11 Best Free Museums in Sydney (Visitor Guide)

Discover Sydney’s best free museums and art galleries, where you can enjoy history, art, and culture without spending a cent.

Visiting a museum or art gallery can be both educational and entertaining for all ages, making it a perfect way to spend a leisurely afternoon.

Sydney boasts a wide variety of museums and art galleries, and the best part is that some of them offer free admission, making these cultural experiences accessible to everyone. However, keep in mind that free admission may not grant access to all areas of a museum. It’s always a good idea to check the museum’s website beforehand to see which sections are included.

Here’s our list of eleven fantastic free museums in Sydney.

1. Museum of Sydney

Museum of Sydney
Museum of Sydney

The Museum of Sydney, at the corner of Bridge and Phillip Streets, stands on the site of Sydney’s first Government House.

It explores Sydney’s transformation, blending colonial history with Indigenous perspectives through engaging exhibits, artefacts, and interactive displays. Highlights include remnants of the original Government House and the “Edge of the Trees” art installation, commemorating the meeting of First Nations people and European settlers.

Perfect for history enthusiasts and curious tourists, this museum offers an interesting look at Sydney’s past and present.

Museum of Sydney
Address: Corner Phillip and Bridge St (map)
More info: Museum of Sydney

2. Chau Chak Wing Museum

Chau Chak Wing Museum
Chau Chak Wing Museum

The Chau Chak Wing Museum, established in 2020, is a relatively new addition to the University of Sydney’s campus. This museum showcases a diverse range of art, science, history, and ancient cultures.

You could easily spend hours exploring its impressive collection of nearly half a million objects, from a 4,500-million-year-old meteorite to contemporary art projects.

Despite its young age, the museum has already earned recognition, winning three national museum awards at the Australian Museums and Galleries Association National Conference in 2021, held in Canberra.

Chau Chak Wing Museum
Address: University Place, Camperdown (map)
More info: Chau Chak Wing Museum

3. Art Gallery of NSW

Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales

Housed in a stunning building on the eastern side of the Domain, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is Sydney’s most prominent public gallery and one of the largest art museums in Australia.

General admission is free, offering a diverse range of artworks, including Australian pieces (from settlement to contemporary), as well as European and Asian art.

The gallery also hosts one of the world’s largest permanent exhibitions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

Art Gallery of NSW
Address: Art Gallery Road, Sydney (map)
More info: Art Gallery of NSW

4. Justice and Police Museum

Justice and Police Museum
Justice and Police Museum

Located at the corner of Phillip Street and Albert Street, the Justice and Police Museum was originally built in 1854 as a water police station, during a time when Sydney was rapidly growing.

As one of Sydney’s oldest buildings, it served as a hub for decades, complete with holding cells, charge rooms, courthouses, and police offices.

Today, the museum comprises two 19th-century courthouses and a police station, offering an extensive collection of historical artefacts, photographs, and documents related to policing and law. It is open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays.

Justice and Police Museum
Address: Art Gallery Road, Sydney (map)
More info: Justice and Police Museum

5. Australian Museum

Australian Museum
Australian Museum

The Australian Museum, located at 1 William Street opposite Hyde Park in Sydney’s CBD, is Australia’s oldest museum and offers something for all ages.

Now a heritage-listed site, the museum first opened in 1827 and houses an extensive collection of nearly 20 million objects related to Australian culture and history.

The museum’s vision is to be a leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth, and culture in Australia and the Pacific.

Australian Museum
Address: 1 William Street, Darlinghurst (map)
More info: Australian Museum

6. State Library of NSW Galleries

State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales

The heritage-listed State Library of New South Wales, located at the north-western end of the Domain, is Australia’s oldest library, established in 1826.

In addition to being a functional library, it also houses several galleries that feature both permanent and temporary art displays.

If the galleries aren’t reason enough to visit, the library’s impressive wings and architectural features make it a fascinating place to explore.

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Address: 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney (map)
More info: State Library of NSW Galleries

7. The Rocks Discovery Museum

The Rocks Discovery Museum
The Rocks Discovery Museum

The Rocks is one of Sydney’s most historic neighbourhoods, making it the perfect place for a museum that tells the story of Sydney before and after European settlement.

The Rocks Discovery Museum, located in a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse, offers visitors a unique collection of historical artefacts and interactive exhibits.

Though it’s a relatively small museum that can be easily missed, it’s definitely worth a visit as part of a discovery walk through this fascinating area.

The Rocks Discovery Museum
Address: Kendall Lane, The Rocks (map)
More info: The Rocks Discovery Museum

8. Australian National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum
Australian National Maritime Museum

Situated in a prime spot next to Sydney’s Darling Harbour, the Australian National Maritime Museum is a must-visit for both tourists and local Sydneysiders.

As its name suggests, the museum focuses on Australia’s rich maritime history, showcasing an impressive collection of objects dating back to the 17th century.

Keep in mind that while general admission is free, tickets are required for certain exhibitions and to explore the ships and vessels on display, both inside and outside the museum.

Australian National Maritime Museum
Address: 2 Murray Street, Sydney (map)
More info: Australian National Maritime Museum

9. Reserve Bank of Australia Museum

Reserve Bank of Australia Museum
Reserve Bank of Australia Museum

Housed in the Reserve Bank of Australia building at 65 Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD, the Reserve Bank of Australia Museum features a complete collection of Australia’s issued banknotes.

The museum explores Australia’s social and economic development through the history and role of its central bank, as well as the evolution of the nation’s banknotes.

It is also part of the Sydney Cultural Kilometre, a network of nine cultural organisations, museums, and galleries located in Sydney’s CBD.

Update 2025:
Note that the Reserve Bank of Australia Museum is closed until further notice due to refurbishment works.

Reserve Bank of Australia Museum
Address: 65 Martin Place, Sydney (map)
More info: Reserve Bank of Australia Museum

10. White Rabbit Gallery

White Rabbit Gallery
White Rabbit Gallery

Housed in a former Rolls-Royce showroom in Chippendale, near Sydney’s Central Station, the White Rabbit Gallery showcases artworks from the White Rabbit Collection.

Co-founded by Australian businesswoman and philanthropist Judith Neilson, the White Rabbit Collection is one of the world’s largest and most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art.

Since only a fraction of the collection can be displayed at a time, the gallery refreshes its exhibits twice a year.

White Rabbit Gallery
Address: 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale (map)
More info: White Rabbit Gallery

11. La Perouse Museum

La Perouse Museum
La Perouse Museum

The final entry on this list of free Sydney museums might not be as well-known as others, but the La Perouse Museum, located at the southern end of Anzac Parade, is worth a visit.

Housed in the former Telegraph Cable Station building on the La Perouse headland, the museum features a significant collection of exhibits about the 1787–1788 expedition led by a French naval officer and explorer. This expedition arrived in Australia just one week after the First Fleet and mysteriously vanished months later.

The La Perouse Museum also highlights the history of the building itself, as well as the heritage and stories of the local Aboriginal people.

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Address: 1542 Anzac Parade, La Perouse (map)
More info: La Perouse Museum

Sydney's best free museums

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Author:

AJ Mens

AJ Mens is a digital publisher based in Sydney, Australia, and the editor-in-chief of Sydney Uncovered and Blue Mountains Uncovered.

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