THE FIRST ESTABLISHED RESIDENCE IN THE CENTRAL WEST
The History of Lawson’s Estate on Macquarie Farm
William Lawson: Explorer, Grazier, and Pioneer
In 1813, William Lawson, together with Gregory Blaxland and William Charles Wentworth, became one of the first Europeans to successfully cross the Blue Mountains. This pivotal achievement opened inland New South Wales to European settlement. In recognition, Governor Lachlan Macquarie granted Lawson 1,000 acres along the Fish and Campbell Rivers—land he named Macquarie Farm.
Lawson was more than an explorer; he was a visionary grazier. He became the first person to bring sheep across the Blue Mountains, establishing the earliest European farm in the Central West. His efforts laid the foundations for the agricultural industry that thrives in the region today.
In the early 1820’s, the homestead and convict barracks were built with convict labour using bricks made on the property. Believed to predate the homestead, the two-storey barracks housed the convict workforce—men slept in a large ground-floor room while supervisors occupied smaller adjoining quarters.
An estimated one million bricks were handmade on site and transported to construction areas, with many of Lawson’s 100 convict employees involved in brickmaking, carting and building during the 1820s. The barracks stand as a lasting testament to their work and the early foundations of the estate.
From Colonial Beginnings to Modern Restoration
Following Lawson’s pioneering tenure, the property was held by the McKibbon family for more than a century, maintaining its role as a working farm and preserving its remarkable homestead and convict-built structures.
In 2012, the Hennessy family took on the role of caretakers, undertaking a thoughtful and extensive restoration of the Georgian-style Homestead and the two-storey Convict Barracks, both built between 1822 and 1824 using handmade bricks and cedar timbers. Their stewardship ensured these historic buildings remained intact and celebrated.
A New Chapter Begins
In 2024, we became the proud custodians of Lawson’s Estate on Macquarie Farm. While we do not live on the property, we are actively involved in its care, management, and vision for the future.
With deep respect for its history, we redesigned the interiors of the Homestead to introduce modern comfort and elegance, while retaining and celebrating the estate’s original character and colonial charm. Every decision was made with care—to enhance the guest experience while preserving the story this land has to tell.
Then and now
Continuing the Farming Legacy
Today, the estate remains a working farm, still nestled within 1,000 acres of the original land grant given to William Lawson over 200 years ago. The property is home to livestock, chickens, and the hum of rural life, just as it was in Lawson’s time.
This is a family-run business, and as a family with four children, we are proud to be part of the next chapter in this property’s long story. From the paddocks to the guest experience, everything we do is infused with heart, connection, and respect for those who came before us.
We welcome you to come and experience Lawson’s Estate on Macquarie Farm—a place where history lives on, and new memories are waiting to be made.
