Belgenny Farm

The birthplace of Australian agriculture.

Belgenny Farm today tells the layered story of the land and the many people who have shaped it over time. Its history spans thousands of years and reflects changing relationships between people, agriculture and the landscape.

With the grant of land to John and Elizabeth Macarthur in 1805, the site entered a new phase of agricultural development. The Macarthurs built on the natural advantages of the landscape, establishing enterprises that would make Camden Park and Belgenny Farm an icon of pastoral, agricultural and horticultural progress in the colony of New South Wales.

Belgenny Farm became the operational heart of the Home Farm-supporting innovation in wool production, dairying, horticulture and viticulture, and contributing to the growth of agriculture across the region.

Belgenny

The name 'Belgenny' was adopted much later, reflecting the Aboriginal name for the site and acknowledging the long history of the land prior to European settlement.

A Living Record of Agricultural History

Taken together, the historic buildings at Belgenny Farm provide a rare and tangible record of:

Early colonial farming and settlement
The evolution of agricultural practices
Daily life on a large working farm
The long-term stewardship of the Macarthur family

Today, these buildings form the heart of Belgenny Farm as a heritage site, supporting tours, education and interpretation that allow visitors to experience Australia's agricultural history in an authentic setting.

Historical Buildings

Belgenny Farm was established as the Home Farm of the Camden Park Estate by John and Elizabeth Macarthur on part of the original 5,000 acres granted to the family by Lord Camden in 1805.

The Macarthurs initially named their land grant 'Camden', later known as 'Camden Park'.