Leaving Only Memories: the loss of Burdekin House tour
Constructed on Macquarie Street in 1841 for wealthy Sydney merchant Thomas Burdekin, Burdekin House was considered an outstanding example of colonial architecture.
Almost 100 years later, it fell victim to the city centre’s growing urbanisation. The house’s demolition in 1933 outraged many and became a rallying symbol for the emerging NSW heritage movement, leading to the preservation of historic sites such as the Hyde Park Barracks and The Mint.
Join MHNSW Collection Discovery Assistant Mel Flyte for a guided tour through the display Leaving Only Memories: the loss of Burdekin House. View architectural remnants, artworks and photographs of the grand three-storey mansion, and hear about the history of the building, from its construction to its demolition.
Presented as part of History Week 2026.
Related display
![Burdekin House, Elizabeth Bay House, Sydney Mint, Old Sydney 1933-35 / [Thomas J Lawlor, photographer] [photograph album]](https://api.mhnsw.au/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.mhnsw.au%2Ffotoweb%2Fembed%2F2026%2F06%2F209e4a0ba5c7492a8076056e64557c47.jpg&w=1920&h=400&fit=inside&format=webp)
Featured display
Leaving Only Memories: The loss of Burdekin House
Our current display showcases objects and artworks related to Burdekin House, a grand colonial mansion that once stood on Macquarie Street but was demolished in 1933, a victim of Sydney’s urban development
Tuesday 7 July
Caroline Simpson Library
The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000- Cafe
- Wheelchair accessible
- Friday 11 September 10.30am–11.30am
Read more about Burdekin House
Salvaging a future for Sydney’s demolished buildings
When important historic buildings were demolished in 20th-century Sydney, one way to remember them was by saving, perhaps for re-use, some of their more notable architectural features
Burdekin House columns
Burdekin House was once described as one of the finest buildings in New South Wales and one of the sights to see when visiting Sydney
Burdekin House - St Malo columns
If the fluted timber columns made for Burdekin House now look a little battered and perhaps not as elegant as they were in the mid-19th century, it is hardly surprising after surviving two house demolitions