Experiment Farm Cottage in Harris Park and Old Government House in Parramatta were the destinations for a recent Year 4 excursion.
The aim of this excursion was to explore the nature and consequence of European settlement in Australia. The children had the opportunity to explore and engage with primary and secondary artefacts to support their learning and understanding.
Learning was different in colonial Australia.
Gabbi shared about the differences in the early classrooms.
In Mrs Johnson’s classroom in Old Government House, we had to use slates and write with chalk. We had to learn everything by repeating the words the teacher announced in order to learn the spelling off by heart. We also learnt writing and mathematics. Children could not eat at all! They had to be there from Monday to Saturday because the entire colony attended Church on Sunday.
At Experiment Farm, Alessio was surprised how much effort went into food preparation.
'We were shown how hard it was to make food in the past. We learnt how they made different things like butter, toast and other foods. By the time the servants were finished making and serving breakfast for their master and mistress, it was time to start getting lunch ready.
Experiment Farm Cottage and Old Government House provide “living history” for children and adults. “I would recommend people visit these places so that they can learn more about the history of Australia”, said Isaac.
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09 Jun 2026
Helping Your Child Learn at Home - Practical strategies every parent can use
How can you help your child learn at home without stress, conflict, or overwhelm? Join CSPD’s Learning Outcomes team for a practical parent session focused on simple, realistic ways families can support learning at home, from primary through to secondary school.
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21 May 2026
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🏉 PAUL KELLY CUP CHAMPIONS 🏆💪 What a day at the Paul Kelly Cup! Our girls gave it their all on the field today and came away as WINNERS for the day! 🙌🔥 From incredible teamwork and determination to outstanding sportsmanship, the girls represented our school with pride every single game 💙💛 Their effort, encouragement and never-give-up attitude was amazing to watch! A huge congratulations to all of our players for an unforgettable day of footy success 👏⭐️ We are so proud of you all! As we get more photos, we will update our Facebook post. #PaulKellyCup #Champions #GirlsFooty #SchoolSport #ProudSchoolMoment #Teamwork #AFL #PrimarySport #SchoolPride #WinningDay #FutureStars #SydneySchools #CatholicSchools #SportSpirit #StMichaels #PrimarySchool #BaulkhamHills #CSPD #CatholicSchool