Hambledon Cottage, one of Parramatta’s oldest homes, is set to celebrate an impressive 200 years of heritage and history.
It’s no small feat for the colonial Georgian cottage, which has managed to survive multiple threats of redevelopment to mark its Bicentenary on Saturday, April 13.
Built in the 1820s for pastoralists John and Elizabeth Macarthur as part of their Elizabeth Farm Estate, Hambledon Cottage was later home to their son, Major General Sir Edward Macarthur, Commander of the British Forces in Australia.
It would also later be home to Dr Matthew Anderson, one of Parramatta Hospital’s first surgeons, as well as former Governess Penelope Lucas.
Now operating as a house museum, the heritage-listed cottage brought in a record 4,500 visitors in the last year alone.
Calling it a significant milestone for a remarkable Parramatta landmark, Parramatta and District Historical Society (PDHS) president Les Fenech said the team at the cottage are looking forward to continuing to serve the community.
“I’m personally really excited and pleased for future generations that it exists here today, for the future people of Parramatta,” he told Parra News.
“We hope to continue to provide the services we do to the community, we’re open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the general public on most days. We also provide an active school program, which is well patronised, we have many thousands of children visit.
“We’ve been doing this for at least 110 years, but we’ll try to adapt to what is contemporary in the community.”
PDHS Vice President Ken Smith said Hambledon Cottage has overcome a lot of challenges throughout its lifetime.
“[Hambledon Cottage] went through a whole range of owners until just before the Second World War,” he added.
“In 1940, it was bought by Goodyear Tyre Company, who wanted to knock it down and build a tyre factory here. That was rejected by the community and by the Cumberland County Council, they built the tyre factory elsewhere and it remained in-tact.”
Hambledon Cottage will officially celebrate its bicentenary with a new exhibition, live music, craft and heritage stalls, trade demonstrations, entertainment, food stalls and cottage open house this Saturday, from 10am to 4pm.
These celebrations will then be followed up with a week-long program of historic talks and walks at the cottage and children’s activities to coincide with the school holidays.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Pierre Esber said the momentous occasion will give the community a chance to experience the cottage’s rich history.
“Hambledon Cottage is one of our oldest homes and a much-loved landmark in the heart of our city,” he said.
“These community celebrations hosted by the Parramatta and District Historical Society are a chance for local families to experience what life was like here 200 years ago.”
NSW Governor Margaret Beazley will also attend the event to unveil a special commemorative plaque and launch a new book titled, Celebrating 200 Years – Hambledon Cottage – A House History Its Evolution-Occupation-Activation 1824-2024 on behalf of the society.
Hambledon Cottage is located at 63 Hassall Street.
To find out more, visit http://www.hambledoncottagemuseum.org.au.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.