What We Learned from Our First Hands-on-History Experience

Done and dusted! As we wrapped up our first Hands-on-History Experience in Wagga Wagga in June 2026, I felt a massive mix of relief, pride and possibility. For two days, an idea I had carried for years became real. People did not simply listen to history; they moved through it, asked questions, examined the evidence and met the experts passionate about unlocking local stories. 

Our first event explored one of the Riverina’s most extraordinary tales: the Tichborne Claimant - the true story of a Wagga conman who claimed to be the missing English heir Sir Roger Tichborne.

Guest family historian Brad Argent brought the records, personalities and drama together, while local historians, museum staff, archivists, performers and heritage specialists provided guided tours and special behind-the-scenes access around Wagga Wagga.

Participants visited the Historic Council Chambers, the Museum of the Riverina, Wagga Wagga Monumental Cemetery, Charles Sturt University Regional Archives and the Riverine Club. Importantly, a conversation with Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Cheryl Penrith placed this colonial story within the much longer history of Wiradjuri Country and encouraged participants to consider the different histories held within one place.

What stayed with me was the energy in the room. One participant called it the best workshop she had ever attended. Local heritage volunteers began connecting the dots between research, storytelling and tourism.

I left convinced that when old records, places and people come together, history creates an emotional connection, and that connection can become a powerful reason to travel and explore more of regional Australia.

Five suitcases and a family mystery

Seeing the idea come to life took me back to the moment my own fascination with family history began.

I was in my early twenties when my grandmother moved into aged care. While clearing her garage, Mum found five suitcases filled with old papers. One autumn afternoon, we sat in the sun reading letters, newspaper articles and school reports. Among them was a will that cut out not one but two uncles we had never heard of.

From that moment, I was hooked and on the hunt to find out more!

Over the years, I have met genealogists and local history enthusiasts who have shown me what family history can feel like when research becomes personal.  Last year, I stopped at the cemetery in Heathcote, an old gold-mining town in Victoria, searching for my great-great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Drummond. The Visitor Centre connected me with Liz from the local history group.   “Oh yes, we know Elizabeth!” she said, as though they had met for morning tea the day before.  A week later, a package arrived containing maps, newspaper articles and certificates. Elizabeth suddenly felt real, and the old maps revealed a path back through the generations.

Turning historical research into a journey

Moments like these inspired me to create Family History Holidays: a way for people to actively discover their ancestry, not only through online research, but also in the places where their family stories unfolded.

My work in tourism, developing visitor experiences around people’s passions for wine, nature, farms and food, has helped me find a way forward. We know modern travellers are looking for memorable experiences, distinctive stories and access to people and places they would struggle to find by themselves.  And we also know that finding a name on an old document or a hidden branch of a family tree can provide a powerful reason to hit the road and explore regional Australia.

Across the country, historical societies, family history groups, museums and cultural heritage organisations care for unique collections and local stories. Much of this work depends on small teams of dedicated volunteers. They open doors, conserve collections, manage research enquiries and help visitors find their forebears.

Many of these groups are also facing pressure from declining volunteer numbers, limited resources and changing technology. At the same time, they hold the stories, knowledge and personal connections that can transform the way visitors experience a destination.

Special access can make a familiar story feel new

Hands-on-History Experiences grew from a practical question: what happens when heritage intersects with tourism?  What happens when we build an experience around a compelling local story that combines historical research with special access, curated tours, performance, dining and conversations with the people who know the place best?

Australians increasingly value experiences over things. It is the memories that matter, particularly when a journey carries a personal connection. And history sits at the heart of every travel experience, from the building where we stay and the local food we eat to the people, professions, and cultural moments that shaped a place.

Creating connections

What excited me most was seeing how generously local people shared their knowledge. The experience did not depend on one speaker or one collection. It came to life because people across Wagga Wagga opened doors, brought forward records and objects, and helped us see a familiar local story from different perspectives.

That spirit of collaboration is something I hope to carry into future Hands-on-History Experiences. Every regional community has stories waiting to be rediscovered, it will be great to work with people from near and far whose knowledge can make those stories meaningful to visitors.

When the past becomes personal

Our first Hands-on-History Experience confirmed what I had hoped: people want opportunities to do more than read about the past. They want to visit the places, meet the experts, ask questions and discover the details that bring a story to life.

For me, this is only the beginning. I am looking forward to working with more regional communities to uncover the stories held in their collections, buildings, landscapes and memories - and to creating more reasons for curious Australians to hit the road.

When history steps out of the archives and into the places where it happened, the past becomes personal. That is the idea at the heart of Family History Holidays.