Hyde Park Barracks Museum

Great interactive experience, wearing headphones listening to the presentation within the Hyde Park Barracks museum (on a portable listening device). Children are on school holidays, exploring the museum with their parents/guardian/s.

The serenity of this place is palpable amidst the fragmented extracts from history on display that bring the past alive and confront one with the power of the human condition.kudos to the museum msnagement, the curator and their foresight.

Really interesting displays, especially of the items found when excavating the site.
All Australians should see this free, professional museum.

Hyde Park Barracks was an unexpectedly interesting experience.and it is completely free!
Upon entry you are given headphones and a volume controller and as you move through the 3-storey central barracks museum everything is explained to you clearly and concisely.
The highlights for me were the sleeping quarters that held about 70 hammocks where the poor convicts had to sleep and the final exhibition where 3 life-size convict images told their stories.
TIP - Foreign visitors can request the headphone narration in their own language, not just English.

Best place to learn about the birth of Australia and the relationship with the Aboriginal.

Authentic historical building. The Hyde Park Barracks is one of the oldest buildings of Sydney. When I visited the museum was free entry, not sure why the webpage says you have to buy tickets. It was first commissioned as dormitory for convicts then used as asylum for poor female immigrants. Later used as government office, now it's a museum and part of the UNESCO cultural heritage.

One of the best museum experiences I have ever had; the audio tour with actors sharing their experiences and background noises made you feel like you were really there, and the way the audio changed when you moved around on its own was exceptional. Truly, something that can’t be missed!

An interesting insight into the start of Sydney and NSW. Worth the short visit if you have time to kill. Barracks are well kept and the audio tour is included in your ticket price.

Well curated exhibits. It is a small museum as compared to most, but a very unique experience and very insightful.

Interesting early Australian history. Self guided tour via WiFi headset made it difficult to share the experience with other family members and commentary intermittently cut out

Excellent museum. Lots of history and very immersive… Especially loved Legacies at the end. Very well done! The only drawback was the headset cutting in and out, starting a story and cutting out. I had to stand on one leg in order to finish listening to a story in some places. But a great museum overall.

This is an awesome site to visit in Sydney, and is a must-see. The history is very interesting and the self-guided audio tour is very informative.

Nice history tour. Always good to learn more about Sydney’s past and the display is very clear and well organised! Definitely recommended if you have a couple of hours to spare.

Awesome Australian history and audio tour it's a must to do if you're in Australia and want to know a little bit more of the convict history.

Overacted first person amateur theater type audio tour which is super slow and you have no control.and no idea if you're about to take half a step too far too far, at which point the opaque orange device just automatically switches to the next story and good luck trying to get back to where you were. This was once a very interesting, informative museum, now it's basically the History Channel in PG. Great if that's what you're after. The site itself is fascinating.maybe get your own book or other history and take it with you if theatrics is not your bag

A must to do in Sydney! A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in the heart of historic Sydney, Hyde Park Barracks is one of the most significant convict sites in the world. It is an extraordinary living record of early colonial Australia. Easy access via public transport and 12$ entry fee for adults. If you are visiting Sydney, this should be on top of your list. Highly recommended!

Fantastic, immersive self guided tour of Sydney's convict past and the impact on the original inhabitants. However younger kids would do better with some old fashioned hands on exhibits

Great place to visit.
One of the Sydney living museums, describing Sydney history from the first colonists days.
The exhibition is very informative and easy to navigate with the audio guide provided at the entrance.
Very kids friendly.

Fully recommended. The auto guided tour makes you learn and understand the story of this place very easily

I wasnt too sure about this place, but it ended up being a great museum. They have an audio tour included, so theres good amount of info and its interactive for kids of all ages. Definitely recommend.