Southern Highlands Branch: Garden visit and morning tea at ‘Byways’ Bowral

Byways is a 19th-century Victorian era homestead in Bowral now prized as a heritage property and a fine example of early Southern Highlands architecture. It’s located close to the town centre and exemplifies the type of gentleman’s residence built soon after the railway arrived. The house was originally built around 1867 and in 1888 was leased by Neville Henry Cayley, a noted Australian artist specialising in native birds. He named the house Bona Vista — Latin for “beautiful view” — and used its elevated siting to enjoy fine panoramic views over Bowral and the Southern Highlands. Neville Henry Cayley and family lived there while his children, including Neville William Cayley, later a bestselling author and bird illustrator (What Bird is That?), grew up.

The property’s name ostensibly changed to Byways after a visit from the celebrated garden designer and writer Edna Walling. Her influence on gardens and estates in NSW was significant, and the new name reflected a shift toward appreciation of the property’s landscape and setting.

Visitors to Byways are welcomed into a classic Old Bowral garden that reflects more than a century of layered care. Carefully curated by its current owners – Jackie and Tony – for the last ten years, the garden is set beneath mature trees and framed by remnants of original dry-stone walls and hedging. A formal parterre and rose-clad summer house provide focal points close to the homestead, while winding paths reveal long-established shrubs, seasonal colour, and a planting palette characteristic of the region’s cool-climate heritage gardens.

Outbuildings – including an arbor and potting shed – sit quietly within the landscape and speak to the property’s horticultural history. Though the garden has evolved over time, its essential charm lies in the balance between formality and softness: clipped lines and historic bones softened by age, filtered light, and the gentle rhythm of a mature, well-loved garden. Byways offers a rare glimpse into Bowral’s early domestic landscape and remains an enduring example of the district’s garden heritage.

Location: Bowral Swimming Pool Car Park

Cost: $40 for members, $50 for friends

Book: at Humanitix.