Chalets at Blackheath takes Blue Mountains accommodation to a new level of sophistication
This intimate bush-luxe retreat, built from the ashes from the Black Summer bushfires, takes Blue Mountains accommodation to a new level of sophistication.
There’s a lyrebird around here somewhere. It sounds like a crimson rosella. Or a satin bowerbird, or a chortling kookaburra. Sometimes it mimics the squeaky-gate screech of a gang-gang cockatoo. The Blue Mountains bush is alive with birdsong, some of it real, some of it the work of this native Australian trickster, one of the natural world’s most accurate copycats. Lyrebirds have been known to imitate car alarms and chainsaws, even camera shutters. They’re notoriously shy, and sightings are rare. But you can tell it’s a lyrebird, apparently, as its song goes on just a little too long, like a diva reluctant to leave the stage. “That one’s our lyrebird,” our Chalets at Blackheath host says, as a suspiciously drawn-out melody ripples through the alpine air.
Along with an echidna and a musclebound wallaroo, this intimate bush-luxe retreat – with four large, freestanding chalets – is home to a resident lyrebird named Leonard. He can imitate the calls of about 20 different species, but he also does a convincing impersonation of a spray can.
It’s a rare synthetic sound in this pristine bushscape, and its inclusion in Leonard’s repertoire is jarring, a lingering reminder of recent building works. Hard to believe, but just three years ago, this 7ha plot of natural bushland in the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area was a blackened wasteland. The Black Summer bushfires that swept through the mountains in 2019-2020 had decimated the 100 or so cabins of the former Jemby Rinjah eco-lodge, built by Blue Mountains civic stalwart Peter Quirk in 1987. Most of the landscape was charred to a crisp.
But where others saw ashes, co-owner and general manager Angela O’Connell saw a phoenix. Chalets at Blackheath is the newest addition to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, and it’s a tribute to her vision, taking Blue Mountains accommodation to a new level of sophistication. Six more chalets are planned, as well as a spa, an outdoor lounge area with a glasshouse, and a magnesium pool.
After purchasing the property in 2020, O’Connell worked with local ecologists and bush regenerators to coax the scorched landscape back to life, first identifying and removing the seedlings of nearly 100 different native species. These were taken to a rescue nursery in Katoomba to be rehabilitated while construction took place, and then replanted. The result is an emerging natural landscape of grass trees, laurels and conesticks, with little sign of human intervention; the remaining blackened trees are softened by new growth and add to the drama of the vista. Combining style with sustainability, the wilderness getaway is a high-end showcase for biophilic design, an architecture and design style that creates a sense of harmony between the natural world and manmade spaces.
Meandering rammed-earth paths link a Tribal Council-style communal firepit, a native edible garden fenced off against curious kangaroos, and the library, a restful common room with a steadily roaring fire and a carefully curated selection of books showcasing Australiana.
The four glass-fronted cabins, made from clay, timber, hemp and stone, are spaced well apart, facing bushward, to ensure maximum privacy; sliding doors open to a deck with sun beds and an outdoor barbecue. With a king-sized bed clothed in Frette linen as the centrepiece, each high-ceilinged studio has a wood-burning fireplace and a kitchenette. There are well-stocked Subzero wine fridges, a minibar filled with local craft beer and pre-made cocktails, as well as a complimentary snack drawer. The impressive limestone bathroom, which takes up nearly half of the chalet’s footprint, has twin rain showers and a freestanding bath with bush views.
Every design detail is immaculately tasteful, organic textures and materials combining with a calming, earth-toned colour palette to link the facilities with the local environs. A painting by Wiradjuri artist Hannah Lange that hangs in the library incorporates charcoal from the property.
It’s easy to feel the line between nature and our accommodation blurring. Is the chalet part of the bush surrounds, or is it the other way round? Lulled by tranquil birdsong (and the occasional whoosh of a spray can) we find ourselves grateful for the gently misting rain. It’s permission to cocoon – an excuse to swap the depleting exertions of a bush hike for a two-day sloth. We emerge as if rinsed clean.
Chalets at Blackheath
Perfect for: Honeymooners and other romantics, stressed-out city dwellers, international visitors looking for a true bush experience.
Must do: Book an in-room massage; walk or take an e-bike 600m to Evans Lookout for panoramic views of the Grose Valley, with its grand sandstone cliffs. A 3km clifftop walk takes you to Govetts Leap lookout; the Grand Canyon walk through waterfall-dotted forest awaits the more intrepid hiker.
Dining: Do try garden-to-plate Blaq Restaurant and Bar in nearby Blackheath. If you’re keen to stay in, BBQ platters, charcuterie boards and cheese platters can be provided to the chalets.
Getting there: Blackheath is a two-hour drive west of Sydney.
Rates: Chalets are $1300 a night; a rollaway bed is available for an extra $140. Room rates include daily continental breakfast.
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