Overview

St John's Schoolhouse was Canberra's first school and school master's residence. It opened in 1845, to provide elementary education for children from the Campbell estate of Duntroon and surrounding farms. Many family names of former pupils can be seen on gravestones in St John's Churchyard.

In 1908 the School was closed, but in 1969 the restored Schoolhouse building was re-opened as a museum of Canberra's early history and education. St John's Schoolhouse Museum is proud of its role in the community as one of Canberra's first museums.

Displays feature early education artefacts and photographs of the district. These enable visitors to imagine the very different scene of rural Canberra, before it became the Federal Capital.

The Schoolhouse is very much a part of the historic St John's precinct in Reid, which in 2025 will celebrate 180 years since its beginnings. A visit to the Schoolhouse should ideally take in the associated historic Church and Churchyard.

School and other groups are most welcome to visit the Museum throughout the year, for a small charge per head. Note though that it is closed for a few weeks over the summer school holidays.
General entry to the Museum is by donation (EPTPOS available).