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 (MOS) is a cool place where you can learn about Sydney's past. It's built right on top of the old house of Arthur Phillip, who was the very first Governor of New South Wales. You can find it today at the corner of Phillip and Bridge Street, Sydney.
Contents
Discovering Sydney's History
The Museum of Sydney stands on a very important historical spot. It's where the first Government House was built way back in 1788. This was the home of Governor Phillip.
Why the Museum Was Built
Over time, the first Government House became too old and was pulled down around 1845. Many years later, in 1982, people planned to build new things on this land. But before they could, experts did an archaeological dig. This means they carefully dug up the ground to find old objects and learn about the past.
Protecting a Special Place
The first digging started in 1983. What they found was so important that the Premier (the leader of the state government), Neville Wran, announced a big decision. He said the site must be saved! They decided to hold a worldwide competition to design a new building that would honor the site's history. The museum opened in 1995. Today, the museum and its special location are looked after by Museums of History NSW.
What You Can See Inside
The museum building was designed by architects called Denton Corker Marshall. Inside, the Museum of Sydney shows you what Sydney was like long ago and what it's like now. You can see old objects, pictures, and even cool digital displays. Huge screens show how Sydney has changed from 1788 until today. There's also a giant display about Sydney's convict past. It's filled with items found during more than 25 archaeological digs.
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 still being built in 1993, the government decided to change its name.
A Long Name and a Shorter One
The new name was Museum of Sydney on the Site of First Government House. People thought this name was too long and a bit of a "mouthful." So, most people just started calling it The Museum of Sydney. This change made some people unhappy, and they protested about it.
The Museum's Entrance Area
When you visit the museum, you enter through First Government House Place on Bridge Street. On the ground of this entrance area, you can see the exact shape of Governor Phillip's first house marked out with special stones.
Hidden History Under Your Feet
During the archaeological digs, they found old drains from the late 1790s and brick drains from the early 1800s. You can actually see these old drains and even old privies (outdoor toilets) right where they were originally built! They are protected under glass display cases in the pavement. You can also see other archeological artifacts found during the digs.
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