To celebrate 100 years of Nutcote, the Nutcote Trust have developed a new masterplan for the site.

The Nutcote Museum Reimagining project was instigated by the Nutcote Trust after several gaps in the interpretation (storytelling) at the museum were identified through the Nutcote Action Plan 2023-2028. The process also identified several opportunities for improved visitor engagement at the site and for expanding the museum’s audiences.

A three-phase interpretation renewal master plan has been developed that aims to address these weaknesses, building on the existing strengths of the museum and current visitor experience. These include its well-preserved garden and buildings, May’s original objects, the ability for the rooms of the house to be immersive recreated historical spaces, the notoriety and popularity of May Gibbs and her artwork and books, and the value and popularity of volunteer-led tours of the Nutcote house.

Extensive research and survey results involving visitors, board members, and volunteers has shaped the renewed interpretive strategy and ensured it reflected stakeholder needs and expectations.

We are excited to announce that phase one of the project is nearing completion. Within the house, non-authentic elements such as modern props, outdated signage, and inappropriate furnishings were replaced with period-appropriate furniture, reproduction artworks, and historically informed props. Research drew on May Gibbs’ house contents list, photographs, letters, and personal archives. These changeshave improved the storytelling and restored a more authentic, “lived-in” atmosphere.

This is the first major update to the interpretative storytelling at Nutcote since its opening to the public in 1994. The principal objective of the project is to build on the museum's existing approach to interpreting the house and gardens, by offering additional visitor experience options and layers of interpretation, making the experience more authentic, engaging and appealing to a wider audience, including children.

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This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.