What’s on

Searching Early Colonial Records 1788–1856 

Join us for a full-day seminar on Searching Early Colonial Records 1788-1856 featuring talks by renowned expert historians Adjunct Associate Professor Carol Liston AO, Gary Sturgess AM, Dr Terry Kass, Bonnie Wildie, and Michael Flynn

Dream Feast – Vivid Food

Prepare to be indulged at Dream Feast, part of Vivid Food 2026. This multisensory communal dining experience will embrace nostalgia to transport you through time with music and visuals

An Evening at Vaucluse House

Experience the Wentworths’ picturesque estate and harbourside retreat in an exclusive and intimate tour after dark

Sin City: Sydney Crime Stories

Visit real crime scenes from the past and hear the stories behind the crimes

‘Confused heaps’ and ‘systemic order’: Keeping records in 19th-century NSW

Join us for a fascinating talk that uncovers how official records were created, kept and carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) stored in 19th–century NSW

Guided Tours of The Lands by Capella

Explore the newly opened The Lands by Capella in a one-hour guided tour that shares stories of the site’s unique heritage and showcases the transformed spaces within the historic Department of Lands building. Various times

16 May & 13 June

White Bay Power Station Behind-the-Scenes Tours

As part of the 25th Biennale of Sydney, go behind the scenes at Sydney’s longest-serving power station, at White Bay. Various dates

Firestick

A new six-part talk series featuring First Nations visionaries who are blazing a trail and lighting the way for future generations in diverse industries from video game design to global fashion

House/Music

From June to August, we’re transforming our historic houses and museum spaces through a series of intimate and diverse live music experiences

Winter Solstice with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Experience the phenomenon of the winter solstice at Elizabeth Bay House with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Adrian Feint Revisited

Join us at Elizabeth Bay House for a conversation with the creative minds behind independent fashion house Nicol & Ford

Designing Your Local: Hotel Plans in the NSW State Archives Collection

Join us for this webinar which will explore the beautiful plans of historic NSW pubs held in the State Archives Collection

Members Hour: Justice & Police Museum

Experience Members Hour at the Justice & Police Museum

A Floristry Workshop with Date Night Studio

Enjoy an afternoon of flowers, fashion and conversation at the historic Elizabeth Bay House

Ceramics Workshop with Kevin ‘Sooty’ Welsh

This hands-on ceramic workshop with Wailwan artist Kevin ‘Sooty’ Welsh explores the cultural significance and living legacy of scar trees in Australia

9 & 10 July

Jade Goodwin Illustration Workshop

Join Jade Goodwin this NAIDOC Week for a special illustration workshop for kids and families

Dharug Day Out

We’re joining forces with Muru Mittigar Cultural Centre to bring you a day of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy, featuring live music, cultural performances and a range of food and artisan stalls

Digging Up the Neighbourhood

This walking tour uncovers The Rocks and Millers Point archaeology, including rare access to the preserved Parbury Ruins

Weaving on Country with Malima

Malima, a family business from the La Perouse Aboriginal Community, share traditional Aboriginal weaving techniques. In this immersive workshop, learn about cultural knowledge and practices that connect weaving to Country

Catalogues of Lost Dreams

House contents have been sold by auction in Sydney for over 200 years. Discover the gossip behind these sales and view auction catalogues

Members: Convict Sydney Walking Tour

Experience a members-only Convict Sydney Walking Tour

Vital Records: Tracing Births, Deaths and Marriages in NSW

Join us for a full-day seminar on the vital records that are key to all forms of historical research – births, deaths and marriages

Convict Sydney Walking Tour

Join one of our knowledgeable and expert guides for a tour of Convict Sydney

‘Most came because their fare was paid for them’: NSW assisted immigration

Join us for this webinar led by Dr Richard Reid, to get a glimpse of the treasures in the NSW State Archives Collection that illuminate the assisted emigrant journey

Members Hour: Rose Seidler House

Experience Members Hour: Rose Seidler House

Members: Wentworth Mausoleum Tour

Enjoy a members-only walking tour of the rarely opened Wentworth Mausoleum and learn about William Charles Wentworth’s extravagant 1873 state funeral

Members Hour: Hyde Park Barracks

Experience Members Hour 2026 at the Hyde Park Barracks

Eora by Michael Riley

Eora, by the late Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi filmmaker and photographer Michael Riley (1960–2004), is a 20-minute digital film that tells the story of Sydney’s First Nations people – before and after colonisation

Madjeri

Madjeri (pronounced mud-jer-ee) is the Dharawal word for canoe or small floating vessel

A Century of Paint Colour Charts: 1880–1980

Contemporary interiors seem to reject colour in favour of ‘greige’, off-whites, and neutrals. Yet for many centuries the choice and concentration of colour for the decoration of interiors reflected wealth, status, and fashion

Alexander Riley, legendary Aboriginal police tracker

The remarkable talents of Aboriginal trackers who worked for NSW Police in the 20th century are featured in a display at the Justice & Police Museum

Healing land, remembering Country

A powerful work by Kuku Yalanji artist Tony Albert

Yura Nura: People & Country

Yura Nura: People & Country presents contemporary Aboriginal reflections on the history of Sydney and colonisation