Hydro Majestic's rich in history

NOSTALGIA reigns at the Hydro Majestic, the Blue Mountains' original short break getaway, but a lick of paint and makeover is on the cards for the grand old dame.

Regal presence ... after more than a century, the Hydro Majestic remains a Blue Mountains landmark / Bob Barker

STEP through the doors of the Hydro Majestic Hotel and you begin a magical journey through time, to an era that oozed beauty and graciousness; a time when style mattered.

This magnificent structure is probably the best-known of all accommodation houses in the Blue Mountains, its history stretching back more than a century when businessman Mark Foy, of the famous department store of yesteryear, built it.

The stunning mix of architectural styles – mainly Edwardian, with some later art deco sections – and its wedding cake-like rooftop, make this hotel in the village of Medlow Bath a landmark.

And it seems many Sydney-born baby boomers can share stories about holidaying there as children. There were the days they won swimming races in the pool, played hide and seek through the maze of hallways, performed on the stage in the great hall or even shared that first childhood kiss in the garden.

I stayed at the Hydro about five years ago, after endless stories from my father about his many childhood holidays there, and loved the whole atmosphere of returning to a bygone era. This time I took my parents for a night, curious to see how my father would enjoy reprising those days.

He seemed mesmerised as he walked through the rooms, the memories of childhood holidays flooding back to him; the good times bringing a smile to his face.

We wound up on an unofficial guided tour of the buildings and grounds from a 1950s perspective, something which, even though it was a night away with my parents, made staying there that much more fun. I wandered the halls and the grounds with this feeling that when I went to bed the place would come alive with characters from The Great Gatsby.

The hotel would seem perfect for a group of friends to have a weekend away with a theme – a murder mystery or a 1920s party.

Despite those nostalgic feelings bubbling up, it is hard not to notice that the best years seem to be behind this grand old lady, with more than a little make-up needed to revitalise her.

The sprawling buildings look tired, the grounds are rundown, and the hotel appears confused as to its market, which is no longer the five-star celebrity set it enjoyed in its halcyon days.

Walkways are fenced off where once you would stand and marvel at the beautiful Kanimbla Ranges as the sun set, and sections of the hotel that used to be an attraction are blocked off for conferences.

My father, John, made an interesting observation about the Hydro's apparent deterioration.

"The Hydro looked like this when I stayed here in 1956, and you have to remember it was already more than 50 years old," he said. "It was a resort a long time before Australia knew what a resort was, where you stayed in one place and played mini-golf and croquet and tennis. It was like being on a cruise ship, and the meals were real occasions."

The Hydro's owners, the Malaysian-born Mah family, spent $12 million refurbishing the hotel after they bought it in 1998.

While the Accor group managed it for many years, the family took control again about seven months ago, although it still runs under Accor's Grand Mercure flag, but as a franchise.

General manager Sam Wood, who started in August, concedes the resort requires several million to return it to top nick.

She says that work has already started, also noting that a hotel complex is difficult enough to maintain, let alone one with the heritage restrictions placed on the Hydro Majestic.

The owners have already replaced every bed and spent $300,000 refurbishing the day spa.

Ms Wood also admits she is working on the hotel's service.

Our decision to eat early in nearby Blackheath and return for a quiet drink in the absolutely gorgeous Hydro Lounge was foiled when we found the bar closed – it was only 8.30pm.

After following a sign at the bar and directions from reception to make our way to the Grand Dining Room, with a pianist playing and some very cosy couches away from diners, we were instructed fairly tersely by two staff that we could not stay there as we had chosen to eat elsewhere. We were directed to sit by ourselves in the nearby Del Monte Room – the Hydro's business centre.

The staff's response not only left a bad impression, but cost them our business for the $22-a-head breakfast next day.

Instead, we ate at the delightful Megalong Tearooms, which have stunning views up the mountains towards the Hydro Majestic, and scrambled eggs you could die for.

Once the Hydro Majestic is back to what Ms Wood described as an "acceptable standard", the family wants to better market its history to attract guests.

"The owners are extremely passionate about the history of the Hydro Majestic, of its heritage and of its importance to the area," Ms Wood said. There is also a dream to re-open the old Hydro Road Bar which fronts the highway.

Hopefully, it won't be long before the Mah family has the old girl restored to her former beauty; but even with the current setbacks, the Hydro Majestic remains a memorable weekender.

Just ask your parents.

The Sunday Telegraph