Explore History with Friends of Belgenny Farm Events
Agricultural heritage · Agriculture · Agriculture history · Artists · Belgenny Farm · Camden Park Estate · Camden Story · Colonial Camden · Cultural and Heritage Tourism · Dairying · Farming · Farming history · Heritage Walking Tours · History · History Festival · Leisure · Living History · Local History · Macarthur · Macarthur family · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · Settler Society · Social History · Stories · Storytelling

Explore History with Friends of Belgenny Farm Events

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Open Day with the Friends

On an overcast day in late May, the Friends of Belgenny Farm held their inaugural open day for 2025, promising a range of exciting and interesting activities on the Belgenny Farm historic site.

If the buildings on this important historic site could talk, they would tell many a tale or two.

With over 285 visitors, they immersed themselves in early Australian history at the farm.

The organisers declared the day a success, and the weather stayed so everyone could enjoy the day.

Historic site

The Belgenny Farm historic site webpage states:

Belgenny Farm was established by John and Elizabeth Macarthur in 1805 and contains the earliest collection of colonial farm buildings in Australia. It was  part of the original 2,000 hectare (5,000 acre) Camden property granted to John Macarthur in 1805 and was the home farm for John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their children.

John Macarthur passed away on the site on 10 April 1834 and is buried in the Macarthur Cemetery along with Elizabeth located adjacent from the main grounds.

The site was saved from housing development when the NSW Government purchased the land in 1984 and is now Heritage Listed and managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). https://www.belgennyfarm.com.au/

Visitors at the Open Day wandering around the courtyard near the bell that rang out the start of the work day on the farm in front of the stable complex (I Willis 2025)

Stallholders

There were various stalls, including the Camden Historical Society, Camden Area Family History Society, Menangle Steamers, Camden Woodturners, a knitting stall, and a produce stall.

Stallholders from the Camden Historical Society and Camden Area Family History Society enjoying their time at the Open Day (I Willis 2025)

Art in action with visitors engaging with the artist Michelle Arentz (I Willis 2025)

Produce stall (I Willis 2025)

Produce for sale (I Willis 2025)

The Friends organised a very popular sausage sizzle for lunch.

Friends of Belgenny Farm are getting the sausage sizzle ready for customers alongside the coffee cart (I Willis 2025)

Visitors and displays

Listening to the music in the Belgenny Cottage, the former manager’s cottage (I Willis 2025)

Historic displays

A young visitor immersing herself with an interactive milking the cow display in the creamery (I Willis 2025)

Cows in the Rotolactor model, which is found in the creamery (I Willis 2025)

Visitors walking around the historic site of the Belgenny Farm in the courtyard outside the stables (I Willis 2025)

Visitors in the creamery taking in the wonderful Rotolactor model and the milking cow (I Willis 2025)

A Camden Park Estate cart that delivered raw milk to customers in and around the Camden district (I Willis 2025)

An information board in the creamery that is part of the dairy display (I Willis 2025)

History tours

History tours were an exciting part of the activities that engaged visitors who listened attentively to guide Karen. Belgenny Farm is a historic site of national importance and one of Australia’s best preserved colonial farm complexes. It was called the ‘Home Farm’ when it was the centre of farming activities on Camden Park Estate for the Macarthur family who lived in the Georgian mansion. (I Willis 2025)

More exciting events with the Friends of Belgenny Farm

Look for the next event run by the Friends of Belgenny Farm, one of Australia’s most important historic sites.

If you want to help out, join the Friends, become part of the living history, and immerse yourself in the past.

Signage at the entry to Belgenny Farm historic site (I Willis 2025)

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