Woodford Academy - National Trust of Australia NSW

23/10/2026

Thank you to Dark Side of The Blue for donating spooky postcards and prints as prizes and giveaways for our forthcoming Halloween Event.

23/10/2026

Woodford Academy is celebrating Halloween.
Saturday 31st from 4 pm to 6 pm
Entry by Donation

Treasure Hunts, spooky treats and refreshments at our volunteer-run café.

No parking onsite. Parking in Vale Rd off Woodford Ave
Children must be supervised by an adult

90-92 Great Western Highway,
Woodford NSW 2778

22/10/2026

We have three Woodford Academy Sip and Explore Twilight Tours now on sale. Enjoy a glass of bubbly & refreshments followed by a house tour and a retelling of the hidden histories of the oldest building in the Blue Mountains.

Tours are on the following days
Friday 11 December 2026: 6pm - 8pm
Saturday 24 April 2027: 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Saturday 8 May 2027: 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Book your ticket here... https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/woodford-academy-sip-and-explore-tour-tickets-1992328191252

17/10/2026

We have one more open day scheduled for 2026. Mark your calendar for Saturday 21 November. We look forward to welcoming you to the oldest building in the Blue Mountains. Photography Annie Stevens

17/10/2026

What a wonderful day. A great family history talk and several house tours.

17/10/2026

The Blue Mountains Family History Society are at the Woodford Academy ready to help with information and advice about genealogy. They're giving a talk at 1 pm with plenty of show and tell. As usual, there is delicious cake, Black Cockatoo pastries and fresh coffee.

12/10/2026

This lovely young woman is Kathleen Maxwell and her name often appears in the Woodford Academy's collection in letters to Gertie and Jessie, on cards, gifts of books and in this poignant poem written by John McManamey;

To Kathleen

You say you'll come ere many days
now that lush summer makes aglow
the woods and almost sets ablaze
the garden where the roses blow

then if you deem my words have skill
to move in any way at all
these lines be witness of my will
you take them as a threefold call

the garden blooms 'neath Gertrude’s care
the fields re soft to foot and green
our well-known tree, the ancient pear
is thick with shade the sun to screen

Jessie shall deftly brew the tea
Gertrude perfect the scones and cake
and browning `stepping actively
amends for these lame verses make

Kathleen was John's niece, Gertrude and Jessie his daughters and the ancient china pear tree still grows and bears fruit in the Academy grounds.

At our next Open Day on Saturday, 17th October, we'll be featuring images and information about members of the Academy family including John, Jessie and Gertie.

11/10/2026

As part of our celebration of International Family History Month we welcome the Blue Mountains Family History Society to our Open Day on Saturday, the 17th October to talk about facilitating the family history research needs of Blue Mountains residents. They will be talking about their services and resources at 1pm. The Academy will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Mountains-Family-History-Society-Inc/148922978528279

Family History meetings, research and support in the Blue Mountains of NSW Australia

01/10/2026

October is International Family History Month and Woodford Academy celebrates the McManamey family, the last private owners of the oldest building in the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains Family History Society will be present to showcase their work and offer advice on researching family histories.
Saturday 17 October
Open from 10 am to 4 pm
Drinks and wonderful cakes available at our volunteer-run cafe
Talk at 1 pm

28/09/2026

Did you know the Bogong Moth is a native species and is endangered. You wouldn't think it with all the moths flying about. Our museum has been inundated.

Each spring, Bogong Moths travel hundreds of kilometres to the Australian Alps and Snowy Mountains, where they provide an important food source for the critically endangered mountain pygmy-possum and other alpine wildlife.

For collecting organisations like ours, it's a timely reminder to closely monitor collections such as textiles. We are opening our windows and gently ushering them outside to continue their migration.

You can track your moth sightings here https://mothtracker.swifft.net.au/

Welcome to Moth Tracker, a place to record your Bogong Moth sightings to help the conservation of Endangered Bogong Moths and Critically Endangered Mountain Pygmy-possums.