Guided heritage tour of Australia's oldest three-storey building - the Female Orphan School.
Built in 1813 with the intention of providing shelter for the colony's young girls away from the…
Guided heritage tour of Australia's oldest three-storey building - the Female Orphan School.
Built in 1813 with the intention of providing shelter for the colony's young girls away from the hardships of Sydney Town, this historic site later transformed into the Rydalmere Psychiatric Hospital before falling into disrepair and neglect. Covered in graffiti and seemingly forgotten, the future of the building was uncertain until restoration efforts commenced in 2000.
Now, painstakingly restored to its former glory, it serves as the proud home of the Whitlam Institute. In addition to guided tours, visitors can explore two galleries: the Permanent Exhibition on the Whitlam Government and the Margaret Whitlam Gallery.
Built: 1813
Architect: Overseen by Lachlan Macquarie, with initial revisions and additions by Francis Greenway
Awards: UNESCO Award for Culture Heritage Conservation 2004
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
Have a doorbell or intercom at an accessible height and display a contact number (accessible height is 900mm-1100 mm)
Have a step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
Have an accessible public toilet which is unlocked
Have at least one wheelchair accessible parking space with wheelchair accessible signage clearly displayed (International standards are 3200mm wide x 2500 mm high)
Have grab rails in the bathroom
Have lifts with enough space for people using a mobility aid to enter and turn around to use the lift buttons. Buttons are at accessible height.
Offer multiple options for booking - web, email, phone
