Como House Education Programs

Como House is an important Melbourne icon and a wonderful introduction to the lives of people from the past.

Built in 1847, Como House and Garden is an intriguing mix of Australian Regency and classic Italianate architecture.

Como offers a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle of former owners, the Armytage family, who lived there for nearly a century.

The Armytages became famous amongst Melbourne high society and equally famous for their many elegant dances, dinners and receptions. Those elegant dining and reception rooms are still furnished with Armytage family heirlooms and even the servant’s areas, kitchen and laundry have been preserved.

Our costumed servants will introduce students to the complex social world of a well-to-do family and their servants in the 19th Century.

Women on the Western Front – new program coming Term 1 2025

Levels 9-10

Join our trained educators to hear the stories of Constance and Ada Armytage, of Como House, who ended up in France during the Great War (1914-1918).

Delve into selected collection items as primary source evidence such as letters, photographs and fashion which paint a picture of a woman’s experience on the front lines driving ambulances and working in military hospitals.

Students will be transported back in time, to understand the societal pressures facing women before the war, and how their lives would change forever in a post-war world.

Curriculum links for Level 9 to Level 10
SubjectStrandSub-strandContent descriptionsStudents will…
HistoryHistorical Knowledge1Australians at war (1914–1945)the reasons that Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, fought in the world wars VC2HH10K14Explore the motives that Constance and Ada Armytage had for supporting the war effort.
the experiences and perspectives of those who fought or were deployed overseas, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and women VC2HH10K16Use primary source evidence to develop an understanding of the experiences of Constance and Ada during the Great War.
significant consequences of the world wars on Australian society and the experiences and historical perspectives of those on the home front, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and women VC2HH10K19Explore the consequences of War, visible at Como House as well as Australia as a whole.
Historical Concepts and SkillsHistorical Sources as Evidenceanalyse the perspectives, beliefs, values and attitudes of people and groups based on evidence from a range of sources VC2HH10S05Analyse primary source letters sent and receieved by the Armytage sisters during and after the war.

Further Program Details

Available:Monday-Friday during term time.
Duration:2 hours.
Capacity:minimum 15, maximum 30 students per session.
Teacher/carer:student ratio:1:12
Cost:$12
Safety:Click here to access the Como Education Task Risk Assessment document.
Accessibility:Como's ground floor is wheelchair accessible, as are the grounds. Please advise our bookings team if you require accessible entrance.
Bookings:To book in:
Online booking form

For enquiries:
Email bookings@nattust.com.au
Phone: (03)9656 9889

“The Como House educational program is absolutely terrific. The students were engaged in the activities the entire time and had lots of stories to share at the end of the day. The activities were engaging and fun and they provided excellent educational benefits for students. It was great to provide students with a lived experience of life in the past.”

Grade 1 teacher, Heathmont East Primary School, November 2023.

Then and Now: Colonial Melbourne

Foundation – Level 2

Join our costumed educators, and step back in time to learn about life in the 1800s. This full-day program is jam packed with engaging tasks that will have students taking on the role of children of the mid-1800s; playing, working and exploring in four hands-on activities.

Explore the beautiful Como House as guests of the Armytage family, waltzing through the ballroom, discovering differences in daily life, investigating past toilets, and learning some 1800s etiquette.

Step into the shoes of one of Como’s 13 servants in a series of activities that will see students discover the impacts of changing technologies on people’s home and work lives from the 1800s to today.

Get ready to work together as detectives and help solve the mystery of the Broken Doll, hunting for clues in Como House’s beautiful pleasure garden.

Uncover the changing nature of children’s pastimes with a series of outdoor games from the 1800s like croquet, quoits and skipping that will get you moving.

Curriculum links for Foundation to Level 2
SubjectStrandSub-strandContent descriptionsStudents will…
HistoryHistorical knowledge and understandingPersonal historiesdifferences in family structures and roles and how these have changed or remained the same over timeUncover the societal pressures faced by families in the past, and how the life of the Armytage family differs from families today.
VC2HH2K02
   differences and similarities between students’ daily lives and how these have changed or remained the same over timeDiscover what life was like for some children in the past; the games they played and the social pressures faced, and realise some similarities as well as some differences.
VC2HH2K03
  Community historiesthe history of a local historical site of social, cultural or spiritual significance and how it has changed over timeLearn about the social significance of Como House and how it has changed since the 1800s.
VC2HH2K05
   the consequences of changing technologies on people’s lives at home, and the ways they worked, travelled and communicated in the pastGet their hands dirty, using 1800s domestic technologies to discover how they affected daily life and the differences to today.
VC2HH2K06
 Historical Concepts and SkillsContinuity and Changeidentify examples of continuity and change by comparing the past and presentCompare lives in the 1800s to lives in the present day.
VC2HH2S05
  Causes and Consequencesidentify the causes and consequences of changesDiscuss how the invention of new domestic technologies had an influence on daily life.
VC2HH2S06
Personal and Social CapabilitySocial Awareness and ManagementCollaborationsimple skills required for collaboration with peersWork together to solve a mystery during the Broken Doll activity.
VC2CPFO03
broader skills required for collaboration with peers and ways to monitor contributions to group tasks
VC2CP2O04

Further Program Details

Available:Monday-Friday during term time.
Duration:4 hours - 10am-2pm.
Capacity:minimum 20, maximum 60 students per day.
Teacher/carer:student ratio:1:10
Resources:
Social Script for teachers and parents of students on the autism spectrum

Teachers will receive a detailed resource pack that includes suggested pre- and post-visit activities upon booking.
Cost:2024 dates: $15 per student. 2025 dates: $17 per student.
Safety:Click here to access the Como Education Task Risk Assessment document.
Accessibility:Como's ground floor is wheelchair accessible, as are the grounds. Please advise our bookings team if you require accessible entrance.
Bookings:To book in:
Online booking form

For enquiries:
Email bookings@nattust.com.au
Phone: (03)9656 9889

 

Plan your visit

Como House Education Programs

Address:

Williams Rd &, Lechlade Ave, South Yarra VIC 3141

Phone:
03 9656 9889
Email:
bookings@nattrust.com.au
What we offer:

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Simply fill in our online booking form with your details to make a booking request

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"On Friday we went to Como House. We did four things. The first one was going into the house. We went into the ballroom and did a dance that they did in the olden days. The dance was fun. The people who built Como House had ten kids and every kid had their own bedroom. Como House was so big too. One of the things we did was playing olden days games like 'Oranges and Lemons'. I had so much fun."

Hugo, Year 2

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