Elizabeth Bay House

Wednesday 17 April

 

Part three of the tour

 

 

Elizabeth Bay House

It was built in1835 and 1839 for

Alexander Macleay, colonial secretary of NSW

 

The chamber pot was hidden in the steps

to climb into the bed

 

The bed had 3 mattresses

First made of down

Second made of horse hairs

Third made of straw.

The straw was kept damp to attract the bed bugs

and leave the occupant of the bed bites free.

Ceiling of the hall

 



 

breakfast room

 

the study/library 

Alexander Macleay was a passionate collector

of insect and flora.

This room is the only room with the original

furniture.

The collection are still kept here but now they

belong to the University of Sydney. 

 

view from the house

 

the size of the property then.

Macleay took 54 acres at Elizabeth bay

 in 1826, soon after his arrival in Sydney.