Blundells' Cottage – Handy Hints for Group Tours

Blundells' Cottage is a heritage site that offers an intimate experience of history in what is now a thriving modern city.  The cottage was built in 1860 as a workers' cottage on the Duntroon Estate. It was lived in for over 100 years before it became a museum. It is now furnished to represent the late nineteenth century and the lifestyle of its occupants.

Key information that will be conveyed during visit

• The Blundells lived a pre-electric lifestyle that was quite different from the lifestyle with which today's children are familiar.
• The Blundells were a real family who lived in the cottage and used, in their everyday life, objects such as those in the collection.
• Limited access to commercial outlets meant that self sufficiency and 'making do' was essential.
• The area that today's children know as the centre of Canberra was once a rural landscape.  This changed when the site was chosen for the national capital of Australia.
• Many resources, such as building materials, came from the local environment.
• The Blundell family was linked via work, physical location and lifestyle to other parts of early Canberra life (Duntroon, St John's Church and school, other cottages).
• The cottage was once part of a larger rural collection of outbuildings, haystacks, animals and farm equipment.

Parking

Buses should park along Wendouree Drive as there are no specific bus spaces. The safest option is to stop at the brown wooden 'Blundells' Cottage' sign and let the children off. Buses will need to go to the end of Wendouree Drive to turn in the turning circle before returning to collect the children.

When You Arrive

You and your class will approach the front of the cottage along a stone path. Children should remove their bags and be seated on the front lawn. In wet weather, children can gather on the verandah.

A teacher can alert the staff member at the cottage that his/her group has arrived.

Payment

As you have booked in advance, we have the school's details to make up an invoice. Please let the staff member know the exact number of children that are present. You can collect the invoice on the day, or it can be mailed out.

The other option is to simply pay cash or with a cheque on the day.

Tours

A brief introduction to the history of the cottage will be given on the front lawn. Then the class will need to be divided into groups of ten. Each group will be taken through the rooms of the house with a different guide. The tour will last approximately 40 minutes, making the total time on site about an hour.

For each group of ten students, one adult supervisor (teacher or parent) will be needed to accompany that group at all times.

If you have any further questions please phone the cottage on (02) 6273 2667 (11am-4pm) or the National Capital Exhibition on (02) 6257 1068 (9am-5pm).

General Information

• Next to the cottage is a small car-park, which includes a disabled parking space. The cottage has a compost toilet which may be used by the public and there are other toilet facilities in Kings Park, a short walk away.  The cottage also has a select number of souvenirs such as books, postcards and other historically inspired items for sale.
• On arrival, bags and heavy jackets may be left on the coach (if possible) or out the front of the cottage.  Students may wish to bring cameras, wallets and notebooks.
• Visitors are requested not to bring food or drink into the cottage.
• Scenic location of the cottage offers excellent opportunities to take photographs of Lake Burley Griffin, the Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet and other landmarks.
• Self-guided walking tour brochures are available from Blundells' Cottage which cover Anzac Parade, Lake Burley Griffin and the Parliamentary Zone.  Another brochure titled 'A Hop, Skip and Jump' would be an excellent follow-up activity, linking Blundells' Cottage and St John's Schoolhouse Museum.
• Picnic tables and BBQ facilities are located nearby on Aspen Island,  Kings Park.
• Further information about Blundells' Cottage and the National Capital Authority can be found on the National Capital Authority website. For a tour of some of Canberra's popular tourism attractions go to the Virtual Canberra link on the National Capital Authority website: www.nationalcapital.gov.au

Contact Details

Postal Address:          

GPO Box 373
Canberra ACT 2601

Contact:         
Ph: (02) 6273 2667 (Blundells' Cottage 11.00am - 4.00pm)

or   (02) 6257 1068 (9.00 am – 5.00 pm)

Fax: (02) 6273 8178

Email: nce@natcap.gov.au