Rose Hill and Government Farm

Governor Phillip settled at Rose Hill in November 1788 under instructions from King George. The sandy soil and unreliable water supply at Sydney’s first settlement in Farm Cove (now the Royal Botanic Gardens) meant the area wasn’t suited to farming. The success of the colony depended on it becoming self-sufficient.

The colony needed to establish a good place to farm. A site at the head of the Parramatta River was chosen for its open country with light bushland. It was named Rose Hill in honour of George Rose, the English Secretary of the Treasury. This is the area we now know as Parramatta.

Government Farm was the first successful farm established in the colony. It was cleared and planted in 1788 by Henry Edward Dodd, one of the few experienced farmers in the colony. A barn, farmhouse and a granary were built.

In December 1789, the first season produced vegetables, wheat, barley and a small quantity of flax, corn and oats. It wasn’t enough to feed the whole colony, so supplies still needed to be shipped over.

The site of what was once Government Farm is on the north side of the Parramatta River, near the O’Connell Street carpark.