Old Government House - General Entry.

Please note: You are welcome to use the Dine & Discover voucher from Service NSW at this National Trust Property however we cannot process the voucher with your online purchase at this time. Please present your voucher (printed or digitally on a device of your choice) when you arrive and we will discount your ticket on entry.

Located within Parramatta Park, Old Government House is one of the World Heritage listed Australian Convict Sites and a must-see on the Great Western Walk. Discover the story of an expanding colonial settlement in New South Wales when you visit the oldest public building in Australia.

Old Government House is open Tuesday - Sunday.

Tickets valid for entry between 10am - 4pm for the date purchased.

On display: Making Good - Convict Artisans in Exile

Saturday 5 March – Sunday 27 November 2022.

Explore the lives of convict artisans who used their skills to transform their place of exile into a thriving modern settlement.

Making Good tells the stories of skilled convicts connected to Old Government House and more broadly the colony. The exhibition explores how those forcibly banished to the antipodes used their skills and acumen to become independent businesspeople who furnished the homes of their captors. These convicts were instrumental in transforming a place of exile into a modern settlement with a thriving local economy.

Through an exploration of convict artisan crafts, we turn the lens onto convict ingenuity, skill, perseverance, and entrepreneurship. While this exhibition showcases the artisan and exquisitely made wares made by convict hands, the exhibition is fundamentally about the lives of these people told through their objects.

From convict love tokens to beautifully detailed silverware, the exhibition will include furniture made by Laurence Butler and Alexander Hart, clocks by James Oatley, art by Joseph Backler and Joseph Lycett, pottery by John Moreton and Jonathan Leak, and textiles made at the Parramatta Female Factory.

An exciting component of the exhibition is the multimedia artwork created by Kenneth Lambert in response to a convict made bed, exploring the ideas of industry, the convict labour system, and the impact that making a colony had on the Indigenous people forced from their land.

What else is on?

Take in the other fantastic events at Old Government House that celebrate convict artisans in the early years of the colony:

• Making Good – Curator’s Tour
• Art in the Park – Still Life Painting
• Chalk and Shadow Art for Kids
• Spoon Carving Workshop
• Clay Pipe Workshop – Discovering Local Clay

Important Information for Visitors

The health and safety of everyone is our biggest priority. Visitors to our properties must follow NSW Health Orders and COVID safe practices. By purchasing a ticket, you agree to our Terms & Conditions of Entry.

Please keep your ticket safe, as you will be asked to present your ticket at point of entry. You can do this by either printing a copy or displaying a digital version on your selected device.

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