history tour hydro majestic

A stay at the Hydro Majestic Blue Mountains is one for the books

Megan Arkinstall

Sub-Editor & Journalist

11 March 2024

As far as legendary hotels go, the Hydro Majestic Blue Mountains is one of the best known, with accommodation that blends history and glamour.

When you look up grand historic hotels in the Blue Mountains , chances are the Hydro Majestic will be high up on the list. This historic hotel has welcomed guests since 1904, initially offering weird and wonderful hydropathic treatments as the first health retreat in Australia and attracting famous guests such as Dame Nellie Melba and Sir Edmund Barton.

The hotel is positioned in the picturesque Blue Mountains.

The following century saw it repurposed as a hospital during the war, destroyed by fire and rebuilt with buildings added, and then it fell into disrepair. The once famous Blue Mountains hotel lay dormant for a while until a multi-million-dollar refurbishment restored the glamour of its heyday, and in 2014 the Hydro Majestic reopened to much fanfare. Here, all you need to know about the Hydro Majestic hotel.

The Hydro Majestic has one of the Blue Mountains’ best views, sitting on the edge of an escarpment in the town of Medlow Bath , a name that nods to the hotel’s history as a health and wellness resort. The hotel affords panoramic views over the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park and Megalong Valley. Medlow Bath is located between the towns of Blackheath and Katoomba ( home to the Three Sisters and Scenic World ), an easy five- and 10-minute drive respectively.

The hotel sits on the edge of an escarpment with commanding views of Megalong Valley. (Image: Destination NSW)

Style and character

A stay at this historic Blue Mountains hotel will transport you to the early 20th century through a mix of architectural designs, from Victorian to Art Deco, and opulent interior styling.

The Hydro Majestic was originally built in 1903 for Australia’s rich and famous, with the ornate domed ceiling of the Casino Ballroom shipped in from Chicago, gilded features and artworks collected from all over the world.

When the Hydro Majestic reopened in 2014, much of these original features had been restored by a team of heritage experts, its grand façade painted a fresh white, and its public spaces filled with velvet furniture, bespoke pendants, decorative carpets and wallpapers, and touches of gold.

The art deco-inspired Hydro Majestic Hotel is rich in heritage. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Hydro Majestic features four dining and drinking venues, the Hydro Majestic Pavilion, which doubles as a history space for Hydro Majestic memorabilia and a providore that sells Blue Mountains gourmet food and wine.

Explore the interactive living history on display at the Hydro Majestic Pavilion. (Image: Destination NSW)

The hotel doesn’t have a swimming pool, spa or other fitness facilities, however its sister hotels do – Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa and Parklands Country Gardens & Lodges, which are part of The Escarpment Group.

The perfect setting for a romantic escape.  (Image: Tourism Australia)

The Hydro Majestic reception is open from 7am to 11pm daily and complimentary parking is available on-site.

The Medlow Bath hotel has 67 guest rooms, all designed with a monochromatic palette, Appelles bathroom amenities, free wi-fi and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Step into the elegantly refurbished Hydro Majestic Hotel in the Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

In the Belgravia Wing, accommodation ranges from the Heritage Rooms, which feature a queen bed or two singles and a walk-in or shower over bath and the cosy Heritage Valley View Rooms that have views over the Megalong Valley.

The Belgravia Rooms are larger with views of either the gardens or valley. The Belgravia Valley View Suite has a corner spa and sitting area, and The Belgravia Deluxe Room features a bay window and a separate shower.

In the Hargravia Wing, there are Hargravia Valley View Rooms that have a more traditional heritage style, which continues in the Majestic Wing where an extra touch of glamour is added with chandeliers and gold trimmings. The Majestic Valley View Rooms feature a marble bathroom, while the Majestic Valley View Suite is the largest on the property at 38 square metres and features a king bed, spa bath and separate living area.

The Delmonte Wing was the last section of the hotel to be renovated and sits adjacent to the Hydro Pavilion. The rooms in this section are styled in an Art Deco aesthetic and feature a king bed, with shower over the bath.

Food and drink

Full buffet breakfast is served in the Belgravia Lobby Lounge; also a cosy spot for an aperitif.

Take in panoramic views while enjoying a remarkable high tea experience at the light-filled Wintergarden. (Image: Destination NSW)

The light-filled Wintergarden is the Hydro Majestic’s premier restaurant. With lavish interiors and panoramic windows capturing views over the Megalong Valley, the setting can’t be beat for fine dining with a set menu of modern Australian cuisine. It’s one of the Blue Mountain’s best high teas too, with an eastern, western and children’s version served daily, with tea, cocktails or sparkling.

The chic Salon Du Thé bar and lounge is renowned for Oriental-inspired tea displays. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Salon du The is a tearoom and bar that runs along a corridor of the hotel that was infamously once called Cat’s Alley – named for the mistresses who would linger here. It has a rich red colour scheme and oriental design, views over the valley, and serves bar snacks and beverages. (This bar was closed at the time of publishing, please check directly for updates.)

The tearoom and bar was formerly known as Cat’s Alley.

The Boiler House Restaurant is a casual dining spot, serving pizzas, pastas, fish and chips and the like. As with most of the public areas, it also boasts incredible views over the Megalong Valley.

Experiences

The Hydro Majestic Pavilion is described as a ‘living history space’ and is where you can enjoy or take home unique food and wines from the Blue Mountains and surrounding regions. There’s also a display of the Hydro Majestic’s fascinating history, featuring old photos and stories of the hotel, as well as memorabilia including tableware, art, furniture and even bizarre hydropathic instruments used during the early days.

The old Casino stage where Dame Nellie Melba would have performed.

There are daily history tours that run at 11am and 3pm from the Casino Lobby. Learn about the hotel’s history, hear about its eccentric founder Mark Foy, and see its grand rooms and spaces. The guided tour runs for 45 minutes and costs $10 per person; bookings are essential.

There are also packages available, which include touring around the Blue Mountains in a vintage car to really immerse yourself in yesteryear.

One of Hydro Majestic’s highlights is the ornate domed ceiling of the Casino Ballroom. (Image: Destination NSW)

Access for guests with disabilities?

Accessible rooms are available in the Delmonte Wing, which has lift access. Contact the hotel to enquire about booking one of these rooms. The Wintergarden, Belgravia Lobby and Boiler House are located on the ground level and are suitable for people in a wheelchair.

Family-friendly?

The hotel is family-friendly, with children’s menus available at the restaurants, however, the rooms are very small and can only accommodate two people.

Address: The Hydro Majestic Blue Mountains , 52 – 88 Great Western Highway, Medlow Bath, NSW

Cost: Rates start from $229 per room

Megan Arkinstall is a freelance travel writer who you’ll often find at the beach, bushwalking or boating with her young family. She loves reliving travel memories through writing, whether that be sipping limoncello in a sun-drenched courtyard of Monterosso or swimming with green turtles in the aquamarine waters of Tropical North Queensland.

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Comments (3)

Totally disapointed. High tea low quality. You can get better scones of the shelve at Coles or Woolworth We do not know where is the atmosphere of the Majestic before “reconstruction Service is almost non existent

Excellent review. Honest, no frills, no euphemisms. Thankyou

I stayed there in the early 70s. At that time it was grand. Had a ballroom, the food was wonderful, and it had an old world elegance. It had an outdoor heated pool, and an indoor gym. Thoroughly enjoyed my stay there at that time.

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The Hydro Majestic Hotel: history, scandal and extravagance

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The iconic domed entrance and endless stretch of the Hydro Majestic Hotel is a recognisable landmark for anyone who has travelled to the Blue Mountains in NSW. For many, the fabled hotel in Medlow Bath is as much of a destination as the mountains themselves.

While I’d ventured to the region countless times for a day of bushwalking and fresh mountain air, I’d never stopped to have a peek inside the hotel. This only served to sustain the illusion of the mysterious, old-worldly and grand hotel that I’d built in my mind. My imagination would run wild at the thought of what was going on in there; decadent parties that would rival anything Jay Gatsby could throw, scandals and debaucheries, indulgence and opulence.

The Hydro Majestic Hotel, a history

After spending a weekend at the Hydro Majestic recently, I can’t say that my illusions were totally shattered. The hotel’s fascinating history dates back to 1904, when it was first opened by the prominent businessman Mark Foy. Foy’s intentions were to operate it as a hydropathy retreat, naming it the Medlow Bath Hydropathic Establishment. However it was only a few years before this alternative therapy fell out of fashion and he was forced to reinvent his establishment as a luxury hotel, changing the name to the Hydro Majestic.

A hotel that catered to only the rich and privileged, the Hydro Majestic at this time was exactly the one of my imagination. It was known as Mark Foy’s ‘Palace in the Wilderness’ where there would always be lavish parties and extravagant feasts being thrown. The infamous ‘Cat’s Alley’ played host to hordes of gossiping wives and mistresses while the men played billiards and drank inside what’s now known as Salon du The. Rumour has it that there was even a bell that rang at a certain time to remind guests to return to their own rooms before morning light. Not to mention the mobile confessional booth that was set up in the hotel so guilty guests could confess their sins on the go. How’s that for scandal and debauchery? 

Heritage Valley View Room

The Hydro Majestic of today is far less scandalous and more family friendly, though it still retains the grandeur and charm of its past. It was bought by the Escarpment Group in 2008 and underwent an extensive modern refurbishment, re-opening in 2014.

The hotel offers a range of luxury rooms and suites, most with simply stunning views out over the Megalong Valley. I stayed in the Heritage Valley View Room during my stay and was pleasantly surprised by its contemporary aesthetic. It featured a simple, clean colour palette of black and white with the occasional yellow accent. The queen size bed gave me one of the best sleeps I’ve had in a while, and waking up to the lush panorama of the Megalong Valley was a nice treat.

Dining options at the Hydro Majestic are varied, with multiple premium restaurants and bars to choose from. The Wintergarden is the main restaurant and offers a high tea lunch and a daily fine-dining dinner menu. Prepare to find yourself constantly distracted from your company and your meal thanks to the breathtaking views of the valley from the restaurant’s huge windows. You’re especially in for a treat if you’re there for sunset.

Roaring 20s Festival

A hark back to its more extravagant times, every year in February the Hydro Majestic goes all out for the Roaring 20s Festival.  

“The Roaring 20s Festival relives the golden age of the Blue Mountains generally and the hotel specifically, when exquisitely dressed glamorous people lived a hedonistic life of endless parties. ” said Meagan Iervasi, Hydro Majestic guest services manager.

“Thousands of visitors streamed off the trains to check into the guesthouses and grand hotels of Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, Mt Victoria and, the grandest of them all… the Hydro Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath.”

Dressed in my finest 1920s garb (feathers in my hair, a string of pearls around my neck, Mary Janes on my feet), I stepped aboard the Hydro Express at Sydney’s Central station. I was instantly transported to another time. Travelling on the restored vintage train taking passengers up to Medlow Bath that afternoon was an amazing way to kick off the Roaring 20s experience. Everyone was dressed to the nines, looking like they had just stepped out of the pages of The Great Gatsby.

And indeed as all the passengers streamed off the train at Medlow Bath towards the hotel, it was easy to imagine this being a scene replayed from nearly 100 years ago.

The Hydro Majestic Roaring 20s Festival also involved a Charleston Dance for Charity with live music, as well as an evening feast in the hotel’s Majestic Ballroom where guests were treated to live entertainment and a fashion show.

The Hydro Majestic Hotel is a NSW institution with an absolutely fascinating history. Everything from the domed roof of the Casino Lobby to the grilled ceilings in the Majestic Ballroom to the hydronic heaters in Cat’s Alley has a story behind it. The hotel runs daily history tours throughout the grounds that offer insights into its story, its architecture and design, as well as the interesting personality of the eccentric founder. Even if you’re not a history buff, this is a must-do.

The hotel strikes a balance between old-world charm and modern service and amenities. It’s a unique place to stay or simply visit, and offers a great base to explore the rest of the Blue Mountains region.

The Roaring 20s Festival is held annually every February. Head to the Hydro Majestic website for more information.

The Hydro Majestic

52-88 Great Western Highway

Medlow Bath NSW 2780 

hydromajestic.com.au

Nupur Trivedi stayed at the Hydro Majestic Hotel as a guest of the Escarpment Group.

Tags: Blue Mountains , Hydro Majestic , The Hydro Majestic Hotel

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