Join us on a special family-friendly twilight tour of the ground floor of Old Government House – a 222-year-old early Governors country residence known for some very strange happenings.

Discover incredible history and explore beautifully restored heritage-listed buildings at Parramatta North. Heritage Day offers a fantastic free day out for the whole family with live music, great food, market stalls, and children's activities.

Join experienced tour guide and heritage tourism specialist, Kerima-Gae, on a fully guided tour by mini-bus, which can access narrow streets and lane ways, where she will 'unearth' a wealth of Parramatta's 'historical gems'.

Come and enjoy an afternoon of fascinating stories and interesting tales that will be unearthed from the St Patrick's Cemetery. The cemetery is rich in history, being among the oldest in Australia and houses the St Francis Chapel which is the oldest existing mortuary chapel in Australia.

Hear the stories of the famous and sometimes forgotten 17 women - the wives, daughters, nieces, cousins and mistresses associated with the first 10 Governors of the Colony.

Take a journey through time from swimming at Little Coogee on the river to Lake Parramatta and the development of Public Baths and Pools.
The social changes will be explored as well as the story and history of public pools in Parramatta.

What was Parramatta like in 1839 ? Why was Parramatta Town marked out ?
Were other towns marked out in a similar fashion ?
What and where were these markers ?
Come along and hear about the systems implemented by Governors, particularly in Parramatta.

Lively power-point presentation that takes you on a journey 'unearthing' intriguing stories from beyond the graves of many that lie within Parramatta's seven historic cemeteries.

Have you ever wondered who designed the Parramatta weir under the Bernie Banton Bridge and when it was built? Trawling through the available records 'unearthed' a surprise result of a relatively forgotten colonial character during the Macquarie period.

'Unearthing' momentous local and world achievements brought about by the brilliance of surveyors whose talents and excellence have left the world with a magnificent collection of landmarks and discoveries.

Celebrate the Australian Heritage Festival with a guided tour of Elizabeth Farm, Hambledon Cottage and Experiment Farm Cottage.  

The Blue Mountains History Conference 2025 has the theme 'The Show Must Go On! - Blue Mountains Performance and Entertainment'. The conference speakers will go all day, starting at 9.00am and finishing at 4.30pm.

Unearth the history of the Chinese Market Gardens in Ryde in the late 19th and early 20th centuries! This bilingual event in English and Mandarin will explore the history of the Chinese gardeners and market gardens in the City of Ryde in its early days.

The Thornleigh Zig Zag Railway was an engineering marvel that helped build the Great Northern Railway in the 1880s. Unearth local history buried under suburban streets in Sydney’s north with a 90-minute tour tracing the route from the station, past bushland and into an historic old quarry, this May.

Metropolitan Memorial Parks invites you and your family to embark on a captivating journey through time at Woronora Memorial Park's Heritage Day. Discover the history and heritage of the park and some of the notable locals who have been laid to rest there.

Join artist Patrick Shirvington for a morning of drawing in the surrounds of the 'Hut of Happy Omen' Ahimsa. Continuing Marie Byles legacy of connection to the natural world. Patrick is a well known artist / illustrator, with his work focusing on the natural world.

A tour looking at the symbols on the headstones in the graveyard established in 1848. and the messages they convey.

Why fly to the UK? You can see a rare intact example of a large Edwardian private residential estate, in Sydney, on our Open Day. The Yaralla Estate was developed by the Walker family between 1848 and 1937 as a farm, pleasure garden, residence and one of Sydney’s premiere social destinations.

Brinsley's Joinery Shop is open to the public for this yearly event.
Tours run hourly from approximately 10.30am to co-inside with the vintage bus run that operates on the day.

Discover your Shire and unearth the places and events you have never attended before. Ride the Heritage bus to connect all events. A free family day with interest for all ages.
Full details of all events www.sutherlandheritagefestival.org
Our Open Day will be 3 May

Have you run into a brick wall with your House History research project? Please join our expert guide who will explore the historical records of the NSW Land Registry Service (HLRV).

Find out about resources to help unearth the history of houses in Sutherland Shire.

Visit the graves of some of our earlier residents, hear their stories, learn their histories. Tours will be virtual and actual. Visit the grave of Granny Smith, creator of the Granny Smith apple and other interesting people. Learn about their lives, and their deaths.

Discover the thrilling worlds of palaeontology and archaeology as experts come together to share their field adventures, uncovering both shared insights and key differences. Engage directly with them through live Q&A, and dive deep into these captivating sciences that reveal Earth's history.

Do you have a story to share about living in Georges River? As part of the Australian Heritage Festival we’re inviting you and your families to learn how to document your own oral histories and add to our local studies collections.

What is the history behind the old Tudor style house at 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville?
Join us during the 2025 Australian Heritage Festival to discover the history and uses of this amazing building in one of our tours.

The ABC studio at Gore Hill, near St Leonards, produced iconic and groundbreaking television programs from 1956-2002 before relocating to Ultimo. Learn about its rich history and legacy that continues to this day.

Unearth the Shire's History by visiting the Museum. Can you match the modern day photos to what was there before? FREE ENTRY.
Unearth a treasure at the bric-a-brac stall
Unearth a 'sweet treat' and relax over a cuppa using vintage crockery.

Wander through the beautiful Sorensen garden, enjoy devonshire tea in the downstairs refectory, join an informative tour of the House ($10pp) or listen to a garden talk.

Meet the Author and hear his account of researching his book, and his account of the circumstances prevailing in the early years of settlement.

Experience life during the Victorian era in one of the oldest homes in the St George District. The State heritage-listed building is home to a wonderful collection of fine antiques and period objects. Enjoy Devonshire Tea on the back verandah with views of Botany Bay.

Join us for the Unearthed Stories Evening, and uncover strange, spooky, and magical tales of the past through objects and stories from the Georges River Libraries and Hurstville Museum & Gallery collections.

Step into the Unearthed Exhibition and discover untold and forgotten stories of Georges River. This free exhibition showcases lesser-known histories and untold stories, through photos, posters, and newspaper articles from the Georges River Libraries Local Studies collection.

Unearth a piece of Lane Cove's history. On this special Open Day weekend, explore Carisbrook Historic House and enjoy Devonshire Tea in the courtyard. Overlooking the Lane Cove River, travel back in time to the Victorian Era.