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Heritage Newsletter of the Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc November-December 2015 ISSUE 41 ISSN 2203-4366 The Hydro Majestic Hotel The iconic hotel was created by Mark Foy the Sydney businessman, sportsman and playboy, in 1904. The initial complex comprised three earlier buildings: The single storey country retreat of WH Hargraves, son of Edward Hargraves of gold discovery fame. This home had been built in two stages, a Victorian style cottage, followed by a two storey extension which became the Delmonte Hallway. Hargraves land also included 9km of bush walking tracks, available to the public. Foy leased the property in 1902 and purchased it in 1903. The existing hotel called the Belgravia, opened in 1891 by Mr & Mrs Ellis. Cottage owned by local solicitor Alfred Tucker. In 1904 Mark Foy created his hydropathic establishment, opening the facility on 4th July to attract American visitors, advertising cures for nervous, alimentary, respiratory and circulatory ailments, but did not include sufferers of infectious diseases and mental illness. 1 HERITAGE November-December 2015 He believed that the land contained mineral springs, although this was probably in error, as Foy was importing mineral water from Germany. The town was then known as Medlow, and Foy petitioned the NSW Government to change the name to Medlow Bath. Belgravia Hargraves House Tucker cottage Hydro Majestic 1904 - Casino A striking prefabricated casino was brought in from Chicago, and erected between Hargravia and Belgravia with the picture gallery joining the buildings together. The dome was built to Foy’s specifications and dismantled for shipping. Guests enjoyed the magnificent view over the Megalong Valley and a resident Swiss doctor, George Baur, attended to their ailments.
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