Mount Lofty House Adults Retreat in the Adelaide Hills is celebrating 40 years of hotel operations on 12 February 2026 with its Iconic 40th Escape, a two-night stay featuring 40 Signature Inclusions designed to indulge senses across dining, spa, and estate experiences.
Built as a summer house on Adelaide’s highest summit in 1852 by Arthur and Martha Hardy who were known for their lavish parties, Mount Lofty House was destroyed in the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires.
The property was rebuilt and transformed into an eight-room luxury hotel opening on 12 February 1986 surrounded by thousands of acres of national parks.
It further expanded when the current owner, South Australian hotelier David Horbelt, acquired the property from the Accor Hotels Group in 2009 with the passionate vision to turn it into a luxury South Australian tourism icon, just 30 minutes from Adelaide International Airport.
Horbelt and his business partner Malcolm Bean set about retaining the charm and character of the house built by the Hardys and creating a guest experience based on customer service excellence.
“Mount Lofty House is more than a hotel – it is a living piece of South Australian history,” Horbelt said. “From its origins in 1852, through the devastation of Ash Wednesday, to its rebirth in 1986 and its evolution into a luxury estate, this milestone celebrates not just 40 years of hospitality, but the heart, perseverance and passion of our team and community.
“Mount Lofty House has been a labour of love for me and has become a part of many family histories having hosted hundreds of thousands of romantic celebrations from birthdays and weddings to proposals, including a couple of famous ones. I am so proud to be its current custodian.”
Bean said the property had evolved into a true Luxury Experience Destination, encompassing Mount Lofty House, Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant and the broader Mount Lofty Estate, redefining luxury travel in South Australia.
“Proudly South Australian family-owned and operated, Mount Lofty House continues to welcome travellers from around the world, offering an intimate retreat high above the Piccadilly Valley, where heritage, nature and contemporary luxury converge,” Bean said.
“This treasured state icon offers luxury escapes complemented by a three-hatted fine dining restaurant, a 175-year-old cellar with more than 1300 labels, day spa, complimentary Signature Inclusions, and beautiful outdoor spaces within the Mount Lofty Estate Gardens.”
Mount Lofty House is celebrating its anniversary with the Iconic 40th Escape, a curated two-night escape featuring 40 Signature Inclusions designed to indulge every sense across dining, spa and estate experiences including a $140 dining credit, $40 spa credit, night-time turndown treats and a late departure.
