Elizabeth Bay House

Elizabeth Bay House

Elizabeth Bay House was constructed from 1835-1839, under the supervision of N.S.W based architects John Verge and John Bibb, from plans obtained from an unidentified English source for Alexander Macleay, Colonial Secretary of N.S.W 1826-1837 and his wife, Eliza. The house was intended to be the finest house in the colony. It was built within a celebrated landscape garden which was developed from 1826 onwards. Today the interiors of Elizabeth Bay house have been carefully reconstructed to the 1839-1845 period. Appropriate furniture, wallpaper, carpets, soft furnishings and fittings continue to be acquired to recreate Macleay's original vision. Part of the first floor is used for changing exhibitions about the social and architectural history of New South Wales.

Address: 
7 Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, NSW
Tel: 
0293563022
Hours: 
Tuesday - Sudnday 10.00am - 4.30pm
Website: 
http://www.hht.net.au
Email: 
info@ho.hht.nsw.gov.au
Admission: 
Members Free, General $7.00, Concession/Child $3.30, Family $17.00.
Facilities: 
Disabled access to ground floor and disabled interpretations for inaccessible areas, free guided tours, interpretative video, exhibitions program, education programs, publications sales, tea and coffee, friends membership group and venue hire.
Collection: 
Elegantly furnished to the period of 1839-1845, the interiors reflect the lifestyle of the Macleays and present an evocative picture of 19th century life. 3,000 collection items; 2,000 images and research files

Subject:

Items

Hall tables

The Vineyard Side Tables

Creator:
Attributed to John Verge, architect
Description:
Australian cedar hall tables provenanced to the Vineyard, Parramatta, built by John Verge for Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur between 1832 and 1835, demolished in 1981. The ensuite sideboard is also in the Trust's collection.
Date:
circa 1832
Item Id Number:
EB93/1:1-2

Insect cabinet

Creator:
Alexander Macleay (1767-1848)
Description:
Insect cabinet (converted bookcase) containing insect collection, probably brought to Australia by Alexander Macleay in 1826.
Date:
circa 1790-1825
Item Id Number:
Loan: Macleay Museum

Portrait bust

Sir William John Macleay

Creator:
Sculptor: Achille Simonelli
Description:
Sir William John Macleay (1820-1891), amateur scientist benefactor of the Linnean Society of N.S.W (commissioner of this bust), and the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney.
Date:
1889
Item Id Number:
EB84/50

Bookcase

Creator:
Unknown Australian
Description:
Rare Australian colonial cedar breakfront bookcase circa 1840. Relating to designs published in J.C London's Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture and Furniture (London, 1833).
Date:
circa 1840
Item Id Number:
EB76/82