Museum of Sydney

The Museum of Sydney is a history museum on Bridge Street that combines archaeological finds, objects from different periods, and digital displays to tell how the city developed over time. The collection comes from excavations at multiple sites and documents both the early colonial period and the city's modern growth.

The site sits on the remains of the First Government House from 1788, the residence of the first governor and the starting point of European settlement in Australia. The museum building was constructed here much later to preserve the archaeological layers and their importance to Sydney's origins.

The exhibitions show how different communities have shaped the city since its founding, presenting stories and objects that reveal the lives of ordinary people who built Sydney. You can discover how various cultural groups left their mark on this place and influenced its character.

The museum sits directly on Bridge Street in central Sydney and is easy to reach on foot or by public transport. Clear signs guide you from street level, and the building is accessible with elevators and step-free paths through all levels.

Stone markers carved into the ground in front of the museum outline the exact shape and size of the original governor's house, helping visitors mentally reconstruct the first building on this site. These ground-level markers make the hidden history beneath the city tangible and leave a strong impression on many visitors.