The Macarthurs arrived in Sydney in 1793, seeking a better life and hoping to capitalize on the opportunities they’d heard about.  The voyage to Australia was extremely difficult, John quarreled with the ships’ master and later became incredibly ill.  Elizabeth lost the daughter she was pregnant with and had to nurse both her husband and infant son though severe illnesses. 

Receiving their land grant at Rosehill helped to establish the Macarthurs and give them a base for their ambitions and projects.  However it did little to establish a stable family life.  John was regularly in conflict with the ruling governors of Sydney and was twice sent back to London to face charges or discipline.  The sons travelled to England for schooling at a young age, with John (jnr) never returning to Australia.  Elizabeth was never to return to England, but watched her family travel and disperse throughout their lives, with rarely a chance for all to be together.