We've all walked past it a million times. But how many of us have actually taken the time to explore
Hyde Park Barracks?
Managed by the
Historic Houses Trust, this handsome sandstone building is one of the most important pieces of colonial heritage that Sydney possesses.
The
history of the barracks is a fascinating one. It was commissioned by
Governor Lachlan Macquarie and built by famed architect
Francis Greenway during 1818-19. It initially operated as a home for the convicts who provided labour for the government and private employers. From 1848-86, it was used to house single female immigrants, while it also functioned as a female asylum between 1862 and 1886. From 1887 to 1979, law courts and government offices could be found within. Redevelopment then took place, before a museum was opened in 1984.
So what's to be seen on a tour of this beloved Sydney landmark? Well, you can gain an insight into the
50,000 convicts who passed through, discovering how they lived and worked. You can see the artefacts that the archaeologists were able to recover, because, amazingly, they were preserved by
rats. You can also learn about the numerous occupants who moved in once the prisoners had been moved out.
Hyde Park Barracks is centrally located, reasonably priced and extremely interesting. So why haven't you been there yet?
To find out what events and exhibitions are taking place,
click here. And to plan your visit,
click here.
