Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Mrs Macquarie's Chair is a historic sandstone bench carved into a rock ledge on Mrs Macquarie's Point at the eastern edge of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, overlooking Sydney Harbour. Hand-carved by convicts in 1810 for Elizabeth Macquarie, wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, it offers panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The site is a heritage-listed landmark and popular harbourside viewpoint within the Domain parklands.

Visitors can expect an open-air sandstone bench carved directly into the rock on a harbour peninsula surrounded by parkland and harbour waters. The site provides unobstructed panoramic views across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Fort Denison. The area is accessed via paved paths and Mrs Macquaries Road through the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain, with lawns, sandstone outcrops and interpretive signage explaining the colonial history.

Carved in 1810 by convicts for Elizabeth Macquarie, wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie (Governor of New South Wales 1810-1821). Governor Macquarie had the road to the point constructed and the bench cut from the sandstone ledge so his wife could sit and view the harbour and watch for ships arriving from Great Britain. An inscription above the chair records the road's construction. The site is heritage-listed as part of the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain cultural landscape.

An iconic Sydney Harbour landmark and one of the most photographed viewpoints in Sydney, representing early colonial heritage. The peninsula is part of the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. Today it is a significant public recreation and ceremonial viewpoint within the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and The Domain parklands.