Museums of History New South Wales

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

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Stories

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Dairy, Vaucluse House

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?

Equestrian Statue of the King, Astor Flats and Chief Secretary’s Building

The Astor, 1923–2023

Upon completion in 1923, The Astor in Sydney's Macquarie Stree twas the largest reinforced concrete building in Australia, the tallest residential block, and this country’s first company title residences

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

Ruins of Temple of Vishnu, Dondra, Ceylon

City of Gods, my early experience and toy boat

Inspired by a watercolour of the ruins of the temple of Vishnu, refugee curator in residence Jagath Dheerasekara writes about Devinuvara as a site of pilgrimage, colonisation and uprising

Digitised top half of page with the subject line 'Protest against unjust dismissal from the service'
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Newly digitised archives – married women teachers' applications

The Married Women (Lecturers and Teachers) Act of 1932 restricted employment of married women in the Department of Public Instruction. We hold 693 declarations for exemption by married women teachers for the years 1932–35

Collections and Loans Officer Meg Driver loads the letter box for transportation
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The Astor letter box on loan

Our latest Caroline Simpson Library display celebrates the centenary of The Astor, Australia’s first company title apartment block

Oak tree courtyard, Elizabeth Farm
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Life-changing encounters with the past

Visits from teachers who first visited our sites as children themselves have become increasingly common, revealing the lifelong impact of place-based learning

Exterior of Meroogal
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Meroogal hosts the Shoalhaven Museums & Galleries Breakfast Series

A great opportunity to share ideas and insights to support cultural and heritage tourism

Dodgy, dangerous, disturbing

3D models: a fascinating exploration of some seemingly innocent objects modified for nefarious purposes from the Justice & Police Museum collection

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