Media contact

For media inquiries and opportunities please contact Emma Heath, Media Manager.

Phone: +61 413 768 588 | Email: emma.heath@mhnsw.au

Catch up on Evenings (ABC Radio)

Museums of History NSW features regularly on the ABC Evenings program segment for interesting subjects relating to the history and heritage of our state. For your listening pleasure, please see links to previous interviews here.

14 December 2024

New Chair appointment for Museums of History NSW

Professor, The Hon. Bob Carr takes up the role as the new Chair of the Museums of History NSW Board.

Bob Carr is the longest continuously serving premier in NSW history. During his tenure (1995–2005), the NSW Government set new records for spending on infrastructure, became the first government in the state’s history to retire debt, hosted the ‘world’s best Olympics’ in 2000 and achieved the nation’s best school literacy levels.

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10 December 2024

A colonial Christmas

Celebrating Christmas the old-fashioned way. Dr Jacqui Newling, Curator at Museums of History NSW takes us through a traditional colonial Christmas in the early 1900’s from what they ate, how they cooked, decorations, festivities, gift giving and much more.

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12 November 2024

The Meroogal Women's Art Prize

From paintings, textiles, audio, ceramics and mixed media, the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize celebrates the creativity of female artists living and working in NSW.

Dr Jacqui Newling, Curator at Museums of History NSW describes the wonderful works inspired by the historic Meroogal property in Nowra. Home to four generations of women, Meroogal overflows with their books, ornaments, furniture, photographs, recipes, diaries and journals, all telling a multitude of stories and offering a glimpse as to how they lived.

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29 October 2024

Madjeri at the Museum of Sydney

Celebrating the traditional Aboriginal art of making bark canoe, Peter White, Head of First Nations Cultural Engagement at Museums of History talks us through the process of making the madjeri (canoe) from preparing the tree to removing the bark and shaping the canoe. Two fine examples of these traditional canoes can be seen hanging in the foyer of the Museum of Sydney.

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1 October 2024

Vaucluse House

Learn about the beautiful harbourside retreat that is Vaucluse House with Angela Sanfilippo, Head of House Museums at Museums of History NSW. In 1915 Vaucluse House became Australia’s first official house museum and continues today to delight and intrigue visitors with its stories and stunning and secluded grounds

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9 July 2024

40th anniversary of Elizabeth Farm

Discover the rich history of Elizabeth Farm, Australia’s oldest surviving homestead with Dr Scott Hill, Curator at Museums of History NSW.

A restful homestead with a restless history, Elizabeth Farm is one of Australia's most culturally important historic properties, not only for its artefacts, furnishings, buildings and gardens but also because it is the most complete document of continuous family occupancy of a country house in New South Wales.

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11 June 2024

Coomaditchie: The Art of Place

Coomaditchie: The Art of Place evokes life by the ocean through loving and lyrical works by First Nations artists. Hear Curator Tess Allas talk through this showcase of paintings, ceramics and screen-prints that speak to life in and around the settlement of Coomaditchie, in the city of Wollongong.

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28 May 2024

Crimes in colonial Australia

Hear Dr Penny Stannard talk about four repeat prisoners and what their personal stories tell us about the times they lived in.

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2 April 2024

Learning in museums

Our sites offer students the opportunity to learn about history in the places where it happened. We explore how children make meaning in museums and connect with the past, and consider approaches to learning design.

Learning Manager Dr Rebecca Kummerfeld and Learning Program Developer Tamsin Birch talk about our Learning program and how we share our knowledge with others.

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19 March 2024

The State Archives Collection and the 1828 Census

The State Archives Collection at MHNSW is vast, comprising over 14 million items related to the history of NSW, its environment and the lives of its people.

Listen to Martyn Killion, Director of Collections, introduce the State Archives Collection and the 1828 Census.

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5 March 2024

Food history

Hear Curator Dr Jacqui Newling talk about cookbooks and recipes in MHNSW’s collections.

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20 February 2024

The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50 exhibition

Curator Dr Scott Hill talks about this exhibition that celebrates five decades of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments at the Sydney Opera House.

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Latest news

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The team of archaeologists who worked on the excavation at Rouse Hill Estate. From left to right: Sophie Bretell, Adrian Dreyer, Matthew Kelly, Daisy Cutcliffe, Adele Zubrzycka
Latest News

Uncovering the past at Rouse Hill Estate

In the lead-up to conservation work on the overseer’s cottage at Rouse Hill Estate, an unexpected discovery prompted the need for an archaeological excavation

Mould left unchecked or poorly dealt with can devastate collections leaving them close to useless. Good environmental conditions are crucial to preventing mould growth
Latest News

A spotlight on mould

Mould is one of the last things you want to find on records, but it can occur in any collection. Poor ventilation, high humidity or weather events can all contribute. Learn how you can identify mould and manage small outbreaks

Old Register No 1
Latest News

Iconic treasure published online

We are thrilled to announce the online publication of the ‘Old Register’ from the State Archives Collection

A visitor exploring the Vaucluse House virtual tour on the iPad while they sit in the internal courtyard
Latest News

New ways to explore Vaucluse House and its gardens

We’ve been working on two exciting new projects to make Vaucluse House and its grounds more accessible, offering visitors flexible and inclusive ways to connect with this remarkable estate