Our Story

Long before it became Katoomba Slow, our little cottage was part of the earliest European settlement of Katoomba, built in the 1880s to house miners working in the Jamison Valley.

Originally situated near Katoomba Falls, it was one of a collection of modest weatherboard cottages that provided homes for the men working in John Britty North's mining operations.

More than a century later, we're fortunate to be the custodians of this little piece of mountain history.

A Cottage with a Past

Wooden plaque with handwritten cursive inscription reading “Y. J. Mesoll K” and “Marie.”

This Maker’s Mark was discovered on the back of one of the cottage’s weatherboards, during the 2021 restoration process

A Cottage on the Move

Black-and-white historical photograph of a bullock dray pulling a demountable miner's cottage through a rural settlement .

Mining began in the Jamison Valley in the early 1870s, with the establishment of the Katoomba Coal Mine, later known as the Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Company. By 1878, more than 100 men were employed in the mines, and a small settlement had grown around Katoomba Falls.

As the township developed around the railway station and the newly built Great Western Hotel, now known as the Carrington, the mining settlement gradually gave way to a new chapter.

During the 1890s, many of the original miners' cottages were moved closer to town. Ours was among those purchased by Patrick Mullaney in 1895 and relocated to land he owned around Leichhardt and Clissold Streets.

Mullaney, a former mayor of Katoomba and owner of Mullaney's Emporium, used the cottages to house his workers. So many were relocated to the area that it became affectionately known as Paddy's Town.

And there our little cottage remained, quietly becoming part of Katoomba's evolving story.

Vintage single-story weatherboard cottage with a corrugated metal roof, front porch, fenced garden, and number 20 on the door

A New Chapter

The beginning of our story

When we first came across the cottage, it had been sitting empty for more than thirty years. Time had not been particularly kind to it. Over the decades, rooms had been altered, additions made and verandahs enclosed, leaving a rather tired little building that was slowly falling apart.

Fortunately, we had a glimpse of what it had once been. My parents had owned an almost identical cottage just a few doors down, so we knew something of its original character and the simple charm we hoped to bring back.

We’re both romantics with a soft spot for Australian history, and we loved the idea of giving this little miner’s cottage another life. We shared the dream, and Ian, a timber boatbuilder, had the skills to help make it happen. As it turned out, years spent restoring old timber boats were rather good preparation for bringing an old timber cottage back to life.

Person removing damaged drywall to expose wood paneling during wall renovation
Person removing damaged drywall to expose wood paneling during wall renovation

Bringing Her Back to Life

Unfinished, weathered room with wood-paneled walls, pink ceiling, exposed studs, windows, and torn flooring.
Unfinished, weathered room with wood-paneled walls, pink ceiling, exposed studs, windows, and torn flooring.
Pair of vintage Art Deco leaded glass door panels in distressed painted frames at an architectural salvage shop
Pair of vintage Art Deco leaded glass door panels in distressed painted frames at an architectural salvage shop

The restoration became less about what we wanted to do and more about what we could do with the bare bones that remained. We had to rethink the layout, finding ways to make the cottage comfortable while staying true to its humble beginnings.

It was a labour of love, spread over two years of weekends, with plenty of figuring things out as we went.

We knew we wanted a home that reflected the way we love to spend time away as a family. A little potbelly stove to gather around, a deep clawfoot bath to linger in, and a living room where the television wasn't the centre of attention.

Ian made much of the timberwork by hand, including the kitchen from reclaimed boat timbers, while salvaged treasures and thoughtful details found their way into the rooms.

There was no grand plan, just a shared appreciation for old things, simple pleasures and the chance to give this cottage another life.

What We Started With

Old-fashioned kitchen with a vintage stove, sink, countertop, wall clock, hanging frying pan, and worn linoleum flooring
Cozy vintage living room with a wood-burning stove, retro television, floral sofa, chandelier, and bright window.
Small vintage bathroom with a bathtub, colorful polka-dot shower curtain, striped curtain, pedestal sink, and black-and-white mosaic tile floor.
Two wooden chairs in a sunlit room beside opaque windows with blinds

It really was a family affair, with everyone keen to lend a hand, even the littlest ones.

There was plenty of hard work, a bit of trial and error, and lots of weekends spent figuring things out as we went.

We'd roll out our swags on the floor and camp in the cottage, with the kids especially loving the reward of a family movie at the end of the day, projected straight onto the bare weatherboards once we finally had walls again.

A Family Affair

Person in a hooded sweatshirt reaching toward a wall-mounted electrical outlet
Man and child standing on scaffolding beside a house under renovation
Woman using a pry bar to open a weathered wooden door
Young boy sitting on a damaged porch beside exposed floor joists during home construction
Children installing a wooden glass-paneled door on a porch, using a cordless drill and level.
Three people carrying tools beside a house under renovation in a wooded backyard
Woman in a wide-brimmed hat holding a colorful bouquet of dahlias in front of a doorway
Child climbing an extension ladder onto a house roof under a clear blue sky
Adult and child using a handheld power tool to repair wooden deck boards.
Bearded man in an orange shirt leaning beside a wooden kitchen island and black freestanding stove.
Man and child sanding a wooden frame outdoors on sawhorses
Smiling woman and girl taking a selfie in a cozy room with a movie projected on the wall behind them

A Little Cottage, Reimagined

The cottage looks a little different these days.

What was once the kitchen is now our bathroom, part of an old bedroom has become the kitchen, and the original bathroom is now home to our fridge and kitchen hutch. We moved things around, made the most of every corner and somehow found a place for everything we loved.

What emerged is a cottage that still feels very much connected to its past, but works beautifully for the way we love to spend time away. And now, it's a place we're so happy to share with others.

Bright vintage bathroom with a clawfoot bathtub, tiled walls, frosted window, dark towels, and a wooden stool
Cozy window seat with floral pillows, blue throw blanket, checked skirt, and floor lamp
Stylish kitchen with black range oven, green square tile backsplash, wooden countertops, knife rack, and decorative shelves.
Cozy living room with a lit wood-burning stove, firewood basket, and armchair draped with a pink blanket

We're so grateful to have had the chance to bring this little cottage back to life, and even happier to be able to share it.

We hope you love spending time here as much as we do.

Rebecca & Ian