Can't visit the Australian Museum why not borrow a Museum in a Box®.
Museum in a Box® provides quality educational resources for students of all ages. Each themed box contains a treasure trove of real Museum specimens and artefacts, helpful hints, activities, ideas and information, such as:
- dioramas, mounted specimens, casts and models
- moulds and embedments
- books, posters and games
- CD ROMs, audio CDs and DVDs
- information panels and fact sheets
- teachers’ notes and activity booklets
Individual boxes are available each school term for set loan periods of three weeks and with 26 boxes to choose from there’s plenty of variety to discover. Visit our website for box contents, photographs and booking forms australianmuseum.net.au/Museum-in-a-Box
Also keep and eye out for Video Conferences with the Australian Museum and Museum in a Box® australianmuseum.net.au/Video-Conferencing/
Endeavour Museum
The Endeavour Museum is located in the original Wollombi courthouse, which was built in 1866. Exhibits in the museum are of a wide variety and reflect everyday life in the area. There are artefacts relating to the major Hunter Valley industries of mining and farming, as well as many household items. Corner of Wollombi Road and Maitland Road Wollombi, NSW 2325 Telephone: 02 - 4990 1788 Fax: 02 - 4990 1790
Grossmann House, Maitland is one of two mirror image, Victorian Regency properties, built side by side on the same lot in 1870-71 for the prosperous business partners, Isaac Beckett and Samuel Owen. The buildings are thought to have been designed by local architect, William White. It is interesting to note that the main entrance to each residence was located on opposing sides rather than at the front, to give a degree of privacy – although the two families shared a common laundry.
0am - 3pm Thursday - SundayTour groups welcome other times by appointment.Closed Christmas Day & Good Friday Day Contact Details: Grossmann House Church Street Maitland, NSW 2320 Telephone: 02 - 4933 6452 Email: grossmannhouse@bigpond.com
John Paynter Gallery
Newcastle Historic Reserve Trust present John Paynter Gallery where art is exhibited by emerging and established artists from the Hunter and abroad. Located in the centre of Newcastle. Open Time Open Friday to Sunday John Paynter Gallery 90 Hunter Street Newcastle, NSW 2300 Telephone: 02 - 4925 2265 Fax: 02 - 4926 5835 Email: kerrie@thelockup.info
Kooragang Wetlands - A great place to see restoration of fisheries, wildlife habitat and rainforest. Walk, cycle, fish, bird watch and discover the past. It is also the perfect place for a family outing where you can walk, cycle and have a picnic amongst the beautiful wetlands. walking and cycling tracks and a city farm
Kooragang wetlands is currently being restored to its former glory. This exciting project enables you to enjoy this amazing transformation on each visit. Guided walks enable you to get an up close look at the living tidal world and inform you about the long history of this place. Call 02-4964 9308 for information on when these guided walks take place. There is also a Kooragang Wetlands Information Centre which is housed in an 1890’s Schoolmaster’s house. Open 10am to 5pm Mon to Fri and 3rd weekend of the month. Kooragang Wetlands Pacific Highway Via Ash Island Bridge Hexham, NSW 2322 Telephone: 02 - 4964 9308 Fax: 02 - 4964 9307 Email: sue.rostas@cma.nsw.gov.au
In conjunction with the Maitland Heritage Walk is a Maitland Childrens Heritage Walk (including a publication with questions, answers and sketches of some of the heritage buildings done by students of East Maitland Public School. This walk of historic buildings and structures is located along the main street of Maitland,High Street. The childrens' walk focuses on buildings which are of interest to them, such as banks, churches, halls, temples and warehouses.
The Maitland Heritage Walk takes in three churches, all built in the middle 1800's, and many heritage homes and business houses in and around the central City of Maitland and meandering alongside the famous Hunter River.
The Heritage walk has 35 points of interest along the way and it is impossible to describe in detail the immense history and details of these diverse heritage buildings.
Maitland Heritage Walk central precinct Commencing At Maitland Railway Station Maitland, NSW 2320 Telephone: 02 - 4933 2611 Fax: 02 - 4933 3209
Maitland Region Society of Artists Inc
The Maitland Region Society of Artists provides a valuable network for the diverse range of artists who reside within Maitland. Features specialists in arts, crafts, antiques, collectors and many more.
The members of the Maitland Region Society or Artists are enthusiastic and love to create in many different mediums. They are like minded enthusiastic artists who invite any young and old to join the society.
Society Activities Include; Exhibitions, Fun Clay Days, Social Painting Days, Guest Speakers & Workshops.
Maitland Region - Society of Artists Inc 32 Wollombi Rd Rutherford, NSW 2320 Telephone: 02 - 4932 0956 Email: maitlandregionsocietyofarts@hotmail.com Mobile: 0417 301 269
You can gain access to Miss Porter's little sanctuary and see what the 'careful, quiet and private lifestyle' of the two sisters and mother looked like in the early 1900s. Contact Details: Miss Porters House 434 King Street Newcastle, NSW 2300
oints of interest in Morpeth: Morpeth Common and Wildfowl Reserve, the Parsonage, Campbell's Store, 153-163 Swan Street terraces, School of Arts, St. James Parish Hall, St. James Church, Roman Catholic Church, High Street Cottages, Closebourne, Morpeth Public School, Surgeons Cottage, former CBC Bank, Taylor's Bond Stores, Swan streetscape, Post Office and railway station sites.
The Heritage Walk can be obtained in brochure form with map and history of the buildings from Campbell's Craft Centre, and from the Maitland Visitor Information Centre on the corner of New England Highway and High Street, Maitland.
Group tours are available upon request. Open Time Thursday - Sunday Morpeth Heritage Walk Starts at Fig Tree Hill look out and Campbell's Store Craft Centre Morpeth, NSW 2321 Telephone: 02 - 4933 1407 Fax: 02 - 4933 2107 Email: tourism@cowr.nsw.gov.au
Morpeth Museum
Morpeth Museum Morpeth was in the past the main centre of commerce for the Hunter Valley and a large inland river port. The museum reflects the diversity of the history within the local area. Open Time Open Thursday to Sunday 11.00am - 2.00pm
Morpeth Trading Post
Built in 1838, the Morpeth Trading Post is the oldest industrial building still in daily use in NSW. It houses one of Australia's deepest natural spring water wells, which was sunk in 1818 for Morpeth Town's water supply and was later used to run the old Joinery's steam engine. It still has the horses' harnesses, old tools and machinery from the steam engine days.
Open Daily. Public Holiday Closed Christmas Day. Contact Details: Morpeth Trading Post 7 Robert Street Morpeth, NSW 2321 Telephone: 02 - 4934 3094
Neotsfield
Take a guided tour of this early house, the outbuildings, formal garden and the exhibitions. Established by a land grant in 1825 to Henry Dangar, the house was built by convicts. With no source of bricks available, the convicts made them on site and dried them in the sun.
Neotsfield Neotsfield Lane Whittingham, NSW 2330
Newcastle Police Station Museum
The Building itself is the Major exhibit divided into two main periods: 1. Convict Era...1804-1853.... Control by the Military 2. Civil Period..1854-1986.... Control by the police and the Courts.
Now known as a heritage house, it houses the Newcastle branch of the National Trust.The John Paynter Gallery is located in the same complex. Currently operating 11-6pm Fri, Saturday and Sunday.
Open Monday to Friday 10.00am - 3.00am Saturday and Sunday. Newcastle Police Station Museum 90 Hunter Street Newcastle, NSW 2300 Telephone: 02 - 4929 5550
Newcastle Regional Maritime Museum
The Newcastle Region Maritime Museum is housed within the grounds of historic Fort Scratchley. Fine examples of small boats, model ships and artefacts are on display.
Newcastle Region Maritime Museum Fort Drive Newcastle, NSW 2300 Telephone: 02 - 4929 2588 Fax: 02 - 4929 5457 Email: nrmm@hunterlink.net.au
The Newcastle Regional Museum, in the former Castlemaine Brewery will answer all your questions about the facinating history of the Newcastle area - from convicts and coals to the present. Exhibition includes a hands on science exhibits, local history and visiting displays. Newcastle Regional Museum - Visitor Information 787 Hunter Street Newcastle, NSW 2300
Singletons first courthouse and jail, it now houses memorabilia dating back to the town's pioneering days. Situated in Burdekin Park, on the New England Highway. Open Time 10.00am - 1.00pm Tuesday 12.00pm - 4.00pm Saturday & Sunday 12.00pm - 4.00pm Holidays Or By Appointment
The Singleton Historical Museum is housed in a c1841 building with in the picturesque Burdekin Park.
The building was built in 1874 as a gaol, with the keeper’s residence complete with cells attached.
Steeped in history, this Georgian style building with Mid-Victorian portico was originally built as a lock-up.
Singleton Historical Society and Museum Inc Burdekin Park Bourke Street Singleton, NSW 2330 Telephone: 02 - 6571 1895 Email: museum.sing@hunterlink.net.au
Monolithic Sundial weighing 30 tonnes. Set near the Hunter River, is the gateway to the largest sporting area in the region.
Singleton Sundial Rose Point Park, Ryan Avenue Singleton, NSW 2330
Near by are the toilets, tables (undercover), free gas for barebcues. Also in the area is a cycle way and walking trails.
Sir Edgeworth David Memorial Museum
The museum, library and archives which make up the Sir Edgewoth David Memorial Museum, is a community facility, operated and managed by the Coalfield Heritage Group (historical society).
The feature of the museum is extensive library and archives, considered one of the largest of its kind to contain local history and cultural heritage items in the State. With 130 metres of shelving contains the history of some 360 Hunter Valley towns and settlements, as well as 850 northern coal mines. The World War One information alone fills another 15 metres of shelving, covering all aspects of the Hunter Valley's involvement in the war.
The museum collection is made up of over 5000 heritage items of all aspects of life in a rural region. The museum building itself is the 1902 Pokolbin schoolhouse, which remains intact as a perfect example of 19th century small rural weather-board schools.
Free admission and donations greatfully accepted. Open Time Sunday, Wednesday and Public Holidays. Sir Edgeworth David Memorial Museum Grounds of Kurri Kurri High School Cnr Deakin And Greta Streets Kurri Kurri, NSW 2327 Telephone: 02 - 4937 4418 Fax: 02 - 4937 4418 Email: band8229@bigpond.net.au
Stride Professional Development Teacher Training – Newcastle Venue: Wests Convention Centre - New Lambton 88 Hobart Road New Lambton NSW 2305
Programs: Peer Support - A proven anti-bullying program - 2 June 2009, 9.00am to 3.00pm
MPower Girls - Building positive relationships between young women - 3 June 2009, 9.00am to 12.30pm
Revved Up - An anger management program for boys - 3 June 2009, 1.30pm to 5.00pm
Peer Mediation - Reducing school bullying and conflict through student mediation - 4 June 2009, 9.00am to 3.00pm
To find out more about Stride’s programs or to register, go to www.stride.org.au or phone (03) 9489 1611.
Walka Recreation and Wildlife Reserve
Walka Recreation & Wildlife Reserve in the Maitland district is also steeped in history that gives it a special place in the Lower Hunter's heritage.
The National Trust complex features its pumphouse with striking chimney and ornate brickwork and is one of the largest and most intact 19th Century industrial complexes in the Hunter Valley. The large lake area with over 300 species of birdlife is suitable for water sports like canoeing and sailing and walking trails surround the lake.
Picnic and barbeque facilities are available and there is a children's playground area at the old pumping station built in 1887. The area is also available for outdoor weddings and functions. Open Time Gates: 7.00am - Dusk Daily Contact Details: Walka Recreation and Wildlife Reserve Scobies Lane Oakhampton, NSW 2320 Telephone: 02 - 4934 9700 Fax: 02 - 4933 3209 Email: mcc@maitland.nsw.gov.au
Watagan Forest
There are lots of walking trails well marked by the forestry department. These will tell you at the beginning of each walk how long it should take the average walker and the distance.
There are also many prepared sites to have a barbecue or picnic.
There are also suitable areas to swim at your own risk. Remember that streams can be cold.
Short overnight stays may be made in tents at the camping areas where toilet facilities are available, but showers are not provided.
Open Time Open Monday - Friday FREE Watagan Forests Watagan State Forest Watagan, NSW 2325 Telephone: 02 - 4926 5796 Fax: 02 - 4927 8030
Wollombi Cottage
hought to be originally the clerk of thepetty sessions building, it dates back to the 1840's. In the revival of Wollombi in the 1970's, it was restored and is now a gift and handcraft shop.
Open Time Saturday and Sunday and public holidays FREE Wollombi Cottage Main Road Wollombi, NSW 2325 Telephone: 02 - 4998 3340 Fax: 02 - 4998 3340
Wollombi Historical Village
Known and treasured for thousands of years as a meeting place by the original peoples, Wollombi later became a stopping place on the Great North Road, built by convicts in the 1830s and used by early settlers.
Wollombi Historical Village Wollombi Road Wollombi, NSW 2325
