Museums of History NSW

Museums of History NSW is a statutory body of the government of [New South Wales] that is responsible for historic sites, state collections and archives in New South Wales, Australia. In 2023, the former State Archives and Records Authority was merged with Sydney Living Museums to form MHNSW. The sites include various houses, gardens, parklands and urban spaces. In 2011, its sites attracted over two million visitors each year.

History

The Historic Houses Trust was established under the Historic Houses Trust Act 1980 and originally charged with the running of Elizabeth Bay House and Vaucluse House. Since then, the Trust had expanded to care for 12 houses, gardens and museums in New South Wales. The Trust also cares for over 48,000 catalogued objects across all of the sites. In 2013, the Historic Houses Trust launched its new identity as Sydney Living Museums to refresh and unify its diverse range of properties and highlight its role and relevance for current and future generations. In 2023, Sydney Living Museums merged with the State Archives and Records Authority to form Museums of History NSW.

Sites

Museums of History NSW currently manages the following properties:

Property	Image	Acquired/ assumed management	Date opened	Status
Elizabeth Bay House, Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay		1980	1980	Museum
Elizabeth Farm, Alice Street, Rosehill		1984	1984	Museum
Hyde Park Barracks, Macquarie Street, Sydney		1990	1991	Museum
Justice and [Police Museum\|Justice & Police Museum], Circular Quay, Sydney		1990	1991	Museum
Meroogal, Cnr West & Worrigee Streets, Nowra		1985	1988	Museum
Museum of Sydney, Corner Philip & Bridge Streets, Sydney		1990	1995	Museum
Rouse Hill Estate, Rouse Hill		1987	1999	Museum
Rose Seidler House, Clissold Road, Wahroonga		1988	1991	Museum
Susannah Place, The Rocks, Sydney		1990	1993	Museum
The Mint, Macquarie Street, Sydney		1998	1998 and 2004	Offices and the
Vaucluse House, Wentworth Road, Vaucluse		1980	1980	Museum