The low rambling hills and wide expanses of grass flats were devoid of difficult vegetation and reminded the colonists of the familiar landscape of an English gentleman's park.

These land grants were for large scale allotments and were intended to facilitate large-scale landholdings for the wealthy colonists of the period.

Having arrived at Sydney Cove in 1798 with wife Elizabeth and sons Thomas, Samuel Otoo and Jonathon, Hassall was one of the pioneer colonists and quickly established himself as a prominent settler by acquiring, in addition to leasing, large portions of land around Parramatta and Cobbitty.

[1] With the development of the farm and the formal establishment of the Camden township in 1840, Hassall went on to construct a larger homestead to the south-west of the original farmhouse'.

[1] With the development of the farm and the formal establishment of the Camden township in 1840, Otoo's son James Mileham Hassall constructed a larger homestead on the property to the south-west of the original farmhouse.

[1] Following Samuel's early passing at aged 33, Lucy remarried and moved away from the property, only returning in the late 1840s to occupy Lucyville following the death of her second husband.

Macquarie Grove was not intended to be a commercial venture for Dangar but rather to become the family's summer retreat for three months each year and also the produce provider for their Sydney home.

Finally, Macquarie Grove was purchased by Arthur Macarthur-Onslow (great grandson of the district's pioneer John Macarthur) in 1916 who used the property as a sheep farm and as part of the Camden Park Co-operative Dairy scheme.

[1] Arthur's second son, Edward, attempted but struggled to maintain the farm as his father had and, in 1937, spurred on by his keen interest in aviation, sold the entire sheep flock and converted the former horse racetrack into a private aerodrome.

[1] Upon completion of a period of initial training, the Macquarie Grove Flying and Glider School was officially opened by the Commonwealth Minister for Civil Aviation, James Fairbairn, on 30 September 1939.

[1] The Royal Australian Air Force remained at Macquarie Grove for some time after World War II and the cottages were only able to be re-purchased (on small land parcels) by the Macarthur-Onslow family in 1987.

[1] Overlooking the Nepean River and towards the township of Camden, Macquarie Grove is a picturesque Victorian Rustic Gothic brick cottage residence.

Like many Australian versions of the Rustic Gothic style, Macquarie Grove was constructed of brick and stone on a modest scale but with steeply pitched gable roof and highly decorated bargeboards.

In keeping with the picturesque style, the house is sited to take full advantage of the aesthetic values of the surrounding natural environment and cultural scenery.

Originally granted by Governor Macquarie to Rowland Hassall, the property was later owned by Henry Carey Dangar MLC and Arthur Macarthur-Onslow.

The cottage was later owned by Henry Carey Dangar MLC (the prominent pastoralist, land owner and racing enthusiast) and finally by Arthur Macarthur-Onslow (great grandson of the district's pioneer John Macarthur).

Purposefully sited overlooking the Nepean River towards the township of Camden, Macquarie Grove is a picturesque Victorian Rustic Gothic brick cottage residence.

Like many Australian versions of the Rustic Gothic style, Macquarie Grove is positioned in its landscape to take in the aesthetic values of the surrounding natural environment and cultural scenery.

[1] However, Macquarie Grove is widely recognised as an early colonial property and has some social significance for the greater Camden district (once the Cowpastures).