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Rose Seidler House
Rouse Hill Estate
Susannah Place
The Mint
Vaucluse House
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Caroline Simpson Library
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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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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Caroline Simpson Collection
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Caroline Simpson catalogues
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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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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 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.
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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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Our supporters are a central part of our story and our success
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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 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
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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
GRRWeb
Agency Services
State Archives Agency services
Service portal
Visit the State Records NSW website

Search our website and collections

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

From the archives

https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/NRS20455-1-2_a052_View_003.jpg

12 Dec 1885 - Lord Carrington appointed Governor of NSW

On 12 December 1885 Charles Robert Carrington, Lord Carington, began his tenure as Governor of New South Wales

Oval shaped painting of Mary Reibey in what looks like her later years

Mary Reibey - convict and businesswoman

Mary Reibey is one of the most famous early convict women in the colony of New South Wales