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.

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Engaging students in historical inquiry

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We’re thrilled to feature in the October 2018 edition of SCAN magazine! The article, Engaging students in historical inquiry: Utilising objects and living history experiences, explores the role of objects and living history experiences in historical inquiry in the K-6 setting through a case study of the NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education.

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Stepping back in time

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Our visiting school groups have been enjoying drill, maypole dancing and games in the autumn sunshine. Here is our Wednesday team in their 1880s costumes outside our lovely 1877 sandstock brick schoolroom.

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North Ryde PS 140 years of operation

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Our 1877 schoolroom commenced operation with 40 pupils in January 1878. At the official opening in early March enrolments had increased to 53 pupils. The first teacher, Mr Charles Crew, with his wife Elizabeth, were appointed to the school from Goulburn where they were held in high regard. They lived in the four-room headmaster’s cottage that was […]

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