Exhibitions & events
Our year in review 2023
It’s been wonderful to see visitors returning in numbers to our onsite exhibitions, events and programs, as well as taking up an expanding range of opportunities to experience them online.
Along with our ongoing site-based installations and displays at our historic houses and gardens, our changing program of exhibitions and public events celebrates and explores our places and collections and connects them with visitors and a broad mix of community perspectives, expertise and creativity. Among the year’s many highlights were the ever-popular Eel Festival, late-night programs at several of our city museums and The People’s House, a major exhibition developed in collaboration with the Sydney Opera House to celebrate its 50th birthday. The UNESCO World Heritage–listed Hyde Park Barracks continued to provide a unique and dramatic canvas for installations and programs that explore the site’s complex histories and themes of migration and colonisation.
Increasingly, we’ve been able to put much of the content and research associated with our exhibitions and events online, making it accessible to audiences beyond the time and place of the physical event.
Highlight exhibitions & installations

Past exhibition
The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50
Celebrating five decades of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments from the Sydney Opera House
Saturday 1 July

Past exhibition
Murmurations
Artists Tony Albert and Angela Tiatia have teamed up with creatives Lille Madden, Alina Olivares-Panucci and Corin Ileto
Thursday 30 March

Past exhibition
The Weaving Room
These drop-in workshops celebrate the history and diversity of First Nations weaving traditions in NSW. Hear from Elders and artists about their traditional weaving practices and create your own piece to take home
Saturday 3 December

Permanent display
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
Talks & tours

First Nations Speaker Series
The First Nations Speaker Series is presented in collaboration with GML Heritage, The University of Sydney and the Research Centre for Deep History at the Australian National University

Past event
Behind the scenes tour - State Archives Collection
Join this rare opportunity to step inside the Western Sydney Records Centre
Thursday 26 October 1pm–3pm

Sydney Open
Our city’s premier architectural event opened the doors of the most historically and architecturally inspiring buildings and spaces across Sydney
Festivals & events

Past event
Queer in Warrane
Celebrate Sydney WorldPride at the Hyde Park Barracks
Wednesday 22 February 5pm–10pm

Past event
Eel Festival
Discover First Nations history of Parramatta, on Darug Country
Sunday 12 March 10am–3pm

Past event
The People’s House: Up Late
As the sun sets, join us for a celebratory series of late-night activations at the Museum of Sydney in association with the exhibition 'The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50'
Thursday 23 November 5pm–8pm

Past event
Festivities at Vaucluse House
Ring in the holiday season at beautiful Vaucluse House
Sunday 10 December 10am–4pm
Research & discovery
It happens everywhere, every day, across the organisation – the dual tasks of doing research and supporting others in their research and discovery ...
Next page