Experiment Farm Cottage
Encyclopedia
Experiment Farm Cottage, in Harris Park
, Parramatta
, New South Wales
, Australia
, is one of Australia’s oldest standing residences. It is located at the site of Experiment Farm, Australia's first Europe
an farmstead, which was itself created by Australia's first land grant
.
In 1789, James Ruse
was chosen by Governor Arthur Phillip
to run an experiment to see how long it would take a man to support himself. Ruse was granted one and a half cleared acres (6,000 m²) of land, as well as being assisted in the clearance of a further five acres (20,000 m²), and provided with two sows and six hens. He was fed and clothed from the public store for 15 months, after which time, as he had become successfully self-sufficient, he was granted a further 30 acres (120,000 m²).
In October 1793, Ruse sold his farm to surgeon John Harris, builder of the substantial colonial cottage which exists today. Doctor Harris was a prominent citizen in the rapidly emerging colony, and was also friends with John and Elizabeth MacArthur
of Elizabeth Farm, another celebrated early agricultural venture only a short walk away.
Experiment Farm Cottage is owned by the National Trust of Australia
(NSW), and was purchased in 1961 as the first NSW National Trust–owned property.
Harris Park, New South Wales
Harris Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Harris Park is located 23 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.Harris Park is the home of several...
, Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, is one of Australia’s oldest standing residences. It is located at the site of Experiment Farm, Australia's first Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an farmstead, which was itself created by Australia's first land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
.
In 1789, James Ruse
James Ruse
James Ruse was a Cornish farmer who, at the age of 23, was convicted of breaking and entering and was sentenced to seven years' transportation to Australia. He arrived at Sydney Cove on the First Fleet with 18 months of his sentence remaining...
was chosen by Governor Arthur Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
to run an experiment to see how long it would take a man to support himself. Ruse was granted one and a half cleared acres (6,000 m²) of land, as well as being assisted in the clearance of a further five acres (20,000 m²), and provided with two sows and six hens. He was fed and clothed from the public store for 15 months, after which time, as he had become successfully self-sufficient, he was granted a further 30 acres (120,000 m²).
In October 1793, Ruse sold his farm to surgeon John Harris, builder of the substantial colonial cottage which exists today. Doctor Harris was a prominent citizen in the rapidly emerging colony, and was also friends with John and Elizabeth MacArthur
John Macarthur (wool pioneer)
John Macarthur was a British army officer, entrepreneur, politician, architect and pioneer of settlement in Australia. Macarthur is recognised as the pioneer of the wool industry that was to boom in Australia in the early 19th century and become a trademark of the nation...
of Elizabeth Farm, another celebrated early agricultural venture only a short walk away.
Experiment Farm Cottage is owned by the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
(NSW), and was purchased in 1961 as the first NSW National Trust–owned property.