The National Trust offers educational tours and activities tailor-made for different age groups right through from Reception to Year 12.
Tours of the museum fit easily into relevant curriculum of the following subjects:
Society and Environment
Australian History
Australian Studies
Women's Studies
English
Tourism
Design & Technology
Home Economics / Food Technology
A site visit to historic Ayers House can open up a number of interesting topics and subjects for students to explore. Education Guides are specially trained for school groups and can adapt tours to suit a range of broad topics and themes including: Changing Technology, Daily Family Life in a large Victorian household, Women's History, Life "above and below stairs" - the life and work of a nineteenth century servant, The Life & Political Career of State Premier Sir Henry Ayers, Victorian Childhood, Ayers House as a Cultural Heritage Tourism Attraction, Victorian Domestic Architecture & Furnishings and also broader social issues.
Your visit to Ayers House Museum
On arrival at the Museum, your school will be taken into the State Dining Room for an introductory talk. The group will then be divided into smaller groups of approximately ten students for the guided tour of the house.
Tours (unless a specific topic/focus is requested by prior arrangement), will generally look at family life in the nineteenth century including the roles of men, women and children, as well as the life and times of Sir Henry Ayers. Our guides will demonstrate the difference between the lifestyle of the wealthy and that of their servants during this period. Life as a child during the nineteenth century is a theme that will run through all tours. Students are encouraged to imagine what life would have been like for them if they had lived more than a hundred years ago. Students will look at family life in the nineteenth century, life in a Victorian house, Sir Henry Ayers and the role of premier, and the significance of the Burra copper mines in the history of South Australia.
In the basement, which has been recreated as a Victorian kitchen, students are encouraged to be hands-on exploring the differences between kitchen and housework technology then and now. Life "above and below stairs" is discussed and our Guides will examine the differences between the lifestyle of the wealthy and their servants during the latter half of the 19th century.
How to book
Educational tours need to be booked in advance by contacting the museum and speaking with the Manager.
Bookings should be made at least ten working days prior to visiting and are subject to availability.
To book contact:
Fax. 8359 2494
ayershouse@nationaltrustsa.org.au
Costs
Educational Tours costs $4.00 per student
Accompanying Parents & Teachers are Free allowing one per every 10 students. Additional teachers & parents will be admitted at the same rate as students ($4.00pp).
Duration
Tours take approximately 1 hour. Please allow an additional 10 minutes for students to arrive and stow bags etc.
Familiarisation vists
Teachers are welcome to make an appointment beforehand with the Manager to discuss details of their visit and familiarise themselves with the facilities and experiences available.
Education resources
Download an Ayers House Education Pack which contains all the information you will need for planning a visit to Ayers House, the various tours offered for each year level, background reading material and pre-visit activity sheets.
- Primary Education Pack - MS Word Doc | Zip File
- Secondary Education Pack - MS Word Doc | Zip File
- Tourism Education Pack - MS Word Doc | Zip File
Worksheets
Worksheets are also available for download which can be used during your school's visit to Ayers House.
- Introductory Sheet - MS Word Doc | Zip File
Introductory information for all primary and secondary school students - Junior Worksheet - MS Word Doc | Zip File
- Intermediate Worksheet - MS Word Doc | Zip File
- Senior Worksheet - MS Word Doc | Zip File
Education Packs and Worksheets may be photocopied for use during a visit or in school for pre-visit activities. The copyright rests with the National Trust of South Australia and the materials and images may not be reproduced for commercial use without permission.
