Elizabeth Farm is Australia's oldest European building. The "convict farm" was built for John and Elizabeth Macarthur, pioneers of the Australian wool industry. Today, "guests" play-act as convicts, serving under harsh maids and task masters. The boys and 20+ other homeschoolers were each assigned a convict character and were required to play that role for the initial two hours of the visit. For example, one of the boys was the London-born Thomas Picney who was sentenced seven-years "transportation" (to Australia) for stealing. As soon as the kids arrived, they had to tell the head master who they were and why they were here. Then, get to work! Scrubbing floors, sweeping courtyards, making bread, stacking firewood -- they worked!

After the labor, kids and parents toured the lovely home. In the attic are some of the orginal beams from the late 1700's! It was a great time. "Convict labor" has new meaning.