Elizabeth Bay
House

Built at 'very considerable expense', Elizabeth Bay House was once the finest house in the colony, set within a garden of the most remarkable extravagance and fancy. Yet it tells a familiar Sydney story: of ambition and passion, of riches to ruin.

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Elizabeth Bay House. Photograph © Nicholas Watt for Sydney Living Museums

Sydney Living Museums is closing from Tuesday 24 March until further notice.

We are taking these steps as a public health precaution in support of measures to contain COVID-19.

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Entry

*2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children

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Address

7 Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, NSW 2011

Phone

+61 2 9356 3022

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In line with decisions made by the National Cabinet as communicated by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Sydney Living Museums will today close to the public until further notice to help protect the health of all visitors and staff and minimise the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the State.

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Elizabeth Bay House.

With commanding views over Sydney Harbour, Elizabeth Bay House gleams like a Greek temple. Once surrounded by famous landscaped gardens, it is one of the most splendid private houses ever built in Australia and still arouses our delight and astonishment. Its elegant rooms and fine proportions, sweeping staircase and lavish furnishings reveal the tastes and aspirations of its original owner, Alexander Macleay, after the governor, the most important public official in colonial Sydney. But it was his magnificent gardens which most keenly expressed his tastes and passions, and in the economic downturn of the 1840s pushed him towards ruin. Elizabeth Bay House is an iconic Sydney home, with an iconic Sydney back-story of obsession for property and position stretched beyond means and undone by changing financial times.

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Videos

Night light tours at Elizabeth Bay House

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The latest at Elizabeth Bay House

Group of pokers, shovels and other metal fire tools.

Elizabeth Bay House

Winter Warmers at Elizabeth Bay HouseWednesday 30 May 2018

It’s that time of year again! As winter rolls in at the end of this week, our curators are busily about the business of ‘wintering’ our houses.

Colourised black and white photo of bridal party on staircase.

Elizabeth Bay House

Stage royalty comes to Elizabeth Bay HouseWednesday 7 February 2018

In the 1930s, Elizabeth Bay House emerged as a glamorous events venue after hosting the wedding reception of two of the most famous celebrities of the day.

Woman in gardening gear talking to two kids in garden setting.

School holidays

Summer school holiday opening hoursWednesday 6 December 2017

Woman in stall decorated with colourful bunting.

SLM Food

Sumptuous seasonal delightsTuesday 29 August 2017

The arrival of spring heralds the return of two popular food-related festivals, as well as two exclusive events in our Colonial Gastronomy series.

Elizabeth Farm

Home is where the hearth isThursday 3 August 2017

There’s nothing like the sound of a crackling fire or the smoky aroma of burning wood to keep winter’s frost at bay. With only a few weeks left of winter’s cold embrace we’ve asked two of our curators to shed some light on the humble (and not so humble) fireplaces at Elizabeth Farm and Elizabeth Bay House.