Museum of Sydney

After spending most of my time the latest weeks for the apartment hunting and moving I decided to spend an afternoon doing something touristy and educational. So headed downtown to visit the Museum of Sydney.

It's not a very big museum, it's three narrow floors with a couple of rooms in each. But its pretty packed and I spent a good 2 hours in there and I still have a few rooms left that I saved for a future visit with Nicole. It naturally focuses on the history of Sydney and NSW.

First Government House

The museum is located on the site of the first Government house so it has an exhibit about the house and how the museum came to be. The First Government house was the home and office of the first 9 Governors of Australia and was extended many times before it was in such a bad shape that it had to be replaces by the new Government house, which is in great condition and can be visited in the Botanical Gardens. The first government house was not only in bad shape, it was also located in a prime location what had become central Sydney and when the streets needed to be extended they demolished the house. It was forgotten until a few decades ago when the site was going to be turned into another of Sydney sky rises and an archaeological dig found the remains of the old government house. 

Visit the museum to learn more or read about it here

http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/first-government-house/index.html

Well worth a visit

Though the museum is not very big it's still well worth a visit. My favorite rooms where the models of the 11 ships from the First Fleet, the model and story of the First Government House and the rooms with Aboriginal history. 

Entrance to museum and a monument to the Aboriginal tribes of the Sydney area. 

The white stones in the ground outline the houses of the First Government House.

Model of the First Government House.

Models of the ships of the First Fleet

Painting depicting when Governor Phillips got attacked and wounded by an Aboriginal spear.

Memorial Stone

Visitor Details

Admission:

•  Adult $10 I
•  Child/Concession $5 |
•  Family $20 |
•  Members free |

Hours:Open daily 10am — 5pm | Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day

http://www.hht.net.au/museums/mos

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Hyde Park Barracks

Unlocking Australia's Past

It rained the whole day yesterday so we decided to have a museum day. One thing that I have been keen to learn more about is Australian history. All we learn about Australia in school in Sweden is that it was a big prison island. A Europe-sized Alcatraz, a wonderful idea worthy of being made into major motion picture, but more myth than reality I always suspected. So we decided to check out Hyde Park Barracks which once was a central node in Sydney's convict handling and today is a museum covering not only it's own history but also that of Sydney's early history.

Large murals cover the walls of one of the exhibition rooms. This one shows the state of affairs in England at the time. Notice the pickpocket at the right hand side of the picture. He has a future in Australia to look forward to. 

Another big mural showing life outside the Barracks. 

Model showing the building of the Barracks in 1818.

Up to 70 convicts slept in the same room on the top floor of the barracks. Boys as young as 9 and men as old as 70 where convicted to a life in the colonies.

Edutainment!
It was a great day and we both enjoyed the museum very much. There was plenty to see and the two hours we had put aside for visiting the museum was a bit on the short side. We had to hurry through the last two rooms before they rang the closing bell and kicked us out. We both had a fab time and I can highly recommend the museum.

Details
* Admission
At $10 it was well priced and a copy of the Sydney Morning Herald was included in the price.
* Opening hours:
Open daily 10am - 5pm
* Location:
Hyde Park Barracks are located at the top of Hyde Park. Closest train stations are "St. James Station" or "Martins Place" depending on what line you are on.
* Web site:
http://www.hht.net.au/museums/hyde_park_barracks_museum
* Map:

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