Elizabeth Bay House

What a surprise this was. It was recommended by two different locals. The story of one of Sydney's early families is brought to life. The docent was very knowledgeable. The home is big, and the story of its founding is interesting. Well worth the side trip.

Elizabeth Bay House part of the Sydney Living Museums. Historic house built between 1835 & 1839 by Alexander Macleay. Many highlights include the domed saloon with cantilevered staircase and the wine cellars. Also of note, the park across the street is all that remains of the 28 hectares of gardens which once surrounded the house. Be sure to visit the Grotto which is across the street 100 metres south of the house.

The grandest old colonial house in Sydney, and the fountainhead of natural science in Australia with links to Charles Darwin, this is a wonderful tucked away little gem filled with amazing stories.

How had I never heard of this. Beautifully maintained colonial house, now part of the excellent "Sydney Living Museums".

Well time spent at a beautiful and historic home, rich in history. There is so much to see enjoy! The view from the bay is breathtaking as well. Would highly recommend to visit.

Built at 'very considerable expense', Elizabeth Bay House was once the finest house in the colony, set within a garden of the most remarkable extravagance and fancy. Yet it tells a familiar Sydney story: of ambition and passion over-stretched, of riches to ruin.

With commanding views over Sydney Harbour, Elizabeth Bay House gleams like a Greek temple. Once surrounded by famous landscaped gardens, it is one of the most splendid private houses ever built in Australia and still arouses our delight and astonishment. Its elegant rooms and fine proportions, sweeping staircase and lavish furnishings reveal the tastes and aspirations of its original owner, Alexander Macleay, after the governor, the most important public official in colonial Sydney. But it was his magnificent gardens which most keenly expressed his tastes and passions, and in the economic downturn of the 1840s pushed him towards ruin. Elizabeth Bay House is an iconic Sydney home, with an iconic Sydney back-story of obsession for property and position stretched beyond means and undone by changing financial times.

If you like history, museums, or maybe architecture, this is for you. I personally like history so this was an interesting experience for me. But if not, you might find these things a little bit boring. There's not a ton to explore here but it's nice to still check out, especially because it's not usually crowded, so you can take your time and snap some pictures maybe.

Very cool house, and the museum has done a really good job of presenting the history of the house and the Macleay family that owned it, and furnishing it as it would have been in the 1830's and 40's. It's well worth making the trip to the site to see what certainly must have been one of the finest homes in Sydney in its day.