The Sydney Museum is built on the ruins of a building that housed the residence of of the first governor of the colony of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, on the corner of Phillip Street and Bridge Street. That building was erected as far back as 1788, and its the ruins were discovered by archaeologists in 1983.
The Sydney Museum was built as part of a large complex of buildings in the business Sydney city centre, which also includes Governor Phillip's Tower, Governor McWire's Tower and the First Government Building Square.
Today, the Sydney Museum through a variety of exhibits, paintings and digital through various exhibits, paintings and digital technology to explore the history of the colonial past of Australia's largest city and its present. Panoramic views of Sydney from 1788 to the present day stretch along the walls of the building. The era of the city's settlement by exiled convicts is represented in an extensive display of various artefacts and personal possessions discovered by archaeologists.
Here you can also learn about Sydney's Aboriginal history - the Gadigal people lived in the lands around Sydney Harbour thousands of years before the first Europeans arrived here. Aboriginal sculptures, strange names, artefacts, primitive paintings, all immerse visitors in the mysterious past of the land.
Wandering around the courtyard of the museum, it is definitely worth looking under your feet to to see the granite markers that mark archaeological sites. Before becoming a museum, this place fulfilled many functions - it was home to the first Government Building, a yard for hauliers, and a car park.
During the 1980s, archaeologists uncovered the drains and foundations of the of the first Government Building, as well as thousands of fragments dating back to 1788. You can still see many of the artefacts today in one of the displays.
The final highlight of a visit to the Sydney Museum may be a climb to the observation deck of one of the skyscrapers surrounding the museum, where you can see a breathtaking view of Sydney's skyline.
