Lilianfels, Katoomba

Peter Glass: Lilianfels Resort & Spa - Katoomba

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Lilianfels in Katoomba, New South Wales is a house of historical significance and is listed on the NSW Heritage Register. It was built in 1889 by Sir Frederick Darley, Chief Justice of NSW, as his mountain retreat. The house was named Lilianfels in honour of his daughter who had recently died. Lilian was her name and fels is German for high ground. The Darleys owned the house for twenty years and then sold it. The property is now part of a resort and spa which provides accommodation, restaurant facilities and caters for special events particularly weddings.

Video Lilianfels, Katoomba

The Darley family

Sir Frederick Matthew Darley who built Lilianfels was born in Ireland on September 18, 1830. He was the son of Henry Darley who was a part of the Irish Bar. Darley was educated at Dungannon College, County Tyrone, where his uncle, the Rev. John Darley (afterwards Bishop of Kilmore), was headmaster. He went to university and was called in the Bar in 1853.

In 1860 he married in Hertfordshire Lucy Forest Browne, an Australian, who at that time was holidaying in England with her brother Thomas Alexander Browne better known as the famous author Rolf Boldrewood. Lucy was the daughter of Captain Sylvester Browne who owned a large house in Sydney called Enmore and a grazing property called Hartlands in Victoria. She was a part of the wealthy social establishment.

After discussions with Sir Alfred Stephen, then Chief Justice of NSW who was visiting his family in England at that time, Darley decided in 1862 to move to Sydney with his family and become a lawyer. He later became a Member of the NSW Parliament and fraternised with many notable people including Sir Edmund Barton who later became the first Prime Minister, Sir John Lackey, Sir William Macarthur, Sir W. Macleay, Sir Arthur Renwick, Sir John Robertson, Sir John Hay and others.

In 1878 he became a Queens Council and in 1886 he was offered the position of Chief Justice which he accepted. Lady Lucy Darley was a firm believer in the health benefits of mountain air. She was the founder of a society called the Fresh Air League. It was possibly this that helped them to make the decision in 1888 to buy over 11 acres of land adjacent to Echo Point in Katoomba. They built a house for the family over the year of 1889, designed by architect Varney Parkes (son of Henry Parkes). The property was used for a summer residence and nearly every noted visitor to Australia including royalty accepted the Darleys' hospitality to enjoy the magnificent outlook. They were constantly mentioned in the social pages as being the ones to hold house parties at their beautiful residence. In 1894 a social columnist visited the house and gave the following account.

"Yesterday we walked to "Look out Point" near which Sir Frederick Darley has built his Norwegian like villa Lilianfels. This is perhaps, one of the most beautiful mountain homes in the world, certainly the most beautiful in Australia. A magnificent view of bold mountain scenery is obtained from the verandah, which closely resembles that of Norway. The mountains are thickly wooded to their summits, and the great valleys which separate them look like immense undulating carpets worked in many shades of green. The roar of the Katoomba Falls is distinctly heard.

It is in the attempt to portray this magnificent scene that Lady Darley, brush in hand, passes many hours of her summer holiday. Their house-party is not large at present, and the time is occupied by herself and daughters in the enjoyment of these pursuits, artistic and useful for which there is little time during the whirl of a social season. Sir Frederick comes up as often as his duties permit, the girls have their horses and carts so it is not surprising that life at Lilianfels can be made ever so pleasant."

In 1907 the Darleys decided to return to England and they sold their houses in Sydney and Katoomba. The advertisement for the sale of Lilianfels is shown. It was sold in 1908 to George Begg Vickery.

Maps Lilianfels, Katoomba

Other residents

George Begg Vickery and his family used Lilianfels as a summer abode for four years and then sold it to Albert Alexander Kemp (1864-1841). He and his wife Eliza Jane used the house as a permanent residence. They held numerous fetes and fund raising activities on the property and invited friends and others to enjoy the breathtaking views. One journalist described his appreciation of the outlook in the following terms.

"What views there are from the outlooks that are within the Lilianfels enclosure, and to which the present kindly hostess of the home courteously shows me. In front lies the Jamieson Valley. Densely wooded, with a little clearing here and there; undulating in every part, and with a brooklet making music as it meanders along its course and with crags and peaks of varying outline and form. The scene is one that needs the pen of a poet or the brush of an artist to do justice to it. Moreover, it is never twice the same.

"On another occasion it was our privilege to view the panorama as the sun was setting. With what a glory and splendour the rays of the departing day seemed to invest every aspect and feature of the scene."

The Kemps sold the property in 1920 to James Joynton Smith a flamboyant entrepreneur. In 1923 Samuel George Baker bought the house and for the next 30 years leased it to various people as a guest house. It continued to be used as a guest house until 1992 when it a new complex was built on the adjoining block of land. Today the Country House consists of 81 guest rooms and 4 suites with a 19th century-styled décor, reading room, billiards room and lobby lounge overlooking the Jamison Valley. Darley's restaurant is located within the original summer home.