Bygone Beautys

Bygone Beautys Bygone Beautys is home to the world's largest private collection of teawares. The collection spans five centuries and includes more than 11,000 teapots.
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Bygones' tearooms offers tea time treats and lunches. Bookings for the tearooms call 1800 663 619 Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms is nestled in the village of Leura within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The Treasured Teapot Museum offers visitors a truly memorable experience – so don’t forget your camera! The Museum Admission of $5.50 per person is redeemed with

an equivalent purchase in the tearooms or retail area. The ultimate indulgent experience is to enjoy the famous silver-service Traditional High Tea or the ever-popular Devonshire Tea in the Bygone Beautys Tearooms. Visitors can purchase estate jewellery (gold, silver and diamonds), antiques, collectables and contemporary quality gifts - all scattered throughout the emporium. On most days you may catch the proprietor, Maurice Cooper OAM, (better known as The Teapot Man or Mr Teapot) serving customers at the front desk. Maurice will be easily recognisable wearing a bow tie, and will probably be in the midst of selling a diamond ring to a customer. Maurice and some of the staff are themsleves great examples of Bygone Beautys! Between February 2014 and August 2015, Bygone Beautys undertook major extensions and renovations including a new museum space featuring more than 5,500 teapots (some debuting publically for the first time), function room, formal tearoom and retail area specialising in all things tea-related. The revamp has been steeped to perfection and is now ready to savour.

🎉 Looking for somewhere special to celebrate this weekend?Whether you're marking a birthday, anniversary, catching up wi...
09/07/2026

🎉 Looking for somewhere special to celebrate this weekend?
Whether you're marking a birthday, anniversary, catching up with dear friends or showing overseas visitors one of the Blue Mountains' most unique attractions, Bygone Beautys offers an experience to remember.
Relax over a delicious morning tea, lunch, Devonshire Tea or one of our famous High Teas (bookings are essential for High Tea), all served with the warm hospitality that has welcomed guests for decades.
Then take a stroll through our Treasured Teapot Museum, home to more than 12,000 teapots from around the world. From elegant antiques to whimsical collectables, there's something to delight visitors of every age.
Complete your visit with a browse through our gift shop, where you'll find fine teas, beautiful teapots, tea accessories and unique gifts to remember your day.
If you're looking for somewhere that offers more than just a meal, we'd love to welcome you to Bygone Beautys this weekend and help make your special occasion even more memorable.
📍 We look forward to welcoming you to Leura this weekend.

☕ THIS or THAT?Does tea taste even better when it's shared... or savoured in peace?So tell us... which sounds more like ...
08/07/2026

☕ THIS or THAT?
Does tea taste even better when it's shared... or savoured in peace?
So tell us... which sounds more like your perfect tea break?
📖 Tea with a Book
or
💬 Tea with a Chat
Cast your vote in the comments below, and next time you're in Leura, why not enjoy your favourite way to unwind at Bygone Beautys?

Collector's Corner 🫖Anyone who knows Maurice knows that he can never resist calling into a charity or antique shop while...
07/07/2026

Collector's Corner 🫖
Anyone who knows Maurice knows that he can never resist calling into a charity or antique shop while travelling. You just never know what treasure might be waiting on the shelf!

On a recent trip away, one particularly unusual find caught his eye – this delightful vintage doll tea cosy, dressed in what appears to be traditional Spanish-inspired attire. While Maurice has seen many doll tea cosies over the years, he'd never come across one quite like this.

With her vibrant striped knitted skirt, wide-brimmed hat and colourful embellishments, she has plenty of personality and charm. It's easy to imagine her proudly keeping a pot of tea warm on a family table decades ago.

Of course, there was no way Maurice was leaving her behind even with a little damage to her face! She has now found a new home at Bygone Beautys, joining our ever-growing collection of tea-related treasures... along with a few rather special teapots that also happened to follow Maurice home from the same trip. (Collectors will understand!)

Next time you visit, take a little extra time to look beyond the teapots. Around every corner you'll discover fascinating tea-related collectibles, each with its own story waiting to be told.

Have you ever found an unexpected treasure while browsing an op shop or charity store? We'd love to hear about your favourite find!

TEA TRIVIAWho first put milk in tea?No one can say for certain who was the very first person to add milk to tea, but the...
07/07/2026

TEA TRIVIA
Who first put milk in tea?
No one can say for certain who was the very first person to add milk to tea, but the custom became popular in Europe in the 1600s and 1700s as tea drinking spread. By the 18th century, adding milk to black tea was quite common in Britain. Some say milk was added to soften the harsh taste of tea while some historians also note that milk was sometimes added to help protect delicate porcelain cups from the shock of very hot tea.
What began as a practical habit soon became part of the great tea debate — milk first or tea first!
How do you take your tea?

🫖 Teapot of the Week – The Mysterious Modernist TrioEvery teapot has a story… but sometimes the greatest mystery is that...
05/07/2026

🫖 Teapot of the Week – The Mysterious Modernist Trio
Every teapot has a story… but sometimes the greatest mystery is that we don't know the whole story.
This week's Teapot of the Week is this extraordinary 20th century, Modernist Teapot, Sugar & Creamer Set. Frustratingly, its country of origin remains unknown.
Our Treasured Teapot Museum is home to more than 12,000 teapots, and while many proudly bear a maker's mark or manufacturer's stamp, there are a handful that have kept their secrets hidden. This elegant trio is one of them.
Despite the mystery, we simply couldn't resist adding this remarkable set to our collection.
Its striking geometric design is unlike most traditional tea services. Each piece of the set is formed as an upturned cone, making it impossible to stand on its own. Instead, each is supported by sleek metal legs, while the teapot hangs on a stand, gently swinging from side to side before tilting to pour. A bold black circular handle provides a dramatic contrast against the polished metal, creating a design that feels as contemporary today as when it was first made.
The trio's clean lines, geometric forms and functional simplicity are reminiscent of the work of Christopher Dresser, the visionary British designer often regarded as one of the world's very first industrial designers. Dresser created innovative objects that combined beauty with practicality. His groundbreaking metal teapots challenged conventional thinking, and many of his concepts were considered so radical that they never reached commercial production, surviving only as prototypes.
Although this intriguing set carries no maker's mark to confirm its origins, its style is unmistakably influenced by Dresser's pioneering vision. Could it be an unrecorded prototype? A later homage? Or the work of another talented designer inspired by his revolutionary ideas? Without a signature, we may never know.
And perhaps that's part of its charm.
Sometimes the greatest treasures are the ones that leave us asking questions.
Come and discover this fascinating Modernist mystery, along with more than 12,000 teapots, each with its own story, at Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum in Leura.

💕 Visitor Spotlight – Kerry & Barry's Visit to Bygone Beautys 💕We were delighted to welcome Kerry and Barry Taylor to By...
05/07/2026

💕 Visitor Spotlight – Kerry & Barry's Visit to Bygone Beautys 💕
We were delighted to welcome Kerry and Barry Taylor to Bygone Beautys recently. Thank you both for choosing to spend part of your day with us!
Whether you're visiting for a relaxing morning tea, a delicious lunch, a traditional Devonshire Tea or simply to wander through our Treasured Teapot Museum, every visit is an opportunity to slow down, enjoy good company and make special memories.
If you've been thinking about visiting, why not make this the week you do? Gather a friend, bring the family, or plan a catch-up with someone special. With more than 12,000 teapots to discover, delicious homemade treats, fine teas and coffee, and a gift shop filled with unique treasures, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Thank you again, Kerry and Barry, for visiting us. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Who will we see at Bygone Beautys next? We'd love to welcome you. ☕🫖💙

❄️🎄 Enjoy the Magic of a Traditional Yulefest Lunch 🎄❄️Have you ever wanted to experience the magic of a traditional Nor...
02/07/2026

❄️🎄 Enjoy the Magic of a Traditional Yulefest Lunch 🎄❄️
Have you ever wanted to experience the magic of a traditional Northern Hemisphere Christmas? Well bookings are now open.
This July, step into the festive charm of Yulefest at Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms in beautiful Leura, nestled in the heart of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
From 20th to 31st July 2026, join us daily at 12:30pm for a truly memorable Christmas-in-winter luncheon. Gather your family, friends, or social group, rug up in your favourite winter woollies, and enjoy a festive feast surrounded by decorated tables, Christmas bon bons, and all the warmth and charm of a Northern Hemisphere-style Christmas celebration. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL.
🎁 Minimum booking: 4 people

For bookings and full details, including the menu:
📞 02 4784 3117
📧 [email protected]
Spaces are limited, so book early and experience the wonder of Christmas in winter at Bygone Beautys.

THIS or THATOn a winter's day in the mountains, which would you prefer a seat by the windows to watch the world go by or...
01/07/2026

THIS or THAT
On a winter's day in the mountains, which would you prefer a seat by the windows to watch the world go by or a cosy nook to settle and enjoy your refreshments?
Let us know.

🌿 Hello July! 🌿A brand new month is the perfect excuse to slow down and enjoy life's simple pleasures.If you're looking ...
30/06/2026

🌿 Hello July! 🌿
A brand new month is the perfect excuse to slow down and enjoy life's simple pleasures.
If you're looking for somewhere special to visit this July, here are 5 reasons to call into Bygone Beautys...
🫖 1. Explore over 12,000 teapots in Australia's largest private teapot collection.
☕ 2. Treat yourself to a delicious morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea, with our famous Devonshire scones, tempting homemade cakes and light meals.
🍃 3. Choose from our extensive range of premium loose-leaf teas, expertly prepared and served by our dedicated staff.
🎁 4. Browse our unique gift shop, filled with teapots, tea accessories, vintage treasures, puzzles, books and gifts you won't find just anywhere.
❄️ 5. Escape the winter chill and relax in the warmth of our historic tearooms, where every visit is a chance to slow down, reconnect and make special memories.
Whether you're visiting the Blue Mountains or you're one of our wonderful locals, we'd love to welcome you this July.
📍 Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms, Leura
Who's ready to make their first tea stop of July? 🍰🫖

🍃 Tea Trivia 🍃Tea is such an everyday staple in our lives that it's hard to imagine a time when it wasn't enjoyed aroun...
29/06/2026

🍃 Tea Trivia 🍃
Tea is such an everyday staple in our lives that it's hard to imagine a time when it wasn't enjoyed around the world.
From its beginnings in ancient China thousands of years ago, tea gradually travelled across continents, bringing people together and becoming a treasured tradition in homes, cafés and tearooms everywhere. Today, billions of cups are enjoyed every single day, making tea one of the world's most loved beverages.
Our latest Tea Trivia explores the fascinating journey of tea and how it spread around the globe.
And if all this talk of tea has you reaching for the kettle, why not enjoy a special pot with us at Bygone Beautys? Choose from our extensive selection of premium teas, relax amongst the world's largest private teapot collection, and discover why tea has been bringing people together for centuries.
☕ Which tea is your favourite—traditional English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, or Russian Caravan for something a little different?

Address

20-22 Grose Street
Leura, NSW
2780

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+61247843117

Website

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