Belgenny Agriculture, dating from the early days of European settlement, has shaped the settlement patterns of our nation and left a rich cultural heritage. Belgenny Farm, at Camden, demonstrates the importance of agriculture in the history of NSW. With the oldest authentic group of operating farm buildings in Australia and close associations with the Macarthurs, the farm is being considered for listing on the State Heritage Register.

Agriculture has been one of Australia's most important economic activities. Yet few agricultural places are listed on the State Heritage Register.

Missing from the State's heritage list are the rural work buildings and farm landscapes of the 19th century: the wheat and sheep farms, the dairies, woolsheds, fences, yards and homesteads.

Some of the most significant themes in our history, such as the breaking up of pastoral estates into smaller blocks and the selectors of the 1860s, are not reflected in the register. The Heritage Office is currently working to identify potential heritage items to ensure that the State Heritage Register accurately reflects the State's history.

Belgenny Farm demonstrates the importance of agriculture to NSW. Belgenny was a busy working farm for more than 150 years. It earliest structures date from the very early agricultural period of the colony when the wool industry was established, but it also provides evidence of later industries such as dairying.

As a former Captain of the infamous NSW "Rum Corps", John Macarthur won notoriety for his role in overthrowing Governor William Bligh in the Rum Rebellion on 26 January 1808, the day now celebrated as Australia Day.

Some years before, Macarthur had won a gun duel against his commanding officer and was exiled to England to stand trial. When he returned with a land grant of 5,000 acres, he chose the location first known as the Cow Pastures. Planning started after 1805 and the first construction started in the 1820s and continued periodically into and beyond the 1890s. The stables, creamery and site of Belgenny Cottage (where John Macarthur died) have changed little over 175 years.

Timber used in construction would have been cut on the property, dressed with adzes, broad axes or pit sawn. There are records in 1823 of 3,600 metres of floor boards, weather boards and battens having been 'sawed'. Many kilograms of different types of nails were used and the blacksmith made 500 kg of iron goods. The roofs were covered with shingles, which can still be seen in some of the buildings. The shingles were covered later with corrugated iron.

At Belgenny Farm, the Macarthurs made a major contribution to Australia's emerging economy. They were pioneers in wine production, dairying and horticulture and innovators in the fledgling wool industry, particularly the merino breed which put Australia at the forefront of world wool production. The Macarthurs also planted Australia's first commercial vineyard and were Australia's first commercial wine exporters.

For all but the past decade and a half, Belgenny Farm had remained a "hidden gem", infrequently opened to the public because it was still a working farm owned and operated by descendants of the Macarthurs. In the mid 1960s they carried out maintenance and restoration to the buildings but in 1973 sold the land to a developer. Recognising the heritage value of Belgenny Farm, the NSW Government bought 1600 hectares from the developers in 1984. In 1986-87 there was further restoration to stabilise the structures without altering their historic appearance.

Upon taking ownership, NSW Agriculture began to stage regular events - including the Rum Rebellion re-enactment and Australia Day celebrations - with entertainment and artisans, food and wine, historical displays, arts and crafts, and most recently a new merchandise and souvenir shop. The farm now operates as a unique tourist, function and environmental education venue, whilst maintaining links to modern agricultural technology and production.

Restoration work and new structures occur in accordance with the farm's Conservation Management Plan which has been endorsed by the NSW Heritage Council.

The NSW Department of Education and Training also uses the farm's environmental education resources, sending more than 6,000 school students on excursion there each year.

The next special event weekend will be the Heavy Horse and Heritage Weekend on 10-11 November, 2001.