Booking information

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Bookings

No. of students : Maximum 105 students 
Duration: Approx. 3-4 hours, including lunch and recess.
Cost per student:  $24 per student. No GST. Accompanying adults free.
Bookings available:  See calendar for availabilities
  • A confirmation will be emailed to confirm dates and times booked.
  • A detailed excursion plan will be emailed around Week 8 of the term prior to your visit.
  • A maximum of two parents/carers per class can accompany an excursion. There is no limit on staff numbers.
  • For the optional toasting activity in Terms 2 and 3, we require two adult helpers to stay with the fire for all the classes. See Toasting activity below.

Desk with ink well, ink pen, wooden pencil box, open Globite suitcase with 1950s infants reading workbook.

Book ahead

Schools are advised to book as early as possible to secure a date. Most schools book a term or two terms ahead. Bookings are taken in order of receipt. We do not take tentative bookings.

How to book 

Please check the calendar for available dates and email the NSW Schoolhouse Museum to request dates and confirm availability. Include:

  • preferred dates
  • program you wish to book 
  • your school
  • grade
  • number of classes
  • number of students – as accurate as possible
  • postal address and phone number. 

We will email a booking confirmation to confirm the booking of the dates requested. An excursion plan will be sent the term before the visit.

Minimum charge

Our standard minimum charge is based on 44 students. For single-class bookings joining a day with another school, the minimum charge is based on 22 students. The minimum charge does not usually apply to groups of students with additional needs. We may also waive or adjust minimum charges for some schools at our discretion to support equitable access.

Visit fees are our sole source of funding and support our staff, education programs, collection management and conservation work.

Maximum number of students

Our limit of 105 students is because of space capacity. If it rains we need to divide the students into 3 groups as we only have 3 indoor spaces. Our indoor spaces can seat a maximum of 35 students.

Grouping 

Classes are usually kept in their class groups, however, if classes have fewer than 22 students, we may ask for students to be combined into larger groups.

Student numbers

Please email us as soon as possible if your expected student numbers differ from your original booking. Once permission notes have been returned, please advise us of any significant changes, as casual staff are scheduled specifically for your excursion and early notice helps us adjust staffing where needed.

Email: info@schoolhousemuseum.org.au 

Risk management advice 

Risk management advice (updated 4 July 2025 – new format)

Schools must bring their own first aid kit, emergency medications and hand sanitiser for their students. All museum staff are trained in e-Emergency, CPR, anaphylaxis and emergency asthma procedures. An EpiPen, first aid kit and Ventolin reliever with spacer is located on site.

Toasting activity

The toasting activity is optional and involves students cooking toast over an open fire under adult supervision. Please let us know before your excursion if you would like to include this activity.

White bread and golden syrup are provided. Download images of the ingredient panels and packages.Schools should supply alternative bread for students with special dietary requirements. Students with coeliac disease can toast their own gluten-free bread first using clean equipment.

Schools must provide two supervising adults to remain at the fire for all classes. If your school has four classes, supervisors may swap over at lunchtime. Supervising adults may be parents, carers or additional staff, but not class teachers or class SLSOs. This supervision requirement changed in 2025.

Two children with two adults holding metal toasting forks with a slice of bread at the end held close to an open fire with flames

Cancellations and re-scheduling

Confirmed bookings cancelled or re-scheduled within 5 school-term weeks (35 school days) of the booked date will incur a $500 administration fee. Cancellations within 2 school-term weeks (10 school days) of the booked date will incur the full excursion cost based on the numbers in the confirmation or excursion plan, whichever is most recent.

This does not apply to cancellations due to extreme weather, unexpected changed risks or last minute bus company cancellations. Cancellations must be by email in writing. Please provide as much notice as possible as casual staff have been allocated to work on your excursion days.

Invoicing and payment 

Tax invoices are emailed to schools on the Friday following their visit. We charge for the number of students who attend, unless a minimum charge has been confirmed with your booking.

  • On receipt of your excursion plan, advise your expected student numbers, particularly if they are likely to be lower than originally booked.
  • Public schools requiring payment through EdConnect must provide a purchase order number by the Friday following their final visit.
  • Catholic schools in dioceses with centralised payment systems must provide a purchase order number by the Friday following their visit.
  • We accept payment by direct deposit, P-card, debit/credit card and cheque. A card payment surcharge of approximately $0.40 per student applies.
  • We are unable to issue refunds.