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Rouse Hill Estate
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Vaucluse House
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Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
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Exhibitions
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The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50
Celebrating five decades of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments at the Sydney Opera House
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The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50
Celebrating five decades of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments at the Sydney Opera House
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Collections
Dive deep or just browse among our diverse and inspiring collections
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State Archives Collection
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State Archives catalogue
Caroline Simpson Collection
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Caroline Simpson catalogues
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Museum Collections
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Objects catalogue
Conserving the archives
See what the Conservation team are working on in the lab
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Conserving the archives
See what the Conservation team are working on in the lab
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Learning
Explore the past and imagine the future through immersive and interactive programs and resources, onsite and online
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Learn with us
Onsite programs
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Learning
Discover past lives, events and stories in the places where they actually unfolded
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Learning
Discover past lives, events and stories in the places where they actually unfolded
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First Nations Hub
A dedicated space for First Nations community, cultures and history
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Read and reflect
First Nations Hub
First Nations stories
First Nations Speaker Series
Harold Blair, trailblazer
Wulli Wulli tenor Harold Blair AM was Australia’s first professionally trained Aboriginal opera singer. An honour he had to fight for.
Read on
Harold Blair, trailblazer
Wulli Wulli tenor Harold Blair AM was Australia’s first professionally trained Aboriginal opera singer. An honour he had to fight for.
Read on
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Stitching for our house museums
For almost 15 years, a dedicated group of volunteers has gathered to sew, crochet, knit, embroider and stuff historically authentic soft furnishings for our houses
Read on
Stitching for our house museums
For almost 15 years, a dedicated group of volunteers has gathered to sew, crochet, knit, embroider and stuff historically authentic soft furnishings for our houses
Read on
Stories
There’s no limit to the stories our houses, museums and collections can tell
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Popular topics
Architecture & design
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Convicts
First Nations
Music
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Regional NSW
Sydney Opera House
Women's stories
A new way of living
Once word spread about the newly built Rose Seidler House in 1950, it was the ‘most talked about house in Sydney’
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A new way of living
Once word spread about the newly built Rose Seidler House in 1950, it was the ‘most talked about house in Sydney’
Read more
Venue hire
From magnificent colonial style buildings to iconic modern designed spaces, we have a venue ready for you
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Be inspired
Unique and spectacular spaces for your next event or occasion
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Be inspired
Unique and spectacular spaces for your next event or occasion
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Government services
Information and resources for managing, storing and transferring government records 
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Government Records Repository
Manage your records with GRR
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Search our website and collections

Go direct to State Archives online indexes Go direct to State Archives catalogue

Museums of History New South Wales

About us Explore State Archives

West elevation (front) of Hyde Park Barracks, from across Queens Square

Visit us

There’s plenty happening every day at our museums, historic houses and gardens, with entry free for all!

A Curriculum Program Deliverer showing students Leg irons in the Learning Space at Hyde Park Barracks

Annual Giving: engaging with history

This financial year, our Annual Giving program gives you the opportunity to enrich the lives of children across NSW and beyond through the power of education

Student carrying convict bricks in the courtyard at Hyde Park Barracks

Learning

Explore our curriculum-linked programs, excursions and resources for stages 1 to 6. Inquire or book now

Explore the collections

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Caroline Simpson Collection

Home and garden design, history and life

Discover more Library catalogue

State Archives Collection

Making history every day

Discover more State Archives catalogue

Museum Collections

Place-based collections at our historic houses and museums

Discover more Objects catalogue

Stories

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Horticulturalist Stephen Goldsworthy planting seedlings in the kitchen garden

Conservation

Vaucluse House kitchen garden

The Vaucluse House kitchen garden recently underwent a significant rejuvenation project to preserve the site and allow it to continue to be used as a valuable educational resource

View of the Australian Ballet 'The sleeping beauty (detail)' [right] and the Opera Australia 'Mariana Hong in Falstaff (detail) ' and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra 'People's choice concert (detail) [left] stairwell banners - The People's House marketing & installation photoshoot

Sydney Opera House: inspired design

Kieran Larkin, Senior 3D Designer at Museums of History NSW, talked to us about some of the highlights and challenges of designing the landmark exhibition The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50, on display at the Museum of Sydney until March 2024

The coolest room in the house

What practical techniques can we learn from historical building design to minimise heat and energy consumption in our homes today?

Close up view of Steven Russel and Phyllis Stewart 'Untitled (woven Sydney Opera House)', 2023 - The People's House marketing & installation photoshoot - The People's House marketing & installation photoshoot

First Nations

How to weave an opera house

Inspired by a stunning shellworked model of the Sydney Opera House by Bidjigal artist Esme Timbery, First Nations curator Tess Allas commissioned a woven model of the iconic building from master weavers Steven Russell and Phyllis Stewart