Visit us
At our houses, museums, gardens or reading rooms
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Museums
Elizabeth Bay House
Elizabeth Farm
Hyde Park Barracks
Justice & Police Museum
Meroogal
Museum of Sydney
Rose Seidler House
Rouse Hill Estate
Susannah Place
The Mint
Vaucluse House
Reading rooms
Caroline Simpson Library
State Archives Reading Room
Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
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Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
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What's on
Exhibitions, events, activations, celebrations and more
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Exhibitions
Displays
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Talks
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Webinars & online talks
The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50
Celebrating five decades of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments at the Sydney Opera House
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The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50
Celebrating five decades of extraordinary performances and unforgettable moments at the Sydney Opera House
More
Collections
Dive deep or just browse among our diverse and inspiring collections
View the collections
State Archives Collection
About
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Subjects A-Z
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Visit the Reading Room
State Archives catalogue
Caroline Simpson Collection
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Visit the Library
Caroline Simpson catalogues
Talks & webinars
Museum Collections
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Ask a Curator
Objects catalogue
Collections on Tour
We're on the road again, sharing our stories with the people of regional NSW
Read on
Collections on Tour
We're on the road again, sharing our stories with the people of regional NSW
Read on
Learning
Explore the past and imagine the future through immersive and interactive programs and resources, onsite and online
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Learn with us
Onsite programs
Virtual excursions
Learning resources
Learning
Discover past lives, events and stories in the places where they actually unfolded
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Learning
Discover past lives, events and stories in the places where they actually unfolded
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First Nations Hub
A dedicated space for First Nations community, cultures and history
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Read and reflect
First Nations Hub
First Nations stories
First Nations Speaker Series
Harold Blair, trailblazer
Wulli Wulli tenor Harold Blair AM was Australia’s first professionally trained Aboriginal opera singer. An honour he had to fight for.
Read on
Harold Blair, trailblazer
Wulli Wulli tenor Harold Blair AM was Australia’s first professionally trained Aboriginal opera singer. An honour he had to fight for.
Read on
Get involved
Our supporters are a central part of our story and our success
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Donate
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Volunteer
Work experience
Stitching for our house museums
For almost 15 years, a dedicated group of volunteers has gathered to sew, crochet, knit, embroider and stuff historically authentic soft furnishings for our houses
Read on
Stitching for our house museums
For almost 15 years, a dedicated group of volunteers has gathered to sew, crochet, knit, embroider and stuff historically authentic soft furnishings for our houses
Read on
Stories
There’s no limit to the stories our houses, museums and collections can tell
Browse our stories
Popular topics
Architecture & design
Collections
Conservation
Convicts
First Nations
Music
Photography
Regional NSW
Sydney Opera House
Women's stories
A new way of living
Once word spread about the newly built Rose Seidler House in 1950, it was the ‘most talked about house in Sydney’
Read more
A new way of living
Once word spread about the newly built Rose Seidler House in 1950, it was the ‘most talked about house in Sydney’
Read more
Venue hire
From magnificent colonial style buildings to iconic modern designed spaces, we have a venue ready for you
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Find your event space
Our venues
Weddings & celebrations
Film & photography
Corporate
Be inspired
Unique and spectacular spaces for your next event or occasion
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Be inspired
Unique and spectacular spaces for your next event or occasion
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Government services
Information and resources for managing, storing and transferring government records 
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Government Records Repository
Manage your records with GRR
GRRWeb
Agency Services
State Archives Agency services
Service portal
Visit the State Records NSW website

Search our website and collections

Go direct to State Archives online indexes Go direct to State Archives catalogue

Toys

An icon wearing an icon: Sydney Opera House Barbie

Stepping away from her signature pink, Barbie honours the Sydney Opera House with more subtle tones in her gown, that reflect the Opera House and its Harbourside location

Child's play

The imagination of a child can turn the simplest toy into a prized possession

Black and white photo of children playing on equipment.

Childhood at Susannah Place

Growing up in a small inner-city house in mid 20th century Sydney involved being outdoors pretty much most of the time

Barbie 'Fashion Queen', 'After Five' and 'Solo in the Spotlight' with wardrobe

Life in Plastic, it's fantastic

Barbie is the iconic fashion doll of the 21st century that millions of children have grown up with

Resource

Toys in the past

Let your Stage 1 students explore this 3D mystery object to find out more about games played by children and adults in the past