Vaucluse House

Vaucluse House is one of Sydney's few 19th-century mansions still surrounded by its original gardens and wooded grounds.

When the towering colonial explorer, barrister and politician William Charles Wentworth bought the house in 1827, it was a single-storey cottage in a secluded valley of partly cleared coastal scrub.

In fits and starts over the next five decades, William and his wife Sarah developed Vaucluse into a large and picturesque estate. The grounds were extended and flourished to cover most of the present-day suburb of Vaucluse but the main house of the family's dreams was left unfinished. In 1915 Vaucluse House became Australia's first official house museum and continues to entice visitors to its lush and still secluded grounds.

In 2015, Vaucluse House celebrated 100 years of being a museum.

The historic estate of Vaucluse House is one of but a small number of 19th century harbourside estates still existent.

Built in 1803, Vaucluse House was the residence of William Charles Wentworth, father of the first Constitution for New South Wales, who, along with his wife Sarah and 10 children, lived in the estate from 1827-1853 and again in 1861-1862. The suburb of its location gets its name from the house.

The Gothic style mansion contains lavish entertaining rooms and a functional downstairs areas, painting an opulent portrait of the Wentworths lavish lifestyle. The interiors include original Wentworth pieces together with furniture, furnishings and collections of the early to mid 19th century.

Many people dont realise that the land on the harbour side of Wentworth Road is also part of the Vaucluse House estate including the small beach. Known as the beach paddock, the Historic Houses Trust has undertaken work in this area to reconstruct a small bridge and re-create the carriageway.

Visitor Information

Guided tours are available on request for groups. Please contact the property to book a tour. There are often school groups at Vaucluse House. If you are visiting during the week and want to avoid these groups, then it is best to visit after 2pm.

If you have difficulties walking then you can be dropped at the entrance of the house, on the carriage loop, by entering via Olola Avenue. Vaucluse House tearooms are the perfect place for lunch or afternoon tea, well worth a visit for a decadent Devonshire Tea.

Opening hours
Wednesday to Sunday 10am-4pm

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