JP Excursion to Mont de Lancey Historic Homestead 

Towards the end of last term, our Junior Primary students stepped back in time as part of our Then and Now Core Studies unit. This unit explores how people, places and things change over time — and reminds us that while the world around us changes, God never changes. 

During our visit to the Mont de Lancey historic homestead, students explored life in the past through hands on experiences and guided discovery. In small groups, they rotated through a range of fascinating locations, including the Machinery Workshop, Woodturners Shed, Blacksmith’s forge, the original homestead, the slab kitchen and laundry, the chapel and bell tower, and the museum. 

Volunteer artisans brought history to life by demonstrating traditional skills such as blacksmithing, woodworking and early machinery. Inside the homestead, students compared life in the 1880s with their own homes today — noticing what was 'missing' and imagining how families lived without electricity, refrigeration, or modern conveniences. At each stop, they learned how children their age once helped with chores, schoolwork, and daily life. 

The day concluded with lunch at the Education Centre, followed by a range of delightful olden day activities. Students enjoyed making lavender bags and dolly peg dolls, played traditional games such as go carts, hula hoops, beanbag toss, stilts and tug of war, and visited the old schoolhouse where they experienced a lesson from 'ma’am' and practised writing on chalkboards. Laughter, curiosity and joy filled the afternoon as students immersed themselves in the past. 

Our Junior Primary students returned to school full of wonder, rich discussion and a deeper appreciation for how much life has changed — and how much we have to be thankful for. 

Student Reflections: 

Junior Primary went to Mont de Lancey to learn about how life for us is different than life in the olden days. It was very different. 

Maggie 

We went to the blacksmith. I liked how he crafted different things. It was unbelievable.

Ezra 

At the Church there was a big bell to ring for Church time, and we went to the museum and there were old things and it was the best part of the day. 

Ruth 

The billy carts were my favourite, and it was fun and we got to make people and we made lavender bags. 

Jack B 

In billy carts me and Lucy were partners. Lucy was pushing so hard that I couldn’t steer properly, it was so fast. In old school we used black boards. 

Jack R 

When group three went to the blacksmith we built a twisty bit of metal and when we went down the hill, we made a lavender bag and a pegman. 

Noah R 

We went to the school and sang the song Advance Australia Fair and when we were singing the boys had to salute and when the boys walked through the door they had to bow. 

Jadyn 

We went to the wood turner. The wood turners Lave showed us all the tools that they used to carve the wood. Lave made us a spinning top to keep. 

David 

My highlight of the day was the crafts because I liked the peg people. 

Savanna