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Museums
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This museum comprises of a photographic collection telling the history of the development of the Balmain peninsula, housed in Sydney's oldest extant lock-up. 179 Darling Street, Balmain. Open Sat. 12.00 - 3.00 pm or by appointment.
Located in his former studio, the museum and art gallery celebrates the life and work of Sydney artist Brett Whiteley (1939 92). Since 1995 it has been managed as a museum by the Art Gallery of NSW.. 2 Raper Street, Surry Hills.. Phone (02) 9225 1881. Open Sat & Sun 10.00 am - 4.00 pm.
The home of renowned children's author and painter May Gibbs lived for many years at Nutcote, a home in Wallaringa Avenue. Gibbs was the creator, illustrator and author of the famous Snugglepot and Cuddlepie classics of Australian children's literature.
Built at 'very considerable expense', Elizabeth Bay House was once the finest house in the colony, set within a garden of the most remarkable extravagance and fancy. Yet it tells a familiar Sydney story: of ambition and passion over-stretched, of riches to ruin.
Sandstone house, typical home of the wealthy of the 19th century. Furnished with period furniture, beautiful garden. Tours are available to the public each weekend between 11am and 4pm. Come to Carisbrook as individual visitors, or as an organised group. 334 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove.
Sandstone cottage, built in 1863 by the family of William Carss, a leading furniture builder of colonial Sydney. It houses family and local history displays. Open each Sunday from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm (summer); 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm (winter) and other times by appointment. Ph (02) 9330 6400. 80 Carwar Ave, Carss Park.
A stone workman's cottage, now owned and operated as a museum by the National Trust. Vienna was the home of German shoemaker John Jacob Hellman from 1871. Open Sat 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm; Sun 11.00 am - 4.00 pm. Phone (02) 9817 2240. 38 Alexander Street, Hunters Hill.
Fully restored 19th century cottage housing the Museum of Ryde and featuring an exhibition of paintings for sale and an art school. It stands on part of the original grant made to John Small, an emancipated convict, in 1794. It is now the home of Ryde District Historical Society Inc and the City of Ryde Art Society Inc and contains a small museum and has continuous art exhibitions. Phone (02) 9808 2254. 770 Victoria Road, Ryde.
Don Bank is the oldest wooden house in North Sydney. Built in the first half of the 19th century, it was acquired by North Sydney Council in 1979 and converted into a local history museum. It is a rare example of an early timber slab house nestled in a remnant Victorian garden. Ph (02) 9936 8400. 6 Napier Street, North Sydney,
Sexton s Cottage, once used for laying out bodies prior to burial, is now a local history museum, housing research resources on the history of St Thomas Cemetery and those buried there. 250 West Street, North Sydney. Ph (02) 9936 8400
When completed in 1950, Rose Seidler House was 'the most talked about house in Sydney'. Today, still surrounded by bushland with panoramic views of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the house is one of the finest examples of mid 20th-century modern domestic architecture in Australia.
Filled with an assortment of belongings and treasures, this house and farm chronicles the changing fortunes of six generations of the one family. Rouse Hill House and Farm also features the restored 1888 Rouse Hill schoolhouse, a section of the original Windsor Road turnpike proclaimed by Governor Macquarie in 1813, and the site of the doomed 1804 Vinegar Hill convict rebellion.
Vaucluse House is one of Sydney's few 19th-century mansions still surrounded by its original gardens and wooded grounds. When the towering colonial explorer, barrister and politician William Charles Wentworth bought the house in 1827, it was a single-storey cottage in a secluded valley of partly cleared coastal scrub.
The oldest house in the inner city of Parramatta, its displays tell the story of medical and nursing history in the colony of NSW. Location: Grounds of Parramatta Hospital, Cnr George & Marsden Streets, Parramatta. Phone (02) 9635 0333
Built for the young military couple John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their growing family in 1793, Elizabeth Farm is one of the oldest homes in Australia. Today, set within a re-created 1830s garden, Elizabeth Farm is an access all areas museum. Location: Parramatta
Sandstone cottage, built in 1824 as the home of Penelope Lucas, governess to John Macarthur's daughters. Open Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun, Public hols. 11.00 am - 4.00 pm. Ph (02) 9635 6924. 63 Hassall St, Parramatta.
Experiment Farm Cottage is a heritage-listed former farm and residence and now houses a museum. Today it is furnished to provide an authentic insight into that time. It is one of Australia s oldest standing residences. 9 Ruse Street, Harris Park, Parramatta. Open: Wed - Sun 10.30am - 3.30pm.
Former boatman's cottage from the 1820s, now houses an information office of the National Parks & Wildlife Service. Social history. It is the oldest dwelling in the Sydney Central Business District. 110 George Street, Circular Quay.
The George Hanna Memorial Museum explores the social history of the area that lies to the immediate east and west of Sydney International airport. The Museum holds two temporary exhibitions a year and explores how the area s changing nature has impacted the lives of its residents. Ph (02) 9366 3802. 2 Hatfield Street, Mascot.
A Victorian Gothic mansion built by pioneer statesman William W Wentworth for his daughter. Greycliffe House is available for hire Wedding ceremonies, arts and cultural events, concerts and festivals, corporate and MICE events, private party or function. Ph (02) 9585 6570. Nielsen Park, Vaucluse.
Banjo Paterson Park, on the eastern shore of Looking Glass Bay, is home to Rockend cottage. In 1866 it was bought by the grandmother of poet Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson. He lived here as a boy while he attended a nearby school from 1874. The cottage is now a restaurant. Punt Road, Gladesville.
Home of Australian author Norman Lindsay, and a celebration of his contribution to Australian literature. Ph (02) 4751 1067. 14 Norman Lindsay Crescent, Faulconbridge NSW 2776.
Collingwood house dates from 1810 and was the home of Nantucket whaling captain Eber Bunker. Known as the "father of Australian Whaling", Bunker was part of a whaling venture in the 1790s which took the first whales in Australian waters. To arrange a tour of Collingwood House please contact Council on 1300 36 2170. Hume Highway, Liverpool.
A heritage-listed homestead, designed and built in 1841 by Michael Byrne. It is also known as Glenalvon and Glenalvon and Stables. Glenalvon has been described as "An exceptional two-storied sandstone home of colonial Georgian design". Ph (02) 4625 1822. 8 Lithgow St, Campbelltown.
The Camden Park Estate incorporating the Belgenny Farm is a heritage-listed large working historical farm. Belgenny Farm 'Birthplace of Australia's Agriculture' has the most historic group of farm buildings in the country. Ph (02) 4655 8466. Camden Park Rd, Menangle.
Historic Wivenhoe House was built for Charles Cowper circa 1837. Wivenhoe is open for inspection, first Sunday of the month from February to November. Ph (02) 4655 7057. 229 Macquarie Grove Road, Kirkham.
The land was granted to James Chisholm in 1829 and the family became pioneers in the wool industry. It has been transformed into a wedding and conference venue. However it is possible to have a tour of the convict-built stone rubble homestead (c.1830) and enjoy a day of farm activities including sheep shearing and boomerang throwing. Ph (02) 9606 5111. 900 Camden Valley Way, Catherine Field.
John Oxley Cottage is built on land that was originally part of the grant made by Governor Lachlan Macquarie to John Oxley. iIt is a typical workman's cottage thought to have been built in the 1890s as part of a row of similar cottages along the road into Camden. The Cottage currently houses Camden Visitor Information Centre. Ph (02) 4658 1370. 46 Camden Valley Way, Elderslie.
Built around 1839 by George Taber, it originally operated as a public bar from 1839 to 1844. Today the house is surrounded with landscaped gardens and operates as a restaurant with private courtyards and function facilities, there is also a museum offering history and photographs from the 1800s & 1900s. Tours (including ghost tours) are available by appointment only. Ph (02) 4633 9111170 Menangle Road, Menangle.
St Patrick's, as the building was originally known, was the first catholic school in Australia to be built from private subscription. The cottage was built in 1840 and opened on St Patrick's Day. The building is now home to the Campbelltown Visitor Information Centre, and holds a replica school room, featuring artefacts found from its early schooling origins. Ph (02) 4645 4921. 15 old Menangle Road, Campbelltown.