Rippon Lea provides an ideal learning environment for students of various levels.

The National Trust has developed an exciting full day program for primary students, offers specialist tours for ESL students and makes a perfect venue for secondary and tertiary students interested in sustainability, history, architecture or interior design or wanting to practise their creativity in photography, art and drama.

Primary Program

We offer a new full day program for groups up to 60 in number and no less than 30 in number. Our program is ideal for "Then & Now" themes and engages students through an understanding of the lives of the children who lived at Rippon Lea in the 1870s, interactive activities, handling objects and old fashioned games.

Note that some of the activities are outside and weather dependent and tow of the activities are self lead.

The Time Machine Experience: Travelling back to 1887 in the Rippon Lea Time Ripper students investigate the mansion, learn about the Sargood family, the toys and artefacts that children owned and the clothes that they wore.

World of Work: Exploring the original kitchens, students are introduced to Rippon Lea ’s servants and 19th Century work. They undertake some of the simpler tasks from washing and ironing to butter churning and also handle some of the 19th Centuries more intriguing inventions.

Creature Catcher: An outdoor self lead trail activity - students search for the twelve missing creatures from Rippon Lea’s past and present around the 5.7 hectares of Rippon Lea’s heritage parklands.

19th Century Games: An outdoor self lead activity - Students try their hand at croquet, quoits, skittles and other games on the lawn.

ESL Groups / Secondary Groups

Volunteer guides conduct special guided tours of the mansion for ESL groups and secondary students. Secondary students an also use Rippon Lea as a venue for art activities. Please contact Education Manager Martin Green - 9656 9822 for details.

Booking your Visit:

Contact our Education bookings line: 8663 7261 or email education@nattrust.com.au.

Groups / Cost: The maximum group size is 60. The minimum group size is 30. Cost for all programs is $9 per student. (Carers and Teachers are free entry.) Groups should be split into smaller groups of 15 prior to arrival.

Cancellation Policy: Please advise us three days prior to cancellation or wet weather rescheduling.

What to bring
We recommend students bring suitable clothing for oputdoors activities and their own lunch and drinks to enjoy in the grounds as purchases at the Gatehouse café are limited. Cameras are a great idea but flash photography is not permitted inside the mansion. Bag storage can be arranged but we do not take responsibility for the storage of valuables.
Wet Weather Warning:
Note that many of the activities are run outdoors and wet weather cover is limited. We recommend rescheduling on a wet weather day.
How to get here: Main Entrance at 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick. Melways Reference: 67E2

Public Transport: Rippon Lea is five minutes walk away from Rippon Lea train station on the Sandringham line.

Parking: Parking is available all day on Hotham Street for coaches & cars.