Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Pastimes

The Macquaries’ created a social life for Sydney at all levels of society, instigating annual fairs and hosting balls, instigating workers public holidays for commemoration, appointing the first Poet Laureate, founding parks and gardens, even sports fields and the first horse race for the enjoyment of the populace.

First ‘Australia Day’ celebrated 26 January 1818

Government and General Orders

…Labourers in the immediate Service of Government be exempted from Work on Monday next, in Honor of the memorable Occasion; and that each of them receive an extra Allowance of One Pound of Fresh Meat as a Donation from Government…

- Sydney Gazette, 24 January 1818.

This display will also reflect on the broader cultural life the Macquaries’ introduced to Australia in art and music, including a soundscape created by Sydney Conservatorium of Music sound producer Jonathan Palmer using Mrs Macquarie’s own Cello (property of the Museum of Sydney, on the site of the first Government House) that has been restored thanks to the Balnaves Foundation for this anniversary year.

Elizabeth Macquarie was instrumental in highlighting the importance of literature in the early colony. By the end of the Macquaries’ reign one fifth of the colony’s revenue was being spent on education.

Kangaroo, Kangaroo!
Thou Spirit of Australia,
That redeems from utter failure,
From perfect desolation,
And warrants the creation
Of this fifth part of the Earth…

- Michael Massey Robinson appointed first Poet Laureate in 1810

Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie were passionate about horses and they commissioned convict architect, Francis Greenway to design the extravagant stables for Government House. This neo-gothic style building would eventually become the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

In a lively and fun showcase at the Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie Visions will bring to life the heady days of the early horse races and showcase the excitement and fashion of today’s racing world in a dazzling installation.

Governor Macquarie introduced horse racing to Sydney in what is now Hyde Park in 1810. With few social activities available in Sydney, Macquarie began a new era in Australian popular culture when he approved the establishment of an annual racing carnival. He saw the racecourse as a perfect neutral meeting place for colonists of all classes: military, convict, emancipist and immigrant.

On Monday 15 October, crowds gathered on the Sydney Racecourse on new public land which the Governor named Hyde Park. The race program lasted three days and D’Arcy Wentworth’s horse, Gig, ridden by his son, William Charles Wentworth, won the three mile race on the first day, marking the beginning of the Wentworth’s strong involvement in the Sydney racing scene.

On the second day of racing, Mrs Macquarie presented the Ladies’ Cup, valued at 50 guineas, to Captain Ritchie for the win by his grey gelding, Chance – the fastest horse over two miles.

The business of the meeting could not fail of diffusing a universal glow of satisfaction – the celebration of the first liberal amusement instituted in the Colony, and in the presence of its Patron and Founder.

- Sydney Gazette 20 October, 1810

And their family pastimes did not differ so greatly from Sydneysiders of today, celebrating on our magnificent Sydney Harbour. On young Lachlan Macquarie junior’s 6th birthday in 1820 his proud father records in his journal;

At Half past 8 O’Clock in the morning, Lachlan, being dressed as a Highlander for the first time in a Suit of Tartan and Bonnet, proceeded with a number of his juvenile friends on a water Excursion in the Govt. Barge, attended by his own little Cutter, together, with three Boats full of the Natives…

The Fleet rowed slowly from Port Lachlan…round Garden Island, and from thence to the beautiful little Bay.. next to Woolloomooloo Bay, and which on this occasion I christened “Elizabeth Bay” in Honor of Mrs. Macquarie…