View from the Summit (2)-compressed - Copy

Activities

Mount Booralee Estate is your gateway to the Blue Mountains’ vibrant dining and entertainment scene, outdoor adventures and sightseeing tours. The property is private and secluded and is the only place in the region with views all the way to Sydney’s glittering lights.

Best of all, it’s just a five minute drive to the following unique attractions where you can avoid the crowds and the tourist traps.

Discover Blackheath's Seasons

http://zigzagbrewery.com.au

Zig Zag Brewery

Still bottling water near the Zig Zag Railway.

http://zigzagbrewery.com.au/

Winter-Wonderland

Winter Wonderland Fun

Snow less than two hours from Sydney.

Scenic World

Scenic World

Enjoy spectacular Scenic World and explore the ancient rain forest in the Megalong Valley

Blue-Gum-Forest

Blue Gum Forest Walk

Where tall gums rise out of the fertile ground.

rhododendron-festival

Rhododendron Festival

Plan your floral spring break in Blackheath.

Rhododendron Festival websie

hartley

Hartley Historic Village

Immerse yourself in fascinating local history.

Historic Hartley website

Horse-riding

Horse Riding

In the Megalong Valley, only 15 mins away.

Megalong Horse Riding

glow-worm-tunnel

Glow Worm Tunnels

Explore this deserted shale mine for free.

Visit Lithgow Tourism

pubs

Our fave local pubs

The Ivanhoe & The Gardners Inn, Blackheath.

Blackheath Pubs

Mount-Tomah

Mount Tomah

Visit Australia’s highest Botanic Garden.

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden

antiques

Antiques Theatre

The largest antiques store west of Sydney.

Victory Theatre Antiques

jenolan-caves

Jenolan Caves

The most spectacular and famous caves.

mount-vic-flicks

Mount Vic Flicks

Classic & art house cinema for movie buffs.

Mount Vic Flicks

mt-wilson

Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine

Heritage garden villages 30 mins drive away.

Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine

megalong-valley-tea-rooms

Tea Rooms

Megalong Valley Team Rooms quaint and farmy.

Megalong Valley Team Rooms

dry-ridge-estate

Dry Ridge Estate

Boutique vineyard 20 mins from Blackheath.

Dry Ridge Estate

pulpit-rock

Pulpit Rock

Only 10 mins walk from your stay with us.

mayfield-garden

Mayfield Garden

Largest privately owned cool climate garden.

Mayfield Garden

grand-canyon-walk

Grand Canyon Walk

Largest privately owned cool climate garden.

Grand Canyon Walk

blackheath-golf-club

Blackheath Golf Club

Play on the most picturesque golf course.

Blackheath Golf Club

Halloween in Lithgow CBD.

Haunted Halloween

Every October Lithgow celebrates with lights.

Lithgow Halloween

leura-golf-course

Leura Golf Course

The jewel course in the Blue Mountains.

Leura Golf Course

galleries

Local Art Galleries

Blackheath has 5 galleries and an Art Society.

Local Art Galleries

wentworth-falls-golf

Wentworth Falls Golf

Blackheath has 5 galleries and an Art Society.

Wentworth Falls Golf

blast-furnace

Blast Furnace Park

Australia’s 1st steel works only 20 mins drive.

Visit Lithgow Tourism

state-mine-museum

State Mine Museum

Memorabilia and artefacts depict working life.

Lithgow State Mine

ironfest

Lithgow Ironfest

Stay at Mount Booralee in April for this cultural event.

Lithgow Ironfest

lithgow-golf

Lithgow Golf Club

1850’s federation homestead clubhouse.

Lithgow Golf Club

Get started

Give us a call or fill in the form below and we'll contact you. We endeavor to answer all inquiries within 24 hours on business days.

0411 518 222

paterson.daryl@mountbooralee.com.au

The story is told that Miss Boutcher complained to the authorities that a certain gentleman was sunbaking nude on the hills almost a mile away. And when it was said “you could not see a man in the nude so far away,” she replied, “but I can see him with my powerful glasses.” She also said that she could not sleep if there was a second person in the house and it is said that only one bedroom was built to achieve that end.

History (2)

Miss Boucher at Mount Booralee Circa 1940

In 1945, Miss Boutcher, now in ill-health, sold the house and it’s 20 acres to Mr Edward Hill, a leather merchant, and his wife Myie.

Ever since Mrs Hill was a small child her family had lived in houses called ‘Booralee’ (an Aboriginal word allegedly meaning a star), so ‘Toward’ was renamed ‘Mount Booralee’ in 1945.

While the Hills added significantly to the house, their principal attention was paid to the garden which was extensively landscaped and expanded by the introduction of massed planting of rhododendrons and azaleas and other ornamental cool climate plants under the established cover of eucalypts. Edward Hill’s philosophy was to create an informal ‘English/Australian’ garden. He created walks, a large pond, an orchard and an Oriental garden featuring four ponds and a small waterfall.

Following Mrs Hill’s death, Mr Hill sold the property in 1978 to Mr Thomas Falconer, a financial officer with BHP. The new owner extended the house by the addition of a second story. Being keen tennis players, they also added a tennis court.

History (3)

Although the original house (destroyed by fire) has been replaced and extended, the ethos of the mountain home has maintained throughout all seven ownerships since 1881. The current house is an attractive example of an inter-war bungalow.

Mr Alfred Milani and his wife Jenny, from Sydney, bought the house in 1994. The Milanis made one major addition to the established garden in the form of a rose ‘Pleasance’ planted with over 100 old and rare specimens. At his time, the gardens became a popular stop for tourists visiting Blackheath and a venue for weddings and other social events.

The current owners bought Mount Booralee in 2014. They have added significantly to the garden, and in doing so, have respected Edward Hill’s philosophy and planted within the botanical framework established by him.

Mount Booralee was severely affected by the devastating bushfires in December 2019, with the property totally surrounded by fire and over eighty percent of the property’s 20 acres lost to the flames. Fortunately, the house and outbuildings, and most of the formal garden areas were saved.

Since the fires, the owners have devoted their time to the restoration of areas damaged by the fire. This has involved extensive replanting of both native and exotic plant species.