THE ICONIC LANDMARK IS RE-OPENING IN EARLY 2014
The Hydro Majestic Hotel has got to be the most famous and memorable building in the Blue Mountains. The hotels iconic buildings, interiors and gardens stretch more than a kilometre across the Megalong Valley escarpment. Can't believe no-one's reviewed it yet, but it must have been closed since before Australia was Yelpified. Now undergoing extensive renovations and improvements, the developers promise to revitalise the 'Hydro' to world-class standard. That will be something special.
The Hydro Majestic is really a combination of three grand properties - the (Edward) Hargraves house, the Belgravia Hotel built in 1891, and the Tuckers House, now all combined. They went over the top when they built this place with money from the Gold Rush west of the Blue Mountains which started in 1851.
Enter young businessman, Mark Foy, who returned from Europe at the turn of the century with a grand vision, determined to introduce to Australia hydropathic (water) therapies. To this end he purchased the three properties at Medlow and combined them into one enormous, rambling, luxuriously-furnished complex of a Hydropathic Sanatorium combined with a luxury restaurant and resort hotel. Australia's first spa, it would seem.
A snow storm deluged the area on opening day in 1904 and the rest is history. For a hundred years this was a mecca of fine indulgence, a destination unto itself. The giant car park would just fill up on a weekend. My parents would love to stop here for meetups with friends on a Sunday afternoon after sightseeing in the Blue Mountains. My sister and I would get bored after a short time and have to wait around forever for us to leave. Basically a big pub when it got down to it.
The 'Hydro' is scheduled to re-open in two stages. The completion of the public areas is set for early 2014. Stage one includes the revitalisation of the existing buildings including the Casino Building, The Wintergarden, The Flying Fox Room and The Cat's Alley, The Delmonte Building and Conference Rooms and The Majestic Ballroom. A new entry and foyer will be built at the western end along with a Majestic Point Lookout and a new Mark Foy Pavilion. The Belgravia Wing will house the Hotel Management Institute, a luxury hospitality training school.The completion of 140 luxury suites will take another two years. Can't wait to see it all. Don't say you weren't warned.
Behind the 'Hydro' are some bush walk tracks including Blackheath Glen Nature Trail. You can also walk to Tuckers Lookout overlooking the Megalong Valley. The Medlow Bath railway station is directly across the street.
This may be my proudest Yelp moment, but it is a sleeper. Time will tell.
P.S. My research has uncovered that on 29 May 2009, the owners announced that the Hydro will close for renovations. That would make more than 3.5 years of renovations to 2014. It's gonna be good. read more