This vibrant musical world is explored through recordings of early music, rare instruments, printed scores, and remarkable stories of people creating home through song.

Step into grand houses, humble cottages, vast landscapes, pubs and churches, and discover the soundtrack of early Sydney.

See and hear the earliest transcriptions of Aboriginal songs.
Follow the story of Australia’s first piano as it made its way from Britain to Elizabeth Farm in Parramatta.
Discover the story of the Murray family and their musical possessions, hauled by horse-drawn carriage over the Blue Mountains.

On display for the first time in Australia are albums of music hand-copied by Jane Austen, revealing her musical tastes and practices. These are similar to those brought to Australia by immigrants in the late 18th and 19th centuries.

Surprising, moving, entertaining. The fascinating world of music in early NSW is revealed here for the first time as a place of melodious complexity.

Learn more about the exhibition and related events on our website.

Events Quick Search

Suggested events

Suggested venues

Suggested categories

Suggested tags

No results found

Events at Museum of Sydney