Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre

Did you know that many of Observatory Hill EEC's programs are transport friendly? Or that we can cater for small groups?
Today eight delightful students from Warilla HS travelled to Barangaroo from the Illawarra region for less than $10. Student fares are capped at $9.65 per day. The park around the Barangaroo metro station has ben redeveloped over the last few years and is adjacent to the recently refurbished $10mill 'Cutaway' function centre.

Barangaroo Station Park by Arcadia Landscape Architecture With its backdrop of Sydney Harbour, Barangaroo Station Plaza and Park instils the site’s heritage and Indigenous culture through artwork and interpretation, creating a pivotal piece of urban design and landscape architecture that is both a place to visit, connecting to nature, history and communi...

Today, S6 geography students from Glenwood HS, Rose Bay Secondary College and Ryde Secondary College explored sustainable tourism with our "Global Sustainability - Tourism" case study at Taronga Zoo. The students had a guided tour of sustainability practices and features (like Tiger Trek), watched the seal show, explored the Australian Reptile Centre, visited the Taronga Retreat, and participated in an excellent in-depth presentation by Zoo Education staff about sustainability practices at the zoo. Thanks to Alex and Jess for a very informative day and all staff and students involved. Find out more about the program at https://observatoryhilleec.schools.nsw.gov.au/learning-programs/secondary-excursions/stage-6/s6-global-sustainability-tourism-at-taronga-zoo

Another busy day for Observatory Hill ECC with five schools participating in three senior geography programmes. Central Coast Adventist School explored Pyrmont for the topic ‘Rural and urban places’. Similarly, Asquith GHS, NBSC Cromer, and Frensham School explored this topic in Barangaroo. Meanwhile, students from Saint Aloysius completed fieldwork in Millers Point and Dawes Point for the year 11 topic ‘Place and cultural change’. Thank you to all teachers and students today for a great day of learning.
Evaluation comments from St Aloysius students included:
“Our EEC teacher was very helpful and provided incredible insight into the origins of Millers Point and Dawes Point”
“We were taken into a couple of sites that aren't open to the public that were cool”, and
“I enjoyed learning about the development of the area and seeing how the area changed over time, with respect to socio-economics and the environment.”

Atlassian Central is the world’s tallest timber hybrid building. It sets a new benchmark in sustainability and smart workplaces. It features innovative design principles including a striking timber design with a glass and steel exoskeleton façade, and an operable façade which will create distinct high-rise habitats featuring internal and external spaces within, an abundance of natural light and ventilation laced with deep soil plants. The development has ambitious sustainability targets including:
* 50% reduction in embodied carbon emissions during construction compared to a conventional construction project
* 100% fossil fuel free and powered by renewable energy
* Additionally, it has a 5.5-star NABERS Energy Commitment Agreement and targeting a 6-star Green Star rating.
The tower will feature an electricity-generating façade system with self-shade capabilities to reduce direct heat gain and mass timber construction (MTC), significantly lowering the building’s embodied carbon footprint. Find out more at:
https://www.built.com.au/projects/atlassian-central/

Two classes of year 9 geography students from Holroyd HS undertook fieldwork in Barangaroo today for the S5 topic ‘Changing Places’. The students investigated the changes affecting the precinct and the social, economic, and environmental sustainability outcomes.
Thanks to all teachers and students involved today.

A delightful class of year 11 students from Mulwaree HS in Goulburn travelled to Circular Quay today for our “Quay to Success” program which Investigates Circular Quay as a good Public Space. The students learnt about different fieldwork techniques for their own geographic investigation, and used these techniques to explore the precinct. The fieldwork is an excellent way to guide and support students through their own Geographic Investigation.

Happy world Oceans day. Want to learn more about Oceans? Join our Marine Scientist for a day program!

🌊 Calling All Teachers: Be a Marine Scientist for a Day! 🌊

Looking for a high-impact, real-world extension opportunity for your High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) students?

On Thursday, 12th November, 2026, Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre, together with scientists from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is heading to Clifton Gardens Reserve for an immersive field day: Save our Seals (SOS)!

Your students will step into the shoes of actual marine biologists, rotating through four hands-on workshops:

🛰️ Track & Adapt: Decode seal behaviours and tracking tech with DCCEEW experts.

🧬 eDNA Lab Work: Test water quality alongside a DCCEEW water scientist.

🔬 Micro-plastics: Analyse the microscopic threats facing our marine ecosystems.

🦀 Eco-Webs: Map local biodiversity and food webs.

📋 What You Need to Know:
Group Size: Max 8 Stage 3 students per school to ensure a high-quality, hands-on experience.
Eligibility: Open to all schools, with priority given to Government schools.
Logistics: Students will need to BYO recess and lunch.
Spots for this specialised HPGE event are strictly limited!

Tap the link below to fill out your Expression of Interest (EOI) via our Google Form, and we'll send more details your way soon.

https://forms.gle/tXX9A2EqpsBcPbzD8

Happy World Oceans Day. We’ll be celebrating with students from Baulkham Hills HS tomorrow as they study the marine issues of micro plastics, stormwater management, biodiversity loss and water pollution in Sydney Harbour. An important aspect is emphasising positive action we can all do to improve our oceans.

It’s World Environment Day 2026. This year’s theme is "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future". For environmental education centre teachers, every day is world environment day. Have you checked out our range of environmental education programs at https://observatoryhilleec.schools.nsw.gov.au

Another busy day for Observatory Hill EEC today with S6 students from Meridian College visiting Barangaroo to learn about the Geography topic ‘Rural & Urban Places', a class from Burwood GHS studying ‘The Earths natural systems at Balls Head Reserve, and two classes from Arden Anglican College and St Mary’s Star of the sea studying ‘Place and Cultural Change’ in Millers Point. These last two classes learnt about the changing ‘culture of place’ of Millers Point. Thanks to all teachers and students involved for another great day of learning. All classes were a pleasure to teach.
Student’s comments about what they liked about the Millers Point fieldwork included:
“Our EEC teacher was amazing, it was so interesting and he took us on a great tour”
“Learning about the history of Miller’s Point”.
“I enjoyed looking at all the restored historical buildings and how the places have changed over time”.
“Learning about the history of the area and walking through a place in Sydney where I haven’t explored”.
“I loved how we got to check out the old ruins, incredible how it’s still standing”.
“The field sketch was quite interesting and engaging”.
“We were able to speak to and hear from people who have experienced and seen the change in the area, and physically seeing the change and effects of it”.
“The transect, where we walked down Kent street, and observed the culture of place”.