Experience at the parramatta lumberyard as an overseer and his work as a joiner at old government house, parramatta and the old supreme courthouse, sydney, enabled him to work as a private contractor, and patronage from william cox in sydney and in the hawkesbury district, provided many. Old government house, parramatta, is the jewel in national trust nsws crown large image in the case of the unesco world heritagelisted site in parramatta park, the friends of old government house ogh and experimental farm cottage, was formed as a volunteer fundraising body to help maintain the house and its collection. Another feature is the natural amphitheatre located on one of the bends of the river, named by governor philip as the crescent, which is used to stage concerts. Includes the tudor gatehouses on macquarie st and george st, governors bath house, old dairy and boer war memorial. Lachlans is set in the picturesque parramatta park, on the site of old government house. As history would have it, the progressive pair would significantly shape the future of their. This is the only known example of a faithfully recreated household of this size. Standing in 200 acres of parkland overlooking historic parramatta, old government house is australias oldest surviving public building. Some of the best history of european settlement in sydney and australia is in parramatta, and old government house is no exception. She was familiar with architectural pattern books, bringing one with her to australia. National trust of nsw this commode is of significance to old government house national trust due to its direct provenance to a parramatta craftsman. We begin our 3day journey from old government house in parramatta.
Parramatta has one of the finest and most important collections of colonial architecture, including old government house, hambledon cottage, elizabeth farm house, experiment farm and many others. Old government house, parramatta, sydney the dreamstress. If youre looking for things to see and do in the area, you might like to visit qudos bank arena and white bay cruise terminal. I just love showing my children australian history and being able to walk through the rooms that people mentioned in our history books did.
Parramatta park and old government house are a united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization world heritage site. The present parklands are 85 hectares in size, straddling the parramatta river on the western edge of the parramatta central business district. A short video i made from the front of old government house and i was just waffling. Michaela ann cameron is a phd candidate in the department of history at the university of sydney specialising in the sensory history of colonial america, specifically indigenous auditory cultures. The friends of old government house and experiment farm cottage invite you to ghost night. It is the regional centre for greater western sydneys 1. We manage, preserve and document the history of our local government and the people, places, art, events, and natural and built environments which have contributed to the rich history of parramatta s communities from aboriginal peoples from 40,000 years ago, to the arrival of europeans in 1788 and successive waves of migration. The park has two restaurants, the upmarket lachlans, located within old government house and the lessexpensive parramatta park cafe on. Old government house nsw environment, energy and science. For many years, it was home to the governors of new south wales, who favoured the safety and airiness of parramatta over sydney, with its onceunsanitary streets and high crime. In 1885 a two storey brick tudor revival pattern book gate house replaced the. Standing in 200 acres of parkland overlooking historic parramatta, old government house is australias oldest public building. Visit old government house on your trip to parramatta or. About the old government house lachlans old government.
The echo of our people resonates throughout the streets of parramatta from st johns church, to old government house and the old kings school and beyond. The national trusts museum, old government house, sits within the park, and the parklands estate includes the parramatta memorial swimming centre, the parramatta golf course and old kings oval. I was incredibly excited about getting the opportunity to visit old government house. Parramatta almost stole sydneys thunder and became our. Old government house and domainparramatta park is one of 11 historic places that.
Set within the most important national trust house in australia, sandstone courtyards, old english. Parramatta park restaurant lachlans old government house. Old government house parramatta old government house parramatta. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. At night you are invited to come and explore this 212 year old georgian mansion by candlelight on a ghost tour of old government house. A landmark site, the park and house retains historical association with. Ship to shore old government house, parramatta education program nsw this program aims to provide students with an insight into the school lives of primaryaged children in the early 1800s, the exploration of australia and the lives of the early colonists. The governors and their households left parramatta in 1855, but their presence still haunts old government house. Old government itself house lies in the southeastern portion of the park, being built by convict labour in 1799 under the 2nd governor of new south. It was the home of 12 early colonial governors, among them governor and mrs macquarie. Old government house in parramatta park, dating from 1799, is australias oldest public building. Most successive governors divided their time between sydney and parramatta but the sydney home was dilapidated by the 1840s and in 1845 work started on a new.
Once in parramatta, elizabeth was listed in 1814 as a servant at old government house and went on to marry and have three children. On 26 january 1788 governor phillip landed at farm. For seven decades, it was the country residence of 10 early governors of the colony, including governor and mrs macquarie who, from 1810 to 1821 preferred the clean air and space of rural parramatta to the unsanitary and crime ridden streets of sydney. As significant as that is, it is also an ideal place to just relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings on a sunny day. All you need to know about early australia under one roof. Its always worth taking the ferry up to parramatta. The most exciting piece of lesser known research was that parramatta hosted the first international all blacks game in the 1890s. Were all about women at old government house national trust. The old government house is a heritagelisted former country residence used by ten early. Partly through the annual meeting of the tribes but also by receiving aborigines at old government house. It is supported by the friends of old government house and experiment farm cottage, who fundraise and share the sites heritage with the community and. The old government house is a heritagelisted former country residence used by ten early governors of new south wales between 1800 and 1847, located in parramatta park in parramatta, new south wales, in the greater metropolitan area of western sydney, new south wales, australia.
Parramatta park and old government house tourbytransit. This was the history segment of a mystery tour and we were happy with the experience. Old government house opens to the public with the support of a dedicated team of staff and 150 volunteers. Lachlans old government house at parramatta park is a great restaurant with private dining rooms and al fresco dining outside on the long verandah. Parramatta park contains old government house and thus parramatta was once the capital of the colony of new south wales until governors returned to residing in sydney in 1846.
Come and explore this georgian mansion by candlelight. Historic houses walkproceeds from parramatta ferry wharf, over the weir and along the aboriginal interpretive walkway to the visitor information centre. Army occupied parramatta park willoughby, 20, citing chris rapp, the history of a gate house. It is steeped in history and old government house has been recently world heritage listed by the united nations. It is a great venue for weddings, parties, wedding anniversaries, celebrations, high. The australia convicts sites tell the story of the largest forced migration the world has. Have a hauntingly good time exploring old government house at night. Beautiful wedding gowns and vintage dresses news local.
The old government house shop sells souvenirs and books. We travel along the great western road to the foothills of the blue mountains visiting sites and settlements from colonial times. It is considered a property of national and international significance as an archaeological resource. While many of the women who lived in, or visited, old government house, are very well known in the telling of australias history, many more are invisible, said rosalind mearns, the national trust nsws. Government house, parramatta, was used during the subsequent governorships of fitzroy and denison, but with the completion of the new government house at bennelong point in sydney in 1845 the governors spent less time at parramatta and in 1856 the house it was let to a private tenant.
About the old government house lachlans old government house. Old government house parramatta attraction tour new. Parramatta park ghost tours at old government house. Today, the unesco world heritagelisted old government house, built on indigenous darug land by convicts in 1799, is the oldest surviving public building in australia. However some aspects of the history will be best understood from the point of view of the traditional owners of the land. Ghost nights at old government house, parramatta park. Additional research interests include australias convict history. Visiting australias oldest public building was a bucket list item for me and my visit to old government. From there stay on the northern side of the river as far as the first footbridge noller bridge in parramatta park and cross through the crescent to old government house tel. The governors and their households left parramatta in 1855 but their presence still haunts old government house. Old government house at parramatta demonstrates the growth of the colony, from an. Old government house parramatta the dictionary of sydney. Old government house and government domain new south.
The national trust have furnished the house as it would have been in their time. The park was established in 1858 on the site of the former parramatta government domain. Revisit the scene of a tragic accident and witness places within the house where psychics, guides and visitors have experienced ghostly. Parramatta river walk brochure city of parramatta council. I absolutely adored this place from the moment i walked in as history. Discover unesco world heritagelisted old government house, the oldest.
Old government house, parramatta is australias oldest surviving public. Once you disembark at parramatta, its a 10 minute walk to old government house. Following much anticipation, old government house and parramatta park have. Tours are conducted, led by very knowledgable guides. Parramatta is a historic city well liked for its shopping and restaurants. We manage, preserve and document the history of our local government and the people, places, art, events, and natural and built environments which have contributed to the rich history of parramattas communities from aboriginal peoples from 40,000 years ago, to the arrival of europeans in 1788 and successive waves of migration. Have visited here a view times and its always lovely to walk around and enjoy the history and the old. The observatory itself was conveniently located in what is now eightyfive hectare the national heritage listed parramatta park, being mainly chosen for its close proximity to old government house. New book explores history of maori in parramatta city of.
The current parklands are 85 hectares in size, straddling the parramatta river on the western edge of the parramatta central business district. So when you celebrate at lachlans, on the garrison verandah, by one of the officers fireplaces in winter or in the garden marquee enjoy the history that surrounds us and remember that you will also become a part of the history of old government house, of parramatta and of australia. Old government house, parramatta, is the oldest remaining public building in australia, and together with its site, one of the most historic. There is also a substantial cycling track, and walks.
Carols by candlelight at old government house, parramatta. Parramatta park and old government house nsw environment. The 23rd annual carols by candelight will be held at old government house in parramatta on saturday december 8 enter via pitt street. Scars on trees still standing in parramatta park tell the story of the burramatta land. It takes about an hour, but the harbor is spectacular, there are lovely coves, and some of the houses. It was the country residence for the first ten governors of the colony, including governor and mrs macquarie who preferred the clean air and space of rural parramatta to the unsanitary and crimeridden streets of sydney town.
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