Elizabeth
Farm
Built for the young military couple John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their growing family in 1793, Elizabeth Farm is one of the oldest homes in Australia.
Elizabeth Farm. Photo © Haley Richardson and Stuart Miller for Sydney Living Museums
Entry
Adult | $15
Concession | $12
Family* | $38
Members | Free of charge
Children under 5 years | Free of charge
*2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children
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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 or delicate furnishings. Australia’s oldest homestead is now our most immersive ‘living’ house museum.
News from Elizabeth Farm
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.
School holidays
Summer school holiday opening hoursWednesday 6 December 2017
Learning
The educator and the curator: a vital partnership Wednesday 6 September 2017
With the invaluable assistance of Sydney Living Museums’ knowledgeable and inspirational curators, the Learning Team develops a wide range of engaging education programs for school students.SLM’s...
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.