Penrith Museum of Printing

12/01/2026

Happy New Year to all our friends, sponsors and supporters of the Museum. We are looking forward to another year of growth and new equipment for all to enjoy plus our Workshops, Tours and Visitors.

On our first day back we had several visitors and the first one for the year was Odey Morris a colleague Bob Lockley knew from working at Cumberland Newspapers in the early 1980's. Odey pictured right with Bob, Odey worked on the big Goss Metro Press, similar to the model pictured. Bob and Odey hadn't seen each other for over 40 years, a great catch up!

The Museum is a great place to visit with friends and enjoy a step back in time

09/12/2025

Keeping Ludlow alive!

26/11/2025

Printing demonstration at the National Archives. It was a fun day full of ink.

26/11/2025

Our Museum has just commenced a Significant Assessment of our great collection.
We applied for the Community Heritage Grant 2025 round and have been successful for this grant to take our Living Museum forward and hopefully secure the collection for future generations.
With many typecases over 5,000 wooden letters, 8 typesetting machines, 2 Ludlows, a dozen Letterpress printing machines, box wood engraving samples, a huge library and much much more. This is a big task for the members and recognition of the last 24 years of growth. Something the community will be proud of in the years to come.
Open Sundays and by appointment the Museum is enjoying the many tours, workshops, school visits and offsite events like Pacprint, Lost Trade Shows, the dedicated members are kept busy. If you haven't visited recently, come and have a look at how we have grown.

26/11/2025

The Penrith Museum of Printing was invited to attend the 50th anniversary of the Museums of History NSW Open Day at Kingswood on the 22nd November. Our members set names and printed posters on the Model 3 and Sigwalt bench letterpress printing presses. Plus our Adanas were kept busy printing coasters for members of the Public. A great deal of interest was shown throughout the day and enjoyed by all.

25/11/2025

Workshop first timers Dennis (left) and Zenobia joined their third time workshop friend Therese for a Typography journey and Adana training day at the Penrith Museum of Printing.
Setting txt just like Gutenberg, then Galley proof and spell check! oops I mean proof read, lock up and print on our 1857 Imperial Press recently donated by Tony Wolf and Sons in a prior life the Imperial Press printed the Horsham Gazette in Victoria. This press is one of our latest additions to this growing Living Museum.

03/11/2025

27/10/2025

Monday 27/10 two very pleased and enthusiastic Poster Workshop attendees with their creations from the circa 5k pieces of wood type the Museum has for these workshops.
Carefully selected, locked up and printed. Alison from Maldon in Victoria and Therese from Newcastle both 2nd time attendees.
Pictured Alison left and Therese right holding up their creations in front of the 1841 Columbian ex Carcoar Chronicle and the Imperial 1857 ex Horsham press they each used to print their final prints.

27/10/2025

Last Sunday (26/10) we had Manuel from Koenig & Bauer visit our Museum. Manuel is currently assisting with training on K&B presses in Australia at IVE Group and WestRock North Richmond. Manuel comes from Plauen in the old East Germany where the MAN UNISET printing presses use to be manufactured. Three were purchased by the old Rural Press Group for the plants at North Richmond, Ballarat and Mandurah WA, these were heat set cold set newspaper presses, all now relocated. Manuel was surprised that the President of the museum Bob had actually visited Plauen and driven a Trabant car. (Look it up)
Pictured from left Robert Neale the Museum newest member from WestRock standing with Manual in front of the 1841 Columbian, which Manuel was very impressed was unsure how it worked

27/10/2025

Rare Book Week 2025

Penrith Museum of Printing was again pleased to host visitors for our third year of Rare Book Week 2025.
The week offers opportunities to attend workshops, tours and talks in 21 different locations across Sydney and surrounds.
Attendees at our Museum were entertained by two of our volunteers and Andy McCourt delivering some great insights into our Printing Heritage.
Timothy Hyde took the role of MC for the day, guiding visitors on a trip down memory lane with Jean Kropper relating the history of the Evolution of Book Structures, Andy McCourt talking about Renaissance to Google and Bob Lockley, President guiding the guests through the Invention of the 8th Wonder of the World (said Thomas Edison) the Linotype. Followed by live demonstrations of all this amazing collection.
Guests spent a great deal of time digging deeper into the past via our knowledgeable volunteers in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Pictured are Jean Kropper Andy McCourt and Bob Lockley presenting and the visitors taking it all in with our dedicated volunteers.

24/10/2025

LIA Graduates visit Penrith Museum of Printing prior to their Presentation Night 17th October.
Delving into the past, these Graduates enjoy refreshing their minds on days before passwords and digital printing was even heard of. Fascinated watching the Intertype and letterpress machines all in action. Two brave winners even tried their hand at operating an antique Guillotine circa 1900.
Kenny McClung Sales Manager Heidelberg made a surprise visit along with Angus Scott (LIA) Mitch Mulligan (Bottcher) and Mel Ireland (fFederal President LIA Australia) and Ken Presented the Heidelberg trophy to winner for NSW Kathy Doan.
Pictured are Olivia Fortune from South Australia and Tommy Mavros from Northern Territory next to their favourite Guillotine. Angus Scott with Kenny McClung and the Graduates on mass in front of the 1841 Columbian

10/09/2025

Busy August/September continues:

Our Museum welcomed an International Letterpress printer, Bird Design from Tokyo and friends. Pictured far right is owner Ichikura plus family and friends. All very impressed with our display and to see it all in working order.

The Penrith Museum was also a popular stop for many visitors to the Penrith Show including the Penrith Scottish Band who drummed up the old machines. Pictured volunteer Maurice Brown with President Tim Badger who gave a solo performance and the whole Band pictured in front of the 1841 Columbian

A visit from the Glenbrook Historical Society through the Month was well received completing a busy Month for the Museum.

Watch out for us in September

Join us at the Woolondilly Fair on Sunday 14 September from 10 - 3pm. Another really great Museum to visit this Sunday.

Sydney Weekender has paid us a visit and will air our Museums segment on Sunday 5th October from 5.25pm on the The Seven Network. Just in time for the school holidays.

Rare Book Week 18th - 23rd October: The Penrith Museum of Printing will be playing a part on this trail on Tuesday 21st October, you will need to book early as seats are limited. Presentations on the creation of fonts from Gutenberg, the impact of the Linotype machine and the evolution of book structures. Enjoy reliving how it all happened from 1450 till 1980's in Letterpress. The Museum is a Living example, see these wonderful machines in action and maybe even experience setting a line of type like Gutenberg, and some light refreshments. Commencing from 1.30 to 3.30pm 21st October. All free. Book on 0408 412 708. Be quick.

To our recently signed Sponsors for the 25/26 year: Bottcher, Finsbury Green, Bright Group, IVE Group, Lamson Paragon Group, Imagination Graphics, Graph-Pak. A big shout out to these dedicated businesses who's on going support help make us the Living Museum we are today. THANK YOU.