Museum of Sydney

Museum of Sydney sits on Gadigal Country at Warrane, the area known as Sydney Cove, on and around the remains of Australia’s first Government House. That location gives the museum a strong sense of place: its exhibitions connect the city’s early colonial history with the continuing cultures, experiences and perspectives of First Nations people. Museums of History NSW also acknowledges the site’s significance and its impact on First Nations communities, with a commitment to truth-telling and conversations led by First Nations voices.

Inside, a changing programme of exhibitions, events and conversations explores Sydney’s character, cultures and development. The displays range from archaeology and the history of First Government House to First Nations stories and the experiences of people connected with the city. Unearthed examines the stories held in ordinary objects and the value of archaeological investigation, while Dig It! invites visitors to take on the role of an archaeologist at a museum dig site. The First Fleet Ships display looks at the fleet’s journey, arrival and first contacts, including the largely unwilling human cargo it carried.

Several works provide a direct link to Aboriginal histories and contemporary artistic practice. Eora, a 20-minute digital film by the late Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi filmmaker and photographer Michael Riley, traces the story of Sydney’s First Nations people before and after colonisation. Yura Nura: People & Country presents contemporary Aboriginal reflections on Sydney’s history and colonisation, while Edge of Trees, created by Fiona Foley and Janet Laurence, is a site-specific work commissioned for the museum’s forecourt. Madjeri, named after the Dharawal word for a canoe or small floating vessel, is another display connected to First Nations culture.

The museum suits visitors who want to understand Sydney through its sites, objects and contested histories, whether visiting alone, with friends or as part of a school group. Its learning programmes include material for Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4 students, covering early contact, Indigenous and European histories, Aboriginal languages, archaeology and the expanding Sydney colony. Allow time to consider the displays rather than treating the museum as a quick history stop. There is also a café on site, This Way Canteen, with outdoor seating on the forecourt and daytime food and drinks, making it practical to pair a museum visit with a break at the corner of Phillip and Bridge streets in Sydney CBD.