter, book-keeper, furniture salesman.Local historian, debating enthusiast,committed patriot, generous giver, untiring civic worker.His peers said of him --"Mr. Padley is one of the few men in town who are real patriots and who work publicly for the benefit of the community at large. He has no political axe to grind -- no ambition for parliamentary honors." The Democrat, 29 April 1916."It is safe to say he was one of Lithgow's best citizens, a man whose life was unselfish, and who was a model of civic patriotism. In every movement for the benefit of the town he was always to the fore, and though a man of retiring disposition, being one who relied on deeds rather than words, he was generally given the position which entailed the most responsibility." Lithgow Mercury, 21 October 1918.This book is the story of James Padley, the driving force behind the Lithgow Progress Association in the early 1900s and the chief instigator of the development of visitor facilities at Hassans Walls.