Elizabeth Macarthur

Elizabeth Macarthur (; 14 August 1766 – 9 February 1850) was an English-born pastoralist and businesswoman in colonial New South Wales and was a pioneer of the Australian wool industry. She managed the family estate, Elizabeth Farm, and oversaw the wool-growing that helped establish New South Wales as a reliable supplier of fine wool; especially through the breeding of the Australian Merino sheep.

As the wife of John Macarthur she sailed to the colony on the Second Fleet in 1790 and, in doing so, was the first soldier's wife to arrive in New South Wales. Despite this, Philip continued to be friendly with Elizabeth Macarthur and appreciated her company. She was also a close friend to Matthew Flinders.

John was granted a level of forgiveness by Major Francis Grose and, in 1792, became Paymaster to the New South Wales Corps and Director of Public Works. He was later made Commandant at Parramatta. In 1793 Grose also gave the family a land grant at Rosehill which John named Elizabeth Farm in her honour.

At the Camden Park property she was also assisted by her nephew Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur who she helped train.

Later life and death Macarthur died on 9 February 1850.

Family

From nine pregnancies, seven children survived childhood. Her sons, Edward (1789–1872), James (1793–1794), John (1794–1831), James (1798–1867) and William (1800–1882), were active in colonial governance, agriculture, politics and trade. Her eldest daughter Elizabeth (1792–1842) remained unmarried, despite at least two 'offers' declined by her parents. Her younger daughters Mary (Mrs Bowman, b.1795) and Emmeline (b.1808) married into colonial families.

Sir Edward Macarthur (1789–1872) married Sarah (née Neil) in 1862, and they died childless. James Macarthur (1798–1867) married Emily (née Stone). They had only one child, daughter Elizabeth (1840–1911).

The bulk of the Macarthur estate, through the brothers William, James She was posthumously inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001.

Macarthur is the subject of a fictitious memoir, A Room Made of Leaves, by Australian author, Kate Grenville, published in 2020.

The following places are also named for Macarthur:

Elizabeth Macarthur Bay, an inlet in Pyrmont on Sydney Harbour on land once owned by the couple. Elizabeth Macarthur Creek, in north western Sydney. Elizabeth Macarthur Park, in Parramatta. The Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute is named in her honour. It is the largest Centre of Excellence operated by New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, employing 200 scientists and located at Camden Park. Elizabeth Macarthur High School in Narellan Vale in Sydney's western suburbs.