Lily Jenkins 22204566
History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship in the Primary Years: TEAC2063
Step back into convict history at Hyde Park Barracks
Stage 2 Year 3-4 History
Welcome Historians!
Are you ready to journey back in time and find out what life was like in colonial Sydney?
Join us as we explore Hyde Park Barracks, a historic site that once housed hundreds of convicts. Through photographs, historical objects, and interactive activities, you will explore how convicts lived, worked, and experienced daily life.
Our Historical Inquiry:
What can Hyde Park Barracks reveal about life in colonial Sydney?
Explore the four learning goals below and step into the role of a historical detective. Investigate photographs, objects, and stories to find out what life was like in colonial Sydney.
Convict daily life
Find out how convicts lived, worked, and slept at Hyde Park Barracks.
Historical Evidence
Examine historical objects to see what they reveal about life in the past.
Then and Now
Compare life in colonial Sydney with life today and see what has changed.
Historical Detectives
Use clues from the past to answer questions and share what you discover.
A living piece of Australian history
Hyde Park Barracks opened in 1819, designed by convict architect Francis Greenway under Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The building first housed male convicts who worked in colonial Sydney.
Over time, the Barracks housed newly arrived immigrant women and later served as a government asylum for women.
Today, Hyde Park Barracks is a museum and UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Its buildings and historical objects help us learn what life was like for people in the past.
Why do you think Hyde Park Barracks is still important more than 200 years after it opened?
Becoming a Historical Detective!
Are you ready to find clues from the past?
Explore Hyde Park Barracks with photographs, historical objects, and interactive activities. Investigate where convicts slept, what they did each day, and how historians use evidence to understand the past.
Look closely, ask questions, and find out what life was like over 200 years ago.
Detective Question:
Look closely at the photograph. What materials do you notice? What clues could this building offer about life in the past?
Ready to Travel Back in Time?
Your exploration of colonial Sydney is about to begin!
Before you explore Hyde Park Barracks, find out where it is, learn its history, and get ready to investigate clues from the past.