The Macarthur Heritage Directory is available for purchase for $10 from:

Camden Visitor Centre
John Oxley Cottage
Camden Valley Wy, Elderslie
Ph: (02) 4658 1370

Campbelltown Visitor Centre
Quondong
15 Old Menangle Rd, Campbelltown
Ph: (02) 4645 4921

more info      online enquiry

John and Elizabeth Macarthur established convict-built Belgenny Farm on part of the original 5000 acres granted to the family by Lord Camden in 1805. Ranked among Australia’s great agricultural pioneers, the Macarthurs established Merino wool production, wheat growing, dairying, horticulture and grape growing. These enterprises became a model for Australia’s proud agricultural traditions.

Architect, John Verge, designed a mansion in the Palladian style with a central two-storey block with one-storey wings and extensions at each side. The rich farming heritage of the Macarthur region can be traced back to as early as 1795 when Governor Hunter went in search of stray cattle and found them settled by the Nepean River, in an area he later named "The Cowpastures"TM, a name which is still in use today.
When John Macarthur was granted 5000 acres of the best pasture land in the colony, he promptly selected The Cowpastures and proceeded to establish Camden Park Estate, which became one of the finest estates in the nation.

The Camden Park House, which has become one of the great mansions of Australia, is still occupied by the Macarthur family, and is in fact thought to be one of the oldest residents in the country still occupied by descendents of its founder. The family burial ground, carefully established over the decades, is located nearby and is the last resting place of John Macarthur and his direct descendents.

Camden Park House is open to the public on the third weekend in September and at other times for group tours by arrangement.

more info      online enquiry

The Camden Valley Inn still retains its quaint charm and country friendliness in an atmosphere reminiscent of old England. Camden Valley Inn is the ultimate in mouth-watering hospitality, revitalising natural surrounds, clean air and homemade comforts.

more info      online enquiry

De Kerillian was issued with 8 convicts who constructed a residence on the property. This first building later became the kitchen for the homestead. The second building was a coach house and the third a cottage for the convicts in which they were chained at night. These buildings still stand and are distinguished from later buildings because they are made from local sandstone.

In 1816 the property was sold to James Chisholm for 250 pounds. Convict labour was also used to build the Homestead. There is no record of the Architect or completion date. Conjecture puts the date at c.1829, the time of Chisholm's marriage to Elizabeth Kinghorne.

Extensions and renovations were last done in the 1860's. Chisholms and their descendants lived at "Gledswood" for approx 120 years.

There are close ties to the Macarthur family through marriages and wine growing. There is a story that James Chisholm was bailed up by Jack Donahoe the "Wild Colonial Boy" but was allowed to proceed on his way because he was good to his convicts "of which I was once one".

more info      online enquiry

The cottage is built from bricks most likely to have been made at the brick works in the town of Camden. The original roof of wooden shingles can be seen under the eaves of the back verandah. There were separate outbuildings located beside a brick well.

It is believed that the cost of connecting electricity to the cottage was paid for by Miss Faithfull-Anderson of "Camelot", known for her generosity done quietly and without public attention.

The house was known for some time as "Curry's Cottage" and was once owned by the Curry family (although not the main farmhouse) after whom the adjoining reserve is named. The Cottage houses Camden Visitor Information Centre. Open 7 days.

more info      online enquiry

It remained in use as a school until 1914 when Father James Dunne opened St John's Primary School in Lindsay Street. It was then sold to Mrs Keihone who had it converted to a dwelling, and wishing to give it a truly Australian title, renamed it Quondong.

Local legend has it that at one time it was divided down the centre and that one side was a Catholic school and the other an Anglican school. However no evidence had been found to support this story. Mrs Keihone sold it to her nephew William Thomas Bourke who resided there till the 1950's when Mrs Cyril Seagal of Wilton owned it till 1991.

Quondong is now the Visitor Information Centre with museum and school display rooms. See artefacts of Australian history, sit at an old school desk, hear some old school lessons and go on a guided tour around the centre. Open 7 days.

more info      online enquiry

The inn was divided into two sections - one for the lower class and one for the upper. A library was also located on the lower level of the Inn but only available to the upper class.  The Inn has been restored to its original form of a bar. The old servery hatch is still there and is the only working one left in Australia. The sandstone building located to the side of the old Inn has been restored to a museum offering history and photographs from the 1800's & 1900's.

It has been added to and extended over the years and has stables, an enclosed courtyard, coach house and servants quarters. By 1873 "Wivenhoe" had been increased in area to approx. 950 acres and had an extensive vineyard and beautifully landscaped grounds. The property was purchased at this time by H.A. Thomas and remained in the family until the death of his widow in 1903 when it passed to Captain Oswald Watt. In 1910 it was sold by Captain Oswald Watt to the Catholic Church for 7000 pounds and became Mater Dei Orphanage.