Caroline Simpson Collection
Home and garden design, history and life
Collections Series
Museums of History NSW holds one of Australia’s most significant cultural collections incorporating the State archives, 13 historically significant buildings and sites – including a diverse range of objects, artefacts and materials related to these places – and the Caroline Simpson Library Collection. The MHNSW Collection Series explores a multitude of stories, perspectives and experiences associated with this unique collection.
Join our expert curators, archivists, researchers and conservators for talks, tours, viewings and discussions as they highlight some of our most fascinating collection material – from buildings to wallpaper, house furnishings, art, furniture, rare books and archival material.
What's on
Talk
An Appetite for History
Cookbooks and manuscript recipes from the 1830s to the 1970s
The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Wednesday 12 March 6pm–7.30pm
Talk
A Lesson in Bold Design
Exploring the John and Phyllis Murphy Collection of historic wallpapers
The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Wednesday 5 February 6pm–7.30pm
Past event
Elizabeth Farm: a museum at 40
Join MHNSW curator Dr Scott Hill for a tour of Australia’s oldest surviving house and its recreated garden
70 Alice Street, Rosehill NSW 2142
Saturday 30 November 11am–12pm
Past event
Mrs Simpson's legacy - in conversation with Edward Simpson
Join us to explore some of the highlights of Mrs Caroline Simpson's unique cultural gift and discover the story of the woman behind the collection
The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tuesday 29 October 6pm–7.30pm
Past event
A designer’s inspiration: 19th century ornament source books
Lavishly illustrated Ornament Source Books provided creative inspiration to 19th century designers. A wide variety will be on view for this Rare Book Week event
The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Wednesday 23 October 2.30pm–3.30pm
Past event
Lord Carrington’s illuminated addresses
Join us for a special Rare Book Week event showcasing the Carrington Albums, a jewel in the State Archives Collection
161 O'Connell Street, Kingswood NSW 2747
Thursday 24 October 10.30am–12pm
Featured display
On display
Featured display
A Generous Gift: The John and Phyllis Murphy Collection
Our current library display features an array of colourful and evocative historical wallpapers from the John and Phyllis Murphy Collection
Tuesday 29 October
Explore our Collections
Browse allState Archives Collection
Making history every day
Museum Collections
Place-based collections at our historic houses and museums
Collections stories
![Alexander Mackintosh Archive :
architectural plans and specifications, 1901-ca.1921: Waterhouse & Lake : architectural plans and specifications, 1909-1924 / B.J. Waterhouse & J.W. Lake [architectural drawing]](https://images.mhnsw.au/fotoweb/embed/2024/12/41b04e66f26c41e0a8a932bedad1490a.jpg)
The Alexander Mackintosh Archive: revealing records of a master builder
Forgotten for decades, the archive of building contractor Alexander Mackintosh was rediscovered in a roof space in the 1990s. It includes more than 270 architectural drawings and reveals information about the work of many of Sydney’s leading architects of the early 20th century
![[Sydney from the north shore], Joseph Lycett, 1827.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/zl9du87e/production/efb0ca986f6e159dd142f8014c35c3b1010cbc06-1346x908.jpg?fit=max&auto=format)
Hearing the music of early New South Wales
A new website documents an exciting partnership between Museums of History NSW and the University of Sydney in an exploration of Indigenous song and European settler vocal and instrumental music in early colonial NSW
The architectural pattern books of Elizabeth Macquarie
The architectural achievements of Governor Macquarie’s era are usually attributed to Macquarie’s architect Francis Greenway. Yet evidence collected during an inquiry into the state of the colony of NSW in the early 1820s includes references to the involvement of the governor’s wife, Elizabeth Macquarie, in matters architectural
Wallpaper
Beyond the wallpaper: the life and work of Phyllis and John Murphy
A significant donation of more than 3,000 wallpaper samples to the Caroline Simpson Library reflects just one facet of the remarkable careers of Phyllis and John Murphy, partners in life, architecture and heritage conservation