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Elizabeth Bay House
Elizabeth Farm
Hyde Park Barracks
Justice & Police Museum
Meroogal
Museum of Sydney
Rose Seidler House
Rouse Hill Estate
Susannah Place
The Mint
Vaucluse House
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State Archives Reading Room
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Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
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Unearthed
Between 1983 and 1991, archaeologists excavated one of the most contested blocks of land in Sydney – the site of Australia’s first Government House
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Unearthed
Between 1983 and 1991, archaeologists excavated one of the most contested blocks of land in Sydney – the site of Australia’s first Government House
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Collections
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Collections on Tour
We're on the road again, sharing our stories with the people of regional NSW
Read on
Collections on Tour
We're on the road again, sharing our stories with the people of regional NSW
Read on
Learning
Explore the past and imagine the future through immersive and interactive programs and resources, onsite and online
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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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First Nations stories
Alexander Riley, legendary Aboriginal police tracker
The remarkable talents of Aboriginal trackers who worked for NSW Police in the 20th century are featured in a display at the Justice & Police Museum
Read on
Alexander Riley, legendary Aboriginal police tracker
The remarkable talents of Aboriginal trackers who worked for NSW Police in the 20th century are featured in a display at the Justice & Police Museum
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
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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 more
Stories
There’s no limit to the stories our houses, museums and collections can tell
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Popular topics
Archaeology
Architecture & design
Collections
Conservation
Convict Sydney
First Fleet
First Nations
Interior design
Music
Photography
Regional NSW
Sydney Opera House
Underworld of the Roaring 20s
Women's stories
Archaeology of the first Government House
Archaeological excavations on the site of Australia’s first Government House – built for Governor Arthur Phillip on Gadigal Country in 1788–89 – during the 1980s and 90s uncovered the foundations along with approximately 140,000 artefacts
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Archaeology of the first Government House
Archaeological excavations on the site of Australia’s first Government House – built for Governor Arthur Phillip on Gadigal Country in 1788–89 – during the 1980s and 90s uncovered the foundations along with approximately 140,000 artefacts
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
GRRWeb
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State Archives Agency services
Public access to records
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Visit the State Records NSW website

Search our website and collections

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

Activity: make your own convict love token

Watch this video to learn about some of the convicts at the Hyde Parks Barracks and more particularly some of the convict love tokens.

Hear from curator Mel Flyte about some of the convicts' stories. Then the Learning Team will explain a creative arts activity where you can make a convict love token for yourself.