and chimney pieces put into the dining room and bedroom 1833 – Verge refinished walls and ceilings 1860s – Verandah posts changed from timber to iron 1865 – Contents removed 1880 – House in untenable condition 1883 – First subdivision of Elizabeth Farm 1884 – Second subdivision of Elizabeth Farm 1904 – House cleansed, disinfected, and repaired 1978–1983 – House restored and most alterations made after the Macarthur ownership removed October 2010 – large Bunya pine, planted by Macarthur in 1870s, collapsed on tea rooms October 2011 – Rebuilt café reopens with new interiors Museum The homestead, now a house museum, is creatively furnished with props and copies of objects known to belong to the Macarthurs of Elizabeth Farm. Impressive cedar joinery has been restored while carefully reproduced paint schemes, fabrics and floor coverings provide an authentic impression of this early 19th-century household. The Macarthur's garden of native and exotic ornamentals, fruit trees and vegetables has been recreated around original plantings and archaeological features dating to the early 19th century. Avoiding the use of rope barriers and screens, an innovative 'hands on' approach encourages visitors to explore and interact with this evocative historical environment: sitting in chairs, leafing through letters, playing the piano or pulling up beside an open fire. Elizabeth Farm is open to the general public. Heritage listing Elizabeth Farm is associated with major figures who were prominent in the 19th century development of the colony, including John and Elizabeth Macarthur, and the Swann family in the 20th century. There is a large surviving collection of documentary evidence connected to the house, which contains part of the oldest surviving European construction in Australia. The garden contains some of the earliest European plantings in Australia including a Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), 1805-planted olive (Olea europaea), kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus), Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii) and hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii). It is an example of early colonial architecture and early agricultural experiments. The property forms the core of a major historic farm estate which was highly influential in the development of the wool industry in Australia, the introduction and acclimatisation of plants and economic crops such as olives and vines. By its size, location and history of subdivision the property was influential on the development of the town of Parramatta. The property is also significant in the history of conservation in NSW, being the first to be preserved by direct acquisition by