Did you know that the Female Orphan School is the oldest three-storey building in Australia? Visit the restored building now home to the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University and visit the exhibitions on display.

Come along and create a beautiful wooden spoon made with your own hands with Nordic Edge at Old Government House.

Enjoy a candlelit tour of Old Government House, Parramatta and hear stories of strange happenings experienced by volunteers, staff and past guests.

Join the Parramatta Art Society for a leisurely day of art at Old Government House and get up close with some of the beautiful items from the collection which are not normally on display.

Bring along the family and try your hand at chalk and shadow art these Easter school holidays at Old Government House

Making Good explores the lives of convict artisans who used their skills to transform their place of exile into a thriving modern settlement.

Join this revealing walk to visit significant sites were Aboriginal and colonial history unfolded during the first 40 years of the colony.

As you emerge from enforced isolation and race to and from work, or search dining options have you noticed the artworks that adorn the CBD?

Join our friendly, experienced nature guide on this pleasant meander in a beautiful parkland setting.

Visit some key archaeological sites in Parramatta, using each to shine a light on the intriguing stories being unearthed in the CBD.

Discover the diverse heritage architecture within the core of Parramatta and satisfy your curiosity with this enjoyable walking tour!

This abridged walking tour focuses on the highlights of Parramatta’s rich cultural and heritage offerings.

Much has been written & spoken of the men of Parramatta who influenced Australian history. Sadly less is known of the women who did likewise.

This pleasant walk in a World Heritage listed landscape encompasses some intriguing stories of the scientific advances made in Parramatta!

Pick up professional tips on seeing landscapes, wildlife, architecture & heritage in a new light. Ge the most out of your phone & camera whilst enjoying beautiful natural surroundings

Explore UNESCO World Heritage listed Parramatta Park, its history and stories with our knowledgeable guide.

Explore World Heritage listed Parramatta Park with all its history and stories with our knowledgeable guide.

Join a Dharug custodian, a river catchment management expert and a heritage guide to discover how the Parramatta River and its surrounding lands changed over time and how the sustainable management of the River is important for future generations.

Guided tour of Rookwood Cemetery, including its most historic and captivating areas.

Visit one of the oldest colonial buildings in Australia and view a rare sunken dairy on this intimate group tour.

Visit one of the oldest colonial buildings in Australia, view a rare sunken dairy, discover the history of Parramatta Park’s monuments with AUSLAN interpretation

Find out about Australia's forgotten war, the Boer War from 1899-1902, with a retired Lancer guiding you through the finest Boer War collection in Australia, all contained within Lancer Barracks Parramatta, a Governor Macquarie heritage precinct

Celebrating 200 years of history and medical care in Parramatta - a gracious Georgian building stands on the corner of George and Marsden Streets in Parramatta. It is the oldest existing dwelling house in the inner City of Parramatta and since 1983 has been a Medical and Nursing Museum.

Find yourself in the past as Botanicals transports you to 1800’s colonial Parramatta. Stunning floral displays accompanying the National Trust’s intricate floral-patterned ceramics.

Visit one of the oldest colonial buildings in Australia, view a rare sunken dairy, discover the history of Parramatta Park’s monuments!

Join us as we time-travel through the evolution of Australian medicine, from colonial times to the cutting-edge treatments of today

Join a traditional custodian on this relaxed walk to learn how local Aboriginal clans survived and thrived in the Parramatta region.

Discover the intriguing history & significant sites of Parramatta on a relaxed coach tour!

Interactive games and activities will engage children as they discover the strange lives of colonial children and characters

Archaeology unearths hidden stories from our past, much like cold case detective work brings to light the truth about past crimes.

Discover the central role of the Parramatta River throughout the ages, from pre-settlement days and colonial times through to the present day.

Test your archaeological skills through recording actual artefacts, piecing together the evidence they provide to draw your own conclusions.

The Dharug people are Parramatta’s first people and its traditional custodians.

Join our experienced guide on this walk to hear the hidden histories unfold of dispossession, trade, friendships and frontier conflicts

"The Calder Estate - James Elder's Land Grant 1832 to Now", a talk by David Senior

"The Curious Tale of Louis Bertrand - The Amorist Dentist", a talk by Judith Dunn OAM

"Love, Labour and Loss - an historical perspective on objects given as expressions of love and esteem, a talk by Ronda Gaffey

"The Curious Edward Smith Hall - Forgotten Champion of the Underdog", a talk by Ken Smith OAM

Ride with Capt. Harry Mance, back to a time, when steam powered ferries ruled the waters of Parramatta River - a talk by John Brock.

An insatiable curiosity to find out what lies behind a name, a few words or an unusual tombstone results in the discovery of many intriguing stories 'from the grave'. Kerima-Gae Topp's powerpoint presentation will take you to cemeteries throughout NSW and finally to one in London.

A colourful and interactive powerpoint presentation where you will discover many amazing and curious facts about your country.

With her 'curiosity' working overtime Kerima- Gae Topp's powerpoint presentation has more intriguing 'tales from beyond the grave', which will include stories from Australia's oldest remaining cemetery to one in New Zealand devastated by an earthquake.

This Tour offers you an opportunity to travel back in time and discover the history, heritage, and cultures of a true coastal treasure – Port Kembla.

Following a quick tour introduction at the Visitor Centre, we board the tour bus to begin our tour of the Port of Port Kembla by a short visit to Greenhouse Park – where the full picture of the port is laid out beneath us.

Have you ever wondered if you have a colonial soldier in your family? Christine Yeats a well known historian will give a 1 hour talk at the Parramatta Female Factory Friends Rooms at 1pm to 2pm on Friday 22 April 2022. Tickets are through Eventbrite so book early so you don't miss out.

Acknowledging our past, present and future, Parramatta North Heritage Day returns to the precinct on Sunday 29 May as part of the Australian Heritage Festival.

Hear interesting stories of our early pioneering families who came to the Illawarra in the early 1800's ie: Robert Jenkins Esq. and the Berkeley Estate, Benjamin Rixon (ie: Rixon's Pass) and his daughter Julia Anne who married Robert James and the Rixon Family descendents who fought in WW1.

Trees live for a long time and take on many roles in the ecosystem. What wisdom can we glean from listening to the stories they tell us?

Join an Aboriginal guide to discover how traditional owners cared for country. Learn what you can do to contribute to a sustainable future.

The Dharug people are Parramatta’s first people and the traditional custodians of this land.

Visit the Abattoir Heritage Precinct for a special twilight viewing! Finish your tour at the mesmerizing photo display projected on the Pullman Hotel to celebrate Australian Heritage Festival.

The considerable changes in technology, developed alongside the motor vehicle from 1880 changed the way we live. The museum proudly embraces this technology and provides a showcase of many of these items alongside the vehicles of the period.

Tour iconic Armory buildings from the 1897 period, including the old Gunpowder Magazine with lamplight tunnels and museum displays from days of the Armory.

This tour builds on the Newington 1897 tour by extending the story of Newington Armory from 1921 when the site became a Navy establishment, to the end of its working life in 1999. You’ll enter restricted areas - places normally off limits to the general public only made accessible on a guided tour.

Join us for an unmissable series of fine music events being performed in the beauty of Blacket's finest Church.

How much do you know about this intact heritage property which is of cultural significance to the nation?
This Heritage Festival, take time to satisfy your curiosity about what makes Bella Vista Farm so special.

Once the site of the former State Brickworks at Homebush Bay, this powerful and dramatic landscape now has a quieter pace. Join the Behind the Scenes tour and be engaged in the layered history of the site from its industrial past to its current role as a biodiversity haven!

Museum of Curiosities
Amongst our regular displays will be hidden a number of items from our collection, depicting a time long ago. Some you might recognise - some may baffle you - and all will rouse your curiosity, but you will leave with a better knowledge of life in the "good old days"!

The Italianate style was a very popular housing style in Ashfield and throughout much of the inner west of Sydney during the 1880s through to 1900. Why was this style so popular? What is Italian about the Italianate? How did the style originate and how did it arrive in the Sydney suburbs?

A self-guided walking tour along Ramsay Street in Haberfield to learn about the origin of the name Haberfield.

As one of the oldest schools in Australia, students and staff from Fort Street have made significant contributions to the national and world stage. The Ron Horan Museum makes accessible the notable archival exhibitions celebrating the achievements of Fortians from the past and present.

Devonshire Teas $5 , Free Organ Recitals, Free Church History Talks, Church History / Memorabilia Display, 2pm Guided Walk $20

Join a walking tour to explore heritage-listed Callan Park.

This exhibition features Norman Lindsay’s world merged with the world of legend and mythology and his artworks and sculptures including the legendary Sphinx.

View an extraordinary 17th century artwork from the Dutch Golden Age on display for one day only in the Blue Mountains' oldest colonial building, Woodford Academy.

Searching dark skies: the history of the life and work of Ken Beames, engineer, astronomer and builder of the Linden Observatory and its impressive 24-inch reflector telescope.

While visiting the Pennant Hills library check out the Curious Objects display, do you know what they are or what they do? Have you seen any before? Some were common objects and some have always been curious.

Find out about the 1974 purchase by the Whitlam Government of church estates to conserve this historic suburb and keep it for low-income earners. See how today almost fifty years of good urban and social policy is threatened by sale and demolition. Tour is 2.5 hours.

The Balmain Watch House represents a slice of social history from the mid 19th century through to today. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to get a sense of the various incarnations the building has gone through. From police lockup to family home to a hub of social action.

Explore Sydney Harbour aboard a restored heritage vessel. Experience the magic of a 1902 steam vessel (Waratah or Lady Hopetoun) on Sydney Harbour Secrets. Hear stories of the harbour and Parramatta River islands and foreshores on six guided cruises in the 1943 former naval motor launch Harman.

Practicing both as architect and historian, Peter Freeman has dedicated more than four decades to the conservation, documentation and celebration of Australia’s architectural heritage. This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of Australia's foremost heritage architects and historians.

Providing playgrounds in the city was a uniquely 20th century phenomenon. In this lunchtime talk, historian Laila Ellmoos will look at how children occupied Sydney's urban spaces, with a focus on the introduction of supervised children's playgrounds in the inner city from the 1930s.

City Archivist Janet Villata and Archivist Mathilde de Hauteclocque will introduce you to the City Archives collection in this lunchtime talk.

On this not-so-typical walking tour, you will meander through dark alleys and winding lanes, exploring the dark history of Sydney’s Surry Hills. You will investigate the ghastly crime scenes from between 1880 and 1945. This is Sydney's ultimate crime & punishment social history tour.

The Fenwick at Balmain East is partnering with professional guides and historians at Journey Walks to offer a historic walking tour around Balmain, followed by a special set menu lunch at the restaurant.

Angular, geometric, sculptural and soaring, Town Hall House is a statement piece of Brutalist architecture. Presented in Town Hall House, this talk by assistant curator Rebecca Anderson will take the audience through the development of this fascinating building.

Enjoy a glass of beer and a meal whiling listen to some incredible stories about the gangs, pushes and larrikins who brought fear and chaos to the streets of old Sydney between 1850 and 1950. The talk takes place in the Royal albert Hotel, the club house of the most dangerous gang of the 1890s.

Surry Hills and Darlinghurst were quiet villages in colonial times... until 1891 happened and for the next 100 years, they became the vice & murder capitals of Australia. Discover how and hear about the worst and most sensational murders committed that were forgotten until now.

WW2, thousands of American servicemen flooded Sydney seeking vice and debauchery. US racial segregation meant only Surry Hills was where African American servicemen were allowed to party. The gangsters made bank. But all parties must end and when this one ended the streets ran red with blood.

In this talk you will discover the murders committed in Sydney between 1800 and 1950 that remain a mystery. Hear about the crime scene, the investigation, the reaction from the public.

Over 120 pubs existed in East Sydney in the 19th century. Some are still licensed, some since demolished and many, like old ghosts, haunt the streets as cafes, homes and shops. They all have incredible stories of mayhem, madness and murder. Listen to incredible stories about these old pubs.

Family History Beginners Workshop. Are you curious about your ancestors? Have you always wanted to trace your family tree? A free Beginners' Workshop for people starting out on their journey into their family history. Begin your family tree with experienced volunteers to get you started.

Come and hear the story of Ah Hing, a Cantonese polymath in 1880s Sydney who added a new dimension to the creation of life-size portraits from photographs.

Come, visit one of Hornsby Shire’s oldest buildings, now the home of the Hornsby Shire Historical Society. See our displays showcasing the lifestyles of Hornsby residents during the 19th and 20th centuries. Go on to visit Pennant Hills Library and Hornsby Library to see our cabinets of curious.

Be inspired to create your own photography or artwork from the material textures of one of the most significant industrial heritage sites on Sydney Harbour.

The Salon des Refusés is the S.H. Ervin Gallery’s ‘alternative’ selection from works entered into the annual Archibald and Wynne Prizes.

Steve Lopes Encountered on display at S. H. Ervin Gallery is a survey exhibition presented in association with Orange Regional Gallery of over 80 paintings, rarely seen drawings, prints and collages, together with the artist’s diaries and drawing books.

Ventuno Walsh Bay is partnering with professional guides and historians from 'Journey Walks' to offer a guided historical walking tour around Walsh Bay, followed by a special Italian style lunch at Ventuno.

Jardin St James has partnered with professional guides and historians at 'Journey Walks' to take you on a guided historical walking tour of Sydney CBD, followed by delicious lunch at the café restaurant.

The Hassall Family History Association Research meeting celebrates the lives of Rowland and Elizabeth Hassall and their descendants. The Hassalls arrived in Sydney in 1798.

Imagine you’re visiting Sydney for the first time as a tourist on one of the Oceanic Steamship Company Line’s iron steamships. In this illustrated talk, City of Sydney curator Margaret Betteridge guides you through Sydney in 1905 using the Oceanic Steamship Company's map.

Join historian Laila Ellmoos and investigate how photography was used to document changes to Sydney in the first decades of the 20th century.