By XAVIER SMERDON
THE Werribee Mansion will be brought to life for children these school holidays thanks to a new interactive exhibition.
A Victorian Children’s Bedroom features replica toys and objects from the 1880s including a beautifully furnished and decorated dolls house; a Punch and Judy puppet theatre, a rocking horse, toy soldiers and dress up clothing.
Parks Victoria Visitor Services Officer, Helen Hopkins, said the hands on display is the first of its kind in the state and has been designed to encourage children to enjoy interacting and playing with the objects and toys.
“Werribee Mansion, once home to a wealthy pastoralist family is a popular attraction with visitors. There are many interesting stories told throughout the displays but this is the first exhibit that encourages people to touch and play with the objects and focuses on what it was like to be a child growing up in the mansion,” Ms Hopkins said.
Ms Hopkins said other features in the exhibition include a miniature silver tea set, an old-fashioned animation toy that creates moving pictures when spun and slate blackboards.
“We have also developed a new education program that is based on the exhibition and will become a focus of tours for primary school children,” she said.
“The program has been developed to provoke discussion that compares and contrasts the lives and experiences of children in different eras and we’re looking forward to introducing children to this historic time in a fun and interesting way.”
Other activities that will run on some weekends and during school holidays include craft sessions, storytelling and interpretive theatre performances.
For more information visit www.juniorrangers.com.au
