History of
Lilypad Luxury Cabins

Prior to Lilypad being created, the property was part of one of the few remaining dairy farms in Hydes Creek. In 1993 the farm was sold and Lilypad was subdivided as its own property. At that time the land consisted of cleared dairy paddocks that were heavily degraded. There were a few Silky Oaks eaten down to stumps by cattle, and an overgrown swamp existed where the ponds are situated today.

After building the house, the original owners decided to dig out the swamp in front of the house and turn it into a lake. The spoil they dug out of the swamp became the island you see today and terraced cottage style gardens around the house. They planted many of the exotic trees that are now well established on the property. In the early 2000’s they also established a blackbutt plantation on the western side of the property where the woodland exists today.

In 2003 the property was sold and slowly went through a second round of improvements. As native enthusiasts, the owners removed most of the cottage gardens and replaced them with various native plants. They improved the blackbutt woodland with a variety of boutique forest species native to the area including Tallow Wood, Hoop Pine, White Mahogany and Red Cedar. In 2010/11 the cabins were built and the swamp in front of the cabins was excavated to form a large pond. In 2012, Lilypad Luxury Cabins was formally established and opened to the public.

Having purchased the property in 2020, we have continued to pour a lot of love into it. Clearing clumps of bamboo and a number of weed trees that had established along the pond banks, we’ve opened up the views and allowed the sunlight back in. We’ve rebuilt the arbour at the entry to the island bridge, installed a small pier for our dingy ‘Froglet’, finessed and replanted the terraced gardens as perennial beds, and completely replanted the gardens in front of the cabins with native flowering plants to bring in the birds. Our intention has been to work with the existing garden, melding natives with exotics in a way that enhances habitat for native species. In the future we are working towards constructing a series of bridges across the waterways to allow easy access to all parts of the property, along with a relaxation deck, next to our fountain.

Ultimately, we love sharing our property Lilypad, and watching our guests enjoy it just as much as we do. Why not book a weekend getaway and experience it for yourselves.