The brief history of this magnificent building……..
The site of Macleay Regis is located at the northern edge of the grant of land formally made to Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay on 19 October 1831. The grant extended over 54 acres (22 hectares) from what is now Macleay Street to the shores of Elizabeth Bay. Although Macleay built a fine dwelling, Elizabeth Bay House, and established a garden that was to become famous, his economic circumstances for various reasons contracted and he was forced to subdivide and sell part of his estate in 1841. Macleay’s son William took control of his father’s estate and mortgages, and Macleay eventually left Elizabeth Bay to live in his daughter’s house. After he died in 1848 the property passed to William, an eminent scholar and naturalist, who lived on the estate until his death in January 1865. William Macleay left the estate to his brother George but provision was made that it pass to his nephew Arthur Onslow on George’s demise.