Explore Elizabeth Farm online
Welcome to our interactive virtual tour, tailored for Stage 2 primary learners (Years 3–4). Step back into colonial Parramatta and discover how life unfolded across this historic homestead. Grab your magnifying glass and prepare to become a history detective as you investigate authentic spaces, sources, and everyday routines.
360 VIRTUAL TOUR
https://atparramatta.com/plan-your-stay/parramatta-virtual-tour
CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW A VIRTUAL TOUR OF ELIZABETH FARM
Simply press the side bar, then click "History and Heritage" then click "Elizabeth Farm" and enjoy the tour!
History Detective Challenge
1. What objects or features can you identify ?
2. What might these clues tell us about the Macarthur family's daily life?
3. Whose experiences might be missing from these rooms?
Source: City of Parramatta Council (n.d.)
The homestead and family quarters
Welcome to the Elizabeth Farm homestead!
This historic house was home to the Macarthur family during colonial Australia. As you explore the photographs, look closely at the rooms, furniture and building features. What can these clues tell us about how the family lived?
Remember, not everyone at Elizabeth Farm experienced daily life in the same way. Convict workers and servants performed important tasks that helped maintain the household.
History Detective Challenge
- Identify two features of the homestead that tell us something about life in the past.
- What might these features suggest about the Macarthur family’s lifestyle?
Figure 8. Original photograph taken by author (2026)
The colonial kitchen and scullery
Behind the scenes at Elizabeth Farm!
While the Macarthur family lived in the homestead, workers and servants carried out many daily tasks, including preparing meals, cleaning and maintaining the property.
Look carefully at the photographs of the kitchen and working areas. Consider the tools, materials and spaces people may have used.
History Detective Challenge
- What clues can you find about how food was prepared?
- What does this space help us understand about the lives of workers and servants?
Figure 9. Original Photograph taken by author (2026)
The gardens and working grounds
Explore the grounds of Elizabeth Farm!
Before European colonisation, Dharug people lived on and cared for Country in the Parramatta area for countless generations. The establishment of Elizabeth Farm changed how this land was used.
Explore the photographs of the gardens and outdoor spaces. Look for evidence of how the landscape has been shaped over time.
History Detective Challenge
- What natural and human-made features can you identify?
- How might the land have changed since the establishment of Elizabeth Farm?
Figure 10. Original photograph taken by author (2026)
Creative Challenge: Try Your Hand at Sketching!
At Elizabeth Farm, visitors are invited to draw and paint flowers and plants as a special keepsake of their visit.
Now it is your turn!
YOUR ACTIVITY:
1. Choose a flower or plant from the Elizabeth Farm garden photographs.
2. Use paper and pencils to sketch or paint what you see.
3. Add colour and detail to bring your artwork to life!
Figure 11. 12. Original photographs taken by author (2026)
Before You Leave Elizabeth Farm...
Think about everything you have discovered.
One thing I have learned is.....
One historical clue I discovered......
One question I still have .....
Remember, historians don't just look at the past. They ask questions, investigate sources and use evidence to explain their findings!