Sydney: Hyde Park Barracks Museum

As we were very near the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, from the Archibald Fountain in the park we crossed the street to check it out.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the barracks are described as an “extraordinary record of the living legacy of colonial Australia.” The compound, built to house convicts, was constructed between 1817-1819 … designed by convict architect Francis Greenway. Later it served as a depot and asylum for immigrant women. Then it transitioned into law courts and government offices. Today it is a very-well done museum to which admission is free.

On arrival, we were given headphones and receivers that are essential for the immersive experience.

The visit then started on the top floor of the building. As you move from one room to another — or from one display to another — the receiver senses your location and the appropriate commentary automatically starts up. The descriptions are fairly short … on purpose, I would think, because if you move away to another spot, the receiver senses the change and the story changes with the move.

Dioramas and artifacts in display cases aid in bringing alive the experiences of the men and women who lived in the barracks back in the day.

We both found this to be a fascinating museum. Czytaj więcej