For a relatively young city, Sydney in New South Wales is packed with history. And these ten Sydney history museums are among the best places to explore it.
Australian National Maritime Museum
Perched on Darling Harbour‘s waterfront, this museum opened in 1991 and celebrates Australia’s deep connection to the sea. You’ll find everything from Indigenous canoes to naval destroyers, including the submarine HMAS Onslow you can actually climb aboard. The exhibitions at the Australian National Maritime Museum span First Nations maritime culture, colonial navigation, immigration journeys, and Australia’s America’s Cup glory. It’s interactive, sprawling, and perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered what life was like below deck on a WWII sub.
Hyde Park Barracks
Originally designed by convict architect Francis Greenway in 1819, this Georgian masterpiece once housed male convicts who built early Sydney. The Hyde Park Barracks later served as an immigration depot and asylum. The UNESCO World Heritage site now tells intimate stories through archaeological discoveries — thousands of objects found beneath the floorboards reveal what convicts ate, wore, and treasured. The hammock room lets you experience their cramped sleeping quarters firsthand. It’s haunting, fascinating social history that makes Sydney’s colonial foundations tangible.
Museum of Sydney
Built on the ruins of Australia’s first Government House, the Museum of Sydney sits where Governor Phillip established colonial authority in 1788. The striking contemporary building incorporates archaeological remains visible through floor panels. Inside, you’ll encounter the famous Edge of the Trees sculpture outside and exhibitions exploring Sydney’s Indigenous history, colonial encounters, and urban evolution. It’s less about dusty artifacts and more about layered stories — the contested histories of place, power, and transformation that shaped modern Sydney.
Five great things to do while you’re in Sydney
- Take a small group tour to the Blue Mountains – with a Parramatta River cruise thrown in.
- See the landmarks and secret beaches – on a Sydney Harbour cruise.
- Discover Sydney’s most historic neighbourhood – on a Rocks walking tour.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise – and admire migrating humpbacks.
- Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – with beginner surfing lessons.
Susannah Place Museum
This terrace house row in The Rocks has survived essentially unchanged since 1844, making it Sydney’s oldest intact domestic buildings. Four cramped workers’ cottages tell stories of the Irish, English, and Jewish families who lived here across 150 years. You’ll see original wallpaper layers, tiny backyards, and outdoor dunnies that bring working-class Sydney vividly to life. Guided tours of Susannah Place reveal how these families navigated poverty, epidemics, and the threat of demolition. It’s intimate, unglamorous history that tourist brochures usually skip.
Justice and Police Museum
Housed in the former Water Police Court and police station (built 1856), this atmospheric history museum dives into Sydney’s criminal underworld. You’ll explore original courtrooms, police charge rooms, and cells while learning about notorious crimes, forensic history, and policing methods. The Justice and Police Museum collection includes mugshots, weapons, and evidence from real cases. It’s delightfully macabre — think razor gang wars, waterfront violence, and the seedier side of old Sydney. The sandstone building itself, tucked beside Circular Quay, oozes Victorian-era gravitas.
Anzac Memorial
This powerful Art Deco monument in Hyde Park was completed in 1934 to honour New South Wales citizens who served in WWI. The building itself is stunning — all geometric lines and solemn grandeur. Inside, the Hall of Memory features a moving sculpture of a young soldier carried on his shield. Recent renovations at the Anzac Memorial added an underground gallery displaying personal stories, letters, and artifacts from Australian servicemen and women across all conflicts. It’s deeply moving without being militaristic, balancing commemoration with honest reflection.
Sydney Living Museums’ Vaucluse House
This harbourside Gothic Revival mansion was home to statesman William Charles Wentworth and his family from 1827. The sprawling estate offers a glimpse into colonial Australia’s upper class, with original furnishings, family portraits, and 19th-century gardens. You’ll wander through rooms where political deals were struck and society parties held, while learning about the complex Wentworth family, including Sarah, Wentworth’s wife, who was born to a convict mother. The grounds of Vaucluse House are gorgeous for picnicking.
Elizabeth Bay House
Designed by John Verge and completed in 1839, this Regency villa was once Sydney’s finest residence, belonging to Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay. The stunning elliptical saloon and cantilevered staircase remain architectural highlights. After years as boarding houses, Elizabeth Bay House been restored to reflect 1840s grandeur, complete with period furnishings. The museum explores both the Macleay family‘s scientific pursuits and the servants who maintained their lifestyle. The harbour views alone are worth the visit—imagine watching ships arrive in colonial Sydney.
Elizabeth Farm
Australia’s oldest surviving European dwelling sits in Parramatta, built in 1793 by John and Elizabeth Macarthur, who pioneered Australia’s wool industry. The cottage at Elizabeth Farm has been expanded and modified over decades, creating a layered history visible in its architecture. You’ll discover how the Macarthurs built their pastoral empire while exploring furnished rooms that evoke colonial domestic life. The gardens feature heritage plants and fruit trees. It’s a surprisingly personal encounter with the people who shaped Australia’s agricultural foundations.
Sydney Observatory
Perched on Observatory Hill since 1858, this working astronomical research facility turned museum offers both history and stargazing. The sandstone building housed astronomers who tracked time, mapped stars, and recorded the 1874 transit of Venus. Today you can peer through historic telescopes, explore exhibitions about space science, and attend night-time viewing sessions. The Sydney Observatory building itself, with its copper domes and heritage instruments, tells the story of Australia’s contribution to global astronomy while offering spectacular city views.
More Sydney travel
Other Sydney travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- How travelling with kids makes Sydney different.
- Planning a visit to Lane Cove National Park.
- Taking on the Bondi to Coogee walk.
- A luxury travel guide to Sydney.
- A first-timer’s guide to visiting Luna Park in Sydney.
