Elizabeth Bay House

Refurbishment of the amenities at the heritage-listed Elizabeth Bay House.

The brief was to provide facilities with equitable access, suitable for the building’s function as a both a house museum open to the public, and a venue available for private and event use.

Elizabeth Bay House has a combination of circular, rectilinear and arched openings, and features marbled finishes, brass, timber panelling and a varied colour palette.

The forms and materials for the amenities upgrade draw upon these geometries and finishes.The designs include panels, framed and furniture-like elements with a high level of craftsmanship and detail to complement the richness of the house museum and its original features.

The palette of colours and materials for the amenities upgrade takes its cues from Macleay’s swallowtail butterfly which was named after Alexander Macleay. Alexander Macleay built Elizabeth Bay House between 1835-1839 and was Colonel Secretary in NSW. One of his great legacies is his insect collection – focusing particularly on butterflies and moths – which was one of the finest private collections in the world in the 1800’s.