Calthorpes House is a window into an almost forgotten world. Built in 1927, this genuine survivor is a treasure house of domestic history.

Location

24 Mugga Way, Red Hill

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Opening hours
Admission

Adult | $10
Concession | $8
Family | $30*
Children under 5 | Free 

* Family includes group of 4 (with any combination of adult and concession)

Christmas at Calthorpes House - from 23 November to 14 December see how Calthorpe family dressed their home for Christmas, including their Christmas tree, decorations and Christmas lunch setting. These special Christmas displays are included in your tour admission ticket.

Final day for 2024: Saturday 14th December - First day of 2025: Saturday 11th January

A visit to Calthorpes House will take you back to the time when the Calthorpe family lived in the house.

Original furnishings, household appliances and photos reflect the fashionable ideal of style and taste in the middle class Australian home of the late 1920s.

Calthorpes House offers a range of popular community programs and learning programs throughout the year.

You can also experience the house online via our Google Cultural Institute page or by downloading a copy of the free Calthorpes House interactive tour to your iOS or MacOS device to browse at home before or after your visit. An online version of the interactive tour is avaiable here.

Read more about Calthorpes House here...


In 2017, Calthorpes House celebrated its 90th Birthday. Along with the usual festivities, a small film was produced to provide a glimpse into the life of the Calthorpes family as told by Dawn Waterhouse, nee Calthorpe. Dawn fondly recalls her time growing up in the family home, playing with the neighbourhood children in their garden, cooking potatoes in their Cubby House stove and climbing trees in their back yard, Red Hill. Horse rides, drain pipes, mud pies and dress ups were the norm for Dawn who laments how different childhood games were to many of the games (or devices) played today.

This production was funded through the generous support of Ms Louise Douglas, Chair, Cultural Facilities Board. Thanks also to Alex Sloan, former ABC journalist and Board member, for her time and expertise in interviewing Mrs Waterhouse.

Go on a virtual tour
Contact us
02 6237 6500

Tours

Bring Calthorpes House to life with this tour, learning about 20th century life in Canberra.

To help conserve the house interiors and collections, museum entry is by guided tour only. Plan your visit and book ahead.

 Click to download the Calthorpes House Conservation Management Plan (14Mb) 

What's on at Calthorpes House View all events and exhibitions