Museums

Museums in Sydney

Many of the major public museums can be found in the Sydney city centre and are frequented by both tourists and locals. The Historic Houses Trust has fine colonial homes spread around Sydney which give you a taste of early colonial life and architecture.

Established in 1827, the Australian Museum is the country's first museum featuring extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts. It has an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous research, community programs and exhibitions.

Located next door to Darling Harbour, the Powerhouse is one of Australia's largest and most diverse museums.More than 250 interactive exhibits bring the Powerhouse Museum to life with holographic images, touch screen computers, science experiments and virtual reality space. It features an extraordinary array of treasures across decorative arts and design, science, technology, space, transport and social history. The Australian National Maritime Museum is a distinctive indoor and outdoor attraction providing a great day's entertainment for kids and parents alike. The museum also hosts an ever-changing program of temporary exhibitions and a fleet of historic craft at its wharves.

The Museum of Sydney is a modern museum built on the historic site of the first Government House, built for Governor Phillip in 1788. It takes visitors on a journey exploring Sydney's people, places and culture from dreamtime to modern times. It is a place of many layers: from the archaeological remains of the colony's first Government House built in 1788 to the award-winning sculpture 'Edge of the Trees', interpreting the site of first contact between Aborigines and those arriving on the First Fleet.