MUSEUM OF SYDNEY

I’ll be honest—I’m not much of a reader, so here’s a quick overview of what I know about the Museum of Sydney. Otherwise, just enjoy the photos of me pretending to be fully absorbed in the artefacts on display!

The Museum of Sydney sits on the site of Australia’s first Government House, built in 1788 under Governor Arthur Phillip during the early convict settlement era. You can enter through First Government House Place on Bridge Street, where the building’s outline is marked on the plaza with inlaid stones. Excavations here have uncovered historic brick drains from the late 1700s and early 1800s, and you can view these preserved remnants in glass display cases embedded in the museum’s lobby and forecourt.

Initially named the First Government House Museum, it later became known simply as the Museum of Sydney. Designed by Melbourne-based architects Denton Corker Marshall, the building is part of the Governor Phillip Tower and showcases artifacts from 25 archaeological digs, displaying items from Sydney’s convict days and an expansive timeline of the city’s transformation from 1788 to the present.

On the museum’s forecourt, just before the main entrance, you’ll find the award-winning sculpture Edge of the Trees, symbolizing the first encounter between the Aboriginal people and the First Fleet.

If you’re interested in Australia’s early history, the Museum of Sydney is a must-visit. And even if history isn’t your thing, the forecourt alone is worth a stop (wink-wink). That’s all from me—make sure to visit the Museum of Sydney if you’re ever in town!

Museum of Sydney on the Site of the First Government House
Corner of Phillip Street & Bridge Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia