Vaucluse House

Map & Directions
Photos & Video

A visit to Vaucluse House offers an escape from the city along with journey back in time

Front of Vaucluse House cc licensed photo by Richard Scholz via Wikipedia

Vaucluse house is a historic 19th century estate located in the eastern suburb of Vaucluse which is named after the house. It is about a 30 minute bus ride from central Sydney. The property was acquired by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales in 1981 at which point it underwent major refurbishing to restore both the interior and exterior of the house, outbuildings and grounds as close as possible to their original setting.

The first structure built on the location was a farm cottage built by Sir Henry Brown Hayes back in 1805 when the Governer insisted he live well out from the city due to his reputation as a troublemaker. The buildings you see today were constructed over a 25 year period beginning when wealthy statesman William Charles Wentworth purchased the property with his wife back in 1827. Vaucluse House was added onto at different times over the 25 years resulting in a mix of styles although the predominant architecture could be described as Gothic Revival. Wentworth also expanded the size of the estate to 515 acres.

In the 1850s the Wentworths travelled around the continent and acquired a collection of art and furniture, much of which is still on display in the house today.

In 1911 Vaucluse House and the immediate surroundings where purchased by the NSW government and a 28 acre park was created in honour of Wentworth. Beginning in 1920 the public was given access to the house and the grounds.

If you would like to explore a little bit of history and get a break from the busy city Vaucluse House is a great place to visit.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Open Now

Hours This Week:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Address: 69A Wentworth Rd, Vaucluse NSW 2030, Australia

Phone: (02) 9388 7922

Official Website: Vaucluse House

Directions

Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
T2, T3 or T4 + Bus	Circular Quay, Martin Place or St. James	3 or 10 minutes

How to get to Vaucluse House by

By Train + Bus: From Circular Quay, Martin Place or St. James Station catch either a #324 or #325 bus southbound on Elizabeth Street or at Stand D in the case of Circular Quay. If taking the #324 bus, get off at New South Head Road just past Petrarch Avenue and walk back to Petrarch Avenue and go right (north) to Hopetoun Avenue. Cross over and look for the stairway just to your left and go down the steps and through the pathway to Olola Avenue and follow it to your right until you get to Vaucluse House Park entrance (10 minutes). If taking the #325 bus, get off at Wentworth Road and Olola Avenue and go right (south) down Olola Avenue to the park entrance (3 minutes).

Map & Instant Route Finder

Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.

Load Street View

Load Interactive Map

Finding Your Route - Please Wait

Reviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5 Vaucluse House Star Rating

Beautiful! Such a hidden treasure in amongst the flowers and greenery of Vaucluse. As well as having a delightful high tea you can loose yourself in the grounds. The flourishing gardens take you away from the big smoke atmosphere only 5mins away. The house is stunning packed with history. The free tour is well worth it and it’s fun for all ages!

Julia HS - 2 months ago

Fantastic and knowledgeable guides - even had a personal tour on a quiet Sunday. Lovely way to spend the day as a family taking in an iconic piece of Sydney’s history. Great it is still here to experience!

Cassandra Taylor - 2 months ago

We loved our time there, we had the audio guide but the experience came to live in our walking tour. We had Harriet doing a fantastic talk with us introducing us to the customs, the characters as well as the perks and trials of living rich in the old world. She was our highlight for the day, so knowledgeable and yet so personable. At one point when she introduced herself as Harriet, I thought that must be a make-up name to get our brains to go back in time....

Geoff Wong - 2 months ago

Vaucluse House is part of the Sydney Living Museums located in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Whilst not built by the Wentworth family it was the home of William Charles Wentworth. The house was purchased by the state government in 1910 & opened to the public in 1912. Today 9 hectares of the original 208 hectares remains. Stroll through the gardens and the original stables. View the interior with lavish furnishings.

Robert ranclaud - 2 months ago

Beautiful lighting at night! Went to a special event at night and it is a magical place. Gives a sense for what Sydney would of been a long time ago.

Alvaro Navarro - 2 months ago

Read all Reviews Powered by Google Logo