Communicating Now and Then
About the program
This new curriculum-aligned program invites students to explore the long and layered history of this site. Discover the enduring connection of the Barramada people to Country, stretching back tens of thousands of years, alongside the colonial history of the site as the home of John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their family.
Through hands-on activities and object-based learning, students will investigate how people communicated, shared information and connected with the wider world, before and during the colonial period, and now. They will:
- explore the Barramada people’s connection to Country through movement, clap sticks and rhythmic repetition, and discover the significance of the Parramatta River and the eel as a totem
- handle cultural objects, including a message stick made especially for this program by Senior Dharug man Lexodious Dadd, to explore Aboriginal peoples’ communication methods and the role of oral histories in sharing knowledge across generations
- step into the past by role-playing as John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their servants, exploring how transport and communication connected the farm with the outside world and how this has changed over time
- examine communication methods on the farm and write their own letter using a quill and ink, taking inspiration from Elizabeth Macarthur
- experience life as a convict servant, performing tasks such as washing clothes and responding to servants’ bells.
Throughout the experience, students are encouraged to ask and answer questions, think critically and compare communication ‘now and then’, building an understanding of how communication has shaped people’s lives and connections across time.
This program was created in consultation with Barramada and Dharug cultural and history experts.
For booking inquiries, call + 61 2 8239 2211 or email bookings@mhnsw.au
Elizabeth Farm
70 Alice Street, Rosehill NSW 2142- Wheelchair accessible
Cost (GST free)
From $300 for up to 20 students
See page for cost scale details
Duration of program
1 hour 30 minutes
Sessions offered
Monday to Friday
10am–11.30am
12.30pm–2pm
2.30pm–4pm
Maximum students
60 per session
Supervision ratios
The supervision ratio is 1:10 for primary groups and 1:15 for secondary groups. Teachers and parents attend free of charge at these ratios. One carer per student with special needs will be admitted free of charge
Additional adult costs
Each additional adult will be charged at the concession rate of $15