Elizabeth Bay House from dusk to darkness tour
Thursday 11 April from 6pm to 8pm
As you tour the Macleay’s family home, experience the “finest house in the colony” in a whole new light. Join us for an exclusive and intimate tour of this elegant property and enjoy a drink and a snack at the end of this special visit.
As the sun sets, experience Elizabeth Bay House by night during this unique tour. See the magnificent domed saloon through new eyes, its architectural grandeur enhanced by candlelight. Visit the rarely seen servants’ quarters to understand how difficult the life of a servant was, particularly in the dark, and explore the wine cellars underneath the house. Complete your visit with a glass of wine and nibbles in the elegant dining room whilst discussing the rise and fall of Alexander Macleay, his family, and their unique natural history collections.
With breathtaking views over Sydney Harbour, Elizabeth Bay House was completed in 1839 as a villa in the Greek revival style. Once surrounded by extensive landscaped gardens, it is the most elegant and sophisticated house of the 1830s in New South Wales. Its elegant rooms, symmetrical proportions, sweeping elliptical staircase and the use of the most exclusive materials reveal the tastes and aspirations of its original owner, colonial secretary Alexander Macleay.