In 2003 we visited Mudgee for the annual September Wine festival and fell in love with the town and its people. This led us to purchase Bella Casa and become a part of this lovely town. For the first 6 months we undertook extensive renovations to the property to add a touch of luxury so our guests can stay in style and experience the best of Mudgee. 

Built in the 1890’s Bella Casa is a classic Mudgee Victorian cottage that originally would have had an external kitchen and toilets. It was our love of the Italian culture and of fine Italian food and wine that led us to name the cottage Bella Casa  Italian for Beautiful House. Throughout the house we have tried to add little Italian touches and in the rear yard we have planted a small Olive grove which in years to come will provide oil for our guests to sample. 

 Note: we have 4 different varieties of Olive planted and when mature a tree in perfect conditions can produce up to 50 Kilo’s of Olives

 Bella Casa has spent much of its past as a boarding house with 3 separate residences, each with a  living and kitchen area. When we purchased the house it was in need of some serious TLC, so we set about gutting the kitchens and bathrooms and painting throughout the entire house. It was important to us to decorate with a modern, comfortable touch while at the same time trying to ensure that the original feel of the house was not lost.  

 Though not trades people ourselves, we set about renovating the house to make a warm and welcoming place for visitors. The 6 months spent renovating was certainly an adventure! When we started to renovate we excavated the rear decking area and found the original outside kitchen and bathroom area foundations and lumps of the coal that would have been used in the kitchen fires. Whilst visiting the local salvage yard one day we discovered enormous timber beams that had been taken from the century old Lonergan store (now where you will find Blockbuster Video and Dick Smith in the main street). We purchased a number of these beams, took them to the Gulgong sawmill and the end result can be seen in each of our two kitchens with beautiful new bench tops made from these old beams.

 So after many adventures, the end result is Bella Casa and we invite all our guests to make themselves at home and enjoy our beautiful home.

 Your hosts

 John & Kerrie Latta