16 WINTER2019 THE PAST IS ALL AROUND US, often hidden from view as we hurriedly head to our next meeting or play chauffer for the kids during after-school activities. And while the built form may have taken over the landscape, there are still patches of the past that have virtually remained unchanged since early settlement. One of them, Bella Vista Farm Park, is nestled in a quiet pocket of tranquillity amid the suburban bustle of Baulkham Hills. Whether you are a casual weekend explorer or a dedicated fan of Australian history, this is one destination that satisfies both. Just off the busy thoroughfares of M7 Westlink and Old Windsor Road, Bella Vista Farm Park is a veritable oasis that offers 20 hectares of manicured parklands with stunning views of the Sydney Basin all the way to the Blue Mountains. Just veer off Norwest Boulevard roundabout and head up Elizabeth Macarthur Drive to get away from it all. Considered one of the best surviving examples of a hilltop farm in the metropolitan area, Bella Vista Farm’s history dates back to the late 1700s when Old Sydney Town was in its infancy. The site features an intact homestead and out-buildings that date back to 1799 when Joseph Foveaux secured the original land grant in the then fledgling colony of New South Wales. Not long afterwards, the property was amalgamated by John and Elizabeth Macarthur into their Seven Hills Farm where the entrepreneurial couple bred some of Australia’s first merino sheep. To fully explore Bella Vista Farm is to take a big step back in history when life ran at a much slower pace in The Hills district. The homestead, framed by an avenue of Bunya Pines along the original carriageway, has been restored through a government program and continues to be supported by a dedicated group of community volunteers known as the Friends of Bella Vista Farm. For those who are keen to soak up the full history of the site, this is one destination that needs planning. Tours of the historic farm buildings are only available on the first Sunday of each month. Manned by the knowledgeable volunteers from Friends of Bella Vista Farm, the tours offer a highly engaging view of the property’s place in Australia’s farming history. It is a farming history that has been unbroken for more than 200 years, supported in later years by Edward Henry Pearce who established one of Australia’s first citrus orchards on the site and is recognised for his role in developing the industry nationally. The monthly open-day tours of Bella Vista Farm are held from 9am to 2pm and coincide with the Free Spirit Markets which plays host to artisan vendors in celebration of the agricultural history of the site. Bella Vista Farm Park, now under the stewardship of The Hills Shire Council, offers more than just a peek into Sydney’s past.