Originally built as a convict barracks, Hyde Park Barracks is now a museum. It was built as a part of the government’s plan to improve convict control. The barracks were designed to house around 600 convicts. In addition to being a judicial and housing complex, Hyde Park Barracks also served as a hospital. The asylum cared for sick and destitute women, and at its peak, there were over 200 patients. You can visit this amazing museum at Queens Square, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.
In addition to the Barracks, the site is also home to seven associated buildings. These include a courtroom, a dock for reporters, a constable’s office, and the clerk’s office. The building has a timber shingled gabled roof, and a pediment commemorating Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s involvement in the building. The compound has a high perimeter wall and domed pavilions at the corners.
The building is accessible to wheelchair users and has a family toilet with a changing table. Visitors can also take advantage of the museum’s audio guides, which tell the stories of the convicts who lived here. The exhibit also features a touch-screen interactive program that allows visitors to explore the daily lives of convicts. This is a great way to learn about the history of the site, and to connect with the site’s role in shaping the history of Australia. Read Much More.
Hyde Park Barracks was constructed in 1819, and it was originally designed as a housing facility for convicts. However, the population of the barracks decreased in the 1840s, and the site became a depot for reassignment. In 1848, male convicts were transferred to Cockatoo Island. This was followed by the reassignment of female convicts to Hyde Park Barracks. The site is one of the few surviving Macquarie era convict administration complexes. The Barracks Museum was originally run by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, and is now operated by Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales.
The museum exhibits include original artifacts from the site. In addition, there is a collection of excavated artifacts, including a leather shoe, log books, and hammocks. The museum also uses visitor tracking software to trigger audio of first-hand accounts. Visitors can also listen to the conversations of the convicts who occupied the Barracks.
Among the artifacts are tokens which were given to convicts who were convicted of crimes. The tokens were engraved with pinprick marks, and often had a name and a message of love. The tokens were transported to New South Wales and were frequently engraved for a loved one. The tokens can also feature rhymes or popular phrases such as “I love you.”
The barracks were closed in 1848, and remained a depot for reassignment until 1979. However, in 1990, the Barracks Museum was purchased by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. The Barracks were refurbished and adapted by award-winning architects Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners. The adaptation won the Australian Institute of Architects’ national Lachlan Macquarie Award in 1992. Check it out here.
The barracks are located less than a mile north of Circular Quay, and there is limited parking available near the site. It is also located near the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.