Year 5 students recently visited the Hyde Park Barracks Museum to deepen their understanding of life in early colonial Australia as part of their History Unit, Australian Colonies. The immersive exhibition, First People, Convicts and Migrants, gave students the opportunity to explore the lives of those who passed through the Barracks — from convicts and newly arrived migrants to the First Nations communities impacted by colonisation.
Students examined historical objects, explored the former sleeping quarters, and tried on replica convict shirts. They experienced what it might have been like to live and work as a convict.
Set within the historic grounds of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the visit allowed students to engage with primary sources and explore the changing uses of the Barracks over time — from convict accommodation to an immigration depot and beyond. The excursion encouraged curiosity, critical thinking and a connection to Australia’s layered past.
Check out the gallery.
