Collections

Three collections, millions of items, unlimited stories

Museums of History NSW is the new home of three of the state’s most significant and fascinating collections. Dive in and explore.

Experience the collections

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Watercolour of a group of people landing ashore
Featured display

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Caroline Simpson Library

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Caroline Simpson Library, which was created through an extraordinary cultural gift donated by the children of Caroline Simpson OAM (1930–2003).

Inquisition before Coroner sitting alone
22 March, 10.30am
Online talk

Inquest index: 1916-1963

This webinar will show you how to use the recently updated Inquest Index and explore the new additions.

Portrait of a man in formal attire
19 April, 10.30am
Online talk

Colonial Secretary's Minutes, 1826-1927

This webinar will take a deep dive into the Colonial Secretary's minutes

Three children in fancy dress
17 May, 10.30am
Online talk

Unlocking Past Lives

Join Mathew Stephens, research librarian at the Caroline Simpson Library, as he uses the library’s specialist collection to explore the contexts of a selection of historic family photographs.

A federation style house under construction

Collections on Tour 2024

Museums of History NSW is on the road again, sharing our stories with the people of regional NSW

Watercolour of a group of people landing ashore
Featured display

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Caroline Simpson Library

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Caroline Simpson Library, which was created through an extraordinary cultural gift donated by the children of Caroline Simpson OAM (1930–2003).

PR866 Old govt [Government] surveyor, Devonshire St. [Street] reproduction
Latest News

State Archives Collection: Customer satisfaction survey 2024

We welcome your input in this year's survey to help evaluate our services

Webinars

Students and teacher in front of an old school house

Married women teachers declarations

These records are digitised and available to search and view in our catalogue. This webinar explores the declarations, why they were required and how to find them.

Children playing outside with see saw and ride on elephant

Public Works photographs: an unsung treasure

The amazing quality and variety of the photographs taken by the Public Works Department is a testament to the photographers. This webinar explores these images in depth

A group of children

Using sensitive collections for your research

This webinar features records of children, the aged and infirm in care and how to access them

A sandstone two storey house

Finding resources about the history of a house

Property records can be complex and confusing, but very rewarding. This webinar focuses on some key sources that can help to search for the history of a house

A group crowds around a display of archival documents

Conserving the archives: a bespoke donor experience

On Thursday 14 March, MHNSW donors enjoyed a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the NSW State Archives Collection at the Western Sydney Records Centre

Three women sit on a sandstone fence in front of a building
Latest News

Welcome new members of the First Nations Community Access to Archives team

The First Nations Community Access to the Archives team welcomes three First Nations staff to the Collections space

A man sits at a desk and looks at an album of pictures through a magnifying glass
Latest News

A recent acquisition uncovers rare tintype photographs

Tintypes are photographs printed on thin sheets of metal, rather than card. MHNSW doesn’t hold many in our collections, so this discovery is an exciting one

PR866 Old govt [Government] surveyor, Devonshire St. [Street] reproduction
Latest News

State Archives Collection: Customer satisfaction survey 2024

We welcome your input in this year's survey to help evaluate our services

Stories from our collections

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Watercolour of a group of people landing ashore

Rose redacted

How Rose de Freycinet was erased from the official narrative of the 'Uranie' voyage

Equestrian Statue of the King, Astor Flats and Chief Secretary’s Building

The Astor, 1923–2023

Upon completion in 1923, The Astor in Sydney's Macquarie Stree twas the largest reinforced concrete building in Australia, the tallest residential block, and this country’s first company title residences

Ruins of Temple of Vishnu, Dondra, Ceylon

City of Gods, my early experience and toy boat

Inspired by a watercolour of the ruins of the temple of Vishnu, refugee curator in residence Jagath Dheerasekara writes about Devinuvara as a site of pilgrimage, colonisation and uprising

Detail of the four poster bed and beaded watch pockets in the Principal bedroom, Vaucluse House

Watch pockets

Watch pockets hung on the head cloth of a four-post bedstead and originally served in place of bedside tables, which were uncommon in the 19th century

'Day of Mourning' Aboriginal meeting on 26 January 1938 at Australian Hall, Sydney, NSW
First Nations

Day of Mourning

January 26 has long been a day of debate and civic action. Those who celebrate may be surprised of the date’s significance in NSW as a protest to the celebrations of the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet on what was then “Anniversary Day” in NSW

https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_square_thumbnail/public/Galleries/Sydney%20Opera%20House/12708_00004.jpg?itok=nuDilYgu

The Sydney Opera House Books

Significant publications and reports on the Sydney Opera House project, including the rules for the design competition, plans, drawings and photographs at various stages of the construction

Original glass plate negatives from the NSW Police Forensic Photography Archive arranged on a lightbox.

Glass-plate photography

The collection of glass-plate negatives held in the State Archives and Justice & Police Museum are endlessly fascinating and revealing

Collections conservation

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Government Printing Office; NRS 4481, Glass negatives. NRS-4481-4-44-[AF00194836] Immigration Barracks Sydney, August 1871 [Department of Public Works]
Conservation

Conservation in action: Hyde Park Barracks northern range refurbishment works

In collaboration with experienced heritage consultants and traditional tradespeople, MHNSW is undertaking conservation works to the northern range buildings

Horticulturalist Stephen Goldsworthy planting seedlings in the kitchen garden
Conservation

Vaucluse House kitchen garden

The Vaucluse House kitchen garden recently underwent a significant rejuvenation project to preserve the site and allow it to continue to be used as a valuable educational resource

Photo of the Wentworth mausoleum with tabled light coming through the trees

Wentworth Mausoleum perimeter fence conservation

MHNSW is undertaking the first comprehensive conservation works to the fence surrounding the 1870s resting place of William Charles Wentworth

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