Resorts & Grand Hotels
RESORTS & GRAND HOTELS
Tourism in the Blue Mountains dates back to 1882, when the Great Western Hotel was erected in Katoomba to attract visitors to the region.
Later named The Carrington Hotel, this Art Nouveau masterpiece set the standards for luxury and grandeur, a legacy continued by flamboyant retailer Mark Foy when he opened Australia’s first wellness retreat, The Hydro Majestic, in 1904.
For several decades after that, the Blue Mountains became the destination of choice for Sydney’s social elite, with lavish parties and unbridled luxury as much as part of the region’s ethos as bushwalking and fresh air.
Over the years, however, the focus shifted to families, with many of the grand hotels of the Mountains falling into disrepair.
But the tide has turned – and with loving and painstaking restoration, our grand old dames - such as the five-star Lilianfels, the former homestead of Sir Frederick Darley – have been brought back to their former glory, oozing history and charm combined with all mod cons.
