All historic houses to visit in New South Wales

Step into the past at 28 historic houses in New South Wales. These preserved homes offer a glimpse into the lives of notable figures and everyday people from different eras.

Are you interested in exploring historic homes? Here are the must-see historic houses in New South Wales:

  1. Sydney Observatory1

    Sydney Observatory

     Sydney
    The Sydney Observatory is situated on Observatory Hill in the heart of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This location offers a unique vantage point for observing the night sky and is easily accessible for tourists visiting the city.
  2. Harpers Mansion2

    Harpers Mansion

     Berrima
    Harper's Mansion is a heritage-listed house located in Berrima, New South Wales, Australia. It is now a house museum that is recognized for its Georgian design. The mansion is a property of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), which acquired it in 1978. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 March 2002.
  3. Museum of Sydney3

    Museum of Sydney

     Sydney
    The Museum of Sydney is a historical collection and exhibition, built on the ruins of the house of the first Governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip. This location gives the museum a unique historical significance, as it stands on the site of the first Government House of Australia, constructed in 1788. The original house was later abandoned, and its foundations were uncovered by archaeologists in 1983. The new museum building was designed by architects from Denton Corker Marshall and is part of the Governor Phillip Tower development.
  4. The Rocks Discovery Museum4

    The Rocks Discovery Museum

     Sydney
    Three floors packed with history of the most magical district in Sydney. Learn about the development of the area, from pre-European era to the present. The exhibitions are interactive and highly engaging, kids will love it. Explore various archaeological artefacts and hear stories about events and p
  5. Susannah Place5

    Susannah Place

     Sydney
    Susannah Place is a historic site located in the heart of Sydney's The Rocks district. It was originally a grocery store and workers' cottages, but has since been transformed into a museum. This heritage-listed site offers a unique glimpse into the city's past, showcasing the evolution of Western occupation over 160 years, particularly the urban working-class community.
  6. Hyde Park Barracks6

    Hyde Park Barracks

     Sydney
    Hyde Park Barracks is a historical site located at the southern end of Macquarie Street in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is conveniently situated near the northeastern corner of Hyde Park, opposite Queens Square, and next to the Sydney Mint. This location makes it easily accessible for tourists visiting the city.
  7. Sydney Jewish Museum7

    Sydney Jewish Museum

     Sydney
    The Sydney Jewish Museum is a history museum situated in the suburb of Darlinghurst in Sydney. This location is easily accessible and offers a unique opportunity to delve into the rich history and culture of the Jewish community in Australia.
  8. Old Government House8

    Old Government House

     Sydney
    The Old Government House in Parramatta, located on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, served as a country residence for the first ten governors of New South Wales from 1800 to 1847. This historical building offers a glimpse into the early colonial period of Australia, making it a significant site for those interested in history.
  9. Newcastle Museum9

    Newcastle Museum

     Newcastle
    The Newcastle Museum is situated in the city of Newcastle, which is in New South Wales, Australia. This location is significant as it allows visitors to explore the rich history and culture of the region while also enjoying the museum's diverse exhibits and collections.
  10. Elizabeth Farm10

    Elizabeth Farm

     Sydney
    Elizabeth Farm is a significant historic site in Sydney, Australia. It was the residence of John Macarthur and his wife Elizabeth, who were pioneers in the production and sale of merino wool in the country. This makes it a place of interest for those keen on understanding Australia's early economic history and the beginnings of its wool industry.
  11. Experiment Farm Cottage11

    Experiment Farm Cottage

     Sydney
    Experiment Farm Cottage, located at 9 Ruse Street, Harris Park, City of Parramatta, Sydney, Australia, is a heritage-listed former farm and residence that now serves as a house museum. This historic site offers visitors a glimpse into Australia's past, showcasing one of the country's oldest standing residences, built around 1834. The cottage is situated on the site of Experiment Farm, Australia's first European farmstead, which was established through the country's first land grant.
  12. Breakwater Battery Museum Port Kembla12

    Breakwater Battery Museum Port Kembla

     Wollongong
    The Breakwater Battery Museum is located at Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia. It was originally a coastal defence battery during World War II. This historical site offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing the strategic importance of Port Kembla during the war.
  13. Museum of the Riverina13

    Museum of the Riverina

     Wagga Wagga City Council
    The Museum of the Riverina, located in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, is a local history museum. It offers a deep dive into the history and culture of the region, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the area's past and its impact on the present.
  14. Justice and Police Museum14

    Justice and Police Museum

     Sydney
    The Justice and Police Museum, located at 4-8 Phillip Street on the corner of Albert Street in the Sydney central business district, is a heritage-listed site. It was formerly a water police station and courthouse. This location offers a unique insight into the history of law enforcement and justice in New South Wales, making it a fascinating destination for those interested in history, law, and policing.
  15. Norman Lindsay Gallery15

    Norman Lindsay Gallery

     Sydney
    The Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum, located at 14-20 Norman Lindsay Crescent in the Blue Mountains town of Faulconbridge, is a heritage-listed former residence and farmlet. Today, it serves as an art gallery, tourist attraction, and museum. This location is steeped in history and offers a unique insight into the life and work of the Australian artist and writer, Norman Lindsay.
  16. Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre16

    Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre

     Goulburn
    The Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre is situated in the heritage-listed former railway workshops in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Main Southern railway line, making it a significant part of the region's history and a fascinating destination for those interested in rail heritage.
  17. Hay Gaol Museum17

    Hay Gaol Museum

     Hay
    The Hay Gaol, located at 355 Church Street in Hay, New South Wales, Australia, is a heritage-listed site that once served as a prison and is now a museum. This historical site offers a unique glimpse into the past, showcasing the evolution of the penal system in Australia from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
  18. Monte Cristo Homestead18

    Monte Cristo Homestead

     Junee
    The Monte Cristo Homestead is a significant historical site located in the town of Junee, New South Wales, Australia. This double-storey late-Victorian-style manor was constructed by local pioneer Christopher William Crawley in 1885. It stands on a hill overlooking the town, offering a glimpse into the past and the rich history of the region.
  19. Don Bank19

    Don Bank

     Sydney
    Don Bank, also known as the Don Bank Museum, is a heritage-listed former residence that has been transformed into a house museum. It is located at 6 Napier Street, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This historic site offers visitors a glimpse into the past, showcasing the architectural style and living conditions of the mid-19th century.
  20. Miss Porter's House20

    Miss Porter's House

     Newcastle
    Miss Porter's House, located at 434 King Street in Newcastle West, is a heritage-listed former residence that now serves as a house museum. The house was constructed by John T. Owen and is currently under the ownership of the National Trust of Australia (NSW). This Edwardian home stands as a distinctive piece of architecture in an otherwise non-residential area, offering a glimpse into the early twentieth-century middle-class urban lifestyle.
  21. Fort Scratchley21

    Fort Scratchley

     Newcastle
    Fort Scratchley, once a coastal defence installation, now serves as a museum. It is situated in Newcastle East, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales in Australia. This historical site offers visitors a glimpse into Australia's military past, with its origins dating back to 1882 when it was built to defend the city against a potential Russian attack.
  22. National Museum of Australian Pottery22

    National Museum of Australian Pottery

     Holbrook
    The National Museum of Australian Pottery is situated in the town of Holbrook, New South Wales. It is home to an extensive collection of over 2000 pieces of domestic Australian pottery, which were crafted in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This vast collection provides a unique insight into the history and evolution of Australian pottery.
  23. Meroogal23

    Meroogal

     Nowra
    Meroogal, located at 35 West Street in the city of Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia, is a heritage-listed former residence that now serves as a house museum. The house was designed and built in 1886 by Kenneth Mackenzie, making it a significant piece of architectural history.
  24. NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education24

    NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education

     Sydney
    The NSW Schoolhouse Museum, also known as the New South Wales Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education, is situated within the premises of North Ryde Public School in North Ryde, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This location makes it easily accessible for tourists visiting Sydney.
  25. Yanco Powerhouse Museum25

    Yanco Powerhouse Museum

     Yanco
    The Yanco Powerhouse Museum is situated on Binya Street in Yanco, New South Wales, Australia. This location is easily accessible and offers visitors a chance to explore the rich history of the area.
  26. Trial Bay Gaol26

    Trial Bay Gaol

     Arakoon
    Trial Bay Gaol, also known as Trial Bay Prison, is a former prison and internment camp located at Trial Bay near the town of South West Rocks in New South Wales. The prison was used to house convicts from 1866 to 1903 and during World War I from August 1915 to 1918 as an internment camp for German naval soldiers, German Australians, and Austrians. Today, it stands as a ruin in Arakoon National Park and is used as a museum.
  27. 27

    Merimbula Old School Museum

     Merimbula
    The Old School Museum in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia, is a local-history museum that occupies the town's former schoolhouse. This unique setting provides a rich historical context for the museum's exhibits, offering visitors a glimpse into the town's past through the lens of its educational history.
  28. 28

    Yarrawonga-Mulwala Pioneer Museum

     Mulwala
    Housed in a spacious building the Museum features an extensive display of pioneer agricultural, aviation and horse drawn equipment. It is also home to an impressive rock collection the life-time hobby of Yarrawonga's pharmacist. Other features include early office equipment including the linotype an