Experiment Farm Cottage is a house museum at 9 Ruse Street in Harris Park, on the site of Australia’s first land grant and early European farming experiment. The cottage, built for Surgeon John Harris in 1835, is furnished with early colonial pieces from the National Trust collection. Inside, look for personal items such as cosmetics boxes and traveling safes, plus a cellar display tracing the site’s history. A guided visit brings the cottage’s story into focus, with a garden behind the house and a park across the front.
The land grant and James Ruse
The story at Experiment Farm begins before the cottage was built. In 1789, former convict James Ruse received a land grant here to test whether a new settler could farm successfully and support a family. His successful cultivation of grain helped demonstrate that settlers could produce food for themselves.
Ruse later sold the land to Surgeon John Harris, whose name lives on in the Harris Park neighbourhood. Harris built the cottage in 1835. The house stands on the site of the early farm, linking the experiment in agriculture with a later colonial residence.
Inside the cottage
The rooms are furnished with early colonial furniture from the National Trust collection, arranged to evoke Harris’s home. Among the smaller objects on display are cosmetics boxes and traveling safes, details that offer a glimpse of the belongings people used in daily life and on the move.
A permanent display in the cellar follows the site through its different periods of occupation. It adds context to the rooms above, connecting the house to the land grant and farm that came first. Guided tours give visitors a chance to hear more about the people and events associated with the property.
The garden and visit
There is a small garden behind the cottage and a park in front, giving the historic house an outdoor setting as well as its furnished interiors. Allow about an hour to explore. The property is open to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays; guided tours are scheduled for the first and third Friday and Saturday of each month.
The cottage is at 9 Ruse Street, Harris Park. Its limited size makes advance ticket purchase useful during peak holiday periods. A wheelchair-accessible entrance is at the rear of the cottage.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is Experiment Farm Cottage?
It is at 9 Ruse Street in Harris Park, Sydney.
How long do you need at Experiment Farm Cottage?
Allow about an hour to explore the cottage and its garden.
When are guided tours available?
Guided tours run on the first and third Friday and Saturday of each month.
Is there wheelchair access?
Yes. The wheelchair-accessible entrance is at the rear of the cottage.
