Tarella Cottage Museum

19/11/2025

BLUE MOUNTAINS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Tarella Historic Cottage Museum Open Day
Sunday 30 November 2025

The Blue Mountains Historical Society (BMHS) will conduct its last Community Open Day for 2025 at Tarella, its Historic Cottage Museum, on Sunday 30 November 2025 from 10am to 3pm at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.

Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage, furnished with period furniture, some of which is linked to the original owners, the McLaughlin family. The cottage provides an insight into domestic life at that time, including in the original kitchen, where tasty titbits are often cooked on the open fire for visitors on Open Days..

Younger children might also enjoy following our new gnome trail throughout our gardens.

An entrance fee of $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and inspection of the BMHS Research facilities.

Morning and afternoon tea, and, occasionally, soup and buns, will be available in the separate kitchen in the Society’s research building.

20/10/2025

Tarella Cottage Museum Open Day
Sunday 26 October 2025, 10am to 3pm.
Blue Mountains Historical Society, 99 Blaxland Road Wentworth Falls.
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage, furnished with period furniture, some of which is linked to the original owners, the McLaughlin family.
The portrait for this post is Ida McLaughlin, sister of Beryl. They were never far from each other and both were generous members of the society. Tarella provides an insight into domestic life at that time, including in the original kitchen, where tasty tidbits are often cooked on the open fire for visitors on Open Days.
Younger children might also enjoy following our new gnome trail throughout our gardens.
An entrance fee of $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and inspection of the BMHS Research facilities. Morning and afternoon tea, and, occasionally, soup and buns, will be available in the separate kitchen in the Society’s research building.

23/09/2025

Tarella Cottage Museum Open Day
Sunday 28 September 2025, 10am to 3pm.
Blue Mountains Historical Society, 99 Blaxland Road Wentworth Falls.
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage, furnished with period furniture, some of which is linked to the original owners, the McLaughlin family. The cottage provides an insight into domestic life at that time, including in the original kitchen, where tasty tidbits are often cooked on the open fire for visitors on Open Days.
Younger children might also enjoy following our new gnome trail throughout our gardens.
An entrance fee of $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and inspection of the BMHS Research facilities. Morning and afternoon tea, and, occasionally, soup and buns, will be available in the separate kitchen in the Society’s research building..

21/08/2025

Sunday August 31st is OPEN DAY at Tarella Cottage Museum.
Blue Mountains Historical Society - 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls. 10am to 3pm.
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage which was owned by the McLaughlin family. You can learn about individual family members on 'eHive', including Beryl Mary McLaughlin who bequeathed the property to the Blue Mountains Historical Society. Tarella provides an insight into domestic life in earlier times, including in the original kitchen, where tasty tidbits are often cooked on an open fire for visitors. Younger children might also enjoy following our gnome trail throughout the gardens.
An entrance fee of $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and inspection of the nearby BMHS Research Rooms.
Morning and afternoon tea, and occasionally soup and buns, will be available in the Research Rooms and the Society’s research facilities will also be available for inspection.

The site of the Blue Mountains Historical Society was previously owned by the McLaughlin family of Waverley in Sydney. The property includes the McLaughlin's weatherboard holiday cottage 'Tarella' built in 1890. After the sale of their Sydney home 'Yanko', their small mountains cottage retreat, with...

21/08/2025

Sunday August 31st is OPEN DAY at Tarella Cottage Museum.
Blue Mountains Historical Society - 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls. 10am to 3pm.
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage, furnished with period furniture, some of which is linked to the original owners, the McLaughlin family. The cottage provides an insight into domestic life at that time, including in the original kitchen, where tasty tidbits are often cooked on the open fire for visitors. Younger children might also enjoy following our gnome trail throughout our gardens.
An entrance fee of $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and inspection of the nearby BMHS Research Rooms.
Morning and afternoon tea, and occasionally soup and buns, will be available in the Research Rooms and the Society’s research facilities will also be available for inspection.

21/07/2025

Our next Tarella Cottage Museum OPEN DAY
Sunday 27 July 2025
10am to 3pm at Blue Mountains Historical Society -99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls NSW

Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage, furnished with period furniture, some of which is linked to the original owners, the McLaughlin family. The cottage provides an insight into domestic life at that time, including in the original kitchen, where tasty tidbits are often cooked on the open fire during open days. Younger children might also enjoy following our new Gnome Trail throughout our gardens.
An entrance fee of $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and inspection of the BMHS research facilities. Morning and afternoon tea, and occasionally soup and buns, will be available in the separate BMHS Research Rooms and the Society’s research facilities will also be available for inspection.

16/05/2025

TARELLA OPEN DAY - SUNDAY MAY 25th 2025
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage and obtain a glimpse of domestic life at that time, including the original kitchen, where often tasty tidbits are cooked on the open fire for visitors to taste.
The house is furnished with appropriate period furniture, most items of which are linked to the era or to the McLaughlin family, who built and occupied the house.
Ada Amanda Moore of Randwick married John McLaughlin much to the distress of her Uncle Charles Moore of Coogee & Randwick! A councillor until 1886, Charles Moore was elected as mayor in 1863. He was also a member of the Botany-Randwick-Coogee Roads Trust. In December 1865 he was elected to the Sydney City Council for Bourke Ward and was mayor 1867-69. (Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol 5) He also had a home in Springwood NSW.
In addition to viewing the McLaughlin's cottage, an exhibition of photographs and information focusing on the story of Aviation in the Blue Mountains remains on show.
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10am to 3pm at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.
An entrance fee of $5.00, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and the Aviation exhibition.
Morning and afternoon tea will be available in the separate BMHS Research Rooms and the Society’s research facilities will also be available for inspection.

24/04/2025

Lest We Forget.
In memory of Geoffrey McLaughlin.

Anzac Day.
This day of days again we keep
In memory of those who sleep
Forever by the quiet sea
Away in far Gallipoli.

‘Tis Anzac Day! ‘Tis Anzac Day!
OH, soldier comrades far away
You died in war, may we live in peace
So live and love that war may cease.

24/04/2025

TARELLA - APRIL OPEN DAY
Sunday 27 April 2025 from 10am to 3pm at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage and obtain a glimpse of domestic life at that time, including the original kitchen and furnishings linked to the era and to the McLaughlin family who built and occupied the house.
In addition, an exhibition of photographs and information focusing on the story of Aviation in the Blue Mountains remains open in the cottage display room.
An entrance fee of $5.00, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and the Aviation exhibition.
Morning and afternoon tea will be available in the separate BMHS Research Rooms and the Society’s research facilities will also be available for inspection.

22/03/2025

Tarella OPEN DAY Sunday 30 March 2025
10am to 3pm at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage and obtain a glimpse of domestic life at that time, including the original kitchen and furnishings linked to the era and to the McLaughlin family who built and occupied the house.
In addition, an exhibition focusing on the story of Aviation in the Blue Mountains will be open in the cottage display room.
An entrance fee of $5.00, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and the Aviation exhibition.
Morning and afternoon tea will be available in the separate BMHS Research Rooms and the Society’s research facilities will also be available for inspection.

12/02/2025

OPEN DAY & EXHIBITION - Sunday February 23rd
10am to 3pm at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.
Visitors are invited to view this fine example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage and obtain a glimpse of domestic life at that time, including the original kitchen and furnishings linked to the era and to the McLaughlin family who built and occupied the house.
In addition, an exhibition focusing on the story of Aviation in the Blue Mountains will be open in the cottage display room.
An entrance fee of $5.00, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and the Aviation exhibition.
Morning and afternoon tea will be available in the separate BMHS Research Rooms and the Society’s research facilities will also be available for inspection.

15/01/2025

OPEN DAY - January 2025
Tarella Historic Cottage Museum Open day and Aviation Exhibition – Sunday 26 January 2025
The Blue Mountains Historical Society (BMHS) will conduct an Open Day of Tarella, its Historic Cottage Museum, on Sunday 26 January 2025 from 10am to 3pm at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.
Visitors are invited to view this example of a late 19th century Blue Mountains holiday cottage and obtain a glimpse of domestic life at that time, including the original kitchen and furnishings linked to the era and to the McLaughlin family who built and occupied the house.
In addition, an exhibition focusing on the story of Aviation in the Blue Mountains will be open in the cottage display room for the first time.
An entrance fee of $5.00, $2.00 for school age children, covers both entry to the cottage and the Aviation exhibition.
Morning and afternoon tea will be available in the separate BMHS Research Rooms and the Society’s facilities will also be available for inspection.