Parramatta Historical Society

30/08/2026

Saturday the 29th of August was a wonderful spring day, and Hambledon Cottage Museum was delighted to host a record 450 visitors inspecting our iconic Parramatta Colonial building and garden places, as part of the Parramatta Open.

Our Sausage Sizzle did a roaring trade keeping the heritage hungry visitors fed and hydrated. Our Book stand with many new and second hand books, was popular with our visitors who came from all over Sydney including the Northern beaches, Central Coast, Blue Mountains and South-West Sydney.

Many enjoyed the sunshine as they rested at our picnic tables and chairs after working their way through the many Parramatta Heritage sites and enjoyed the historic parkland around the Cottage with many old trees dating from 1820 and 1850.

Thanks to all our hardworking volunteers for assisting our many visitors to inspect the 1824 Cottage by providing catering, cloaking and visitor management assistance.

We were pleased to be visited by Parramatta's Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter as part of the Parramatta Open. His post can be viewed at

https://www.facebook.com/lordmayorzaiter/videos/a-wonderful-visit-to-hambledon-cottage-as-part-of-the-parramatta-open-today-hamb/1001968732858424/

We also thank , for staging the Parramatta Open and opening up Parramatta's many Heritage properties and sites for all to enjoy and appreciate.

It was a great day and thank you all for visiting Hambledon Cottage Museum.

24/08/2026

On Saturday 29 August, Hambledon Cottage Museum will join Parramatta’s most iconic buildings, places, and heritage sites in opening our doors for Parramatta Open.

We will also be running a Sausage Sizzle and a Book stall with new and second hand books and offer a historic parkland around the Cottage with many old trees dating from 1820 and 1850 to enjoy.

Have a rest at the nearby picnic tables as you work through your Parramatta Open journey.

Hosted by , Parramatta Open gives you the keys to the city, unlocking buildings, places, and spaces that are rarely open to the public.

Go behind the scenes and explore these iconic pieces of our city’s architecture and heritage.

Explore all the buildings joining us at Parramatta Open and buy your tickets today.


Book now: sydneyopen.com.au

17/08/2026

https://tinyurl.com/HambledonCot-10am
https://tinyurl.com/HambledonCot-11am
https://tinyurl.com/HambledonCot-1-30pm

10/08/2026

07/08/2026

Hambledon Cottage Chinese Speaking Tours. Saturday August 22nd.

Mandarin Tours at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm.
Cantonese 11.30am and 1pm.

Chinese tours are booked via Eventbrite due to limited tour group numbers, see details below.

Saturday Tours are also available from 11am to 3pm in English without booking.

快来帕拉玛塔汉布顿农舍，体验首次中文导览，畅游悉尼历史建筑！
位于西悉尼帕拉玛塔市的汉布顿农舍，历史超过两百年，是新州政府指定文化遗产。
英国人麦克阿瑟于澳洲开埠不久，在此建立农场，其后盖了汉布顿农舍。
农舍属英王乔治时代对称布局，梁柱门窗全部采用澳洲红椿木，并按照19世纪早期细小家居格
调，以古董家具重新布置。
农舍坐落小公园里，屋外多株大树，都是两百多年前麦克阿瑟从英伦带回来的幼苗种出来的。
参观汉布顿农舍，让您感受澳洲开埠时一个显赫家庭的生活，一览两世纪前殖民地社会的缩影。
请注意：导览分普通话组和粤语组进行，购票时请核对清楚语言场次。

A Special Opening of Hambledon Cottage, Parramatta: Guided tour of a historic property in the Chinese language – A Sydney First Mandarin Tour

Hambledon Cottage, situated in the City of Parramatta, Western Sydney, is over two centuries old and is a State Heritage Register listed property.

Englishman John Macarthur arrived soon after Sydney was founded and established a farm here at Parramatta. He later had Hambledon Cottage built.

The Cottage was designed in the symmetric style of the Georgian period, and red cedar was used throughout for the architraves, doors and windows. The Cottage interior has been restored and furnished with vintage period furniture in line with a small household of the early 19th century.

The Cottage is situated in a small park, containing several large trees which were planted by Macarthur who brought them back from England over two hundred years ago.

A visit to Hambledon Cottage offers a glimpse into the life of a prominent colonial family during the early days of Australia.

Please note: Tours will be guided separately in Cantonese and Mandarin. Check that you are paying for the group guided in your preferred language.

Booking details are via Eventbrite as follows:

Mandarin Tours

Saturday 22 August • 11 AM - 12 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1993825387406?aff=oddtdtcreator

Saturday 22 August • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1994398133505?aff=oddtdtcreator

Saturday 22 August • 2 PM - 3 PM

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1994398188670?aff=oddtdtcreator

Cantonese Tours

Saturday 22 August • 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1994398417354?aff=oddtdtcreator

Saturday 22 August • 1 PM - 2 PM

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1994533974810?aff=oddtdtcreator

快来帕拉玛塔汉布顿农舍，体验首次中文导览，畅游悉尼历史建筑！

01/08/2026

Greycliffe House Tour.

It was a perfect winter’s day when the Society travelled to Vaucluse to visit Greyclffe House and Neilsen Park.

The tour started with Stephen, our knowledgeable NSW National Park guide, providing the history of Greycliffe House and how it was built in 1851 by John Reeve following his marriage to William Wentworth’s daughter. It was designed by John Hilly in the neo-Gothic style of architecture, built in local sandstone and sits in a magnificent location overlooking Sydney Harbour and the Shark Bay beach.

The house was subsequently occupied by several prominent Sydney families until it was transferred to public ownership in 1911. It was then used as a hospital for babies and later, a Tresillian centre supporting mothers and their babies.

After inspecting the lovely architectural features inside the house, such as the red cedar joinery and press metal ceilings, marble fireplaces etc the Society was given a tour of the grounds of the Greycliffe estate. This included the 1871-gun emplacement, 1960’s naval control tower, recently completed sea wall, heritage beach change rooms and the attractive former Gardener’s Cottage.

At the conclusion of a most enjoyable tour of the grounds, members stayed for lunch in the delightful café overlooking the harbour.

06/07/2026

ANZAC Memorial Tour

It was a rainy and cold day when the Society visited the impressive ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park on Thursday 25 June.

The tour started with Conrad, our wonderful guide, providing an overview of the history of the Memorial’s creation before it opened in 1934 and how it was funded by donations from the people of NSW.

At 11.00am Society members participated in the moving Service of Remembrance which was held in the Hall of Memory. This involved the recitation of the Ode and the sounding of the Last Post and Rouse after one minute of silent contemplation.

The Memorial was designed by Australian architect Charles Bruce Dellit with the exterior adorned with monumental figural reliefs and sculptures by George Rayner Hoff, an English sculptor who had migrated to Sydney in the 1920s. Thanks to their work the Memorial is now one of the finest surviving examples of art deco style in Australia.

As the tour moved through the original building and the more recent award-winning Centenary Extension it became apparent what a remarkable piece of architecture and work of art it is. It is truly a fitting memorial to the sacrifice of Australia’s service men and women.

Following a most interesting tour, many of the members gathered at a nearby cafe for a convivial lunch.