History

Students sitting on the hillside, creating a watercolour painting of the view towards the Blue Mountains.
Onsite

A Colonial Eye

Students investigate the role of artists during the early colonial period and consider how they contributed to the development of the colony

Two girls dressed in costume in large dormitory style room.
Virtual Excursion

A new home: female migrants at the Barracks

Learn about female Irish orphans who migrated to Australia in the 1800s and stayed at the Hyde Park Barracks

Woman in vdieo with overlay of activity sheet.

Activity: draw a convict from an indent

Watch this short video and learn how to use an original Convict Indent listing to draw a real convict

Kneeling man farewelling seated woman.

Activity: make your own convict love token

Learn about convict love tokens and some of the convicts at the Hyde Parks Barracks

The Vaucluse House dining room fully set and lit by candlelight
Tour

An Evening Visit to Vaucluse House

Experience the Wentworths’ picturesque estate and harbourside retreat on an exclusive and intimate tour after dark

Thursday 3 October 6pm–8pm
Education programme at Hyde Park Barracks.
Onsite

Archaeology Underfoot

As they experience historical archaeology first hand, students learn to differentiate between the roles of historian and archaeologist

Building the railways in NSW

How significant was the arrival of the railway in NSW?

Child convicts of Australia - Chapter 1 Transportation and the First Fleet

Child convicts of Australia

For more than 50 years, convicts were transported from Britain to New South Wales. These included children as young as nine years of age

Students wearing dress up costumes and laughing in the nursery.
Onsite

Child's Play

Students learn about what it was like to live at Vaucluse House for the wealthy family of William Charles and Sarah Wentworth, with their ten children and many servants