Leura Village

Widely known as the ‘Garden Village’, Leura is renowned for its magnificent mix of private and public gardens, and the spectacular row of cherry trees that line Leura Mall.

Beautiful at any time of year, this Upper Mountains village is home to around 4,400 people and sits between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba, at an elevation of 985 metres. The word Leura is Aboriginal for ‘lava’ and many volcanic stones have been found in the area.

Visitors flock here just as much for the fabulous shopping and world class eateries as they do for the surrounds. Walk along Leura Mall and through to Megalong Street carpark, and you’ll discover an eclectic mix of shops selling everything from vintage fashion and handcrafted goods made by local artisans to furniture, leather goods, lingerie, beauty products and native plants.

When seeking out a dining spot, expect to a find plenty of Mod Oz options, along with Indian, Thai, French and Chinese cuisine. Excellent coffee is a given at Leura’s great mix of cafes. A visit to Bygone Beautys to view the largest private teapot collection in the world and to enjoy a traditional High Tea in style is a valuable detour from the main shopping strip. Turn back time as you browse antique jewellery, furniture, fine china, dinner services and toys. www.bygonebeautys.com.au

One unexpected joy in the village is Leura Toy Shop, packed with an amazing array of popular and unusual toys. The shop display is child fantasy themed and will prove a delightful distraction for the children, young and not so young.

Another fascinating venue is Leuralla, former Evatt home and now museum. It’s elegance, extensive gardens and museum pieces and toys are worth a visit.

One spot worth pulling out your picnic rug for is Everglades Historic House & Gardens, open daily. Presided over by the National Trust and considered one of the country’s foremost heritage gardens, Everglades combines European-style gardens with native Australian bush and breathtaking views. It was designed in the 1930s by Danish horticulturist and architect Paul Sorenson, and changes with the seasons. The former squash court building has been beautifully converted into a light and airy art gallery which displays ever changing exhibitions.

If you fancy a round or two with spectacular scenery as your backdrop, book in at Leura Golf Club. Established in 1902, this 18hole course is the oldest in the Blue Mountains. It’s located on Sublime Point Road, which takes you to Sublime Point – a popular rock-climbing and bushwalking area. The lookout platform on the point gives you a sense of standing on the very edge of the world.

Leura’s annual events attract thousands of visitors at various times throughout the year. The excitement starts in January with the Leura Shakespeare Festival, presented by the Sport for Jove Theatre Co. and conducted outdoors at Everglades Garden.

The Leura Harvest Festival, set to be held on Leura Mall on the first Sunday of May and focuses on a theme of ‘fresh, regional and sustainable’. This great community event gives local chefs, providores, producers and sustainability experts the chance to demonstrate their skills. Highlights include the popular chook show, jam-making competition and sustainability talks.

The Leura Gardens Festival, in October (cancelled in 2020 due to Covid19), sees the whole of Leura on display, with some of the region’s most glorious private gardens opening up over six days in order to raise funds for the Blue Mountains Hospital and other health-related charities. The final weekend of the festival coincides with another must-do event – the Leura Village Fair, which has been running for over 30 years. Held across two days and attracting visitors from all over the state, the fair sees over 130 stalls setting up among the cherry blossoms on Leura Mall and spilling into Megalong Street carpark. If you’ve never seen pink cherry blossoms in full bloom, add the fair to your calendar and join in the family fun!

Fall in Love with Everglades House & Gardens This Winter

With so much to experience, a visit to Everglades can easily consume the better part of your day. Art, architecture, education, play, shopping, horticulture, scenic walks, cream teas, picnics, and peaceful meditations amid the glorious surroundings can envelop you in its uniquely secluded world. This 1930s treasure was designed by Australia’s ‘Master Gardener’ Paul Sorensen for Belgian-born Sydney businessman Henri Van de Velde.

The central architectural jewel of the property, Everglades House, is an authentic, fully-restored, 1930s Art Deco home. Its splendid interior boasts an extraordinary red-tiled bathroom, magnificent stairway, genuine state-of-the-art Art Deco fixtures and carefully selected period furnishings.

Outdoors, over five hectares of meticulously maintained European-style gardens and carefully conserved areas of native vegetation overlook Blue Mountains National Park and its sweeping views over the Jamison Valley to Mount Solitary.

Terraced lawns and garden beds, pools, sculpted sandstone fountains, grassy glades and a fabulous waterfall are dramatically set against stunning natural wilderness. There are seemingly endless walks and views for you to enjoy, all with their own excellent photo opportunities.

In winter the bones of these spectacular gardens are laid bare as miles of stone walls and winding paths are bathed in the sunlight shining through exposed tree branches.

Our Tea Rooms, where you can enjoy a deliciously warming Devonshire tea with lashings of jam and fresh whipped cream, are open each weekend from 11am – 3pm.

At the entrance, our Shop offers a superb range of gifts, many handmade locally: books, stationery, collectables, apparel, toys and homewares that express the unique nature of Everglades.

Young heritage explorers can occupy themselves with the My Adventure at Everglades activity pack to learn while they play with its 16-page booklet of educational fun and games, Garden Detective and Sculpture Trail. Additional Play Stations are situated throughout the grounds.

Visit the National Trust of Australia (NSW) website for opening times and scheduled events: nationaltrust.org.au/places/everglades-house-gardens Follow us on Facebook for all our latest stories: @EvergladesNationalTrust

Leura’s Village Nursery offering: Water features Gorgeous Seasonal Colour Cold Climate Plants & Trees Beautiful Gifts & Homewares with a Garden Theme Qualified Horticulturists to advise on your gardening needs Come and enjoy our delightful garden adjacent to the Leura Car Park

Everglades House & Gardens

WHERE ART DECO GRACE MEETS THE MAGIC OF NATURE

(02) 4784 1938 @EvergladesNationalTrust everglades@nationaltrust.com.au

Everglades House art deco stairway referred to in the adjacent article

Autumn at Birches of Leura Winter at Birches of Leura

A BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN GARDEN! A BEAUTIFUL WINTER GARDEN! Birches of Leura is a beautiful boutique nursery located right in the centre of the village. Come and browse to the soft music of fountains splashing in the sunshine and spend a little time in a place of calm and serenity, while enjoying all that autumn in the Blue Mountains has to offer.

Birches of Leura is a beautiful boutique nursery located right in the centre of the village. Come and browse to the soft music of fountains splashing in the sunshine and spend a little time in a place of calm and serenity, while enjoying all that autumn Now is the time to decide on that special specimen tree or shrub to fill your in the Blue Mountains has to offer. garden with the glorious reds, oranges and golds of the season. It’s also time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, and Birches have all your favourites –Daffodils, Jonquils, Bluebells, Freesias (just like Granny’s) and of course, Tulips. This year they have a great range of specialist varieties so you can plan and plant your own spectacular display. Now is the time to decide on that special specimen tree or shrub to fill your garden with the glorious reds, oranges and golds of the season. It’s also time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, and Birches is well known for their fabulous potted colour range and vast selection of herbs and cottage plants. In addition, they have fresh cut flowers which can be beautifully gift-wrapped for that special person in your life. Plant hire is also available for occasions, conferences or meetings. Birches are happy to offer both long or short-term rentals. Birches have all your favourites –Daffodils, Jonquils, Bluebells, Freesias (just like Granny’s) and of course, Tulips. This year they have a great range of specialist varieties so you can plan and plant your own spectacular display. For the serious winter gardeners and specialist growers, they offer a stunning Birches is well known for their fabulous range of Sproutwell Greenhouses, so come in and see our display. Delivery can potted colour range and vast selection be arranged anywhere in NSW or Victoria.of herbs and cottage plants. In addition, they have fresh cut flowers which can Sustainable gardening is here to stay. Come and chat about ways you can still be beautifully gift-wrapped for that special have a great garden while also saving water. We have sustainable wall gardens and person in your life. self-watering veg/ flower tubs on display and can advise you what is the best solution for your particular requirements. For the serious winter gardeners and specialist growers, they offer a stunning range of Sproutwell Greenhouses, so come in and see our display. Delivery can be For the indoor gardener, there arranged anywhere in NSW or Victoria. is a great variety of succulents Sustainable gardening is here to stay. and decorative plants, both Come and chat about ways you can still large and small, hanging and have a great garden while also saving water. climbing, with fantastic pots to We have sustainable wall gardens match. Gift vouchers are also and self-watering veg/ flower tubs on available. display and can advise you what is the best solution for your particular requirements. “Our aim is to provide everyone with a tranquil beautiful space to enjoy as they will.” say owners Christine and Piercarlo. “Our friendly qualified staff is always ready to help with all For the indoor gardener, there is a great variety of succulents and decorative plants, both large and small, hanging and climbing, with fantastic pots to match. Gift vouchers are also available. your gardening requirements, “Our aim is to provide a tranquil beautiful so come and enjoy good space to enjoy as they will.” say new old-fashioned customer service owners Bruce and Rosemary Hart. “Our with a smile!” friendly qualified staff always ready to help with all your gardening requirements, Birches of Leura is conveniently so come and enjoy good old-fashioned located opposite Woolworths, customer service with a smile!” adjacent to the Leura council car park off Megalong Street and is open 10am-5pm every Birches of Leura is conveniently located opposite Woolworths, adjacent to the Leura council car park off Megalong day. Street and is open 10am-5pm every day.