A R C H A E 0 L 0 G I C A L R E P 0 R T <::) !"'--- ~......_ Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta. N.s.w • Part .III. HISTORICAL SUMMARY (working paper) Archaeological Consultant April, 1979. Judy Birmingham University of Sydney The follo~ng paper was compiled by Robert J. Varman as a working summary of existing sources relevant to the excavation of Elizabeth Farm in December 1978 (pending completion of the forth­ coming research into the later periods of the Far.m by the Heritage and Conservation Branch). It does not pretend to be original work. Its sources are clearly set out in the Abbreviations, and its lay-out emphasizes what it was intended to be - a quick reference aid to known historical data relevant to the site and its buildings, and the ·life of those who lived there. Entries in the left-hand colunm are from contemporary accounts, those in the right-hand column from later retrospective and secondary sources. The Bibliography attached is a straightforward copy of that included in w. Lewin and R. Rely's useful Bachelor of Architecture thesis for t l" e University of Sydney, on Elizabeth Farm. It is included here, with specific acknowledgemnt to the authors, for its comprehensiveness. 3"' ABBREVIATIONS · EF Elizabeth Farms EM Elizabeth Macarthur JM John Macarthur .ED.M Edward Macarthur JASM James Macarthur WMM William Macarthur JNM John Macarthur Jn. p Parramatta a acres F Freeland, J. CBO Chronology of Building Operations- H. King (31.8.1978) PDHS Parramatta & District Historical Society HRA Historical Records of Australia JRAHS Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Soci~ty ML Mitchell Library MP Macarthur Papers LH Lewin & Hely 1977 Thesis SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY FREELANDJ Elizabeth Farm. Typed manuscript 22 pages (p.19 missing). (Abbreviated as F: ) KING,H Elizabeth Fann: Chronology of Building Operations- 6 pages typed manuscript. SWANN (Miss) Elizabeth Fann House PDHS J & P Vol I 1918 p.23ff SWANN,M Australia's Oldest House and its Owner- John Macarthur. Early and Recent Memoirs of Parramatta: lSOth Anniversary J. Jervis Ed. 1938. LEWIN, W& HELY,R Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta: An Approach to Restoration and Pre~rvation (Bachelor of Architecture, University of Sydney 1977). fi'/c..) ;'/ ',~. I , / ) I'"/' ;·1/. _.J \.I, {... /} 1 I' 1 , 4 j t r" IL. f (', \ J I V<' (' 12.2. 1793; JM occupied his land with the permission of Grose about a fortnight before the oft1cial papers were signed. (F:3). 25.2.1793; JM officially granted 100 acres "contiguous to the town of Parramatta" and on "the west side of Tipperary farm". {ibid). November 1793; HOUSE BUILT BY TillS TIME. "In November last myself and family all removed to Parramatta, where Mr M had been the greater part of his time . I write to you from our own house, a very excellent brick building 68 feet in length and 18 feet in width, independent of kitchen and servants apartments". (Then there is a transcription of JM's letter to his brother). "In the centre of my farm I have built a most excellent brick house, 68 feet in length and eighteen feet in bredth. It has no upper story, but consists of FOUR ROOMS ON THE GROUND FLOOR, A LARGE HALL, CLOSETS, CELLAR, ETC., AND ADJOINING IS A KITCHEN, WITH SERVANTS APARTMENTS, AND OTHER NECESSARY OFFICES". Letter from EM to EK 23.8.1794. (MP vol. 12. ML ref. A2908. Miss Swann, Elizabeth Farm House PDHS J &P voll, 1918 p.25). 1.9.1798; EM to ? mentioning servants employed in the garden, stables and house. (MP vol. 12 ML ) 30.9.1800; JM to Lieutenant Gov. King. "Capt. McArthur will, for the sum of 4,000, give in with the stock his farm contiguous to the town of Parramatta, on which is a good dwelling house and other convenient buildings . also his grass farm, consisting of one thousand acres, one hundred acres of which is cleared, and has on it large and roomy sheds and buildings for sheltering the stock, all newly built". (HRA ser. I, vol.2. pp534ff, vol.3, p.lOl.) 19.6.1801; Reply from the Secretary of State refusing the 1801; JM "given a trip home". offer. (F:7) (ibid). 14.9.1801; Arrested as a result of a duel. Gov. King sent him to England to be court marshalled. (M. Swann 1938 p.25). 1802; "In 1802 he was sent off to England under arrest ... "(M. Swann 1918 p.25). 27.1.1805; The Sydney Gazette mentions that the kitchen -::: at EF had been burnt down. ) '' . a fire broke out . by which a detached kitchen was in a short time destroyed." [SYD. GAZETTE 27.1.1805 p.4] 27.1.1805 LH SUGGESTS THAT THE ORIGINAL KITCHEN EXISTED TO THE WEST OF THE HOUSE [LH:32] July 1805; JM returned to NSW (F:7) . ' ( I (, .I 1/ 19.10.1806 "SYD. GAZEITE" and "NSW ADVERTISER" "Any number of labouring men may obtain employment and an an1ple ration of provisions, by applying to Mr Macarthur at Parramatta". 1~06; Occupants of EF; JM, EM, four children aged between 6 and 13 and Miss Lucas the governess. (CBO:l). 1806; FREELAND feels that 1806 was the most likely date for the first extensions at EF. Addition of a bedroom 16 ft 6 ins sq. to the back at the eastern end forming an L shape plan. The main roof of the house was turned around the corner. Verandah by tllis time ? 9 ft wide along the northern wall and support­ led on 7 square wooden posts. These sprang from the eaves of the main roof but at a shallower pitch to match the old skillion over the end rooms. It is probable that a S ft wide doorway with glazed sidelights and an elliptical fanlight replaced the original door. (F:8) 1806; Hazel King states that she has found no evidence that the alterations to EF were made in that year. (CBO:l). 1807; The eldest son Edward returned from England and remained there until after the "Rum Rebellion". (ibid). 1807; E~M. MENTIONS A BACK DOOR (LH:27) 1.2.1807 JM's bill of accounts from JOHN NORRIS for work completed. The work completed being; the con­ struction of a privy; the delivery of 100 stones to Elizabeth Farm House; the construction of a kitchen cellar; and other sundry jobs. [LH :36] . 24.12.1807 JM's bill of accounts from John Norris for the following work; laying 76 yards of drainage; laying 992.5 sq. feet of flagging; repairing flags in the stables; digging foundations for the end walls of the kitchen; and installing a new stone and sink. (LH:37]. 29.3.1809; JM again left for England taking his sons James and William, leaving Elizabeth and their three daughters behind. (ibid). (CB0:1). 17.6.1809 John Norris received 1.. 70.0.0 from JM for completing work on the kitchen, in agreement with a plan. The work included; a celar; foundations; part­ itions, an oven, chimneys and chimney pieces. [LH:37] Sept 1809·1811 GRAHAM BLAXCELL and GEORGE HOWELL supplied building materials to, and worked for EM. They supplied; 1661 feet of cedar, in 12 Jogs; green paint and oil; 10,300 bricks; 600 tiles; 3 sheets of copper; 197 feet of cedar; bar iron; flooring boards; 21 cedar boards; and 3,000 nails. -----..----------- -- ---------- 3.8.1810; JM to EM. "I was exceedingly pleased to learn that you had nearly got the kitchen finished and much gratified, as you may suppose, at your details of your improvements ... " (MP vol. 2. ML CB0:2). v 1810; Stone kitchen and cellars beneath built. (M.Swann 1938 p.20). March 1816; EM to EK. " ... we . keep a dairy ..." (Swann 1918 p.27). Water mill in use by this time. (HRA ser. 1 vol. 10. p.116). 1 , 1817 LYCETT'S VIEW see 1825 ·.> j ~~,,., , ... · .._- 1817; JM, James and William return from England. The occupants at this time were; JM, EM, Jas, Wm and Miss Lucas. Jas and Wm spent most of their time at Camden Park. (CB0:2):r~ s •. , .. " •]•~::/-'- ~ <>1 d '(J LYCETT'S VIEW OF MACARTHUR'S FARM IS DATED c.1817 by LH [p.41] 1817; Apart from the house, the old servants: quarters had two storeys, there was the kitchen, a dairy, a barn, a tall rectangular smoke house, a carriage shed and stables, and a cottage. (F:9) 1820-1826; Account by P. Cunningham who mentions JM's cottage and adjoining yellow buildings. (P. Cunningham Two Years in N.S.W. Lon. 1827. Angus and Robertson ed.l966 pp 52, 58. (Based on several visits to New South Wales as a Naval Surgeon 1820-1826 Written in London 1826.) ) NO REFERENCES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO DATE IN REFERENCE TO E.F. BETWEEN 1810 and 1826. [According to CB0:2] 1821: Etching (ref. IAN SANSOM). [Is it the same as 1825 illustrahon? - see below] ..,. 1822: Letter EM to EK 4.9.1822 "For our poor Parramatta house is tumbling down, it is quite a ruin". 1825 LYCETT'S "Views of Australia" pub. Lon. 1825 shows (from left to right) KITCHEN(?); TWO STOREY SERVANTS' QUARTERS - appears as a rectangular block with hipped roof positioned parallel to northern face of the house; HOUSE with a "tacked on" verandah (NTH and EAST SIDES); LARGE SHED or BARN with gable roof­ appears to be behind the servants' quarters; and 'OCTAGONAL' SMOKE HOUSE'· 1826 ? ? Detailed account from Henry Cooper for 'scantl­ ing to be used in stables, coach house, straw house and boxes (total cost £119.7.6) {no indication that tJtis was for EF but at that time the house at Camden was not yet being built.