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Category: Sydney

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Australian National Maritime Museum

HMAS Vampire National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum

Covering Australia’s maritime history from pre-colonial times to the present, the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney has an excellent collection of ships and artefacts on display. The most obvious displays are the ships and boats of the heritage fleet docked on Darling Harbour, but those inside also deserve a lot of attention.

Indigenous Watercraft

As the oldest users of the Australian coast and waterways, a large section is devoted to indigenous watercraft and heritage. Displays of canoes from around Australia and the Torres Strait are on display.

Aboriginal Bark Canoe
Aboriginal Bark Canoe
Ilma from the Bardi Jawi people
Ilma from the Bardi Jawi people

Kay Cottee and Blackmores First Lady

In 1989, Kay Cottee became the first woman to circumnavigate the world alone, without stopping, without assistance, by way of both hemispheres and the five southernmost capes. It took her 189 days in Blackmores First Lady, in a time before Social Media and with poor communications.

Visitors are able to enter the boat and experience how small it is. Getting on board really makes you realise what an incredible achievement it was.

Blackmores First Lady in which Kay Cottee became the first woman to perform a single-handed, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the world
Blackmores First Lady in which Kay Cottee became the first woman to perform a single-handed, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the world
Inside Kay Cottee's Blackmores First Lady Australian National Maritime Museum
Inside Kay Cottee’s Blackmores First Lady

Model Ships

One section of the Museum has beautifully made ship models relevant to Australia. As the museum is based in Sydney most of the Royal Australian Navy’s shops named HMAS Sydney are displayed. The largest and most impressive is the aircraft carrier, which has amazing detail.

Other models range from sailing ships to bulk iron ore carriers. All were important either for exploration or trade.

Model of The Royal Australian Aircraft Carrier HMAS Sydney (III)
Model of The Royal Australian Aircraft Carrier HMAS Sydney (III)
A model of BHP Pacific Iron
A model of BHP Pacific Iron
Sailing Ship Model Australian National Maritime Museum
Sailing Ship Model

Other Exhibits

Interesting displays located throughout the museum include the ships bell from USS Canberra (AG-2) which was named after HMAS Canberra, a heavy cruiser sunk during the Second World War. A 40mm cannon from a Royal Australian Navy ship lets you get a close up look at this important anti-aircraft weapon.

The Bell of USS Canberra CAG-2 Australian National Maritime Museum
The Bell of USS Canberra CAG-2
Spirit of Australia - The World's Fastest Boat 1978 Australian National Maritime Museum
Spirit of Australia – The World’s Fastest Boat 1978
Bofors 40mm cannon Australian National Maritime Museum
Bofors 40mm cannon
Up Close with a Figurehead
Deep Sea Diver Statue Australian National Maritime Museum
Deep Sea Diver Statue

HMAS Vampire

HMAS Vampire (II) D11 was a Daring class destroyer operated by the Royal Australian Navy.  Launched in 1959 and decommissioned in 1986. Entry to Vampire and the other ships is included in the ticket cost of the Maritime Museum (as of March 2024).

HMAS Vampire National Maritime Museum
HMAS Vampire
HMAS Vampire 4.5" Guns National Maritime Museum
HMAS Vampire 4.5″ Guns
Sick Bay of HMAS Vampire
Sick Bay of HMAS Vampire
Senior Ratings' Lounge HMAS Vampire
Senior Ratings’ Lounge HMAS Vampire

HMAS Onslow

HMAS Onslow was an Oberon class submarine of the Royal Australian Navy. Commissioned 1969 in and decommissioned in 1999. Walking through the submarine makes you realise how cramped the conditions are. This isn’t somewhere I would want to live months on end.

HMAS Onslow Warship Submarine
HMAS Onslow
Engine Room HMAS Onslow National Maritime Museum
Engine Room HMAS Onslow
Engine Room HMAS Onslow National Maritime Museum
Engine Room HMAS Onslow
Torpedo Room HMAS Onslow National Maritime Museum
Torpedo Room HMAS Onslow

Historical Fleet

The historical fleet contains ships that have importance to Australia’s maritime heritage. Possibly the most impressive to still be preserved is the Krait. This ex-Japanese fishing boat was used by Australia Special Forces during the Second World War to sneak into Singapore Harbour where they damaged 37,000 tonnes of Japanese ships.

HMAS Advance
HMAS Advance patrol boat
MV Krait
MV Krait
Lightship Carpentaria
Lightship Carpentaria
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Parliament House New South Wales

Parliament of New South Wales

Parliament House New South Wales

Completed in 1816 Parliament House in Sydney houses the Government of the state of New South Wales Australia. Originally a hospital, the central section of the façade is a two story Georgian building. When built, no funds were available to Governor Macquarie so he arranged funding via the importation of 60,000 gallons of rum licensed to a group of merchants. In return for the license, they built the hospital.

From 1829, the Legislature occupied the building, which had primarily been used as the residence of the chief surgeon. As the size of the colony of New South Wales expanded, so did the number of parliamentary representatives. As a result, north and south extensions were made for the old Legislative Council (now Legislative Assembly) Chamber in 1843 and the current Legislative Council Chamber in 1856.

Since then numerous additions and modifications have been made to the building. Despite many plans over the years, it remains one of the least grand parliament buildings in Australia, primarily due to its original design as a hospital.

Getting There

Situated in the centre of the Sydney CBD means that getting to Parliament House is quite easy. Several buses stop nearby in Macquarie Street, while the closest station is Martin Place.

We visited during Sydney is Open so access to otherwise closed areas was available. In addition, volunteers were stationed throughout the building answering questions and providing invites into the workings of State Government.

Parliament House New South Wales
Parliament of New South Wales
Waiting room with busts of past parliamentarians Parliament House New South Wales
Waiting room with busts of past parliamentarians
Marble staircase
Marble staircase

Legislative Assembly

Being modelled on the British Westminster System, the Legislative Assembly is the lower house of government and corresponds to the House of Commons, (or the Australian Federal Government House of Representatives). As such, the colour of the carpet and seats is green.

This chamber of parliament debates legislation before it is sent to the Legislative Council and then the Governor for approval. The Governor is the British Monarch’s representative and is appointed by the NSW Parliament.

Legislative Assembly Parliament House New South Wales
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
The mace of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales
The mace of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales

Legislative Council

The upper house of the NSW Parliament is the Legislative Council, whose primary colour is red, following the tradition of the British House of Lords.

Legislation passed by the lower house is debated here and either retired to the Legislative Assembly or forwarded to the NSW Governor if approved.

Legislative Council Parliament House New South Wales
Legislative Council
Legislative Council
Legislative Council
Usher of the Black Rod
Usher of the Black Rod

The Library – Now the Jubilee Room

Although now used for meetings and functions, the Jubilee Room holds a significant collection of historical records, along with the only state government archive.

In addition to the amazing collection of books on the shelves, the stained glass ceiling is amazing.

Parliamentary Library
Parliamentary Library
Stain-glass ceiling of the Parliamentary Library
Stain-glass ceiling of the Parliamentary Library

Fountain Courtyard

The Fountain Courtyard is one of the most recent additions to Parliament House, having been added in 1983. Located around the fountain on the surrounding walls is part of the parliamentary art collection as well as temporary displays. A significant portion of the display is by indigenous artists, forming the Reconciliation Wall.

Fountain Court
Fountain Court
Indiginous Art on Reconciliation Wall in Fountain Court
Indiginous Art on Reconciliation Wall in Fountain Court
Reconciliation Wall in Fountain Court
Reconciliation Wall in Fountain Court
Indiginous Art on Reconciliation Wall in Fountain Court
Indiginous Art on Reconciliation Wall in Fountain Court

What Did We Think?

This was a great visit because it was a good way to learn about the history of government in NSW as well as seeing both Chambers of Parliament. If you want to see how our government works, there is no better place to visit.

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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King Street Courts Sydney

Court Room

King Street Courts Sydney

Designed as Australia’s first law courts by Francis Greenway for Governor Macquarie, what became the King Street Courts were originally intended as a school. The original law courts were redesigned as St James Church and subsequently the adjoining school was repurposed as courts.

Completed in 1828, the final building differed significantly from Greenway’s original plan and suffered from damp, overcrowding and insufficient roof support. Over several decades these defects were addressed and the courts still operate today.

We visited as part of Sydney is Open and were able to see each courtroom. Volunteers stationed throughout the building, let us gain an insight into the building and its operation.

One courtroom still has a bullet hole when someone on trial wrested a gun from a guard. The gun discharged and the man made a getaway. Not surprisingly gun security was improved and egress from the courtrooms tightened.

The room where prospective jurors waited still has the wooden barrel from which numbers were drawn to select jurors.

Restoration of the courthouse, has resulted in a modern courthouse while maintaining its historical significance.

Memorial to those in the legal profession who served in World War One King Street Courts
Memorial to those in the legal profession who served in World War One
King Street Courts
Court Room
One of the court rooms
One of the court rooms
Bullet hole
Bullet hole
Atrium and staircase
Atrium and staircase
Wrought Iron Staircase King Street Courts
Wrought Iron Staircase
Waiting room for potential jurors
Barrel used to draw names for jury duty
Barrel used to draw names for jury duty

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.