Vaucluse House

History museum · Vaucluse

Vaucluse House

History museum · Vaucluse

69A Wentworth Rd, Vaucluse NSW 2030, Australia

Highlights

Nestled in lush gardens, this stunning Gothic Revival mansion is a free-to-enter museum that invites you to wander through history and charm.

69A Wentworth Rd, Vaucluse NSW 2030, Australia Get directions

mhnsw.au

@museumsofhistorynsw

@afar

"For a glimpse of Sydney 's high society, visit Vaucluse House, a beautiful villa and garden in the Eastern Suburbs near Watsons Bay. A gothic revival mansion built in 1803, Vaucluse House once belonged to ex-convict Sir Henry Browne Hayes, who was shipped to Australia from England for abducting a banker’s daughter. Some punishment. The mansion also served as the home of writer, explorer, and local dignitary William Charles Wentworth. Once you're done eyeing the antiques and memorabilia, check out the tropical gardens and settle in for a cup of English breakfast and a warm scone at the well-appointed tearoom. There's also Milk Beach and the Hermitage Foreshore Track nearby, a gorgeous coastal walk for those looking for a little more adventure."

The Best Things to Do in Sydney

View Postcard for Vaucluse House

@afar

Sydney's Best Museums and Cultural Attractions

View Postcard for Vaucluse House

@afar

The Best Districts and Neighborhoods to Visit in Sydney

View Postcard for Vaucluse House

Nerine Cummins

Google

Located at 69A Wentworth Road, Vaucluse, New South Wales, Australia 🇦🇺 Vaucluse House is a Heritage Listed residence and colonial farm which has been turned into a tourist attraction. It was designed by W.C. Wentworth and built by Sir Henry Browne Hayes and W.C. Wentworth and designed in the Gothic Revival Style. It was completed between 1803 and 1839. I had heard about Vaucluse House many times before but had never been here and I absolutely loved it. It’s such a treasure and if you ever get a chance to visit, definitely don’t miss the opportunity. It’s such a beautiful place, even the stables, which are so grand. The guide told me that they were designed by a man who designed churches, hence why they were a little grand. The house, stables, outbuildings and kitchen wing are surrounded by 28 acres of formal garden. I loved wandering through the house, discovering the little treasures, even the toilets were a novelty. They are actually a little hidden and easy to miss but the guide led me back to them. On this topic, the staff were always there to answer any questions and to give out a little history on the house. They were marvellous. There’s a little gift shop if you wanted to get something and there’s a wonderful cafe down from the main house. The fountain and gardens around the house are so beautiful and well maintained. The bedrooms on the upper levels are definitely worth the trek upstairs. I loved the little infants chair and the baby’s bed. I really loved kitchen and you have to remember to look around corners because it’s easy to miss something great. It’s FREE to enter and parking 🅿️ is down near the cafe. Vaucluse House is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00am until 4.00pm. I would definitely recommend a visit. A HUGE Thumbs up from me! 👍👍😊😊

Fiona K

Google

If you are interested in the history of the area or this beautiful house , , Vaucluse House is definitely worth a visit. From the moment you enter the front office / shop area , the staff are willing to answer any questions you may have. You are able to freely inspect all rooms in the house. It's interesting to see how the rich lived many years ago . The beautiful gardens and trees surrounding the house are very popular for wedding photos. We were lucky enough to visit while the Jacaranda trees were in flower. Carpark a short walk away. Street parking available.

Alice Moon-Star

Google

I enjoyed exploring Vaucluse House and its beautiful estate, especially the picturesque garden with a water fountain surrounded by flowers. Entry is free, and the staff are friendly. The grounds have amenities like a café, parking, public restrooms, and picnic areas, as well as several other buildings, including stables and garden houses. The estate was built between 1803 and 1839 and the larger house is Gothic Revival architecture, complete with turrets. Inside, there is a large, simple kitchen, a scullery, multiple floors, and an elegant staircase. The grand hallways feature chessboard floors, and the opulent rooms are adorned with red velvet chairs, Italian paintings, and intricate decorations. The estate’s history is fascinating. The original cottage was built by Irish convict Sir Henry Brown Hayes, who kidnapped the daughter of a wealthy Irishman. Hayes named the property "Vaucluse" after a beautiful spring in France, known as the Fontaine de Vaucluse. In the 1820s, William Charles Wentworth purchased the estate and built the larger house. Wentworth, born on Norfolk Island and educated in Europe, came from a family who owned many properties in the Sydney area, which allowed him to afford the estate. He lived there with his wife and children. By the 1920s, the estate became government-owned and was opened to the public. In the 1960s, 200 native trees were planted on the grounds, and in 2016-2017, the house was refurbished. Overall, Vaucluse House is a wonderful place to visit, particularly for people interested in social history and architecture.

Ramona Ismail

Google

I really enjoyed my visit at the Vaucluse House. Watching the series Downtown Abbey has proven to be fruitful, as I could relate to the Vaucluse House household operation. The audio explanations were helpful, and I learnt more about the Wentworth family. The only downside was that I wished the Museum Management of Vaucluse House would've opened up the Servants Quarters lodging / rooms section, so we could learn their lifestyles just as much as their Masters, The Wentworth Family. It would be good to allow visitors to see what is above the Butler's Pantry and Office, where the heads of key operations i.e. Housekeeping, Sewing, Nanny, etc. reside / rest.

Jamie Maxwell Knape (JackaFish Fan)

Google

The volunteer I listened to for over an hour was very engaging. He knew a lot about each relevant person connected to the house, including dates and such. He was the highlight of the house.

claire LEE

Google

I'm happy to visit here.. A well-preserved old house... There are hidden gem-like spots everywhere. I didn’t expect much since it’s free entry, but it was really nice. Next time, I’ll check out the café too.

Michael Drew

Google

A wonderful experience. Beautiful home, spectacular gardens, excellent guides, and a really nice bookshop. And if you get a chance, try to arrange a tour of the related, and nearby, Wentworth family mausoleum.

Peter Oeding-Erdel

Google

Great museum and history of a different time. Lots of effort to represent and talk about the period of the house in its original form. Thank you to those who do this and the volunteers, too.

t a.

Yelp

Fascinating historic house, very helpful docents, and you can't beat the price as admission is free!

Sharn G.

Yelp

I was all set to give this place all the stars it deserved, but a distasteful run in with someone on their security has dropped the stars here. You see, they offer a lovely tour of the house - with some great historical information passed down. Another lovely Yelper, Andrew H, even got to play the period piano for us while we swanned on the square couches and soaked in the history of this place. Climbing all those stairs in a corset was hard work and I was extremely happy that I had a fan. Let's not talk about getting down all those stairs in a corset either. Suffice to say we had a lovely lovely time here... Until we were taking some pictures before we left. The grounds shut at 4.30pm to the general public. It seemed like there was a party happening not too far away, which we didn't even give notice to. We were enjoying taking pictures and being a bit silly. As we gathered our things and started to head off as we noticed that the time was 4.30 the security guard came over to tell us we had to leave. We replied that we were obviously on our way off the grounds when he interjected that there's a private party and they paid to be here so therefore we couldn't stay. Wait, are you serious? You can't see that we have all our gear and are walking towards the gate that leads out?! He assumed that we were some kind of professional photographers because he kept asking what company we worked for and wouldn't take a "we don't work for anyone" answer very well. As you can imagine this was a really horrible way to end an otherwise fabulous day that we'd had starting with our high tea and then tour. And it's the reason why I've given it such a low rating. Being harrassed for no reason as we're leaving the grounds leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth.

@afar

The Best Things to Do in Sydney

View Postcard for Vaucluse House

@afar

Sydney's Best Museums and Cultural Attractions

View Postcard for Vaucluse House

@afar

The Best Districts and Neighborhoods to Visit in Sydney

View Postcard for Vaucluse House

Nerine Cummins

Google

Fiona K

Google

Alice Moon-Star

Google

Ramona Ismail

Google

Jamie Maxwell Knape (JackaFish Fan)

Google

The volunteer I listened to for over an hour was very engaging. He knew a lot about each relevant person connected to the house, including dates and such. He was the highlight of the house.

claire LEE

Google

Michael Drew

Google

Peter Oeding-Erdel

Google

Great museum and history of a different time. Lots of effort to represent and talk about the period of the house in its original form. Thank you to those who do this and the volunteers, too.

t a.

Yelp

Fascinating historic house, very helpful docents, and you can't beat the price as admission is free!

Sharn G.

Yelp

Vaucluse House

Vaucluse House

Photos

Highlights

You might also like