Museum of Sydney
MUSEUM OF SYDNEY - ON THE SITE OF FIRST GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Opened in May 1995, the Museum of Sydney (MOS) is a new and adventurous museum on a historic site, that of Australia's first Government House. It's a place with many layers - the archaeological remains of Governor Phillip's house, the modern architecture of Denton Corker Marshall, with permanent and temporary displays created by historians, curators, artists and others.
The Museum of Sydney explores the worlds of colonial and contemporary Sydney through objects, pictures, stories and digital-media technologies. Starting from before 1788 when Australia was colonised - some say invaded - MOS takes you on a journey exploring Sydney's people, places and cultures, then and now.
The story of the indigenous people of Sydney is woven through the fabric of MOS. From the foundations of first Government House and the award-winning public sculpture, Edge of the Trees, to the ghostly tales of the Bond Store and the hundreds of curious found objects in the collectors Chests - MOS tells the story of Sydney.
The significant public art commission, Edge of the Trees, by Janet Laurence and Fiona Foley, is a key interpretive feature of MOS. The work represents a significant departure for artworks in public spaces, in its scale, and in that it is the first public artwork in Sydney to be a collaboration between a European and an Aboriginal Australian.
Under the forecourt of MOS lies the foundations of the house built by first fleet convicts for Arthur Phillip in 1788. Since 1984, a series of major archaeological digs has identified the complex formations of first Government House and its later additions buried since their demolition in 1845. Thousands of artefacts used by the occupants have been retrieved and provide a foundation for a new view of our colonial roots.
The shop attached to the museum is renowned for its unusual merchandise and specialist books. The museum also has a café.
Media inquiries: T 02 8239 2288
Christine Pace Publicity Assistant
christinep@hht.net.au
Ruth Williams Media Relations Manager
