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.

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

"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.

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 Anna Ridley, Old Government House curator for a special tour of Making Good, and find out more about the convict artisans featured in the exhibition.

A 'lively' and intriguing cemetery walking tour of one of Parramatta's oldest cemeteries, which oozes with stories and curiosities from 'beyond the grave'.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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?

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

Come along and 'Discover Linnwood' - Western Sydney's hidden gem. Built in 1891 by George McCredie - 'Victor of the Plague'. See and hear the history of the house, plus a display of WWII domestic memorabilia entitled 'We'll Meet Again', then relax and enjoy a Devonshire Tea.

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.

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.

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!

Please join us during the Australian Heritage Festival 2022 for “Curiosity” a guided tour of the Fairfield City Vintage Village

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

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.

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.

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"!

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

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.

Free exhibition and Public programs. Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park is the resting place of more than 13,000 people; here lie buried the early pioneers of Liverpool. Notables and New Discoveries re-assesses the park’s inhabitants and hierarchy, learn about them through the exhibition and talks.

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

While visiting the Hornsby 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.

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?

The guided walking tour by Architectural Historian Dr Zeny Edwards will trace the history of Wahroonga Park’s journey through time with its memorials, commemorative plantings and interesting surrounds and a potential viewing of a historical landmark.

This Anzac Day weekend, share the story of the people in Australia and New Zealand in the build up to World War Two.

Learn how to master writing your family history with writer Keith Whelan and our Local History Librarian Jessica Graham.

If only these walls and this land could talk ... Hear Peter FitzSimons talk about his new book The Opera House.

Sioman Yen and Richard Horsburgh discussing this book in a special talk for Heritage Festival.

The Festival will include a series of enriching and interesting events including photo exhibitions, open homes, historical talks, walking tours, fashion exhibitions, author talks and more.

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

A full day Open House where this private residence is usually closed off from public viewing. The event shall feature literary speakers and historians who will share their discourse on the legacy of Ethel Turner and her contribution to early Australian literature. Go back into the past to 1890s!

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.

Be part of a curated tour of one of Australia’s most iconic buildings – Rose Seidler House, right in the middle of Ku-ring-gai!

Explore the historic, Rose Seilder House.

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

How did people live in the old days? 'Boronia' Willoughby District Historical Society's cottage Museum is ready to show you the memorabilia and stories about home life, schools, work and entertainment of people who lived in the district,

Take a guided walking tour through Gore Hill Cemetery to see many monuments and graves of interest set in a beautiful gardenesque landscape.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Enjoy a pleasant afternoon of Celtic Heritage and displays of Celtic music, song and dance at Parc Menai Celtic Festival.

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.

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.

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.

Are you curious about what local historians actually do? Come and explore the collections preserved at North Sydney Council's archive store, not usually open to the public.

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.

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.

Discover the unique bushland suburb of Castlecrag its curious architecture and its international importance in developing a suburb in harmony with the natural world.

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.

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.

For the first time the Royal Automobile Club of Australia is participating in this event and we are keen to share our stunning heritage-listed building with you - providing tours to take you on a voyage of discovery - including a curated curio-look at objects from 'the vault'

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.

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

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.

Brinsley's Joinery Shop as it stands today was established in 1929 after fire destroyed the original building and is still used to produce timber joinery & furniture. It is one of the few intact examples of inter-war industrial buildings in the Sutherland Shire & is well worth a visit.

This walking tour visits plants in our living collection that were first collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in 1770 and finishes at the Botanic Endeavour exhibition featuring 50 recent botanic illustrations of these plants and precious items from the Daniel Solander Library.

Our volunteer guides have designed a walk that brings our sculptures and statues to life. Learn about the artwork, artists and the how our attitudes to public art have changed over the last 150 years whilst visiting some of our more than 60 sculptures and statues.

Special Vintage Bus in the Sutherland area linking Sydney Tramway Museum, Loftus to many other Heritage Events.

The opportunity to appreciate an earlier era of Sydney's public transport, when trams were the major people movers.

The Sutherland Shire Citizens' Heritage Festival Committee is a group of Shire Committees that work as team to co-ordinate a variety of interesting and varied activities for you to enjoy during the National Trust Heritage Festival

The Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, affectionately known as ‘The Orpheum’, is a prized jewel in Sydney’s crown. For almost a century, this beautiful Art Deco theatre has opened its doors to theatre lovers of film and stage. Now The Orpheum footlights will shine directly on itself.

On the 130th anniversary of Paddington Library, join City Historian Dr Lisa Murray and Woollahra's Local History Staff for a talk which will examine the history of the Library service and the changes it has seen across 130 years.

There will be a range of specialty groups besides our own Society with experts to assist with your World Wide research

In 1895 the NSW B ranch of the British Astronomical Society was formed to promote the study of the night sky with members including locals John Macdonnell and E. H Beattie. Join the presenters for an insightful look into the role of these astronomers and the importance of their discoveries, followed by a clear evening's Telescope viewing. Presented by Sydney Observatory Curator of Astronomy,

Donations are important in the development of a descriptive local studies collection and Mosman Service has been fortunate to receive many donations which have revealed amazing stories

Hear how citizen heritage sleuths uncovered a colourful local identity which helped piece together an incredible jigsaw of local heritage.

Eaton Gorge Theatre Company will deliver The People's Park - history and theatre come together. A 90minute promenade visiting many landmarks of one of the world's largest urban parks - Centennial Park. A myriad of historical facts, secret spots and vibrancy nestled in amongst wildlife and nature.

Ripples Chowder Bay is partnering with professional guides and historians at 'Journey Walks' to offer a guided tour of Chowder Bay followed by lunch at Ripples. The tour will highlight the interesting history of the venue and will include a special set menu, glass of wine and waterfront views.

Discover the historic Waverley Estate, where a Victorian mansion, turned hospital, is nestled amongst beautiful gardens. Explore an interactive tour and gather with friends or your children for a picnic.

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.

Visit Gledswood Homestead & Winery for a history walk around the property with our resident historian. Learn about our rich history, hear stories of Count Gabriel de Huon escaping the French revolution and then enjoy a Devonshire tea at the convict built coach house, now used as our cellar door.

Early Colonial Lifestyle brought to life in a genuine Australian 19th Century setting, see each building come to life as it would have back in the 1800's as The Australiana Pioneer Village becomes a working Village

This is a day when you can learn more about the fascinating story of Australia’s oldest church - Ebenezer Church. You will hear about the people who built the church, pioneers such as … Andrew Johnston, the architect of the church and John Grono who was a ship-builder and sea captain.

Do you love exploring old graveyards? Come on a fascinating tour of one of Australia's oldest cemeteries. You will learn more about the lives of some of the people from our history that shaped the development of Campbelltown.

Explore one of Campbelltown’s grandest homes on this tour of historic Blair Athol House.

Walk the grounds of historic Fairlight, a substantial Victorian house and impressive barn surrounded by old fig trees, and The Cottage, home to Edward Cox before he built Fernhill, creating a landscape between The Cottage, Fernhill and St. Thomas Church virtually unaltered since the 1850s.

We get out our machinery and put on a great display to educate and entertain you. Our exhibits are all working displays, this shows off our machinery as it used to be, performing tasks such as, wood sawing, ploughing, heavy hauling, pumping water, generating electricity and much more.

Join us for a guided walking tour of the Era shack community in the Royal National Park and see how the shacks at this remote location were built and maintained by the owners. Hear the stories of how the shacks survived to be listed on the State Heritage Register in 2012.

Have you ever been curious about where the names of Camden's streets, parks and places came from? Some are obvious as they pay homage to the movers and shakers of Camden's early days such as Macarthur Park. Where have the not so obvious names originated? Camden Library could help you find out!

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

Join us on a scenic walking tour through central Austinmer to discuss the character of a place and ways to protect it.