#OnThisDay 12 February 1793 John Macarthur was granted 100 acres of land at Parramatta by Acting Governor Francis Grose. Macarthur was the first man to clear and cultivate 50 acres and received a further grant of 100 acres. These two grants formed the land for what became known as Elizabeth Farm, named in honour of Macarthur's wife.
Elizabeth Farm is now under the care of Sydney Living Museums »
See Colonial Secretary's Papers under John Macarthur »
![John Macarthur portrait. NRS-4481-3-[7-16268]-St1112](../../../sites/default/files/Collection/Photos/john-macarthur%20%20NRS-4481-3-%5b7-16268%5d-St1112.jpg "John Macarthur portrait. NRS-4481-3-[7-16268]-St1112")
Parish maps function as indexes to land titling and land tenure records. We show you how to make sense of all of the details on a parish map.
Elizabeth Farm was built in 1793 by John and Elizabeth Macarthur. A simple rectangular cottage, resembling a typical rural English farmhouse. It had four box-like rooms with a steeply pitched shale roof and was whitewashed with small sashed-windows on either side of the door. As with most of the early Colonial architecture it made few concessions to the Australian climate.It was the site for the first experiments with Merino wool in Australia.
This content is maintained by Access Services. If you have any queries or feedback about this content please contact us.