Old Government House in Parramatta, New South Wales | Community museum

Old Government House

Locality: Parramatta, New South Wales

Phone: +61 2 9635 8149

Address: Parramatta Park 2150 Parramatta, NSW, Australia

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.au/nsw/old-government-house

Likes: 1917

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• Landmark & historical place
• Landmark
• Community museum
• Civilisation museum

25.01.2022 Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW's Alasdair Taylor talks Carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua) for our #HeritageAtHome plant series. There are... two gnarly old veterans living in the grounds of #OldGovernmentHouse. You may think they are not much to look at, but, since the first half of the 19th century, they have long outlived most of the human occupants! The two carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua) were possibly descendants of those growing in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens in 1828. and are possibly the oldest trees within the fenced area around the property. Why were they planted at Old Government House? Carob is best known today as a ‘healthier’ substitute for chocolate, as the natural sweetness of its beans means that it is not necessary to add sugar to make it into a confectionary. However, in colonial times, it was better known as being a reliable, perennial livestock fodder crop as it grew abundant pods full of energy-rich beans. Probably ‘adopted’ by British army officers during the Peninsular War in Spain in the early 1800s, it quickly spread throughout the Empire. Its tolerance for drought and hot climates made it ideal for Australian conditions, not only as stock fodder, but for the cool, dense shade provided by its evergreen foliage. While we do not know the exact year of planting, it is estimated that our two veterans may be up to 180 years old. At that age, we need to ensure that they are looked after. To this end, our staff and volunteers ensure that surrounding trees are pruned back to give the carobs enough light, and that any dead, rotting limbs are carefully removed in order to prevent disease taking hold. With such good care, we hope our visitors enjoy their company in cool shade on hot days for many years to come! Find out more here https://bit.ly/2CUpkon Book your timed tickets here https://bit.ly/3idodQB See more

23.01.2022 Not only are we reopening this weekend, but Lachlan's Old Government House- Parramatta will be too Saturday and Sunday only.

21.01.2022 Roses are in bloom at Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW. These gorgeous ones, cared for by our fabulous gardener Pat Smith, set off a wond...erful milieu of historic architecture at the north end of the property. You are looking at the first ever French doors used in Australia, framed by a beautiful timber #Chinoiserie bower. This style borrowed motifs from #China and the design was intended to allow climbing #roses and vines to grow on it. This is a replica of the one which appears in WJ Lewin’s watercolour of 1819, when the bower was unique in Australia. It must have been a lovely place for the Macquarie's to sit on a balmy evening! See more

21.01.2022 It's time to showcase #HeritageAtHome one of our special duties at Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW, the weekly winding of the 199 year... old Oatley No 9 long case #clock that stands in the stair hall. The #pendulum and weights are usually hidden by the casing, so are rarely seen by visitors. Our doors are not open yet, but we are working behind the scenes to prepare for visitors very soon. Learn more https://bit.ly/OGH_NT Oatley was convicted of theft in England in 1814 and was transported to NSW, arriving in 1815. Following his appointment by Governor Macquarie to look after the town clocks, James Oatley established his own clock making business, producing long case clocks and pocket watches. The Oatley No 9 was made in 1821 for Thomas West of Barcom Glen, a former convict turned entrepreneur, and it remained in the West family until donated to the National Trust in 2001. See more

21.01.2022 We enjoying being open again for the #schoolholidays so much! It’s been great to see our visitors returning to heritage properties in #NSW. A friendly reminder that our tickets are available for timed-entry purchase available to visitors one week in advance via Eventbrite. Every Wednesday we release tickets for the next week. Book now https://bit.ly/OGH_Tix

19.01.2022 Wishing everyone a very happy long weekend ahead with a friendly reminder: National Trust (NSW) Properties are not open yet. We are looking forward to welcoming you back soon and getting organised for a time when we can. If you arrive at our properties this weekend, we will not be able to let you in. Please plan accordingly to avoid disappointment. Drive safe, stay safe and keep healthy!

19.01.2022 Ready to enjoy a world of #music at home? Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW is one of many venues in #Parramatta bringing some #HeritageAtHome to the community https://bit.ly/2YB51Dp.

17.01.2022 The National Trust loved providing Old Government House as a stage for Make Music Day. Wonderful to see digital innovation bringing our #culture and the #arts to life in #Parramatta https://bit.ly/2BoJ2rw University Of Western Sydney City of Parramatta #makemusicday

13.01.2022 Calling all Event Organisers, Exhibition Curators, Builders, Landscape Gardeners & Authors - let's do something positive with 2020:

12.01.2022 It's time to showcase Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW. We are open from today: 3 July 2020. Discover the story of this important World... Heritage listed building, its grounds and the story of an expanding colonial settlement in Sydney. Book your timed ticket to visit https://bit.ly/OGH_Tix. Open from 3 July 2020 with timed entry tickets Thursday to Sunday 10am 4pm, last entry 3pm. Please read Terms & Conditions of Entry in advance. Learn more https://bit.ly/OGH_NT #HeritageAtHome Images: Richard Silink

09.01.2022 Today marks 10 years of the listing of Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW as a #WorldHeritage Convict Site. Read an alternative piece of our... convict heritage with #Convict #Tattoos. Australian author, Simon Barnard reveals a pictorial history of tattooing from tattoo symbolism, from their use as means of identification to expressions of individualism and defiance. At least thirty-seven per cent of male convicts and fifteen per cent of female convicts were tattooed by the time they arrived in the penal #colonies, making Australians possibly the world’s most heavily tattooed English-speaking people of the 19th century. Shop online https://bit.ly/NT_ConvictTattoos #HeritageAtHome See more

06.01.2022 #HeritageAtHome to plan your trip to Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW , our World #Heritage Listed destination. "Successive Australian c...olonial governors occupied this #convict built ‘country house’ overlooking the town of #Parramatta between 1790 and 1856, with its extensive gardens and farming lands managed by a large convict workforce." We are open to visitors. We are looking forward to welcoming the community back to explore the heritage of New South Wales. Please read our Terms & Conditions of Entry, which include pre-booking your timed entry ticket before visiting so we can keep everyone #COVID safe. Find out more here https://bit.ly/2CUpkon Book your timed tickets here https://bit.ly/3idodQB #heritage #visitnsw #parramatta City of ParramattaLearn more https://bit.ly/OGH_NT

05.01.2022 We're not able to open until midday tomorrow due to staff training in the morning. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience!

05.01.2022 #HeritageAtHome to plan your trip to Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW , our Unesco World Heritage Listed destination. "Successive Austra...lian colonial governors occupied this #convict built ‘country house’ overlooking the town of #Parramatta between 1790 and 1856, with its extensive gardens and farming lands managed by a large convict workforce." Photo Dragi Markovic. We reopened on 3 July 2020 to visitors just in time for the school holidays. We are looking forward to welcoming the community back to explore the heritage of New South Wales. Please read our Terms & Conditions of Entry, which include pre-booking your timed entry ticket before visiting so we can keep everyone #COVID safe. Find out more here https://bit.ly/2CUpkon Book your timed tickets here https://bit.ly/3idodQB #heritage #visitnsw #parramatta City of ParramattaLearn more https://bit.ly/OGH_NT

05.01.2022 It's never too early to think about what to gift for Christmas. How about the gift of experience? Take advantage of a #HeritageHolidayNSW these coming months with a membership to our #nationaltrust sites. Even better, if you purchase a gift membership before 17 December it will be in a gift box with two free tickets to the S.H.Ervin Gallery! Purchase here https://bit.ly/3iFizGd

03.01.2022 It’s been a long few months, but we are excited to announce that we are gradually reopening. From 3 July 2020 you can visit the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Everglades H...istoric House + Gardens - National Trust of Australia, Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum and Old Government House - National Trust of Australia NSW. We’re still keeping these special places #COVID-19 safe, so there are some changes to how #heritage lovers need to plan and book their visit, but we are looking very forward to welcoming the community back! https://bit.ly/national-trust-nsw-covid-19-reopening See more

02.01.2022 Thank you NSW Government - Our favourite National Trust Australia (NSW) sites have reopened! These heritage gems are waiting to be explored: Everglades Gardens, Blue Mountains Norman Lindsay Gallery, Blue Mountains Old Government House, Parramatta... S. H. Ervin Gallery, Millers Point For more info and to book your visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/