| Starting from the west and working north to east, | | | | time, because of the rebellion. |
| Elderslie is surrounded by the suburbs of Camden, | | | | Some of the homes remaining from the nineteenth |
| Narellan, Harrington Park, Mount Annan, Spring Farm, | | | | century are still in use in Elderslie, one of which was |
| and Camden South. Elderslie remains one of the | | | | named after John Oxley himself. The John Oxley |
| smallest suburbs in the area, holding a population of | | | | Cottage was built on Oxley land in the 1890s, over 60 |
| less than 3,000 people. Although Elderslie is one of the | | | | years after his death. The cottage, originally used as a |
| smaller suburbs under the local government area of | | | | workhouse, is now home to the Camden Visitor |
| Camden Council, it boasts some of the oldest homes, | | | | Information Centre. People who visit Elderslie can visit |
| including an estate home, in the region. | | | | the Centre and take advantage of its services. It |
| Two individuals, John Macarthur and John Oxley, | | | | offers information on the heritage walk, which tours |
| originally owned most of the Camden District. In 1805, | | | | the historic buildings in Elderslie and rest of Camden. |
| John Macarthur was granted 5,000 acres in the area, | | | | Also located within the suburb of Elderslie is the |
| which was once called Cowpastures. Macarthur | | | | Studley Park House. The Studley Park House is one |
| renamed his share of the land after his patron, Lord | | | | of the last Victorian country estate mansions remaining |
| Camden. John Macarthur was responsible for | | | | in the Camden/Campbelltown area. Although the |
| developing Australia's Merino wool industry and began | | | | estate now belongs to a golf country club that erected |
| the areas wine production. John Oxley was given two | | | | modern buildings on the property, the home's |
| land grants, the first of which, in 1815, was 1,000 acres | | | | architecture is still preserved. Other homes in Elderslie |
| and named after his home in England, Kirkham. The | | | | include the Bruchhauser House, Galvin Cottage, and |
| second land grant of 810 acres, Oxley named "Ellerslie" | | | | Hilsyde House. The Bruchhauser House, built by John |
| after another property he owned. The names 'Ellerslie' | | | | Bruchhauser in the 1880s, and Galvin Cottage are still |
| and 'Elderslie' are interchangeable and mean 'the field | | | | used as residential homes. Builder and Mayor of |
| of elder trees' in Old English. | | | | Camden, Walter Furner built the Hilsyde House in 1888 |
| Oxley was an English naval officer and appointed | | | | as his residence. The former residence is now home |
| Surveyor General of Lands in New South Wales in | | | | to the Angelican Church. |
| 1812. He and Macarthur were closely associated with | | | | Just south of the suburb Elderslie, on Elderslie Road, is |
| each other, Oxley having at one time been engaged to | | | | the Elderslie Bridge. The bridge, built in 1891 by J A |
| Elizabeth Macarthur. Oxley supported Macarthur during | | | | McDonald, is considered on of the most technologically |
| the Rum Rebellion, in which Macarthur deposed | | | | advanced bridges of its time. Elderslie Bridge is not only |
| Governor William Bligh to become rebel leader of the | | | | considered to be in good, working condition, it is |
| area. Oxley was able to avoid the many of the | | | | believed to be in its original state. The bridge, having |
| troubles that followed Macarthur, who was exiled for a | | | | survived over 100 years of use, is even now in use. |