Being Tempted by Sydney’s Living Museums

There’s an awesome new set up in Sydney-town. In April of this year, the Historic Houses Trust of NSW launched Sydney Living Museums, its new collective name for 12 of New South Wales’ most important museums and historic houses.

The Trust, incorporating Sydney Living Museums, cares for significant historic places, buildings, landscapes and collections. Focusing on the lives that were lived in each of its museums and houses, Sydney Living Museums offers insights into the personal stories of how people lived, worked and played, and vital parts of Australian culture and heritage that are unique and fascinating.

From carefully curated exhibitions, events and ‘everyday’ experiences covering food, through household interiors, gardens and outdoor living, to social class, rural lives and crime and punishment – Sydney Living Museums has 12 of the best places to experience Sydney’s living history. And, the best part is that the team at SLM have created a brand that is exciting and accessible. It makes me want to visit all twelve of their sites…

The summer food programme, including the ‘Eat Your History’ exhibition looks fantastic – and, it seems to have a little bit of something for everyone. Inspired by the historic homes, and their gardens and kitchens, the programme presents a specially curated menu of enticing food experiences. SLM has partnered with some of Sydney’s most highly respected chefs, foodies and craftspeople to bring you a tasty mix of experiences.

Here are a few of the offerings that particularly appeal to yours truly…

The very talented Mr Ingersoll (you may recall him from here) has partnered with Kate Walsh of Real Food Projects to bring us the Farm to Table dinner on Thursday 14 November at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. I’m stealing shamelessly from the SLM sales pitch when I tell you, “inspired by menus from the 1800s, this unique banquet will use local, indigenous and heirloom produce grown in the Vaucluse House kitchen garden especially for the dinner”. YUM!

The combined talents of Jared and Kate (of Real Food Projects) make this sure to be an occasion.

Here’s one for the kids over the looooong summer school holidays.  Bring them along to Elizabeth Farm to learn the art of ginger-biscuit making and baking at the Shape and Bake. Afterwards, you can explore the house.

Baking sessions will be held on Monday 13 & 20, and Wednesday 18 & 22 January at Elizabeth Farm.

No surprises that I’m heading to Stories From the Cellar at Elizabeth Bay House on 27 February. I’m keen to take a wee journey through the history of food preservation with Wildwon Projects. I’m going to delve into the preservin’, saltin’, curin’, fermentin’ (there’s that word again!) and smokin’ and see what I can learn. Can’t wait!

I guess I should have put THIS one first, but perhaps I was just saving the best for last. The hugely fab’ Real Food Projects are putting on the Christmas Artisan Food Market at the Hyde Park Barracks on 18 December from 4 – 8pm.

There’ll be over 50 stalls featuring the best that Sydney has to offer by way of food makers using local, seasonal and sustainable produce. There will even be a wrapping station.

Be there or be square, I reckon…

This is only a wee taste of all the events the Sydney Living Museums have on offer for their summer season of food. Do go and check out their website (here) AND sign up to get the newsletter. It looks grand!