Not just an interesting museum showing Sydney's colonial roots, but a UNESCO World Heritage site. As you explore the barracks, which was also a women's refugee at one point, you get a set of headphones and each room has audio tracks. This can get annoying as when there are multiple audio tracks in a room, sometimes you have to stop abruptly in your tracks to prevent the audio skipping. They talk about the convicts, how people got sent to Australia for stealing a loaf of bread and spent 6 months on a wooden boat. They talk about the building of Sydney and roads, the destruction of aboriginal spaces and stolen generation, how convicts lived and a little bit about the women's refuge. It has stories from individual immigrants, convicts and Aboriginals. Right opposite the barracks is Sydney's first church which is Anglican and originally intended to be the Town Hall. It's an immersive experience with models, artifacts, video, audio and pictures. And free!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

In my opinion the potpourri of interpretation efforts undermines the beauty of the place. This gave me an overall feeling of clutter and unsophistication. It also needs a middle space between the visitor and the exhibition (exhibition hosts). There is plenty of opportunity to create a better space to convey the perspective of Indigenous people at the beginning of the visit. There is also the need to honour the legacy of Greenway, a pioneer in architecture and town planning and a good example of Macquarie's restorative practice. The place illustrates how convicts, an entire continent, were used to build the empire. The building illustrates universal principles of good architecture. The Great Irish Famine Memorial to commemorate the Irish diaspora, designed by artists Angela and Hossein Valamanesh, representing the scarcity on one side, and the new life on the other side of the perimeter wall, is extremely beautiful.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Colonial settlement of this country has been re-told numerous times & I found this in situ intrepretation totally absorbing Free entry with free headphones audio guide that work really well - you can listen or read & these are disinfected after each use. Staff are very helpful & we were told that eventually there might be an entry fee. The walk thru immersive intro upon entry is excellent & so are the original exhibits & Dioramas. Souvenir shop at the exit retails some unique items that probably can only be found here. Enough info presented from both sides of story & it is up to you to linger beyond 1 hour Easy access - opp. St James station - Macquarie St exit. Across from Hyde Park where Governor Macquarie statue is & across from St Mary's Cathedral entrance. Toilets are new & clean. Easy to navigate for disabled & pram pushers
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Need approximately 1.5h to go through the exhibits, more if you wish to spend more time looking at each in detail. This last entry is 1.5h prior to closing! Good collection of history of First Nation peoples, many whom were prisoners, and orphans. Some space dedicated to Sydney opera house too. Service: Self guided tour with audio guide. Audio guide has location tracking that will change narration based on which exhibit you’re looking at. Crowd: Not a lot of crowd in weekday just before close! Payment: Free entry, which is great.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

This place is certainly an interesting and moving place to visit. I went a few years ago and was quite underwhelmed by it. Now , following a number of improvements it has much to offer. The audio guide certainly helps to make it a more absorbing visit. You need to stand at specific areas to hear it and sometimes I lost the signal but soon picked it up again. This museum is certainly an asset to Sydney and it is free to enter
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

Authentic historical building. The Hyde Park Barracks is one of the oldest buildings of Sydney. When I visited the museum was free entry, not sure why the webpage says you have to buy tickets. It was first commissioned as dormitory for convicts then used as asylum for poor female immigrants. Later used as government office, now it's a museum and part of the UNESCO cultural heritage.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Really great and quite assessable. We went with one wheelie and 2 younger kids 4 and 6, get the audio guide! It's absolutely fantastic, quite assessable, except the gravel outside but they have grates in place to make it manageable. Audio headphones kept the kids engaged through the entire thing (as well as the adults) very very fantastic experience.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
30–60 min

This museum is very great for australia historical story, and well-managed to make people engaged with them. Gave a headphone which seem like having a convict walk with me as a narrator to give a tour guide by himselves. It's suitable for who love the country history, and it's definitely free
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Amazing! This museum totally fed my hunger and filled my bucket with history. It had a great balance of the stories of the people who were sentenced here for minor crimes and the horrific price paid by the indigenous peoples caused by the newcomers. Make the time to come and visit.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

It was a very interesting experience. It puts a nice perspective on the challenges that surrounded how Australia was colonized. The staff are very pleasant and the tour was quite nice. If you like history this is a must to add to your list of places to visit
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Fantastic museum - you get a free audio guide that you don’t have to operate as it automatically works depending on where you are and what you’re looking at. It’s a great place to visit to understand the history of Sydney deeper. Plus it’s free!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

A really interesting and informative experience. I highly recommend it to anyone. My 14 year old thoroughly enjoyed it too. The audio tour has some great stories and information rolled in together. The staff are all so friendly and welcoming.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Free museum of the first European prisoners and settlers in Australia and Sydney. Also a small look into the effect it had on native people. Recommend it to every tourist in Sydney who want to learn a bit of the history of the town
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Was better than expected. Free entry for all. We did the kids guided tour with activity book included for the children. Both adult and child enjoyed the tour very much. Place was well set up and information was detailed.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

Amazing family experience! The guided tours are great for kids and adults. It's interactive, educational and overall a great immersive experience to learn more about that time of Australia's history. We'll be back!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait

Such great information, and a wonderful presentation of items found. Nicely done display and the self guided tour is a good way to venture through
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Excellent museum. Very well presented, and free too! Can spend as little or as long as you would like- approach different exhibits and the audio will start. Highly recommend
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

This was a great place to learn a bit of history about convict arrivals and early Sydney. It has a well organised audio tour and for some reason the entry was free. Good information and access to the museum spaces.

Fantastic bit of history! Beautiful museum with lovely audio guide, including one for kids. Absolutely worth stopping by.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Convict History Museum. If you are really interested in the formative history of Australia, you can't miss this.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No