The last few months at the Penrith Museum of Printing have seen an increase in tours, with 16 tours, and over 200 visitors taking part in the two hour talk and demonstration. We cover the printing process from the year 1450 with the invention of movable type on mass via Gutenberg, to the last pages in a newspaper reproduced from lead type in the 1980’s (500+ years).

Visitors have the opportunity to actually watch hand setting and even have a try themselves.  The Linotype machine and Ludlow machine both running hot and producing text and headings.  The 1841 Columbian and 1864 Albion, the Chandler and Price, Original Heidelberg and Vertical Miehle are all operational and demonstrated.

Guests can observe the Wharfdale Newspaper Press in full flight, this was the Press which printed the Nepean Times for 80 years from 1882 to 1962 and the beginning of this Museum 22 years ago.

​

Also the progression of Letterpress Newspaper Presses up to 1990 and the history of the Sydney Morning Herald early days from 1830 are all explained during the tour.

Add a little bantering between Compositors and Printers, a little humour and guests head off to lunch full of knowledge from a unique experience. We pride ourselves on being a live interactive demonstration, not a static display. 

If you would like to book a tour, a course or become a member, just click on the links on this page. We would be delighted to see you.

Our expected move from our current site has suddenly turned into a real possibility in less than a year.  With the announcement that the NSW Government is looking at acquiring The Paceway, which is where the Museum has been situated since 2001. The Paceway has been very supportive of us over this time with rent free assistance and clearly this is the main reason we have survived for nearly 22 years, along with our valued sponsor, visitors and tour groups.

Today we are urgently seeking a new opportunity.  If we find the need to seek a grant to build elsewhere, this comes with a time factor, whereby we would have to close down and store equipment while a build takes place and the question is where?  During this time a main concern is in losing our dedicated team of volunteers with their invaluable knowledge, who may find other interests.

We are the largest Printing Museum with working equipment in Australia dated back to the 1840's.  Our strength is that we are not a static display but an operational display.

We must save this Museum, the Educational and Historical benefits we hold need to be kept alive for the future generations. We all need to help to save our Print History!

Penrith Museum of Printing attracts over 800 visitors during the 177th Penrith Show last weekend, the 27 and 28 August 2022. Visitors witnessed how the printed word evolved from 1450 to the 1980’s Handset type, Linotype machines and 160 year old presses all in action, some of the children having their names set then printed on a poster which went down well.  All for free.

The volunteers put in two big days explaining the process to very interested people of all ages. When you see this kind of reaction from visitors who knew of our predicament saying:

​

“it’s such a place, with significant historical and educational artefacts, which make this an intangible heritage collection and has to be saved” 

​

Seeing all equipment actually running was the winner as opposed to static displays. Visitors were staying for extended periods of time in most cases. A great weekend all round, hope to see you all again next year.