Students investigate the role of artists during the early colonial period and consider how they contributed to the development of the colony. They look at a range of Australian artworks, from early depictions of a strange new land to later works by professional artists showing the progress of the expanding colony.
Students are also guided through two drawing activities focusing on the 19th-century summer house in the garden and a collection of natural history objects in the schoolhouse. They then settle on the hillside beside the house to learn about perspective and the effect that interpretation has on an artist’s work while making their own watercolour.
Stage 3 History
The Australian Colonies
Key inquiry questions:
What do we know about the lives of people in Australia’s colonial past and how do we know?
What were the significant events and who were the significant people that shaped Australian colonies?
HT3-1 Describes and explains the significance of people, groups, places and events to the development of Australia
HT3-5 Applies a variety of skills of historical inquiry and communication
Stage 3 Creative Arts
VAS3.1 Investigates subject matter in an attempt to represent likeness of things in the world
VAS3.2 Makes artworks for different audiences, assembling materials in a variety of ways
VAS3.3 Acknowledges that audiences respond in different ways to artworks and that there are different opinions about the value of artworks
Complementary programs: Expanding the Colony, Life at the Barracks: Convicts and Migrants, Investigating Convict History
Up to 20 Students: $200 Up to 40 Students: $385 Up to 60 Students: $575 Up to 80 Students: $760 Up to 100 Students: $905 Up to 120 Students: $1,055 Up to 140 Students: $1,130 Up to 160 Students: $1,230
You can alter your booking numbers up until 7 days prior to your visit. We will call you a week before your booking to confirm final numbers and requirements. You will be invoiced for the full cost of your program a week prior to your booking. Payment can be made by Credit Card, EFTPOS or cheque (payable to Historic Houses Trust of NSW). Cancellations made within 7 days of a booking will incur the full cost for the program. Cancellations made within 2 weeks of your visit will be invoiced for 50% of the total booking. Cancellations must be made in writing.
Please plan to arrive before the start time of your booked program to allow for cloaking, toilet visits and/or a refreshment break for the students. If you arrive late, some elements and activities may need to be cut from the program to keep to the scheduled finish time.
Large groups will be divided up into smaller groups for activities in the museums.
Bags, food and drinks are not permitted in the museums and cloaking facilities are provided.
Photography policies vary between the museums so please ask a member of staff for details.
Teachers and carers are required to remain with their groups at all times.
Disciplining students remains the responsibility of teachers and carers accompanying the group.
Please let us know before your visit if any of your students have special needs or learning difficulties so we can plan to accommodate their needs during the visit.
The supervision ratio is 1:10 for primary groups and 1:15 for secondary groups. Teachers and parents attend free of charge at these ratios. One carer per student with special needs will be admitted free of charge
Additional visitor costs
Each additional visitor will be charged at the concession rate of $12
During this program at Museum of Sydney, on the site of first Government House, students have a unique opportunity to explore links between Indigenous and European histories, cultures and perspectives in the expanding Sydney colony of the 1800