To say the museums of Sydney are diverse would be an understatement. You’ll find a wide range of Sydney museums that cover all art genres, from historical to modern and contemporary. Many stands on sites of historical importance and have been restored, giving a vivid and fascinating glimpse into the past. Some museums embrace the now and future in contemporary form and offer many different ways to engage with art.
The museums of Sydney
There is a driving force to make art accessible to everyone, with many museums offering free admission. An underlying thread through Sydney’s museums is the time dedicated to honouring and respecting the indigenous people of Australia. You can see displays of work from some of Australia’s most talented indigenous artists and learn about the culture and history of Australia’s first inhabitants.
Museum of Sydney
It’s only right that we start our tour of Sydney museums at one of its most historic spots. On the site of the first Government House in 1788 now stands the Museum of Sydney. In 1983, archaeologists unearthed the foundations of the original building, which remain as features of the museum. The museum features a mix of state-of-the-art installations, nostalgic memorabilia from times bygone, and temporary exhibitions. In addition, there’s a giant video screen, the size of the full length of the building, that documents the city’s development.
In honour of the Gadigal people, the indigenous people from the area who made contact with the First Fleet, there’s a whole exhibition. The Gadigal Place Gallery is dedicated to their history and culture, with a sculpture aptly called The Edge of the Tree, which depicts how they hid behind trees at the sighting of the First Fleet outside. In the museum’s reception area, there is a large painting by the late indigenous painter Gordon Bennet. It parodies British paintings depicting Captain Cook’s colonisation of Australia. It’s an inspiring and truly moving museum that is tastefully done and worth visiting.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon – Fri
- Admission: Free
Chau Chak Wing Museum – Sydney University
The Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney is a museum of art, science, history and ancient cultures all under one roof, including some of Australia’s oldest natural history specimens. The university’s collection is a treasure trove of ancient art, where you’ll find mummies with names like Chantel Le Cross and tomb artefacts like the Model Boat, thought to be of the Middle Kingdom era.
Contemporary works such as the iconic ‘LOVE’ pop art by Robert Indiana from the 1960s stand next to a 16th-century oil painting of Adam and Eve, and separating them, a glass case containing some vibrant and colourful parrots aptly named ‘Don’t Judge a Bird by Its Feathers’. It may sound haphazardly thrown together, but it is intentional and gives a very interesting look at the world.
The museum also contains works by the celebrated Australian Indigenous artist Daniel Boyd. Though it has a wide collection, the museum’s intimate layout leaves you feeling content to wander around and not feel you’re missing out on anything.
- Opening hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun. Late close on Thur. 12 p.m. – 4 p.m on weekends
- Admission: Free
Australian Museum
For a glimpse of Australia’s most deadly specimens, head to the Australian Museum, where you will find 21.9 million, yes, millions, of specimens, either stuffed or behind glass. It is an intriguing display of natural history.
The museum’s collection also includes cultural objects from Africa, the Americas and the Pacific islands, including a tattooed chalk head from the Solomon Islands. In addition, there’s a whole Indigenous section dedicated to Aboriginal culture and beliefs. It’s a great place to learn about Australia’s past and the history of Indigenous Australians through works such as Stolen Generations.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Mon – Sun
- Admission: Free, some exhibitions may be ticketed
The Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum is where to head for some science, design, and innovation. Housed in a former powerhouse station in the heart of Sydney, the museum embraces fashion and pop culture, and many of its exhibitions and works are very hands on. The permanent exhibitions include a reconstructed 1930s cinema that screens films from that era. In the foyer, you will find a steam-powered locomotive from the 1850s and the Boulton and Watt steam engine.
The museum has late-night openings on Thursdays, until 9 p.m., when you can choose to watch a movie, listen to live music, get a guided tour or listen to fascinating talks.
- Opening hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon – Fri
- Admission: Free, there may be some ticketed events
Australian National Maritime Museum
Set by the spectacular Darling Harbour, the Australian National Maritime Museum is a captivating collection of defence, exploration, trade and adventure sports. It has one of the world’s largest and most diverse in-water fleets. There are about 14 vessels on display, including the cold war submarine HMAS Onslow and the big gun HMAS Vampire submarine. You could actually take a ride in some of them, as they are quite interactive; on occasion, a replica of Captain Cook’s HMB Endeavour docks here.
The museum has six permanent galleries and an array of entertainment, including a 3D cinema, and it’s very child friendly, so great for a good day out. In addition, there’s a lovely seafood restaurant, Yots Cafe.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. every day (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. during school holidays)
- Admission: Ticketed
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
The Hyde Park Barracks Museum, in the heart of Sydney, is housed in a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. It is an extraordinary living record of colonial Australia. The building, designed by a convict, Francis Greenway, was initially built as a prison but has had many uses since, including that of an asylum, immigration depot, law courts and even government offices.
This is a totally immersive experience with an audio-recorded guide; you get a roughly 90min tour of the exhibition, with narratives taken from diaries and other historical records of the place. In addition, there’s a kids’ guided tour that’s fun and involves finding clues to complete activities. It truly is a fantastic exhibition and one of the best museums in Sydney.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thur – Sun
- Admission: Ticketed
Justice and Police Museum
Sticking with the whole convict theme, another Sydney museum worth a visit is the Justice and Police Museum, not far from the city’s historic port. The museum consists of two former police courts and a former police station, the Water Police Station, which made up Sydney’s busiest legal hubs. It’s thought to have convicted some of Australia’s most infamous criminals, including Henry Louis Bertrand,
‘The Mad Dentist’ accused of killing his lover’s husband. After his conviction, he spent his years witling mementoes out of animal bones, creations that are now on display. You’ll also find a collection of pictures and masks of other notorious criminals and deadly weapons, with newspaper reports of much-publicised cases. In addition, there’s a reconstructed 1890s police charge room, a damp cell and a restored courthouse once used for petty criminals.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat & Sun
- Admission: Free but must be pre-booked
Sydney Jewish Museum
You can learn about Jewish culture and community, the Holocaust and human rights in a beautifully and respectfully curated space at the Sydney Jewish Museum. The design of the building leads you through a war memorial to the first floor, where you will find a gigantic star of David, made with stone from Jerusalem inlaid into the floor.
The symbol of faith and identity is repeated throughout all the floors. On the floor area around these stars, you’ll find inscribed names; some belong to the Holocaust survivors who founded the museum and some are a poignant reminder of those who were lost. One of its newest exhibitions uses interactive media and new digital technologies to explore issues of human rights, especially immigration, disability, Indigenous people and the LGBTQI+ community.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mon – Thur. 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sun
- Admission: Ticketed
Museum of Contemporary Art
Housed in an Art Deco building that was once a maritime services building, by the waters on Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art is Australia’s leading museum dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art from across Australia and worldwide. The museum has over 4,000 works, including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and often has visiting exhibitions. In addition, they offer free guided tours every day and descriptive audio tours. You can check at the reception for times.
The museum has three excellent restaurants, including Graze on the ground floor for a casual lunch. You can also get incredible views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Sculpture Terrace on Level Four and MCA Cafe on the rooftop.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tue – Sun
- Admission: Free
Camden Museum
As an example of the pride, people take in preserving their culture, something we’ve seen a lot of in the museums of Sydney, we’ll take a slight detour to a fascinating location for a museum. You may think a library is an odd place for a museum, but at Camden Library, you’ll find Camden Museum.
This is an example of people working hard to preserve their heritage through a rich collection of historical artefacts, including photos, maps, badges, clothing, uniforms, furniture, and musical instruments found in the area. The history of Camden is old, and the unique heritage unfolds as you wander through the extensive collection.
- The museum is at 40 John Street
- Opening hours: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thur – Sun
- Admission: Free
