Museum of Sydney facts for kids
Museum of Sydney from Bridge St
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| Established | 1995 |
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| Location | Corner of Phillip and Bridge Street, Sydney |
The Museum of Sydney is a cool place where you can explore the history of Sydney. It's built right on top of the ruins of the very first Governor's house in New South Wales. This was the home of Arthur Phillip, who was the first Governor. You can find the museum today at the corner of Phillip and Bridge Street, Sydney.
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Discovering Sydney's Past
The original house, known as the First Government House, was built way back in 1788. It was Australia's very first official Government House. After some time, it was no longer used.
In 1983, archaeologists dug up the site. They found the old foundations of the house! The new museum building was then designed by a group of architects called Denton Corker Marshall. The museum opened in 1995. It is looked after by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales.
What You Can See Inside
The Museum of Sydney helps you learn about Sydney's past and present. It uses old objects, pictures, and new digital screens. You can see how Sydney looked from 1788 until today.
One amazing part is a huge display about Sydney's early days. This was when many people came to Australia as convicts. The museum shows items found from over 25 archaeological digs. These items tell stories about what life was like back then.
How the Museum Got Its Name
When the museum project first started, it was called the First Government House Museum. But while the building was being made, the name changed. In 1993, it was announced that the museum would be called the Museum of Sydney on the Site of First Government House.
This name was a bit long and tricky to say! People often just called it The Museum of Sydney. Some people didn't like the name change, but it stuck.
The Museum Entrance and Forecourt
The main entrance to the museum is on Bridge Street, Sydney. This area is called First Government House Place. On the ground outside, you can see the exact shape of Governor Phillip's first house. It's marked out with special stones.
When the site was dug up, archaeologists found old drains from the 1790s and 1800s. They also found old outdoor toilets, called privies. You can see these old remains and other cool archeological artifacts. They are displayed in glass cases built right into the pavement! It's like looking through a window into the past.
See also
