Photo by David Wallace, 2025.
Rotary Club unearths decades-old bottle dump during Blue Mountains Clean Up
by Greta Stevens
Published on January 20, 2026
Community Spotlight
Rotary Club unearths decades-old bottle dump during Blue Mountains Clean Up
The Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary Club is committed to preserving the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains, and their recent Clean Up at Gordon Falls Reserve revealed a fascinating piece of local history hidden beneath the soil.
A surprising discovery!
In addition to their annual Clean Up Australia Day event on the first Sunday of March, Rotary members put on their gloves and took to their local areas as part of a “Clean Up Springtime” initiative that coincided with the Great Spring Clean Up.
At the Clean Up of Gordon Falls Reserve in Leura, volunteers made an unexpected discovery: a massive dump of bottles that had been buried and covered with soil decades ago.
Recent rainfall had exposed some of the bottles, leading to the unearthing of an extraordinary find. The Rotary members collected 28 bags of rubbish, with each Clean Up Australia bag weighing approximately 40 kilograms, filled with bottles and glass. Dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, these bottles had been hidden for over sixty years.
Cleaning up historical treasures
Among the collection were old milk bottles of various sizes, including one pint, half pint, and third pint, along with vintage cream jars. The Upper Blue Mountains Rotary Club is looking to sell these historical relics to interested collectors, with proceeds going toward community programs, if there are any interested buyers on the lookout.
Looking ahead
The discovery raises intriguing questions about the bottles’ origins and the circumstances of their disposal. Who was responsible for this dumping six decades ago?
The Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise will continue their efforts in maintaining the unique beauty of this World Heritage Area, and are partnering with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 1 March 2026.
The Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise welcomes community involvement in their initiatives. For information about the historical bottles or to learn more about their community programs, get in contact with the club via their Facebook page or website.
Photo by David Wallace, 2025.
About Rotary in Australia
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who solve real problems with commitment and vision. For more than 110 years Rotary people have united and taken action to create lasting change across the globe and in our communities.
With approximately 30,000 Rotarians across more than 1,100 clubs throughout Australia, organized into 21 Districts, Rotary connects ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their communities.
This story was shared by Phill Isaacs OAM JP, the 2024/25 President of Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise, following the International Rotary Zone 8 Conference in Coolangatta Queensland, where he shared his story with Clean Up Australia team member, Sarah Jones.
Clean Up Australia thanks all Rotary Clubs around Australia for their continued participation in Clean Ups and environmental leadership in their communities.
