Wentworth Falls: An outdoorsy village with a real sense of community

Stewart Robinson spent his formative teen years in the Blue Mountains and says once he reached adulthood  he “couldn’t get out of here fast enough”.

He returned in 1997, and it’s now Sydney he avoids.

He initially lived in Katoomba but bought a house in Wentworth Falls two years ago with his partner, Paul.

“We’re very happy here, it’s a great little village to live in,” Stewart says.

“There’s a real sense of community – we’ve all got each other’s numbers, we leave notes in the letterboxes if we’re away. It reminds me of Sydney when I was a child, where everyone knew each other and you talked over the fence.”

New beginnings

Stewart is the owner of the iconic Silk’s Brasserie which operated from Leura Mall for more than 25 years before relocating to Silvermere Guest House in Wentworth Falls last year.

The charming house and gardens have proven the perfect setting for Silk’s sophisticated food and service, and Stewart has the “wonderful problem” of regularly turning diners away due to having a full house.

Locals Jelena and Bart Biazik secured a booking earlier this year and agree it’s the perfect restaurant for a special occasion.

The Biaziks moved from Sydney’s Newington to Wentworth Falls in January, a classic case of COVID tree changers.

“Both of our companies were quite flexible with us working from home,” says Bart.

“I was working in Bella Vista for the last four years, but now I can go into the office two to three times a week.”

The couple were regular visitors to the mountains while living in Sydney and were married in Blackheath, so when they made the decision to leave city life behind they spent six months exploring the villages.

They gravitated towards Wentworth Falls, especially after discovering the lake on the town’s north side.

The great outdoors

“There are paddleboards and kayaks on the lake [and] water holes for swimming,” Jelena says.

The couple are keen bushwalkers, and their favourite walks in the area include National Pass and the Valley of the Waters track.

McGrath Blue Mountains agent Matthew Gale has lived in Wentworth Falls his whole life and says the town is great for “outdoorsy” people, with the lake, a golf course and a host of bushwalks, from easy to challenging.

He says it also offers just enough amenity for daily convenience while still maintaining the “peace and quiet” the locals love.

“We do the bulk of our shopping in Wentworth Falls – there’s a great butcher and great general stores,” Matthew says.

The Biaziks are fans of Bakery Patisserie Schwarz, Mountain High Pies and Cafe Aliment, and Gale adds Il Postino’s as a favourite for both breakfast and lunch.

One to watch

This offering of two titles and two homes is set within walking distance of the Conservation Hut, bushwalks and world-class views.

The character-filled larger residence is wrapped in beautiful gardens and has four bedrooms and a selection of living spaces, while the two-bedroom cottage has its own rustic charm.

Matthew Gale of McGrath Blue Mountains is selling the home with a guide of $3 million.

SOLD - $2,020,000

23 Fitzgerald Street, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782

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