Museum of Sydney Museum

Address: Corner of Phillip & Bridge Streets (First Fleet Park), Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Website: https://maas.museum/museum-of-sydney/

Hours: Daily 10am-5pm

Admission: General entry free; paid for special exhibitions

The Museum of Sydney is a public museum on the site of Australia’s first Government House, located on the city’s main waterfront. It interprets the colonial founding of Sydney and the longer histories of the place.

Galleries cover the period from first European settlement in 1788 through the 19th century, alongside exhibits on local Aboriginal histories and the evolving cityscape. The museum incorporates archaeological displays showing the foundations and remains of the original Government House.

The museum was established in the 1990s to interpret the site of the first Government House and broader Sydney history; it opened on the historic site where the colony’s first administration was based from 1788. Archaeological investigations at the site have supplied objects and structural remains that form a core part of the museum’s displays.

The museum sits on George Street near Circular Quay in Sydney’s central business district, within walking distance of The Rocks, the Opera House and ferry terminals.

• Archaeological site: Built on the archaeological site of the first Government House (established 1788), with remains visible to visitors in the museum basement.
• Location tip: Located a short walk from Circular Quay and the historic Rocks precinct, making it easy to combine with other central Sydney attractions.

What to See#

• First Government House remains: Excavated remains and visible foundations of the first Government House are displayed beneath and adjacent to the museum galleries, forming a key archaeological feature.
• Galleries: Exhibition galleries present rotating displays on colonial Sydney, Indigenous histories, and the site’s archaeology together with temporary shows.

The Museum of Sydney sits in The Rocks on the historic site of the first Government House (corner of Phillip and Bridge Streets). The nearest major public-transport hub is Circular Quay (train and ferry), about a 5-8 minute walk (roughly 400-600 m) from the museum; Wynyard and nearby bus stops also serve The Rocks. By road the museum is about 8-10 km from Sydney Airport (roughly 20-30 minutes by car depending on traffic).

• Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend crowds in The Rocks; the museum is compact so you can combine it with a short walk to Circular Quay afterwards.
• Seek out the archaeological displays in the building's lower levels-glass viewing areas expose the foundations and remains of the First Government House beneath the museum, a highlight many visitors miss.
• Check the museum's website before you go for current temporary exhibitions and opening hours; the main entrance is on Phillip Street near the corner with Bridge Street.