The spectacular slab of sandstone on the edge of the Jamison Valley in Wentworth Falls recently featured in the ABC TV series Wakefield, but its popularity has been growing globally for years.
Named after Lincoln Hall, the famous mountaineer who lived nearby, Lincoln's Rock in Wentworth Falls has been the victim of Instagram success, bringing hordes of tourists to what was once a quiet residential area.
Traffic congestion, litter, anti-social behaviour, illegal camping and fires, as well as tourist buses have left the narrow Hordern Road clogged and residents concerned for their safety.
Last week council announced a formal car park for 17 spaces, with a large turning circle, is now being built. The work started last month and will take about 12 weeks.
Hall died in 2012, and the area was named in his honour by the Geographic Names Board and formally passed by Blue Mountains Council the following year. Hall's widow, Barbara, hopes it is the first step to curbing other problems.
"It's horrendous ... the volume of traffic... People light fires out there at night. There's a whole wave of people coming who don't know how to behave in the bush. The first weekend after [COVID] restrictions [eased] it was manic. I think up until now council hasn't been able to manage it," she said.
Another resident Cassandra Au added: "It's great council has invested ... but I hope they don't just build the car park and say they have done enough. I'm hoping this is the beginning of more measures for safety [for residents]."
Ms Au said Hordern Rd residents endured reckless drivers. She has had many "near misses" while walking with her baby and dog from "tourists desperate to catch the sunset". Rubbish was also an issue - "the toilet paper and beer cans" - and traffic calming measures and surveillance was required.
Ward 2 Cr Romola Hollywood has been working with residents since 2015 over the issue. She advocated for a sign to restrict large coaches from driving down Hordern Road, because "residents rightly said the road was not designed for heavy vehicles, but the measure wasn't enough".
"Lincoln's Rock is no longer a well-kept local secret but, due to social media, it's a world-renowned site which needs to be preserved.
"Following extensive consultation with residents, environmental groups and the Local Traffic Committee, the new car park at the top of Little Switzerland Drive should help protect Lincoln's Rock from vehicle damage and erosion and give the local wildlife a better chance."
A new fire trail gate will prevent drivers turning left at the Little Switzerland Drive/Hordern Rd intersection, leaving them no option but to park and make the short walk. Cr Hollywood said she would continue to work with residents to address other concerns - such as timed parking to stop overnight campers and surveillance.
The work will include a turning circle, a rain garden for drainage, and a fire trail gate to stop vehicles parking closer to the rock. There will be regulatory signage as some residents have reported some bus companies are ignoring current rules. A short path from the north end of Little Switzerland Drive will provide safe access to Lincolns Rock.
The works cost $220,000 - funded by the federal government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program ($140,000) and council ($80,000).
Cr Hollywood said she would continue to work with residents to address further concerns.
Construction will take place every day except Sunday. Lincoln's Rock will remain open until closer to the end of the project when a full closure will be needed to enable construction at the intersection of Hordern Road and Little Switzerland Drive.
Mayor Mark Greenhill said the new car park would "limit impacts to local residents and the environment".