Queer Histories, Queer Futures

Macquarie Street was laid out by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1810. The decisions made along this street – by religious organisations, the state and the medical profession – have had major consequences for queer people since colonial times.

This Mardi Gras, Museums of History NSW Assistant Curator Dr Tuan Nguyen and Collection Discovery Assistant Mel Flyte will lead a history walk down Macquarie Street, exploring stories of queer people who walked along the same path. Learn about same-sex relationships between convicts at the Hyde Park Barracks; the first female Mitchell Librarian at the State Library of New South Wales, Ida Leeson, who was in a committed lesbian relationship with Florence Birch for over 50 years; and bushranger Andrew George Scott (aka Captain Moonlite), whose late-19th-century criminal career involved The Mint and the Water Police Court – plus much more.

Starting at the Hyde Park Barracks, this walking tour will delve into LGBTQIA+ history through significant sites along the route.

The program will finish at a nearby bar, where participants can enjoy a drink and take part in a fun trivia game to test their knowledge. There will be a small prize for the winner.