The Penrith Museum of Printing
is located west of Sydney at the grounds of the Penrith Paceway, Ransley Street
Penrith, NSW Australia.
Phone: 0415 625 573
Email: pmop@printingmuseum.org.au
The Penrith Museum of Printing
opening hours:
Sundays from 10 am or by arrangement and for groups during the week (please contact us first)
Tour bookings will be taken
either on line or phone
Contact us: 0415 625 573
Many Great Tours
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.
2023 Australian Day at the
Arms of Australia Emu Plains
A great start of the year with a display at the Arms of Australia Inn on Australia Day, Emu Plains. Several members demonstrating the letterpress printing prosses by printing Kids names on posters in a way it was done hundreds of years ago. These posters were eagerly sought after by the kids and adults attending. The volunteers from Penrith Museum of Printing spent a marvellous day, working onsite at the Inn, showing how newspapers, and printing, was done in colonial days. The Penrith Museum of Printing set up a small working print shop of the 1800's and had volunteers operating a PEARL treadle printing press, printing WANTED posters for the kids. There was also had a compositor (typesetter) working, setting up old type, in the children's names, for printing onto popular WANTED posters. The type, once set up and locked, ready for printing, was then passed to a press operator, who was working on an ADANA hand-operated printing press. He would then print the set-up child's name onto their very own WANTED poster.
The children all loved the experience, of seeing their name set in the old fashion way "upside Down", and then, when printed, miraculously printed 'right side up'.
Successful Courses
Another great poster-course, held on February 1, with participants from Picton and Woodford creating works of art. Workshops on Typesetting, Printing and Poster creations are still available this year. Book into any of these workshops via our website or email pmop@printingmuseum.org.au
There has been a lot of interest from various clubs/groups re our tours, so if you're wanting a midweek tour just book through our website.
Our aim strongly remains the Preservation of Printing Heritage, to ensure this knowledge and experience is passed on for future generations to enjoy. We have more Historic pieces on the way which will further enhance our collection.
These additional pieces will also be operational, in line with our current philosophy to continue to be a truly Living Museum.
To avoid disappointment please send us a email or call for bookings, 0415 625 573 or
email: pmop@printingmuseum.org.au
