Water Works
Recent work to plot the location of early nineteenth century plumbing to the rear of Elizabeth Farm has yielded some surprising results. (more…)
Kingsford Smith Documentary 1966
An intimate glimpse into the dappled world of the Swann sisters at Elizabeth Farm, a few years before they sold up and left. The film was funded by Ampol, commissioned by the National Trust and directed by John Kingsford Smith. There are copyright restrictions on the commercial use or distribution of this production.
Portrait Of An Unknown Female
Who’d have thought that so much mystery and misunderstanding would surround one of Australia’s most admired pioneering figures? Though often regarded as one of a pair, the portrait of an unknown female subject was painted by an unknown artist – possibly in England – in the 19th century, several years apart from its companion piece – the large oil of John Macarthur. At the time of being painted, John and Elizabeth Macarthur were either living in Australia or long dead. The people in each portrait are aged between 30 – 40 years old. If these were the Macarthurs, the paintings would place them in the years 1810-1820. Its unlikely the Macarthurs ever saw these paintings or even knew of their existence. Both portraits are unsigned, undated and untitled and match neither in size, skill or style. As we’ll learn, the portrait of John might well look like him. Any resemblance to Elizabeth, however, is uncertain. (more…)
Postmodernism In Drag
So what makes Elizabeth Farm different? It’s the way in which it sneaks up on its visitors – what might at first seem like a conventional house museum peddling the usual blend of comfortable half-truths and fey distrations, turns into a yarn that doesn’t add up, or is open ended, or has fascinating twists… not your usual house museum: part abstract installation, part period piece, part education tool, part historic shrine…
Photograph Montage 1974
An ambient and dreamlike montage of photographs taken in the mid 1970s during investigations by Public Works Department staff and Heritage Branch specialists, leading up to the protection of Elizabeth Farm under the state government’s first Permanent Conservation Order, listed in 1977.
On The Hoof
John Macarthur, son of a Plymouth draper, was, at the time of his wedding in 1788, on unauthorised leave from his regiment in Gibraltar, approaching mid twenties, his army future in doubt. Having borrowed money to enlist, John had no intention of fighting abroad. Wars with Spain and America were over by the time he’d drawn his first salary. The more lucrative postings to India were unavailable to those lacking influence or social connections. Seven uneventful years in the army had left him restless and dispirited. And unless he returned to Gibraltar immediately, he faced losing his commission. (more…)
Oiling The Wheels Of Patronage
An old, bedraggled, pair of grey-leafed olives (Olea europaea) survives in the garden at Elizabeth Farm. They are believed to be the oldest olive trees in Australia, planted either in 1805 or 1817. Their existence enabled John Macarthur to claim credit for pioneering the introduction of olives into Australia. It also provided Macarthur with a ‘return ticket’ to the colony from London, after years anxious waiting. (more…)
Recreationism (writing in progress)
‘There is no point’, claims feted house museum curator James Broadbent, ‘in recreating interiors if they do not demonstrate, teach or contribute to our understanding of the domestic life of a particular social stratum at a particular time. If the audience cannot understand the performance the whole thing is a self indulgent waste of time and money on the part of its creators, or re-creators’. Good point, but has this performance ever really worked? And if so, what kind of ‘understandings’ has the pious cult of ‘recreationism’ so far provided? (more…)
The Trouble With John Macarthur
John Macarthur was declared a lunatic in 1833, in the presence of 30 or so Parramatta citizens, under the direction of his sons James and William. As a result, he was stripped of all involvement in family business and politics and sent back to Elizabeth Farm where he lived for a year or so, imprisoned in his bedroom and overseen by servants who were required to sleep in the same room. People are surprised to learn that John Macarthur was disinherited by his sons, physically restrained to minimise family embarrassment and neutralise a serious image problem. (more…)
Spiky Chintz
A new chintz has been hung in the Drawing Room. The fabric, a high quality printed and glazed cotton, is called Tropicale Hermitage and was reproduced for the restoration of President Andrew Jackson’s home in Nashville, The Hermitage. (more…)
