Gungahlin's Valley Ruins site tells a story that began in 1860 when the Gribble family worked to cultivate two dozen hectares and harvest crops with one of the first new steam reaping machines in the local area.

"From 11.00am to 12midday today, Heritage Festival visitors will be educated about the regions past by exploring what still remains at the Valley Ruins site. Beneath the Ruins lie many hidden stories of landscape, family and community which are waiting to be told," Mrs Linda Roberts said.

Thomas Gribble was nicknamed ‘Boss Farmer’ possibly because he embraced new technologies.

Archaeologist, Dr Peter Dowling, will be onsite alongside artist Annie Trevillian to discuss the Gribble’s property from two points of view: the historian and the artist. Ms Trevillian has responded to the site with an installation especially for the Festival. Archaeologists investigated the site in 1992 to find evidence of a barn, milking shed, dairy, meat hanging shed and stables all arranged in a square formation adjacent to Burgmann Anglican School.

"Today’s remnants of the house includes some visible walls within a fenced off area. The general layout of the house can be viewed, as well as the remains of the Gribbles' garden where exotic plants such as feathery Tamarisk trees and Periwinkle are present," Mrs Roberts said.

Other activities highlighted for Festival include a tour for architecture enthusiasts at the John Curtin School of Medicine Research building to take place from 12.00midday to 1.00pm. The award-winning innovative building will pave the way for future designs and is the perfect atmosphere for the cutting edge research that is conducted inside.

The Festival’s full program is available at environment.act.gov.au or call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.