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
Murmurations. Commission: Tony Albert and Angela Tiatia
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
Close up of hands weaving a spiral out of dried raffia.
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
Sergeant Tracker Alexander ‘Alec’ Riley, standing in police uniform
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 Logo

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

Magda Dabrowa, Holly Schulte and Nerida Campbell sit around a table in the Water Police Court. They are smiling at each other as they wrap up the event for the night.

After Dark

Join us for the 2023 edition of After Dark at the Justice & Police Museum

Men stand in a workshop behind stacks of large hardcover books
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 logo

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

The facade of the Hyde Park Barracks featuring 'Love that dares', a projected artwork by Jacqui North.
Past event

Queer in Warrane

Celebrate Sydney WorldPride at the Hyde Park Barracks

Wednesday 22 February 5pm–10pm
Jessy McKinless of Nulungu Dreaming dancing at the 2021 Eel Festival held at Elizabeth Farm
Past event

Eel Festival

Discover First Nations history of Parramatta, on Darug Country

Sunday 12 March 10am–3pm
The People's House: Up Late at the Museum of Sydney
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
Close up of a Christmas decoration on the Christmas tree in the drawing room at Vaucluse House.
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