331:"We recuperated after our Brisbane tour by spending the next week at Medlow Bath, that little earthly paradise, which is the most restful spot we have found in our wanderings. It was built originally by Mr. Mark Foy, a successful draper of Sydney, and he is certainly a man of taste, for he has adorned it with a collection of prints and of paintings— hundreds of each— which would attract attention in any city, but which on a mountain top amid the wildest scenery give one the idea of an Arabian Nights palace. There was a passage some hundreds of yards long, which one has to traverse on the way to each meal, and there was a certain series of French prints, representing events of Byzantine history, which I found it difficult to pass, so that I was often a late comer. A very fair library is among the other attractions of this remarkable place."
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270:"The two main buildings are connected by a corridor 700ft long by 14ft in width, and over this are bedrooms 12ft by 12ft, and others 14ft by 14ft. The corridor itself will be used as a picture gallery. As its windows look out upon the Kanimbla Valley when the eyes grow tired of dwelling upon the artistic productions of the masters, they have but to glance out of the windows to feast upon one of the most magnificent sights that Nature has ever provided."
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because they carried coloured emblems. It was claimed that the emblems encouraged gambling and spoiled the look of the white sails on Sydney
Harbour. In response, Foy organised an opposition regatta which he financed himself and advertised it as a spectacle which could be enjoyed by all members of
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In 1888 Mark Foy married Annie Davey (1864-1921), the daughter of John Davey, a merchant from
Melbourne. The couple had no children and in 1900 they were granted a divorce by the NSW Court. In the same year he married Elizabeth Dominica Tweedie who was the head of the Dressmaking Department in his
226:, it was described by the Telegraph as “the first of the powerful French motors to reach Australia”. In 1905 he was interviewed by a reporter and he said that at that time he had fourteen cars in his stable – two Daimlers, two Panhards, seven De Dions, one Liberia, one Firefly and one Oldsmobile.
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The hydropathic therapies were not a success so Mark Foy changed the marketing of the hotel. From 1906 it was advertised as a luxury hotel for the rich and fashionable providing fine food and entertainment. It was patronised by many famous people. Dame
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In 1922 there was a fire at the hotel and it destroyed the
Belgravia hotel, the Belgravia Wing and the art gallery with its entire collection of pictures. These were replaced with the art deco buildings which remain today.
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his health worsened and Foy Snr. died on 14 January 1884. Soon afterwards
Francis sold the stores. In 1885, Francis went to Sydney with his younger brother, Mark Jr., to establish a new business under his father's name.
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buying office was set up in 1890, and additional premises in Oxford Street were purchased in 1894. Mark Foy's Fair, a sale usually staged twice a year, became a highly anticipated event on the Sydney shopping calendar.
265:. They were linked by buildings one of which was a long gallery which can be seen in the photo on the right. This was described in a newspaper article shortly before the hotel opened in the following terms.
157:. This business prospered, occupying three shops by 1875 and six by 1880. Suffering from ill health, Foy Snr. and his wife left for Europe, handing the firm to their eldest son, Francis. In
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The hotel had its own electricity plant, boiler and ice houses, sewerage plant, library, hotel shop, billiard room, grand dining room, art gallery and a telephone in every guest room.
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on 15 February 1865. His father, Mark Foy Snr., had emigrated from
Ireland in 1858. Foy's parents had gone to the goldfields establishing various stores. In 1870, Foy's father moved to
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to participate in
Australia’s first International Race. Despite not emerging as the winner, the race was a groundbreaking event that began a long history of international competition.
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Mark was also a motor car enthusiast and owned numerous vehicles. He participated in many motoring events and is pictured here in one of his cars which he imported from France. A
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Oxford Street Store. Elizabeth was also advertised by the store as being a leading fashion expert and designer. The couple had four children, two sons and two daughters.
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and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his family went on one of these tours. A photo of this event is shown. Sir Arthur is in the back seat with his wife Jean.
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Yacht Club. Challenging the sailing conventions of that time by having coloured sails and prize money, the
Squadron’s boats were banned from the
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The brothers opened their Sydney store in 1885 in Oxford Street. The business expanded rapidly and more surrounding stores were opened. A
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discoverer of gold in
Australia). Between these he placed the domed concert and dance hall (called the casino) which he had shipped from
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109:(15 February 1865 – 15 November 1950) was an Australian retail businessman and entrepreneur who established the department store
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in
Germany. In addition he was a keen sportsman with interests in rifle shooting, boxing, sailing and motor racing.
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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Jean (in the back seat) during their stay at the Hydro
Majestic in 1921
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326:. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about the hotel in his autobiographical travel book. He said.
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Mark Foy died in November 1950 at the age of 85 and was buried in South Head Cemetery in
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in the Blue Mountains, a hydropathic resort with Swiss doctors and spa water from
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Australian businessman who established Mark Foy's Department Store in Sydney
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In 1898, as Commodore of the Yacht Club, he took his 22 foot boat Irex to
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sang at the hotel a number of times as did English Opera singer Dame
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Advertisement for the Hydro Majestic shortly after it opened in 1904
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Australian Town and Country Journal, 12 November 1898, p. 19.
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Low, John 2005 “Blue Mountains: Pictorial Memorials”, p. 40.
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Cheater, C. et al “The Australia Day Regatta”, 2014, p. 111.
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Arthur Conan Doyle 1921 “The Wanderings of a Spiritualist”.
545:"Mark Foy - Australian Sailing Hall Of Fame 2019 Inductees"
379:
Australian Dictionary of Biography “Mark Foy (1830-1884).
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Mark Foy used two of his Daimlers to take his guests to
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Mark Foy and his wife Elizabeth with their four children
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died in the hotel in 1920. Other famous patrons were
580:The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 December 1903, p. 3.
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290:Advertisement for the Hydro Majestic in about 1920
212:the public regardless of their social background.
495:The Sydney Flying Squadron web page, “Mark Foy”.
153:where he set up a drapery shop in Smith Street,
427:Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)
519:Serpolettes Tricycle, September, 2012, p. 9.
459:The Australian Star, 12 November 1896, p. 4.
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471:Sydney Morning Herald, 29 May 1895, p. 10.
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229:In October 2019 Foy was inducted to the
199:Mark Foy (far right) in his Panhard 1901
592:Dictionary of Sydney “Hydro Majestic”.
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531:Referee (Sydney), 19 July 1905, p. 1.
483:The Sydney Flying Squadron web page.
393:"Mark Foy - Father of the 18 Footers"
310:Australia's first Prime Minister Sir
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447:NSW Court Divorce No 3593 in 1900.
409:Dictionary of Sydney, “Mark Foys”.
639:People from the Colony of Victoria
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249:In July 1904 Mark Foy opened the
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549:Australian Sailing Hall of Fame
231:Australian Sailing Hall of Fame
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203:In 1891 Mark Foy founded the
166:Mark Foy's Department store
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634:Businesspeople from Sydney
191:Mark Foy in a sailing boat
61:15 November 1950 (aged 85)
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429:. 23 May 1888. p. 1
96:Mark Foy Snr. (father),
81:Founder of Mark Foy's (
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205:Sydney Flying Squadron
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117:. He also opened the
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209:1892 National Regatta
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141:Mark Foy was born in
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251:Hydro Majestic Hotel
119:Hydro Majestic Hotel
87:Hydro Majestic Hotel
37:Foy Pictured c. 1910
397:www.sail-world.com
320:Arthur Conan Doyle
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237:The Hydro Majestic
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629:1950 deaths
624:1865 births
255:Medlow Bath
155:Collingwood
73:Businessman
52:, Australia
618:Categories
554:22 October
355:References
324:Molly Fink
301:Clara Butt
129:Early life
111:Mark Foy's
70:Occupation
151:Melbourne
64:Australia
349:Vaucluse
147:Victoria
107:Mark Foy
25:Mark Foy
263:Chicago
224:Panhard
217:England
143:Bendigo
172:London
115:Sydney
93:Family
123:Baden
556:2019
435:2020
303:and
58:Died
43:Born
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