TEA, CAKE, TALK: Mrs Curley’s Xmas Cake and Historic Christmas Recipes

2 Dec 2026

TEA, CAKE, TALK: Mrs Curley’s Xmas Cake and Historic Christmas Recipes

📅 Wednesday 2 December

⏰ 10:30am - 11:30am

🎫 $15 General Admission (+booking fees). Ticket includes tea/coffee and a slice of Christmas cake from historic Sylvia Curley recipe

What makes a Christmas cake more than just a festive treat? Join Dr Anna Wong for morning tea and a delightful exploration of historic Christmas cake recipes from the collections of Mugga Mugga Cottage and Calthorpes House.

Discover the stories behind handwritten family recipes that were once the centrepiece of Christmas celebrations. From Annie Curley's Xmas Cake recipe at Mugga Mugga Cottage to other treasured festive recipes preserved in our collections. Take the recipes home to try for your Christmas celebrations.

Morning tea will feature Dark Cake, a spiced fruit cake made from a handwritten recipe from the Mugga Mugga Cottage collection.

Dr Anna Wong, Director of ACT Galleries, Museums and Heritage, is a passionate researcher of food history and historical recipes. Through the study of handwritten recipe books, household records and family traditions, she uncovers the social histories hidden within the foods people made, shared and celebrated.

Part of the Christmas at Home series at Lanyon Homestead and Calthorpes House. You can also book into a free tour to see the houses dressed for Christmas. Limited places. Bookings essential via this link.