About Us

Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms is home of the world’s largest private collection of teawares. Established in 1992, Bygone Beautys reflects and preserves the diversity of Australian tea-drinking culture.

Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms

Wander through the museum and discover more than 5,500 teapots, spanning five centuries and including teapots from all over the world, most of which were collected within Australia over the last 40 years. Relax in our tearooms and enjoy lunch or light refreshments, served with ‘olde-worlde’ charm on fine bone china. Devonshire Tea is the house specialty or indulge in our famous Traditional High Tea.

History of Bygone Beautys

The collection started in 1974, when Ronald Hooper, a previous joint owner of Bygone Beautys, came across a geisha girl teapot, made in England in the 19th Century. Like any piece of decorative art, this teapot sat proudly on Ron’s dresser and before long it was accompanied by many more teapots.

In 1992, Ronald Hooper and Maurice Cooper OAM, the current proprietor, joined forces to create Bygone Beautys. Maurice quickly matched Ron’s collection to give equality to the partnership.

Located close to the famous Leura Village Mall in the picturesque Blue Mountains, the original circa 1917 building has recently been renovated (reaching completion in August 2015) to create a new museum space which better showcases the large collection of teapots and teawares.

Features

• Choose from our selection of morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea options or purchase a retail item and receive free museum entry.
• The collection of teapots are rare and collectable from Australia, America, Asia, Africa and Europe. The teapots are made from a variety of different materials.
• Tearoom capacity to accommodate up to 80 guests.
• Groups of 20 or more guests will enjoy an informative, witty and thoroughly entertaining teapot talk (provided in English).
• Specialising in tea, tea wares and a multitude of accessories, as well as gifts and souvenirs.
• Over 100 different varieties of tea and infusions available for purchase as loose leaf tea and tea bags. 
• Browse the Blue Mountains’ largest private emporium of antiques and collectables. 
• Coach parking available along Grose Street.

Availability

For our Christmas/School Holidays Trading Hours please refer to: 

*Museum entry fee of $5.50 is redeemed with an equivalent purchase in our tearooms or retail area. 

We Welcome All Ages

Featured on the Bound Round website and app, Bygone Beautys is fun for all ages.

Watch Isaac and Isabella’s review as they discover a rare collection and some afternoon treats on their visit to Bygone Beautys. For more on their afternoon, visit the Bygone Beautys Bound Round page. For more ideas of kid-reviewed activities and attractions in Australia and around the world, visit Bound Round or get the app.

*Video published on Feb 4, 2015 by Bound Round.

Proud Members of

• Blue Mountains Attractions Group
• Blue Mountains Accommodation & Tourism Association

      (BMT {Blue Mountains Tourism})

• Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations
• Shelley Collectors Club
• Australian Decorative & Fine Arts Society 
• Leura Village Association

Awards