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Museums
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
Reading rooms
Caroline Simpson Library
State Archives Reading Room
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For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
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Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
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What's on
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Exhibitions
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Eora by Michael Riley
Eora, by the late Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi filmmaker and photographer Michael Riley (1960–2004), is a 20-minute digital film on display at the Museum of Sydney that tells the story of Sydney’s First Nations people – before and after colonisation
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Eora by Michael Riley
Eora, by the late Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi filmmaker and photographer Michael Riley (1960–2004), is a 20-minute digital film on display at the Museum of Sydney that tells the story of Sydney’s First Nations people – before and after colonisation
More
Collections
Dive deep or just browse among our diverse and inspiring collections
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State Archives Collection
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Subjects A-Z
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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
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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Learn with us
Onsite programs
Virtual excursions
Learning resources
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 Speaker Series
First Nations Community Access to Archives
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
Get involved
Our supporters are a central part of our story and our success
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Work experience
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
Browse our stories
Popular topics
Architecture & design
Collections
Conservation
Convict Sydney
First Fleet
First Nations
Music
Photography
Regional NSW
Underworld of the Roaring 20s
Sydney Opera House
Women's stories
Hyde Park Barracks – the convict years
In 1788, the penal colony of New South Wales was established on the Country of the Gadigal people
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Hyde Park Barracks – the convict years
In 1788, the penal colony of New South Wales was established on the Country of the Gadigal people
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Venue hire
From magnificent colonial style buildings to iconic modern designed spaces, we have a venue ready for you
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Find your event space
Our venues
Weddings & celebrations
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Corporate
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
Public access to records
Service portal
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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

State Archives Reading Room

The largest collection of records relating to the history of NSW and the lives of its people

The State Archives Reading Room provides physical access to many of the records in the State Archives Collection. This vast collection comprises records made by NSW Government agencies during the course of their daily work, and includes diverse range of items and formats, from letters and files to photographs, maps, posters, film, video, e-records and objects.