History

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

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

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

It's our story to be told.

Public Lectures by Virginia Handel and Major Paul Handel RFD (retd) for the Military History Society of New South Wales

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Learn about Sydney's railways

We explore stories of wartime marriages in this museum exhibit

Historian Dr Catherine Bishop revisits the fraught history of Christian mission in Australia

Indulge two course lunch at State Parliament House in Sydney

An exhibition focused on the dramatic events of the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour.

Explore the origins of Ancient Egypt in this fascinating 4-week online course

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

Step into the glamour of the 1950s with a fashion presentation, storytelling, cocktails & hors d’oeuvres.

A conversation about the Library’s vital family history research, including the ethics and challenges that arise.

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

Orange + Canberra Wine Dinner, with Philip Shaw + Eden Road Wines at NSW Parliament House

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

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

Discover the long-lost mansions and playhouses of Darlinghurst with the Historic Houses Association

Join us for a lunchtime lecture about Homer’s Odyssey, exploring its ancient origins and its lasting influence

Join us for an afternoon lecture about Homer, Hollywood and the quest to capture the ancient world on screen.

Archaeology along the Dead Sea Plain, Jordan

Discover Ralph Clark’s deeply personal First Fleet journal and the questions it raises.

Join daughter of Holocaust survivors, Freda Widawski, in conversation with interviewer Michaela Kalowski

A gallery tour led by members of the ground-breaking Human Remains Research Project team

Discover the architecture of Pyrmont and learn about its history in a two hour walk with a trained AAA volunteer

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.

A symposium on transnational exchanges in architecture and art

Celebrate City of Sydney Archives 50th anniversary with a look into the rich history of Kings Cross and surrounds.

The Cult of Gloriana: Art, Music and Politics at the Court of the Virgin Queen

An Aussie and a Russian walk into a bar...

Be transported through improvisation and sound as the Hilary Geddes Quartet play music from the album Redleaf.

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

Go where the locals go

Go where the locals go

Go where the locals go

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

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

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

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

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

Free tour por Sídney en Español