Visit us
At our houses, museums, gardens or reading rooms
Find out more
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
Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
More
Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
More
What's on
Exhibitions, events, activations, celebrations and more
All events
What's coming up?
This week
This month
Choose a category
Exhibitions
Displays
Performance
Special events
Talks
Tours
Webinars & online talks
Seeing Sydney, Knowing Country
This exhibition depicts the development of the NSW colony through a selection of historical maps, plans, sketches, artworks and objects
More
Seeing Sydney, Knowing Country
This exhibition depicts the development of the NSW colony through a selection of historical maps, plans, sketches, artworks and objects
More
Collections
Dive deep or just browse among our diverse and inspiring collections
View the collections
State Archives Collection
About
How to use
Subjects A-Z
Ask an Archivist
Visit the Reading Room
State Archives catalogue
Caroline Simpson Collection
About
How to use
Ask a Librarian
Visit the Library
Caroline Simpson catalogues
Talks & webinars
Museum Collections
About
How to use
Ask a Curator
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
Find out more
Learn with us
Onsite programs
Virtual excursions
Learning resources
Learning
Discover past lives, events and stories in the places where they actually unfolded
More
Learning
Discover past lives, events and stories in the places where they actually unfolded
More
First Nations Hub
A dedicated space for First Nations community, cultures and history
Find out more
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
Find out more
Find out more
Donate
Internships
Members get more
Members login
Partner with us
Volunteer
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
Read more
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
Archaeology
Architecture & design
Collections
Conservation
Convict Sydney
First Fleet
First Nations
Music
Photography
Regional NSW
Sydney Opera House
Underworld of the Roaring 20s
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
Read more
Hyde Park Barracks – the convict years
In 1788, the penal colony of New South Wales was established on the Country of the Gadigal people
Read more
Venue hire
From magnificent colonial style buildings to iconic modern designed spaces, we have a venue ready for you
More
Find your event space
Our venues
Weddings & celebrations
Film & photography
Corporate
Be inspired
Unique and spectacular spaces for your next event or occasion
More
Be inspired
Unique and spectacular spaces for your next event or occasion
More
Government services
Information and resources for managing, storing and transferring government records 
More
Government Records Repository
Manage your records with GRR
GRRWeb
Agency Services
State Archives Agency services
Public access to records
Service portal
Transfer plans
Visit the State Records NSW website

Search our website and collections

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

‘Faces in Shadow’: Silhouettes from Our Collections

Silhouettes were a popular artform in the 18th and 19th centuries with skilled artists using simple materials to create lifelike portraits.

From governors’ children to society figures, soldiers, cherished pets and even weathervanes, there are scores of silhouettes in Museums of History NSW collections. Join curator Dr Scott Hill as we explore albums, framed works and catalogues of these shadowy figures.