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Elizabeth Bay House
Elizabeth Farm
Hyde Park Barracks
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Meroogal
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Rose Seidler House
Rouse Hill Estate
Susannah Place
The Mint
Vaucluse House
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Caroline Simpson Library
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Become a member
For exclusive Member events and experiences plus a range of year round benefits
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Coomaditchie: The Art of Place
Experience community life by the ocean through the works of First Nations artists
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Coomaditchie: The Art of Place
Experience community life by the ocean through the works of First Nations artists
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Collections
Dive deep or just browse among our diverse and inspiring collections
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State Archives Collection
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Caroline Simpson Collection
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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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Onsite programs
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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 Speaker Series
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First Nations stories
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
Read on
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
Read on
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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
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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 more
Stories
There’s no limit to the stories our houses, museums and collections can tell
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Popular topics
Architecture & design
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Convict Sydney
First Fleet
First Nations
Music
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Regional NSW
Underworld of the Roaring 20s
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’
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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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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
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Visit the State Records NSW website

Search our website and collections

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

Historic colour in the home

Colouring the past can be both exciting and challenging.

This webinar explores the many sources found in the Caroline Simpson Library that can bring colour to the homes of past. Join Dr Matthew Stephens as he looks at paint charts, hand-coloured illustrations, trade catalogues, wallpapers, and textiles in his search for colour.

Talks & webinars

Browse all

Vivienne Chaffer : Colour [interior design student workbook]

Phyllis Shillito and her colour curriculum 1945–1979

This event focused on the colour curriculum of pioneering Sydney-based colour designer and educator Phyllis Shillito (1895–1980) of the 1940s to the 1970s

Watercolour of a group of people landing ashore

The Extraordinary Story of Rose de Freycinet

Hear the story of Rose de Freycinet, the first woman to write an account of a global circumnavigation, with Suzanne Falkiner

Animals in our Houses

A Parade of Animals in Nurseries, with Michael Lech

Page from book: The Enquirers home book a complete guide for every branch of domestic life, 1910

19th-Century Domestic Advice Manuals

The self-help books of the 19th century, with Marina Grilanc