Entry
Adult | $12
Concession | $8
Family | $30
Members | Free of charge
Children under 5 years | Free of charge
Tearooms open on weekends
In 1810 John Macarthur wrote to his wife Elizabeth: ‘I am perfectly aware, my beloved wife, of the difficulties you have to contend with.’ The comment was by no account an understatement.
Romanticised painting of Elizabeth Farm by Joseph Lycett. This was based on sketches and his memories and painted on his return to England.
This restful homestead hides a dark and stormy past. Built for the young military couple John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their growing family, Elizabeth Farm has witnessed major events in the growth of the colony, from the toppling of governors and convict rebellion to the birth of the Australian wool industry. As the original cottage was transformed into a fine colonial bungalow, the family’s life was equally gripped with turmoil and drama. Today, set within a re-created 1830s garden, Elizabeth Farm is an ‘access all areas’ museum. There are no barriers, locked doors, delicate furnishings or untouchable ornaments. Australia’s oldest homestead is now our most hands-on ‘living’ house museum.
News from Elizabeth Farm
School holidays
Autumn School Holidays 2018: opening hoursMonday 19 March 2018
International Women's Day
Women's stories, women's livesWednesday 7 March 2018
To celebrate International Women's Day, we've brought together some of the stories of the lives of women associated with our houses, our exhibitions and our collections.
Media release
Media release: Eel Festival 2018Thursday 22 February 2018
Weddings
A wedding in the gardenTuesday 6 February 2018
Elizabeth Farm
Decking the Halls at Elizabeth FarmTuesday 19 December 2017
Using fresh foliage to decorate for an Australian Christmas comes with a fine timeline to negotiate, as many Sydneysiders will have been experiencing over this past scorching fortnight.
The dining room
The dining room at Elizabeth Farm set for breakfast.
The Pantry
Warm and chalky distemper on the walls of the butler's pantry at Elizabeth Farm creates an authentic, early 19th century atmosphere.
In the garden
In the garden, Elizabeth Farm Open Day.
The carriage loop
The Elizabeth Farm carriage loop, bordered by cactus garden, prickly pear and shrubs.
Shady eastern verandah
The sloped roof and flagstone flooring of the eastern verandah at Elizabeth Farm.
House from garden
View of corner plant room, or closet, at Elizabeth Farm viewed from garden under European olive tree.
By the early 1800s Sydney was a bustling trading port. Keen to stake a claim in the developing trade with China, in 1808 John Macarthur sent his nephew Hannibal to Canton with a cargo of sandalwood, hoping to bankroll the import of valuable Chinese goods to Sydney.