Caroline Simpson Collection
Home and garden design, history and life
Museums of History NSW holds one of Australia’s most significant cultural collections incorporating the State archives, 13 historically significant buildings and sites – including a diverse range of objects, artefacts and materials related to these places – and the Caroline Simpson Library Collection. The MHNSW Collection Series explores a multitude of stories, perspectives and experiences associated with this unique collection.
Join our expert curators, archivists, researchers and conservators for talks, tours, viewings and discussions as they highlight some of our most fascinating collection material – from buildings to wallpaper, house furnishings, art, furniture, rare books and archival material.
Lavishly illustrated Ornament Source Books provided creative inspiration to 19th century designers. A wide variety will be on view for this Rare Book Week event
Join us for a special Rare Book Week event showcasing the Carrington Albums, a jewel in the State Archives Collection
Join us to explore some of the highlights of Mrs Caroline Simpson's unique cultural gift and discover the story of the woman behind the collection
Join MHNSW curator Dr Scott Hill for a tour of Australia’s oldest surviving house and its recreated garden
Our current library display draws from the postcard collection of Miss Vera Bell, a young Sydney woman, and provides a snapshot of an era: the golden age of postcards
Home and garden design, history and life
Making history every day
Place-based collections at our historic houses and museums
A recently donated letter, signed by the governor of NSW in 1832, offers a tangible connection to the story of Samuel Horne, a convict who rose to the rank of district chief constable in the NSW Police
Several of the postcards featured in our current library display depict Machattie Park in Bathurst. Postcard collector Vera Bell lived in Bathurst between 1905 and 1908 while her father, John, acted as the police superintendent
‘Come to afternoon “Tea and Scandal” tomorrow’ is the wonderfully enticing offer made via postcard by Viley and Olive, young friends of Vera Bell
'Bicycle race' is just one of many postcards from the collection of Vera Bell as part of the Bell family papers, now housed in the Caroline Simpson Library