Step Back in Time

A glimpse of schooling from the past, the NSW Schoolhouse Museum is a popular excursion venue for schools. With a hands-on focus, students interact with artefacts and experience early school life. They use skills of historical inquiry to investigate the past: Present and Past Family Life; The Past in the Present; Community and Remembrance. 

The NSW Schoolhouse Museum was the first building of North Ryde Public School. The original schoolroom was built in 1877 for 45 pupils with extra rooms built in 1893 and 1910. Housed in restored early schoolrooms, the museum collects and preserves objects relating to the history of public education in NSW. The museum is open for school excursions, group tours and the general public by appointment.

We pay our respects and acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the original Custodians of the area, and also pay respect to Elders both past and present.

Latest News

View More

Paused for a while

Posted on in General

We are not open to visitors during stay-at-home orders and until school excursions are allowed again. Our staff are working remotely, checking emails daily but not checking phone messages. We have online resources for schools who have had excursions cancelled. And we have a YouTube channel with some fascinating videos of objects in our collection. […]

Read More »

Winter fires are crackling

Posted on in General

We’ve got the fires lit this term, first time seeing are freshly painted spaces by firelight. Still a few spots left in Term 3 for students to toast some bread and work by firelight. 

Read More »

Visiting students are back!

Posted on in General

It is so lovely to hear the excited chatter of students fill our school rooms once more. Our first group travelled from Newcastle to engage in varied hands-on activities to investigate changes and continuities in education over time.

Read More »