Writings from ACT Historic Places

Happy 100th Birthday Dawn
27 Nov 2023
Happy 100th Birthday Dawn

As Dawn Waterhouse celebrates her 100th birthday, ACT Historic Places looks back on Dawn’s life

Christmas for the Cunninghams
8 Nov 2023
Christmas for the Cunninghams

How much has Christmas changed since the 1800s? Explore in our visual story

Musical Reimaginings at Lanyon Homestead
14 Sep 2021
Musical Reimaginings at Lanyon Homestead

Imagine the music, singing and laughter, as the Cunningham family and their friends danced the night away at Lanyon Homestead.

Object Stories by ACTHP Staff
19 Jun 2020
Object Stories by ACTHP Staff
Life-long learning beginning at Mugga-Mugga Cottage

Curious about Canberra’s heritage architecture? Perplexed to discover hospital doors at a pioneer-era stone…

Our convict women
2 Jun 2020
Our convict women

What leads a female convict to flee the fledgling Colony of NSW in the governor's cutter, and another to endure life at the ‘edge of legal occupation’?

Suburban Apparitions - Magic Lanterns at Calthorpes’ House
12 May 2020
Suburban Apparitions - Magic Lanterns at Calthorpes’ House

On a beautiful early autumn evening, an ominous Friday the 13th March 2020, just before Covid19 took over our lives…

A bungalow-style garden
3 May 2020
A bungalow-style garden

Are you interested in how heritage gardens are managed, or simply enjoy the ambience of Canberra’s well-tended open spaces?

Canberra’s history of helping
6 Mar 2020
Canberra’s history of helping

The Canberra region has a long history of people helping each other

ACT Wildlife – working to improve wombat health in the Canberra Region
11 Oct 2019
ACT Wildlife – working to improve wombat health in the Canberra Region

While it might be exciting to see a wombat out and about at Lanyon Homestead during the day, this might actually be sign that it is unwell.

Erin Helyard at Lanyon
18 Jun 2019
Erin Helyard at Lanyon

We were  honoured to invite Artistic Director of Pinchgut Opera, Erin Helyard, for a masterclass, recording session and performance Lanyon Homestead

Repairing grassland
21 Dec 2018
Repairing grassland

The summer warmth has arrived across the paddocks of Mugga-Mugga Cottage 

Tinkering at our Places
7 Dec 2018
Tinkering at our Places

What is a tin dog, and what don’t you feed it?

Lanyon Gardens
30 Nov 2018
Lanyon Gardens

The gardens at Lanyon Homestead are an ongoing, living collection

Ikebana
18 Oct 2018
Ikebana

A sunny spring morning at Calthorpes House, with the garden beginning to bloom, was the perfect time for our enthusiastic…

Fireside chat with Jeffris, Whelen and the Canberra and District Historical Society
14 Jun 2018
Fireside chat with Jeffris, Whelen and the Canberra and District Historical Society

The cold and windy Saturday set the scene for our cosy fireside chat about the 1300 mile journeys undertaken by…

More Than Just Beeswax
24 May 2018
More Than Just Beeswax

Visitors to Mugga-Mugga Cottage last Saturday were able to experience first-hand the re-using and recycling lifestyle of the Curley family