Mrs Macquarie's Road

On request from his wife, Elizabeth Macquarie, the Governor directed convict teams to build a road for her recreation and enjoyment. This new road started at the original Government House (now the Museum of Sydney) to the point now known as Mrs Macquarie's Point.  The road followed the Macquarie Wall which was built to divide the government domain from the town. The wall still exists in part today. The only part of the road left is the convict bridge over the Macquarie Culvert.

The road’s main purpose was to give Mrs Macquarie easy access from the house to the point where she liked to sit and watch the ships come into the harbour. The convicts were instructed to carve a seat in the rock for her. This seat still exists today.

More Botanic Garden history

Explore more about the rich history of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney here. Visit the timeline to examine many key historical events.

Activities - Mrs Macquarie's Chair

1. Now & then

The images below are all of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Can you match the Now and Then? 

2. Map it out

Can you put the maps in date order? What changes can you see?

3. All jumbled up

Can you put the 1921 map of The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney back in order? Name one iconic Sydney location that wasn't in this map but is in the present day map. Name one that is in this 1921 map and you could still visit today.

4. Journal writing

Write a journal entry from the perspective of Mrs Macquarie sitting and watching the ships arrive into the harbour OR from the perspective of a convict building the road for Mrs Macquarie to travel on.

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