Experiment Farm Cottage

Visit the site of Australia’s first convict land grant and discover an extraordinary historical precinct in Western Sydney. A starving colony. A journey up the river. One convict’s experiment in self-sufficiency. Standing on the lands of the Burramatta Dharug people, Experiment Farm Cottage is the fascinating site of Australia’s first convict land grant to James Ruse in 1789.

The are of now hundreds of house museums across Australia, but Experiment Farm Cottage still stands as the blueprint. We have come a long way in 50 years and look forward to sharing stories of the collection, the house, the people and most importantly the land with you.

Experiment Farm cottage stands on the site of the first land grant in Australia, made in 1789 by Governor Phillip to the former convict James Ruse. By 1791 Ruse had successfully farmed the 30 acre site as an experiment in self-sufficiency, proving that a new settler could feed and shelter his family with relatively little assistance to get started.

The Indian-style bungalow there today was built by Surgeon John Harris, who purchased the land from Ruse in 1793 for £ 40. It is thought to have been built by c1835. It is one of Australia’s oldest standing properties and features in an 1837 sketch and subsequent watercolour by Conrad Martens.

The house is furnished to reflect the home of Surgeon Harris, with simple but elegant pieces from National Trust’s collection of early colonial furniture, the largest of its kind in Australia. In the year 2000, the National Trust landscaped and planted the immediate grounds, using evidence from early paintings, plant catalogues and photographs to recreate, as far as possible, an authentic setting for the cottage. Guided tours are available, and a permanent display in the cellar tells the story of the site in all phases of its occupation; Indigenous and colonial to the present day.

Activities
Guided tours, occasional special events.
Admittance by guided tours only.
Flash photography prohibited.

Experiences
A friendly welcome awaits before you explore this simple but elegant cottage and embrace its occupants’ stories. The relaxed atmosphere and fine colonial furnishings take you to a time of colonial pioneering and development.

Experiment Farm Cottage is part of an historical precinct which includes Hambledon Cottage (1824), Elizabeth Farm (1793) and the Queen’s Wharf, all within easy walking distance of each other.

Facilities
Parking, guided tours, venue hire, photography, toilets.

Children
A trip to Experiment Farm Cottage is a great day out for children. They’ll enjoy learning about the life of Ruse’s family and the workings of an early colonial household, plus there’s a hands-on sensory cottage garden that’s perfect for exploring.

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