This year, on 14th and 15th May, the Ku-ring-gai Heritage Festival is including Ethel Turner’s home ‘Woodlands’ in its event. You can visit this wonderful and very literary property, see where Ethel Turner wrote Seven Little Australians and have a fun day out. Entry is free, but tickets are essential. Book here.
Woodlands, a private residence, is usually closed off from public viewing, but for 2 full days over the weekend it will be open to visitors. There will be literary speakers (including me on Sunday 15th) and historians who will share their discourse on the legacy of Ethel Turner and her contribution to early Australian literature. Go back into the past to the 1890s!
A fun-filled day for the whole family to:
1) Visit the place where Ethel lived and worked on her books. Go back in time as the home is now restored as a time-capsule to the pre-Federation and Federation eras.
2) Listen to literary and historical experts discuss Ethel’s contribution to Australian literature.
3) Enjoy the lush garden which charts Ethel’s life from being British-born to becoming a fully-fledged Australian.
4) Enjoy the wall art by artists from Ethel’s time who weren’t recognised in their own day.
5) Musical performances, painting and story-telling competitions will be interspersed throughout the day.
This weekend also marks the first anniversary of the brand new literary group, the Friends of Ethel Turner. If you are interested in helping to preserve Australia’s literary history, do consider taking an interest. You can read more on my Woodlands and Ethel Turner page.
I do hope you’ll be able to join us at Woodlands. Tell me by leaving a comment.
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Janet
How fascinating, we lived in Roseville in the ‘50s and heard about “Eryldene” at Killara, but never heard about Woodlands, where Seven little Australians was written. I enjoyed the film years ago.
Susannah Fullerton
It has been in private hands for a long time, but the current owners are being so generous about opening it to the public. It’s a beautiful house!
Toni Martin
Thanks Susannah
I might just pop in on the day to hear your talk at 11.am
Toni
Anne Ridley
I thought that I had booked for Sunday. I am otherwise committed on Saturday. Can I change if I have made a mistake? Anne
Susannah Fullerton
You can turn up on either day – don’t worry too much about what you have booked for. My short talk on Ethel Turner will be at 11am on the Sunday and I will be there all day on the Sunday, but can’t make it on the Saturday.
Do hope to see you there.
Anne Ridley
I have booked for the Saturday. Will try and be there for your talk. I have been walking past it for the past 49 years so I am really looking forward to seeing inside it. My mother and her siblings had the books and passed them on to my sister and I
Susannah Fullerton
Great that you live so close!
Dale Richards
Hi, I understand from your email that Woodlands will be open on Sunday 15th, but when I tr to book a ticket only the Saturday appears. Is that because Sunday is sold out? I work all daybSaturday & ’til 12:30 on Sunday, but would love to attend.
Susannah Fullerton
No, the Sunday is not booked out, so am not sure what the problem is on the website. I have passed your comment on to the owner of Woodlands. If you can’t book, just turn up on the day. My short talk on Ethel Turner will be at 11am.
H Stevens
I look forward to visiting and hearing S F’s talk. Thankyou for the invitation
Heather Stevens
Susannah Fullerton
It’s a gorgeous historic property and it should also be a really fun day.
Rhonda King
We are looking forward to visiting this beautiful property and learning of it’s history
Susannah Fullerton
It is gorgeous. I’ll be there on the Sunday – hope to see you.