Miss Traill's House and Garden - National Trust of Australia NSW

13/10/2026

Don't forget to come to our Spring Market this Sunday, from 9am to 2pm. Purchase your sausage sizzle and explore the great stalls, tour a state heritage listed house and relax in our gorgeous garden. We look forward to seeing you.

We are busy prepping for our Spring Market to be held on 18 October. Would you like to be a stallholder? If so, please contact us via [email protected]

24/09/2026

Another award for a spectacular volunteer team. Congratulations everyone for your wonderful contributions to Miss Traill's House.

23/09/2026

We have had a number of local schools and one Sydney school visit recently. They had a fun-filled and thought-provoking time at this historic site as they stepped back in time.

A big shout out to our education coordinator, Lyn, who has managed this wonderful program for a number of years. Copperplate writing, playing with old style toys and games and dancing with the Maypole are some of hands on activities.
The program is closely aligned with activities with the school curriculum, and this year we have added in activities about communication and transport, so the old telephones and wagon are also investigated by the children. One particularly interested student asked "how do you delete a number off that old black phone?"

The education volunteers thoroughly enjoy connecting with the children and dress up in period costume for each visit.

11/08/2026

We are busy prepping for our Spring Market to be held on 18 October. Would you like to be a stallholder? If so, please contact us via [email protected]

13/07/2026

‘Koorali’ was Miss Traill’s first school. Several of Ida’s book prizes are in our collection. Pictured is the book awarded to her for ‘Latin’
The school, at Nicholson Street Burwood, was run by Jessie Diana HERRING under her married name of Mrs Charles Henry MORGAN.

An advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday 4 July 1896 describes ‘Koorali’ as
“a high-class Preparatory School, pleasantly situated, in Burwood, one or two Children would be taken as BOARDERS, home comforts, and a good sound education. Highest references Apply
Mrs C H MORGAN, Koorali, Nicholson-street, Burwood”

02/07/2026

During our winter closure, this gives our volunteers time to do all the behind the scenes work that we ordinarily can't achieve with open days and tours. At the moment our drawing room is being transformed to undertake a digitisation of the collection. Our equipment can be set up for a month to undertake this work without disruption.

Can you see the original floor which still shows evidence of the 'black Japan' that was commonly used on floors in the Victorian and Federation eras? Our wonderful volunteers will take images of some the larger pieces in this room during July.

But don't worry, our room will be transformed back to our original set up in time for our reopening in August.

this project has been made possible through an MGNSW grant.

29/06/2026

Come and volunteer with us. There are many jobs we need help with behind the scenes.

One of the tasks that keeps our volunteers at Miss Traill’s House busy is transcribing the many letters, postcards and documents that are part of the collection. If you would like to help, click on the link and select ‘Miss Traill’s House – Bathurst’
The 2 images are from a 1906 Postcard Collection of Australian Governors - addressed to Miss G Slee, Argyle School, Albion Street, Surrey Hills.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/volunteers-nsw/

28/06/2026

It may be winter but Miss Traill's House is still putting on a show. The geraniums are in flower and the bulbs under the trees creates a woodland feel. Who said winter has to be grey and bleak.

16/06/2026

We don't just love old buildings, the National Trust also loves fashion! These lace collars date from mid to late 1800’s and are in the Miss Traill’s House collection.

Lace was very expensive to purchase. A set of lace could cost twice as much as a woman's gown. It was often re-used and treasured, passed down from generation to generation, reflecting its high value and the wearer's investment in fashion and social standing.

Fine needle and bobbin laces were made by hand until the industrial revolution when laces were made by machine which made them less expensive and available to the middle class. Lace collars were sometimes worn with matching wrist ruffles.

Visit Miss Traill’s House this Sunday between noon and 3pm to view our lace collection.

11/06/2026

Our potted geraniums are enjoying the winter sun. Looking a treat.