Weekly Events Calendar

Elizabeth Bay House. Photograph (c) Patrick Bingham Hall
ebh

The house might look like it held some very grand colonial balls but when Macleay moved in he was of the very un-partying age of 72. It wasn't until the 20th century that the house saw its first wild parties. Artists like Wallace Thornton and Wolfgang Cardamatis partied in the house between 1928 and 1935 when Elizabeth Bay was occupied as a bohemian artists' squat. With no electricity, guests brought candles with their booze and disbanded once they burnt out. In 1935 the house was rented out as a reception venue and for the next five years Macleay's dream house was featured in Sydney's social pages as a glamorous backdrop for wedding receptions, parties and balls. In 1941 the candles burnt out again when World War II austerities caused the closure of the reception venue and the house’s conversion to 16 bed-sit flats. Artist Donald Friend occupied the morning room and had a panoramic view of the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour in May 1942. The house revived and later that year Friend sketched a raucous party with uniformed guests sliding down the banisters.

COLLECTION

Morning devotions. (detail) Engraving c.1841 depicting a family sitting around a dining table eating breakfast
A new acquisition for the collection contains a wealth of visual detail that informs the interpretation of Elizabeth Bay House’s interiors.
More Information

THE GROTTO

Grotto detail. Photograph Scott Hill
Elizabeth Bay House was originally surrounded by a well-known garden of 28.1 hectares
More Information

WHAT'S ON

FIND OUT WHAT'S ON AT ELIZABETH BAY HOUSE
Elizabeth Bay House hosts a variety of HHT events and public programs throughout the year.
Find out what's on

Location: 7 Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, NSW 2011

Contact: 02 9356 3022

Admission:

  •  Adult $8 I
  •  Child/Concession $4 |
  •  Family $17 |
  •  Members free |
  • Wheelchair access

Hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9.30am — 4pm | Open daily in January and public holidays except Good Friday and Christmas Day

Transport:

Language guide:

  •  
communities nsw logo Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. hht logo