Sidesaddle
Elizabeth Macarthur was a horsewoman. She wrote a letter describing riding through the bush on a three day trip to the Hawkesbury. Governor Macquarie wrote about encountering her on horseback. But that’s all I know. I can’t tell you if Elizabeth rode for pleasure, although her friend Betsy Marsden certainly did (Betsy’s husband wrote to…
Camden Park House & Garden Open Days
Open 20 – 21 September 2014. Saturday 12noon – 4pm; Sunday 10am – 4pm Historic Camden Park House built in 1835 for John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their family is open for one weekend a year. Tour through this historic Georgian mansion designed by John Verge. Explore the colonial garden filled with spring blossoms and…
18th Century Fashion and Underwear
This is one of the one of the oldest provenanced costumes in Australia. An evening gown, it belonged to Elizabeth Macarthur’s friend Anna Josepha King (wife of Philip Gidley King, the third governor of New South Wales, from 1800 to 1806). The dress is made of fine cream muslin, decorated with silver plate embroidery in…
Australia’s First Cookbook
Published in 1864, Australia’s first cookbook has gone on display at Tasmania’s State Library in a celebration of its 150th anniversary. The venue is fitting, given that the author was a Tasmanian, Edward Abbott. Recipes include roast wombat, kangaroo steamer and slippery bob – which was battered kangaroo brains fried in emu fat. Yum, yum….