The cottage stands on the site of Experiment Farm, so named by Governor Philip who installed ex-convict James Ruse on a 1.5 acre plot here. Ruse was one of the very few First Fleet convicts with farm experience.

His term as a convict expired in August 1789 and "the experiment" commenced in November of that year. He had the distinction of being the first successful farmer in Australia, the first settler in Parramatta, and the recipient of the first land grant. The only help Ruse received was from his wife Elizabeth who was the first woman convict in New South Wales to be emancipated.

The farm succeeded, and in 1791 Ruse reported that he was able to maintain himself but continued to draw ration for his wife, and accordingly Ruse was granted more land giving him a total of thirty acres. In October 1793 James Ruse sold his farm to Surgeon John Harris for forty pounds.

James Harris built Experiment Cottage, probably in 1794, which means it is most likely the oldest intact house in Australia. Experiment Farm Cottage is significant for its age, its historical associations and because it was the first house acquired by the National Trust in NSW. When it was opened in 1963, it was the first house museum in Parramatta and one of very few in the State.

Rectangular in plan, the cottage is built of rendered brick with wide stone flagged verandahs to the front and back, the front verandah returning around the sides of the building. The lowpitched roof, originally shingled, covers the house and verandahs in one. The verandahs are supported on finely tuned wooden columns.

The furniture is significant as a fine collection of principally Australian Colonial pieces appropriate for a gentlemen's house in the first half of the 19th century. Some of the outstanding pieces include the very early Australian sideboard in cedar with pine stringing, the long grandfather clock inscribed Thomas Keightley (c.1845), which is believed to be one of the first clocks made in Sydney, a fine cedar corner cupboard (c. 1835) and a wooden commode inscribed "H.T Jones/Cabinet maker and upholsterer/ Parramatta".

The cottage was acquired by the National Trust in January 1961 and a generous financial donation from Mr Thyne Reid in 1962 enabled the Trust to restore, redecorate and furnish the cottage as a house museum.

This effort was further assisted by generous donations of antique furniture and money. As the work proceeded it became apparent that much of the original cottage was still intact. The foundations were intact and the walls were original except for one small section on the western side.

The columns to the main northern front and returns to both the western and eastern ends of the verandah have been fully restored as have the stone floors. The ceilings of the verandah are the original lining boards. The chimneys are original but in each case some repairs has to be carried out. It was decided to install a new flat iron roof with rolls in keeping with the simple style of the cottage.

The joinery throughout the cottage is the original cedar, with the mouldings hand-made by craftsmen. The flooring in the hall, the bedroom and the library are the original blackbutt still in an excellent state of preservation.

The doors generally are original including the cedar main entry which is hand-made by craftsmen and a fine example of early pioneering joinery work. The five fireplaces are in their original form except for some replacement of the sandstone bricks.

The cellar, almost in original condition, now houses a collection of early farm implements, including the James Ruse Plough on loan from the Power House Museum. The landscaping of the grounds was carried out at the same time as the restoration of the cottage, with the aim of creating an area which would harmonise with the period of the cottage.

The work on the cottage was completed in July 1963 and the cottage was officially opened by the Governor, Lieut. General Sir Eric Woodward. On the first anniversary of that opening the Trust was able to announce that 16,000 visitors had inspected the cottage.

Apart from temporary closures, mainly for essential repairs, experiment Farm Cottage has been continuously open to the public since that official opening.

Address - 9 Ruse Street, Harris Park, Parramatta 2150, NSW.

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