History

Through intimate guided tours, we tell the stories of everyday families who helped shape Sydney.

It's our story to be told.

Michelle Staff will speak about Australian feminist leader Bessie Rischbieth, who was active from the 1910s and 1940s.

An extraordinary collection of rare manuscripts, books, maps and navigational instruments

a new exhibition exploring how the Navy has grown alongside Australia, from colonial defence to a modern maritime force.

Torres Strait pearling history, centering the overlooked stories of Indigenous and South Sea Islander seafarers

Go where the locals go

Experience an intimate guided tour of the iconic heritage-listed Sydney Observatory.

Hear how 1930s Razorhurst became a seeding ground for Italian criminal networks connecting Sydney to North Queensland.

The evolution of Australian military service, focusing on the personal stories of NSW service.

Discover the work of the Anzac Memorial's 2024 Veteran Artist in Residence

Discover 90 treasures that have been donated to the Anzac Memorial from its opening in 1934.

Travel back in time to early medieval Scotland and discover unique and mysterious Viking-age treasures.

Step into the powerful story of Tự do (Freedom), the boat that carried Vietnamese refugees to Australia in 1977.

At 11am each day, the Anzac Memorial pauses for a Service of Remembrance.

Go where the locals go

Go where the locals go

Learn about Sydney's railways

Explore all things ghostly as we visit Sydney's most haunted pubs.

The journey of an ancient Cypriot statue.

Hear the story of a colonial mansion in Woollahra

Join a buggy tour around Australia's oldest botanic garden and a 30-hectare paradise adjoining Sydney Harbour

Explore the iconic Sydney Observatory with a tour designed for groups that include young children aged 6 and older.

Indulge in an afternoon of elegance and history at the Parliament of NSW.

A narrative driven walking tour of Sydney's CBD for locals and tourists

Explore Sydney’s Metro from Waterloo to Victoria Cross. Discover buried artefacts, station art, remarkable engineering

Indulge two course lunch at State Parliament House in Sydney

Classes cover the techniques of fencing with historical weapons and provide a safe place to spar with them

Discover Sydney’s rich maritime heritage beyond the walls of the museum.

Join us for this free session to help you discover your past.

Exclusive experiences at the Anzac Memorial this History Week.

Join acclaimed author Sue Whiting for an interactive online workshop exploring her novel Our History: Hill End Gold

Come along to the Ron Williams Community Centre Open Day & 60th Anniversary & hear the history of the Centre and Redfern

Waverley library welcomes you to attend this fascinating talk on the history of telling stories with thread and needle

Bruce Scates and Rae Frances will speak about Dr Mary Booth, the woman who shaped the Anzac Legend

Stories exploring the value of archives and archivists, celebrating the City Archives and the many ways it is used.

From Hyde Park to the Opera House, uncovering Sydney’s hidden past

Night of community, music and celebration

Celebrate Matariki and learn about Māori history in Sydney on a guided walk in The Rocks

Discover hidden gems and untold stories of the city's train stations

Saturday September 12th - Remembering the famine in Ireland, ancestors, and Irish influence in Australian development

Celebrate the life of Dr Laila Haglund

Science journalist Rich Haridy reports on the latest developments in psychedelic medicine in Australia.

Join us for a hands-on walking art workshop at Taylor Square

The Great Age of the Shogun: Art and Culture in Edo Period Japan

Marie Conte-Helm presents: NATURE, ART, AND GARDENS IN JAPAN: From Tradition to Contemporary Life

A musical voyage capturing intertwining soundscapes: Arabic, Byzantine, Sufi & Andalusian Mediterranean musical heritage

Come and hear scintillating tales about Sydney Inner West dark history with Heather from Dark Tales.

An evening with Shaun Micallef live on stage to discuss his new book, ‘Matthew Flinders’.

Uncover the stories of the past at a special after dark tour of this stunning Georgian property

Hear from our model maker Richard Braddish about the scale model of our local area.

Six men spanning six generations share a story that has helped shape who they are as man.

Free entry. Rare books, maps, prints & ephemera for sale. The Glasshouse, State Library NSW. 22–24 October 2026.

A relaxed music/talk series at the State Library of NSW

Lee Miller's son Antony Penrose presents: Hand Grenades Like Cartier Clips: Lee Miller’s Life and Work in Fashion

Enjoy a beautiful Christmas themed menu at the Strangers' Restaurant in the month of December

Free tour por Sídney en Español