Sydney, New South Wales, Australia — Oceania

Mrs Macquaries Chair

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, February 24, 2015

1. Mrs Macquaries Chair Marker

Inscription. Don't miss this notable landmark — Mrs Macquaries Chair is just around the corner to your right. It is actually a carved rock ledge seat where Elizabeth Macquarie, the Governor's wife, liked to sit and admire the view of the harbour. Her husband had his workmen carve this special seat for her.

The Macquaries arrived in Sydney in 1810 and soon afterwards the Governor began to develop an extensive network of roads around this area. One of these roads, Mrs Macquaries Road, was created for his wife's recreation. It was built right out to this point — now called Mrs Macquaries Point, but originally known as Ansons Point — and was completed in 1816.

The view from Mrs Macquaries Chair, although somewhat different to what Elizabeth Macquarie would have enjoyed, is nonetheless still one of the best in Sydney.

Caption: Mrs Macquaries Chair Photo Jaime Plaza

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.

Location. 33° 51.562′ S, 151° 13.313′ E. Marker is in Sydney, New South Wales. Marker can be reached from Mrs Macquaries Road, on the left when traveling north. Marker is on Macquarie Point in the Yurong Precinct of

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the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Captain Matthew Flinders R.N. (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Legacy (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Marine Parade (approx. 9.2 kilometers away).

Also see . . .
1. Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Wikipedia entry on the unusual bench. (Submitted on November 11, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Macquarie, Elizabeth Henrietta (1778–1835). Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by Marjorie Barnard, published in 1967 and posted in 2006. (Submitted on November 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Additional keywords. Penal labor

Mrs Macquaries Chair image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, February 24, 2015

2. Mrs Macquaries Chair

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, February 24, 2015

3. Mrs Macquaries Chair

Carved into the side of the "chair" is this:
Be it this Recorded that the Road
Round the inside of the Government Domain Called
Mrs Macquaries Road
So named by the Governor on account of her having Originally
Planned it Measuring 3 Miles, and 377 Yards
Was finally Completed on the 13th Day of June 1816

Elizabeth Macquarie (1778-1835) image. Click for full size.

via State Library of New South Wales, circa 1810

4. Elizabeth Macquarie (1778-1835)

She was the second wife of Lachlan Macquarie, New South Wales' first governor (1810-1821). (Watercolor on ivory miniature)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 239 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 11, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on November 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.