Hydro Majestic
52–88 Great Western Highway, Medlow Bath
Stretching 1.1 kilometres along the Medlow Bath escarpment, the Hydro Majestic is perhaps the most iconic architectural landmark in the Blue Mountains. Opened in 1904 by retail magnate Mark Foy, it was originally a world-class hydropathic sanatorium where guests could ‘take the waters’. When the health retreat trend faded, Foy rebranded it into a ‘palace in the wilderness’, a decadent playground for high society.
The hotel is a fascinating mosaic of styles, featuring a famous Chicago-imported dome on the Casino Lobby and elegant Art Deco accommodation wings rebuilt after a devastating 1922 fire.
Today, it remains a luxury destination. Visitors flock to the Wintergarden for its famous high tea - served against floor-to-ceiling views of the Megalong Valley - or to Cat’s Alley, a historic gossip corridor turned sophisticated gin palace. The Hydro Majestic isn't just a hotel; it’s a living history of Australian glamour.
Photography | Hydro Majestic
Updated | March 2026
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