Visited Rouse Hill House today with my 17 year old daughter and have to say the whole experience was fabulous. Thank you to our wonderful guide whose name I didn't get but whose enthusiasm for historical homes, and particularly her knowledge of their social context was without peer. I loved the way that the home exhibited a family context throughout a number of generations and the way the guide was able to put it so beautifully in context. I also loved the fact that the home did not try to obscure it's past but showed the changes through the generations ( look at how electric lighting was introduced; look at the wall paper; curtains and frescos. (sorry if I am being a spoil sport) It would be great if the rest of the home could be made available to the public, particularly the kitchen and that very mysterious downstairs area that my daughter was particularly intrigued by. One question, having grown up on a farm, and having visited many runs of the period I am wondering about the shearing shed. I have never seen a shed so close to a homestead; particularly one within metres of the Kitchen. (think sheep dung; flies etc). I understand from our wonderful guide that sheep farming was not a major enterprise, but am very interested as to why the shearing shed was located in such close proximity to the home. Thank you to the State Government for supporting such a fabulous project' and thank you to your staff and volunteers who gave us such a memorable experience and further cemented by daughter's love of Australian History. I don't often post comments, but my experience today was something special - you have a future volunteer and member.in the making.

My favourite of the Museums of History because it just isn’t one building. Being an estate provides a better experience of the past and the fact that 6 generations continually lived in the home, also provides glimpses of how society changed over time. The expansive site has lots to explore. Loved the concept of preservation rather than restoration and the different characteristics of the various buildings. Walking down the old Windsor road was truly like stepping back in time. The volunteers were so friendly and helpful and took time to explain the history of not only the estate but the Rouse family and the area in general. After visiting the buildings we took a wander through the old farm area and garden and sat down to enjoy the view and cool breeze. It’s really a lovely place to bring the family as there is something for everyone - even a Lego room! Ample parking on site. There is a fair bit of walking required to reach the buildings, so wear comfy shoes and allocate enough time to explore.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

I recently visited Rouse Hill Estate and was blown away by the rich history and cultural significance of the site. The estate itself is a treasure trove of fascinating stories and artifacts, with each generation of the Rouse and Terry families leaving their mark on the house and its surroundings. From the restored 1888 schoolhouse to the site of the 1804 Vinegar Hill convict rebellion, every object and addition has a story to tell. Walking through the interiors and landscapes, I was struck by the attention to detail and the preservation of the past, with chairs from the 1840s sitting beside textiles from the 1950s, and grand tour paintings hanging above mantelpieces crowded with photographs and mementos. Overall, my visit to Rouse Hill Estate was an unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in exploring the rich history and culture of this beautiful part of Australia.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

We visited Rouse Hill estate with our children and we all had great fun! The school building was very well maintained and we enjoyed pretend play teacher and students from the 1890s. The main residence is very nice with a mix of artefacts from the 6 generations who lived in the house. It would be great if the first floor was restored as it used to be back then. The stables and old surrounding buildings help you realise how things would have been back in those days. Also the kids loved the animals (sheep, horses, cows and chickens). Rouse Hill farm is a great landmark to visit; the guides are very knowledgeable, especially on small details which make the story even better (like any other NSW museum for that matter).
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

There's a corrugated tin shed at the base of Rouse Hill farm - the visitors centre - where there's a very welcoming team of historic houses guides. We enjoyed a fascinating tour from an insightful young woman - her passion really brought the experience to life. There are tours on the hour - these are worthwhile. The house suffers a little with disrepair - the upstairs is off limits because of the fragile nature of the landing. Still - you can visit via virtual tour when back at the visitors centre. Come here for a glimpse into our colonial heritage. Unfortunately there's no food served here - save some basic tea and coffee making facilities - and that's a real shame as I believe such a facility would round out the whole experience. Farm is open limited hours 1030-330 and only on the weekend.

Disappointing. They don't allow you to walk the grounds due to "snakes" and there really isn't much to do aside from the farm and house tour which is tightly controlled by staff. Beautiful grounds, however no markers have been erected, no effort to identify any of the magnificent trees on the property, or the buildings and their former uses. So much more could be done with this property, but sadly they haven't put much effort into making it an interesting excursion.

There's not much to see here - at least if there's no special event on. It may be better during school holidays. Visited on a normal weekend and went on the tour of the house. It was dark in the daytime as the shutters are kept shut to preserve the interior but the lights weren't working. Bring a torch (or use your phone's torch). The school house layout was interesting and it was well lit so you could actually see well inside.

Farm of a legendary Rouse family now a farm house museum. A guided tour of this farm is a must to learn about the colonial history ofAustralia.This house and farm have been owned by six generations of one family. Through the good times and the bad, each generation has added another layer of belongings, improvements and memories, and today, every object and addition, every tear, stain and repair has a story to tell.

Amazing place to visit. Great for family weekend. A lot of things to do. We have started with feeding cows and horses, then we went to explore vintage house, school and Lego play room. A lot of nature, trees and fresh air. Very frendly staff have answered all our questions. Defenetly we will come back soon.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

An authentic and meticulously protected and maintained colonial house. The contents are a collection of furniture and general contents enjoyed by three generations of the Rouse family. The guides who escorted us through the property and its surrounds were very knowledgeable and presented the facts clearly and concisely. An interesting and educational outing.

Interesting piece of history that is worth a a quick look. The school house, main house and stables are all fairly interesting but all the information about the family needs to be extracted from the guides which can make it a bit tricky if there is a big group around. They provide free tea and coffee facilities which is a nice touch. There is no cafe onsite.

Had a fabulous family day at this living museum. Great fun, great atmosphere and fantastic staff and volunteers. There were kites to fly, picnic blankets to sit if chairs were full, kids games, sheep shearing, petting zoo and more. All included in the price. Im sure they dont have this other than special events but still, this is a really nice place.

It was a nice place to visit. They have the House tour where you can go in and have a look at the Rouse's old house and the stables, a school tour where you can see a more than a century old school and lastly you can see and feed the animals (chickens, cows and a horse). They offer complimentary coffee and tea and the entrance fee is reasonable.

Visited on a sunny day. Approx 200 year old Rouse house a must see. There are other farm animals and rides kids can enjoy. They provide picnic mats which is awesome. Carry your food or there are some lovely stalls to purchase from. Just be aware of long queues though. Overall a fun day with family!

Great piece of standing history you cant get enough of. In my opinion, there should be more tours and maybe one tour for both the house and the school as we didn't get to see the school. Maybe a cafeteria that has small snacks with water and coffee would be great. Great for kids 6yrs+.

Amazing free outing in Sydney. Has great historical features and plenty of fun for the kids. Visit an old school, feed the animals at 10.30 am and visit the Lego room.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

An amazing experience, so much history... just lovely The lego added another dimension, so clever Staff could be a bit better clued upon different aspects of the homestead, and were a little touchy about using a butane burner, despite how safe they are

Such a gem in the Hills. What a hidden treasure! The guides were fantastic and the kids loved every part of it. Thanks for making our excursion so memorable.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Mix up with the bush tucker experience meant part of it wasn't available. Full refund given though. Aside from that it's a beautiful place with interesting guided tours around the historical buildings with passionate guides. Kids loved it.

A wonderful piece of Australian history built in 1850, seven generations of family had lived there. Open every 2nd Sunday of the month, free entry.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Nice room with lego reproduction of the buoldings, plus thousands of lego for kids and not. Also kind people explaining about the buildings. Defenetly recommended if you are around
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait

Very unique. You do have to take a tour, so no self-guided entries into the house, but it's definitely worth it. Really enjoyed seeing such an interesting time capsule of a home. Our guide was lovely. Overall, highly recommend.

School trip was very informative! Students loved being back in time and engaging with things from the past
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

I have visited Rouse Hill House and Farm twice. I absolutely loved learning about the history of the place and seeing possessions of several generations. It is a great day out; highly recommended.

Had a great time, we went for the Autumn Harvest Festival. A great day out. The workshops were really interesting. The old house and school house was fascinating. Great produce from the locals.

Great place to visit and walk around. There are a few historic buildings which you can go inside. The visitor centre has a lego area where I believe sessions are held regularly for children.

A fun place! We went for the Autumn Harvest Festival. A great day out. The workshops were really interesting. The old house and school house was fascinating. Great produce from the locals.

Dull, not maintained and not restored. Volunteers were great though but not that interesting to visit
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Great place for a family day out. The kids loved the sheep shearing, old buildings and flying the kite. Bring your picnic blanket and enjoy the surroundings during lunch.

Fascinating heritage house with super knowledgeable and friendly staff there
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
1 hr+
Reservation recommended
Yes

Great fun and educational tour for the whole family! We went during school holiday, kids were well entertained. All staff are warm and engaging. Well done!

Beautiful historical house. Highly recommended for a very informative tour and an excellent learning experience for children and adults alike.

Kids enjoyed the tour of the house and farm. All the volunteers and staff were friendly and helpful. Lego brick session was a highlight.

We spent a full day here enjoying the Autumn Harvest Festival. It was such a memorable experience with beautiful view and great food.

Was a big surprise. Great volunteer staff, knowledgeable and friendly. Billy tea and damper were delicious
Visited on
Weekend

Amazing historical place to visit, the guided tour of the old house and the school was funny, educational and great for children.

A living museum great place for aussie history and aboriginal culture.

Amazing house and gardens rich in history. Wonderful afternoon out.

Brilliant to see this fabulous building and learn about the history

A good place but not worth one day visit.