Blue Mountains Kitchen Garden

In 1897 a full-time professional gardener, Thomas Kerslake, was employed by the original founder, John Pope, of Karaweera which was renamed to Parklands. Thomas Kerslake was employed to maintain and develop the gardens of the grounds. The main attraction of the property was the vegetable garden which was said to cover over four acres and had rectangular beds edged with brick and divided by red gravel paths. It supplied raspberries, red and white currants, gooseberries, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes, parsnips, turnips, carrots, beets and rhubarb.

Following the vision of the late Thomas Kerslake, Parklands Country Garden and Lodges, has developed their own private Blue Mountains kitchen garden within the grounds. Complete with new vegetable garden beds covering an area of 4000 sqm, various fruit orchards, rose gardens, a dedicated compost area and a workshop for processing and packaging, the Parklands kitchen garden will provide seasonal fruit and vegetables for Parklands Country Garden and Lodges along with the other properties within the Escarpment Group, Lilianfels Resort & Spa, Echoes Boutique Hotel & Restaurant and Hydro Majestic Hotel. All with the vision of having each property sustainable with their own fresh produce.