Quarantine Station Story Tour

1. For over 150 years, from the 1830s, the Quarantine Station was for many, the beginning of a new life in Australia after making the arduous & lengthy journey from their homelands. Ships suspected of harbouring people infected with contagious disease such as Spanish Influenza, Smallpox or Bubonic Plague were quarantined here so that these deadly diseases would not reach the general population in Sydney.  Ultimately a success story for the growing Sydney population, it did however leave an indelible mark on those that were quarantined; tales of love and loss play out alongside themes of cultural and social change, medical history and progress.

​This tour is a 90-minute guided tour of the various buildings and archeological sites that comprise the quarantine station precinct.  Walking is required inside and outdoors, sometimes on sloping or uneven surfaces. Please take appropriate clothing for outside weather conditions, and closed walking shoes for uneven surfaces.

After the tour a light lunch will be provided. Weather permitting, this can be eaten outside, taking in the spectacular harbour view.

We will meet at the Q Station Reception Centre.  This is at the end of North Head Scenic Drive.  There is plentiful car parking there. 

Because bus transfers are required to the quarantine station precinct, we will meet at 9.30am for the tour commencing at 10.00am. 

The cost is $60 per person which includes lunch at the tour's conclusion.

Contact on the day:  Bob Eckstein

Conservatorium of Music

Private tour followed by

chamber music concert

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is a vibrant hub for music education, performance, and research, located in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens. A part of the University of Sydney it ranks number 1 in Australia for Performing Arts. It offers world-class facilities in a historic building, originally designed by Francis Greenway, blending heritage architecture with cutting-edge learning spaces.

The Conservatorium supports over 1,300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholars from classical and jazz to contemporary music, music theatre, digital media. The Con proudly nurtures creative artists who are destined to make meaningful contributions to communities across Australia and beyond.

The link below gives options for public transport and nearby parking stations. Please note there is no parking available at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

https://openacademy.sydney.edu.au/site/220

We will meet at the Conservatorium entrance on Macquarie Street (at the top of Bridge Street) at 11.30 am. The tour will commence at 11.45 followed by a 45-minute concert at 12.30.

There is no charge for the tour and concert. Lunch will be available in the Conservatorium café at 1.15 pm. Order and pay individually.

Maximum on tour is 18

Three-Day Food and Wine Tour - Orange Food Week

The Orange FOOD Train is a three-day weekend getaway that is a key component of Orange Food Week - a longstanding and popular event for food and wine lovers, that takes place annually in the Orange region of NSW. 

The trip starts from Sydney early Friday morning, with breakfast served on board, alighting in Milthorpe. Further transfers are by coach.

The weekend is hosted by local foodies and showcases some of the region's best food and wine experiences and includes tickets to FOOD Week's most sought-after event, Forage. The trip includes exclusive local tours, selected FOOD Week events, and dining at some of the region's best restaurants and wineries. A detailed final itinerary is being developed and will be available in due course.

The cost is $1590 per person twin share and $1770 per person single.

There is an upper limit of thirty persons for our Probus group.  As the event is very popular, and places are being offered to us ahead of the general public, we are required to confirm bookings by the end of this September.  Orange Food Week requires a 20% deposit by then.

At this point of time, if you are able, please let us know whether you (alone or with a guest) intend to participate. We can then hold a place for you, and it gives us an opportunity to liaise with Orange Food Train regarding probable eventual numbers.

Inclusions: 

• Return train ticket in reserved carriage from Sydney to Orange, starting out early Friday morning from Central Station, with the option to upgrade to a flight home
• 2 Nights’ accommodation (twin share or single) at Quest Orange
• Bus transfers between events and trains
• Full day FORAGE experience on Sat 28 March
• Breakfast at the Sunday Producers Market and Brunch on Sunday, the official closing event of FOOD Week
• All meals across the three days

Details concerning the upcoming and past FOOD Week events can be found on the website:  https://orangefoodweek.com.au/