Elizabeth Bay House

During 28 weeks of construction, 2,080 hours were worked to complete the works at Elizabeth Bay House.

The upgrade and refurbishment included the installation of a new commercial kitchen and multiple bathrooms. The project also involved the refurbishment of accessible amenities, including structural works to the subfloor.

Elizabeth Bay House was constructed between 1835 and 1839 by architect and builder John Verge, for Alexander MacLeay, the Colonial Secretary of NSW. This magnificent Greek revival sandstone villa was once known as the “finest house in the Colony”.

Interestingly, the house is perfectly oriented and aligned to the position of the sunrise at the winter solstice or shortest day of the year, so that the rising sun bisects the house, running through the front door, out the rear door and hitting the sandstone cliff face at the rear of the house. The architraves and stone flooring along the central corridor are evenly illuminated, lasting only for a minute.