Museums of History NSW, Sydney, NSW Videos

Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2024 - Entries now open
Entries are now open for the Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2024. The prize is supported by Museums of History NSW, Bundanon and Shoalhaven Regional Gallery Nowra. Find out more at mhnsw.au/meroogal-womens-art-prize/

We‘re pleased to launch 'Significance Matters', the third in a series of videos produced as part of Museums of History NSW’s partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW and the Storyplace project. There are two videos in this series, which have been developed for staff and volunteers working in small to medium sized museums in regional and remote NSW wanting to understand, assess and communicate the significance of their collections. The Significance Matters videos were produced by MHNSW’s Curatorial, Digital and Regional teams. Enjoy a preview and view videos in full on our website mhnsw.au/news/significance-matters/ Learn more about this partnership mhnsw.au/museums-and-galleries-of-nsw/

Aunty Sue and Nathan Blacklock, descendants of a survivor of the Myall Creek massacre
Museums of History NSW remembers the 28 Wirrayaraay people murdered at Myall Creek on this day in 1838. Hear Aunty Sue and Nathan Blacklock, descendants of a survivor of the massacre, share their stories as part of the visitor experience at the Hyde Park Barracks. On the 186th anniversary of the Myall Creek massacre learn more mhnsw.au/stories/first-nations/frontier-violence/ #MuseumsofHistoryNSW #HydeParkBarracks #OnThisDay #MyallCreek #TruthTelling

State Archives Reading Room
Did you know the State Archives Collection contains the largest collection of records relating to the history of NSW and the lives of its people. On International Archives Day learn more about the State Archives Reading Room located in the Western Sydney Records Centre at Kingswood. The Reading Room provides physical access to many of the records in State Archives Collection. This vast collection comprises records made by NSW Government agencies during the course of their daily work, and includes diverse range of items and formats. These include Jørn Utzon’s Sydney Opera House drawings, alternate plans for Sydney Harbour Bridge and plans of significant public buildings including the work of civil architect Francis Greenway. The Reading Room is open Tuesday to Saturday. Find out more https://mhnsw.au/visit-us/state-archives-reading-room/ Explore the Western Sydney Records Centre on a virtual tour https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/virtual-tour-of-western-sydney-records-centre/

Built in 1793 for the young military couple John and Elizabeth Macarthur and their growing family, Elizabeth Farm today is an ‘access all areas’ museum. There are no barriers, locked doors or delicate furnishings. Set within a re-created 1830s garden, visit Australia’s oldest homestead and our most immersive house museum. Also on display is the powerful work by Kuku Yalanji artist Tony Albert, 'Healing land, remembering Country'. Described by Albert as a project 'full of love and reflection', this display expands on a work that he created in 2018 at the site of the former Blacktown Native Institution where he collaborated with local children to reimagine the lives of those of a similar age who had been placed there nearly 200 years ago. Open Friday and Saturday, 10am–4pm Plan your visit👉 link in bio mhnsw.au/visit-us/elizabeth-farm/

'Cast in cast out' is inspired by Sydney-based Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding and his experiences and childhood memories of growing up in ‘The Block’, an Aboriginal community in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern. The artwork ‘recasts’ Victorian-era ironwork panels – a distinctive feature of many 19th-century houses in Redfern – as contemporary expressions of power and ownership. Currently on display at the Museum of Sydney, 'Cast in cast out' is accompanied by a 3D-printed replica of one of the panels, to give visitors an opportunity to feel its shapes and textures, as well as a filmed interview in which Golding discusses 'Cast in cast out' and its genesis. Open daily, 10am–5pm Plan your visit: mhnsw.au/whats-on/exhibitions/cast-in-cast-out #castincastout

As part of Aboriginal Languages Week 2023, with the theme ‘Languages Alive, Culture Thrives’, we listen to Yuwaalaraay storyteller and musician Nardi Simpson’s version of a 19th-century parlour song, ‘Hearts and Homes’ by Charlotte Young and John Blockley. Nardi Simpson is deeply involved in the making and sharing of culture in both her Sydney and Yuwaalaraay communities and responds to ‘Hearts and Homes’ in her own language. In creating her performance of this work, Nardi experimented with accompanying herself on dulcimer and then guitar before thinking of the onomatopoeic word for ‘heart’ in the Darug language, ‘Butbut’. Referencing the possum skin drumming of her Yuwaalaraay ancestors, Nardi accompanies herself with a firm, steady beat on wallaby hide. Read the full story and lyrics 🎵 https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/gii-gundhi-hearts-and-homes/ #MuseumsofHistoryNSW #AborignalLanguagesWeek #ALW2023

Every day against the background of city streets, photography is revealing a vivid mosaic with all the people of the State as the figures in the great human interest story. – The Sun (Sydney), 13 September 1936 #Onthisday, we look at how the passing of years has given many street photographs greater significance than may have been anticipated when they were taken. Pasted into family albums, sent to loved ones around the world or lying forgotten in old shoeboxes, these photos collectively provide a glimpse into the everyday life of this city and its people. Behind each image lies a complex history that we can only partially discover. Read the full story 📷 https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/city-million-faces/ #MuseumsofHistoryNSW #Collections #Photography #StateArchiveCollection

Have you seen our 'Home in the Hunter' display at the Caroline Simpson Library? Highlighting our extensive collection of regional materials, learn about the vast pastoral estates that used to dominate the countryside and the threats they faced amidst a growing population & increased demand for land. Hear from our Collections Discovery Assistant, Mel Flyte as she delves deeper into original photographs, trade catalogues, and artefacts salvaged from demolished houses while uncovering a lost and fascinating history of the home in regional NSW. Watch the video and read the full story 👉 https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/home-in-the-hunter/ #MuseumsofHistoryNSW #CarolineSimpsonLibrary #Collections

An Opera House in every home | Museums of History NSW
An Opera House in every home 🎁 Instantly recognisable, the Sydney Opera House has been replicated across a vast array of forms and materials, from kitsch souvenirs and homewares to artworks and designer accessories. Delve deeper 👉 https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/an-opera-house-in-every-home/ Visit #MuseumofSydney this week to view our exhibition The People's House: Sydney Opera House at 50, entry is free. #SOH50 #MuseumsofHistoryNSW

An evening with Harold | Sydney Opera House
Wulli Wulli tenor, Harold Blair AM was the first Australian Aboriginal person professionally trained in opera singing. He travelled Australia and the world performing, including the first opera staged at the Sydney Opera House in July, 1973. Join us during October for an evening celebrating the life of Harold Blair with a panel discussion moderated by Bundjalung and Kullilli journalist and broadcaster Daniel Browning. An Evening with Harold Wed 18 Oct, 6pm–7.30pm Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House 🎟️ Book now: https://mhnsw.au/whats-on/events/an-evening-with-harold/ Visitors can watch the full documentary at The People's House: Sydney Opera House at 50 at Museum of Sydney daily. Presented by Sydney Opera House and Museums of History NSW. #MuseumsofHistoryNSW #SOH50

Hi 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. The Opera House sails are mimicked with crimped silver and white taffeta, while the band of pink luxe chiffon at the top of the skirt emulates the granite platform that seems to float on the blue water below. Read more: https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/sydney-opera-house-barbie-doll/ Sydney Opera House Barbie is on display at Museum of Sydney now for exhibition The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50. #MuseumofSydney #SOH50 Sydney Opera House #BarbieCore #Barbie

Museums of History NSW remembers the 28 Wirrayaraay people murdered at Myall Creek on this day in 1838. Hear Aunty Sue and Nathan Blacklock, descendants of a survivor of the massacre, share their stories as part of the visitor experience at the Hyde Park Barracks. On the 185th anniversary of the Myall Creek massacre learn more mhnsw.au/stories/first-nations/frontier-violence/ #MuseumsofHistoryNSW #HydeParkBarracks #OnThisDay #MyallCreek

Happy #InternationalArchivesDay! Today, we celebrate the invaluable treasures preserved in the Museums of History NSW, particularly the State Archives Collection. With more than 14 million items, these records document the daily workings of the NSW Government and its agencies, providing an essential resource for researchers and historians. However, not all of these items have been digitised, and care and preservation of these records is critical to ensure ongoing access for those seeking to explore our rich history. In this captivating video, we invite you to take a behind-the-scenes journey with our specialist conservators, highlighting their passion for preserving fragile records while revealing some of the exciting projects our team undertake in the lab. From delicate document restoration to meticulous preservation techniques, they play a crucial role in ensuring the longevity of these precious artefacts. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of conservation and gain a deeper appreciation for the dedication and expertise that goes into safeguarding our history. Watch the video 🔗 link in bio https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/conserving-the-archive/ Have a sneak peek into the collection with our expert archivists 🔗 link in bio https://mhnsw.au/tags/behind-the-scenes/ Learn more about the State Archives Collection https://mhnsw.au/collections/state-archives-collection/ #MuseumsOfHistoryNSW #InternationalArchivesDay #InternationalArchivesWeek #IAW2023 #StatesArchivesCollection

Go behind the scenes of Murmurations this year’s Hyde Park Barracks annual art commission and hear from First Nations artist Tony Albert and Sāmoan–Australian artist Angela Tiatia. Free, on display daily, 10am–5pm until 4 June at the Hyde Park Barracks. Coming up as part of Murmurations join us for a Community Cultural Festival on Sunday 28 May 10am–3pm that celebrates migration and coming together. Free, see what’s on and register now https://mhnsw.au/whats-on/events/murmurations-community-cultural-festival/ #MuseumsofHistoryNSW #HydeParkBarracks #Murmurations

Nardi.1080p.mp4
Nardi Simpson, Yuwaalaraay storyteller and musician, shares her version of a 19th-century parlour song, ‘Gii, Gundhi’ (‘Hearts and homes’) by Charlotte Young and John Blockley. A single song can have a thousand meanings depending on its interpreter. Nardi shares the culture of her Sydney and Yuwaalaraay communities, by responding to this colonial song in her language. Adding her voice to the sound of the past, she joins all those who sang or maybe just heard this song over many decades across NSW. The score and many others found at Rouse Hill Estate were very popular across NSW during the 19th century. Read more: https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/gii-gundhi-hearts-and-homes/ #IWD2023 #internationalwomensday

Welcome to our new cultural institution! We are now Museums of History NSW. And we’ve got a new look. We still cherish and care for our 12 amazing historic houses and museums, and the important collections previously in the care of Sydney Living Museums. Now combined with the vast collection of the NSW State Archives we can provide greater access to these assets and to a broad range of stories about our social, cultural and political histories and identities in New South Wales. With these as our foundation, we bring history to life through diverse voices and viewpoints, supporting audiences of all backgrounds to gain fresh perspectives and understandings. Join us at Museums of History NSW. Keep checking our new website as it takes shape over the coming weeks: https://mhnsw.au/

Museums of History NSW (MHNSW)
We’re embarking on a journey to create a new cultural institution that will change the way our state’s history is experienced. We’re passionate about preserving, sharing and celebrating our unique histories and stories, and weaving them together through many diverse voices and viewpoints. As we become Museums of History NSW (MHNSW), formed by the coming together of Sydney Living Museums and the State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales, our focus continues to be on making history discoverable, relevant and engaging, and supporting audiences of all backgrounds to gain fresh perspectives and understandings. Built on a foundation of First Nations first, we are dedicated to engaging people in our past to encourage a more informed perspective tomorrow. From next week we’ll be Museums of History NSW. Join us in shaping our new future.

💥 Sydney Open starts today! FOCUS TOURS, SAT 5 NOV – Today, we kick off the weekend with a jam-packed program of Focus Tours across the city, in Parramatta and Greater Sydney. There are a few tickets still remaining for some tours. CITY PASS, SUN 6 NOV: Tomorrow we take over the city as we open the doors to over 25 buildings across the CBD. Grab your City Pass and plan your day on our website. We're so thrilled to spend the weekend with you after three years of not seeing you in person. Here’s to a great two days of architecture, history and stories of Sydney. Book tickets slm.is/open SHARE & WIN: Tag your Sydney Open photos on Instagram for the chance to win great prizes, use @sydneyisopen #SydneyIsOpen. Entries close 11.59pm Sunday 6 November.

Sydney Open 2022
It's almost here! Sydney Open is this weekend, Saturday 5 and 6 November. Join us for our favourite weekend of architecture – join a guided Focus Tour on Saturday or grab a City Pass to unlock the doors to over 25 buildings in the city on Sunday. Have you got your tickets yet? 🔗 Book now at slm.is/open #SydneyIsOpen