Investigating the Quarantine station as an important and connected place: Stage 1 Geography - part 1

The former North Head Quarantine Station (now known as the 'Q Station') is located in Sydney Harbour National Park, Manly. Whilst it is typically perceived as a local site of significance and an integral part of Sydney and Australia's history, it is also important geographically. The Q Station exudes the richness of place and reveals the diversity of interconnections between humans and environment, the meanings attached to place, and the ways in which Australia became connected to other countries. This article positions the Q Station as an opportunity to integrate both units of Stage 1 Geography (Features of Places; People and Places) through fieldwork and secondary research, thus the assumption is made that students will visit the Q Station as well as complete tasks during class time. It is intended for this article (parts 1 and 2) to be seen as a scaffold of potential ideas for teachers to adopt or adapt as appropriate to school context and student learning requirements. Whilst the lens remains geographical for this piece of work, it should be noted there are authentic opportunities to further integrate this learning with Stage 1 History (particularly The Past in the Present) and Stage 1 Science (particularly Built Environments and The Living World).