The Mint
Formerly the ‘Rum Hospital’ – oldest surviving public building in Sydney’s CBD
Built for a cost of 45,000 gallons of rum, The Mint is rich in history. It was originally part of Governor Macquarie’s ‘Rum’ hospital for convicts and later became the first branch of the Royal Mint outside London. Today The Mint is home to Museums of History NSW’s head office, the Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Bullion café and a spectacular series of venue hire spaces.
The Mint
Gadigal Country
10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000- Cafe
- Wheelchair accessible
Major conservation works completed on the Rum Hospital verandah
In the 2023–24 financial year the MHNSW Capital Works team completed detailed conservation works on the ‘Rum Hospital’ building at The Mint
Stories
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A rum deal
When Lachlan Macquarie began his term as governor of NSW in 1810, Sydney was in desperate need of a new hospital
The changing face of the Mint
As photographers documented the evolving face of the Mint, they recorded changes to the site and streetscape
Unexpected views
Over the decades, photographers have captured unexpected glimpses of the Mint’s history
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Annual Giving: Sharing our stories
Your support will help us to preserve and share the stories of NSW through our places, collections, archives and programs
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