Hyde Park Barracks
Hyde Park Barracks
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in the heart of Sydney, the Hyde Park Barracks is an extraordinary living record of early colonial Australia. Originally built to house convicts, the barracks has also served as an immigration depot, asylum, law courts and government offices. Today, you can discover the stories of the Hyde Park Barracks through a self-guided immersive experience that will feel like stepping back in time. Using our groundbreaking interactive audio technology, you’ll follow in the footsteps of real people whose lives were touched by this place – male convicts, immigrants and women in need, as well as the Aboriginal nations that were impacted by colonial Australia.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Central Business District
The Sydney Central Business District is abuzz with energy. Power brokers run to and from high rise buildings and after-work drink places, high-end shoppers tour venues like the QVB, and fine diners frequent the many celebrity chef restaurants. For a dose of culture, walk to the NSW Art Gallery, or visit the Sydney Museum. To escape the hustle and bustle, reconnect with nature at the Sydney Botanical Gardens or picnic lunch at High Park. No matter your interest, be sure to check the full calendar of events hosted by the city, from the Sydney Festival in January to October’s Good Food Month at Hyde Park.
How to get there
- St James • 2 min walk
- Martin Place • 3 min walk
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See what travelers are saying
- RJAdams2018Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom10 contributionsBest museumWe just happened to come across Hyde Park Barracks whilst walking to Hyde Park in Sydney and decided to have a look around out of curiosity and very glad we did! The tour is done with a mobile device and headphones which detects where you are and gives you the appropriate audio. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, originally built to house convicts, it covers the history of the Barracks, the convicts stories and later as a women's immigration depot and the profound impact on the Aboriginal colonies from colonial expansion. Its very thought provoking and leaves you reflecting on history. Definitely worth a visit, and its free. Everyone should visit here!Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 3, 2023
- EGRoss85Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom97 contributionsFree entry with excellent audio guide.Well worth an hour or so. A well balanced representation of the development of Sydney. The audio guide is really good. The last section really brings perspective and links those currently living in NSW with their past. Expresses a real desire not to forget the past but to use it as a platform to move forward together.Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 12, 2023
- Mark BRochester, United Kingdom62 contributionsDidn’t expect it to be this good!A really interesting museum perfectly set out to tell the story of how Sydney was created. The automatically activated headphones tell you everything you need to know just by standing next to stuff so you don’t need to fiddle with pressing buttons like at some places. Doesn’t take too long but you learn an awful lot.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 25, 2023
- RyokoshaScarlettMontreal, Canada47 contributionsDon’t Miss ItI loved my visit to Hyde Park Barracks. It was a great introduction to Sydney & best of all, free! Advance booking isn’t really needed and it’s easy to spend an hour or two learning about it’s history.Visited September 2023Traveled soloWritten October 27, 2023
- JJOHDoha, Qatar703 contributionsMy favourite thing in SydneyThis old barracks is a beautiful building originally built to house convicts sent from Britain in 5he early 1800’s. It now houses a wonderful museum that tells the story of the people who arrived in Australia, their lives and 5heir effects on the local people. An absolutely fascinating two hours of my life. The museum is very interactive and the audio guide works so well. One of the best museums I have ever visited. Don’t miss it if you are in SydneyVisited December 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten December 7, 2023
- Phil SDorking, United Kingdom249 contributionsA really excellent museum with advanced use of audio visual technology.We really enjoyed this museum which tells the history of the establishment of colonial Australia from the arrival of the first convicts in the 1800s in a really absorbing way. We came away with our knowledge of this aspect of Australian history transformed by the experience. The advanced audio guide technology, which is free, guides you through the museum and provides automatic audio and text commentary at each point in your journey. Our visit took about 1.5 hours and was a highlight of our visit to Sydney. Excellent - Thoroughly recommended.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 11, 2024
- london057Dublin, Ohio683 contributionsThis Site use to be a Place for Poisoners.First of all this site was a place for prisoners . Second it used to be a British military fortress too. Third it is an upsetting place to visit , but it worth going to . . Lastly, it is charming in a way too.Visited January 2024Traveled with familyWritten January 26, 2024
- SoraiaRotterdam, The Netherlands2,463 contributionsPerfect activity for a rainy day, very good to lead more about the historyWow just wow. This museum is amazing. First of all it’s free and for the quality you get it’s insane. The audio tour did it for us. We really felt that we could follow along the path of a “convict”. It makes you feel humble. You will definitely learn a thing or two. Also good that the indigenous people are included in the whole story.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 29, 2024
- TravelQueen1107Wheaton, Illinois235 contributionsAn Impactful VisitA quiet enclave, the free self-guided tour provides great insight into the history of Sydney and Australia. Headphones automatically relay stories of the building's waves of inhabitants over the years: convicts and then immigrant women, primarily Irish, as you walk from room to room. Impactful and well done. It brought the residents' stories to life.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 3, 2024
- Geoffrey ELondon, United Kingdom628 contributionsBrilliant presentation and highly thought provoking. You must visit Hyde Park if you have time.Imagine you are sentenced to death for stealing a purse in 1820 and your sentence is commuted to being shipped to an unknown land. Now visit the museum and find out what that was like and what Sydney was like. The superb commentary from the perspective of the convicts brings to life the exhibits, the wonderful scale models and images of the museum. It shines a light on the plight of these men and women. Equally or more important it is.deeply humbling to see what happened to the native Australians at the hand of the colonists. Please take 90 minutes or 2 hours out of your trip to learn this important history and hopefully give everyone resolve to understand others and live in harmony. For the record there is no charge to enter. Do not be fooled by that. This is a first class museum. Thank you.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 16, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,198 reviews
Excellent
749
Very good
359
Average
75
Poor
12
Terrible
4
HotTaMolly
Denver, CO6 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Really loved this museum and was told after my tour that it is newly updated exhibit experience. You get a headset and a location-enabled iPhone to simply walk through and listen to the stories (with cool stereo sound) of convicts and immigrants that tell the history of Sydney and the barracks. No overwhelming reading of all the pictures, displays and artifacts. Most museums I visit, while educational or inspirational, can drain my energy level my the end of the visit. The Hyde Park Barracks is a very modern and streamlined way to explore and learn!
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VNewy
Newcastle, Australia2,090 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
Fascinating look at Sydney and Australia’s earliest European history, via this newly presented museum. $20 entry bit steep, but quality exhibits and info which will take you an hour or so to look through. Must see for any Australian history buff.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CasandraTP
Sydney, Australia3,962 contributions
Oct 2020
Situauated near the heart of the city, the Hyde Park Barracks is a great place to learn about early Sydney history. If you are a NSW resident you also get discount tickets. I went with my 13 year old son and my 82 year old mum and there was something of interest for all of us. The audio tour is interesting and you don't have to press any buttons as it starts as soon as you stand near the objects. This can sometimes be painful as if you get out of the area it stops or starts another object, but do stick with it. I hadn't been in over a decade and so glad I decided to do this again now as it has really improved over the years.
Written October 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimlet
Southam, UK26 contributions
Mar 2020
A bit dissapointing as the headphones things kept of breaking up and there was only a narrow bit of glass into which you were supposed to bend & view whatever history was there. Impossible to do so if it get busy and our friends said that the museum was miles better before all the money was spent on the re-furb.
A waste of money
A waste of money
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elise974
Sydney, Australia54 contributions
Jun 2020
Post covid reopening - Antibacterial gel available at the beginning and end of the tour, on each floor of the building, toilets extremely clean. -
Regarding the tour : Put a headset on and walk through the building with a little voice guiding you. The voice and explanation get triggered with the sensors on the walls and ceiling. Drawings of the projectors also move with you.
Very interesting experience and stories. As a foreigner I didn't know much about Sydney's old past and it's always interesting to hear about colonisation and aboriginal stories. It wasn't a boring experience and I advice it to kids +10 and older +99 :)
At the end you will "meet" convicts or victims's descendants. A very moving moment to end the visit which will leave you thinking about what those convicts and women had to endure but also about today's events.
Regarding the tour : Put a headset on and walk through the building with a little voice guiding you. The voice and explanation get triggered with the sensors on the walls and ceiling. Drawings of the projectors also move with you.
Very interesting experience and stories. As a foreigner I didn't know much about Sydney's old past and it's always interesting to hear about colonisation and aboriginal stories. It wasn't a boring experience and I advice it to kids +10 and older +99 :)
At the end you will "meet" convicts or victims's descendants. A very moving moment to end the visit which will leave you thinking about what those convicts and women had to endure but also about today's events.
Written June 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tardustraveller
Hobart, Australia275 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
I had never visited the Barracks before so this new experience I found was very engaging and quite emotional . The headphones allow you to move freely around the rooms and to experience the life and even the noise and dialogue of the inmates and also their personal stories.(delivered by actors with appropriate age and accents)This all made for a very real and emotive journey through the building. None more so than the upper level where the men slept in hammocks. Sometimes technology fails and voices quieten, simply look up and reposition yourself under wifi circular hub. I really enjoyed this experience ....allow plenty of time to linger and listen.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristine005
Melbourne, Australia54 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Applaudable attempt at a 21st century update. Unfortunately there were some tech issues with the audio (often dropped out or didn’t work) and some usability challenges with diorama exhibits that were hard to view. It had only been open a week - so once they sort out some basic usability, it will hopefully be worth the $24 (for non-NSW residents).
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NatZimm68
Tamworth, Australia48 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
If you're into early Australian convict history, then this is a must see.
At the ticketing office, your provided with over ear headphones. The idea, that you self guide yourself throughout the site, at your own pace and listen to information for as long or as little as you like.
I loved it, I took the time, stood still and closed my eyes, and absorbed all the sounds.. not only is there a main character speaking about their time at the Barracks, there is also so many background noises, that brings the whole experience to life. Such a great concept.
The front counter staff are friendly and efficient. The volunteer ladies in the gift shop are cheerful and were just as excited as I was, about my experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and don't hesitate to highly recommend.
You can purchase tickets online, but I just bought in site.
At the ticketing office, your provided with over ear headphones. The idea, that you self guide yourself throughout the site, at your own pace and listen to information for as long or as little as you like.
I loved it, I took the time, stood still and closed my eyes, and absorbed all the sounds.. not only is there a main character speaking about their time at the Barracks, there is also so many background noises, that brings the whole experience to life. Such a great concept.
The front counter staff are friendly and efficient. The volunteer ladies in the gift shop are cheerful and were just as excited as I was, about my experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and don't hesitate to highly recommend.
You can purchase tickets online, but I just bought in site.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Qqqqww
26 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
The presentation and audio of the past was terrific.
Being local we got 20% discount on the entry fee $22 pp.
Some of the visual effects terrific - and at times moving.
My partner, a super critical architect, felt some of the models and wall displays a bit cheesy- but I loved it all.
Only disappointment was no cafe! We had planned on lunch. Not to be. It’s a 10 from me and 7/8 from him.
Being local we got 20% discount on the entry fee $22 pp.
Some of the visual effects terrific - and at times moving.
My partner, a super critical architect, felt some of the models and wall displays a bit cheesy- but I loved it all.
Only disappointment was no cafe! We had planned on lunch. Not to be. It’s a 10 from me and 7/8 from him.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will Kitchener
Wellington, New Zealand88 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
They’ve clearly put a lot of effort into renovating this museum and overall I’d say it’s worth a visit purely to see the well preserved remains of the barracks.
However, I’ll mostly remember the experience for the pain in the backside audio tour. Meant to follow your location and describe what you’d be looking at, in theory a great idea. But as many people have pointed out, it would cut out mid sentence which after a while became very annoyi-
However, I’ll mostly remember the experience for the pain in the backside audio tour. Meant to follow your location and describe what you’d be looking at, in theory a great idea. But as many people have pointed out, it would cut out mid sentence which after a while became very annoyi-
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, how long roughly does it take to view the museum (self guided)?
Written October 12, 2018
1 hour can do it. Sorry for the delay in my response.
Written October 19, 2018
Hi, can anyone give me an indication of how suitable this museum is with a 4 year old? And, if suitable how long should we allow for a visit?
Written February 22, 2015
How long should I allow?
Written January 31, 2015
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