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HARTLEY VALE HISTORY
Our valley was once home to the bustling community supporting the Hartley Vale shale mine (c.1865). Remnants of the settlement are found throughout the Vale, along the old winder trails, pits and Hartley Cemetery. Nearby, the Comet Inn has been accommodating locals and tourists since 1879. Down the road, Collits' Inn (c.1823) once served travellers en route to Bathurst and now hosts weddings and functions.
THE STORY OF LAWSON PARK
Long Alley Barn
We have uncovered this special place at Lawson Park. It was our ugly duckling, yet we always knew behind the dirt floor, the rickety loft was a beauty of outback charm. We pulled away the overgrown plants and farm clutter and fought off the bushfire flames to unveil a beautiful spot to share! The Barn was a shared vision with our Master Craftsman, Rene Jol. Together we reimagined an intimate space to relax and celebrate life’s special events. Long Alley Barn is now a rural retreat offering Blue Mountains accommodation, elopements and microweddings. It is a place to experience natural beauty in the great outdoors without compromising quality accommodation.
The Garden and Its Studio
In December 2019, the devastating Gosper Mountain Fires jumped into our valley and laid bare our landscape. It took the much-loved kitchen garden feature at Lawson Park. From the kitchen garden, we enjoyed 360-degree views of the valley, its majestic tree-covered slopes, cliffs and beautiful sunsets. The challenge was to determine how to replace this place and honour its past. Rene Jol once again listened to my ideas and helped me realise a 'little' garden shed. Now a character-filled Studio in our new garden is ready as a backdrop to Elopements & Microweddings.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine
She pays us back threefold.
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.
- Dorothy McKeller
We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Dharug and Wiradjuri people, and pay respect to the Elders, past and present. We are committed to learning about the history of First Nations Australians in the Hartley Vale region and welcome any information or correspondence.
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