Club Zone

Amazing Daze in the Southern Highlands

03 May 2023 / Words: John and Marina Farmer

Eight Mx5s and a ‘would like to be Mx5’ met up at Robertson Pie Shop on a beautiful Saturday before we headed off deeper into the Highlands. Before we left, sustenance was sought and delivered at the Pie Shop, which of course has so many selections it’s hard to choose.

It was a quick sprint over to Berrima, with light traffic all the way. Pretty good for a long weekend.

Harper’s Mansion, a beautiful Georgian style brick house, was our first stop up the hill from the main Berrima strip of shops, gaols, courthouses etc.

The house was built by James and Mary Harper soon after 1834 James was the son of convicts and very successfully ran the pub in town before he built his home.

It now stands on two of its original 100 acres. After James died in 1845 the house was repossessed and leased, then bought, by the Catholic Church. In 1909 it was then leased to various tenants, fell into disrepair, and was eventually taken over by The National Trust.

After our tour of the house which has been nicely restored, we headed out into the beautiful gardens for a wander. Most of the group disappeared into the fantastic maze, some reappearing only when it was time to head off again. (we did a quick head count!)

It was a lovely meandering run to our lunch stop, the Bundanoon Pub. Again a most beautiful building, rebuilt on the old pub site in 1922.

After lunch, most headed back to the Illawarra via the Robertson cheese shop, for some more goodies.

Thanks for coming everyone.

John and Marina Farmer