The Rocks Discovery Museum
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is the New South Wales State Government body which owns and manages significant precincts, predominantly on the south shore of Sydney Harbour. These precincts include the historic Rocks area (site of the initial European settlement of Australia in 1788) and Darling Harbour (industrial and port precinct from 1813-1984).
Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day
The main themes of the museum are "Warrane" which examines the indigenous presence in and around Sydney Harbour as well as the environment prior to colonisation by the British, "Colony" which looks at the period of establishment of the convict colony from 1788-c1820, "Port" which follows the development of The Rocks following the establishment of merchants, wharves and warehouses as well as the people- indigenous Australians, convicts and immigrants who lived and worked here throughout the 19th century. The final exhibition, "Transformations", details the changes to the area in the 20th century following the New South Wales Government's purchase of the 28 hectare site after 1900.
A resource area at the museum contains books on the history of The Rocks for visitors to browse, as well as access to computer files on the objects displayed in the museum and their associated stories.
During school holidays children can participate in the HMS Discovery program where children can experience life as a member of the crew of HMS Discovery. The crew, under the guidance of the ship's captain, must make crucial decisions including what type of cargo to stock for the ship's arduous journey from Plymouth to Sydney Cove. They must also ensure the ship remains on course and its cargo arrives safely in the colony which is desperately waiting its arrival.
The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority's education unit, Sydney Learning Adventures, conducts programs on history and archaeology aimed at primary and secondary school groups. The programs combine artefacts from the museum with visits to significant historical and archaeological sites in The Rocks, providing a contextualised look at objects and the society in which they were used.
Entry to The Rocks Discovery Museum is free, with disabled access provided. The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority also operates the nearby Sydney Visitors Centre which provides information not only on The Rocks and Darling Harbour, but also for the whole of New South Wales to assist visitors in planning their visit. In The Rocks there are many shops and restaurants located in historic buildings, dating back to the early 19th century, as well as parks and harbourside promenades with spectacular views of the harbour, Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Rocks is accessed by train and ferry (Circular Quay) or by bus along George Street, Sydney's main thoroughfare. Parking is also available in a number of underground parking stations within The Rocks.
The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority's collection consists of over 2 million artefacts recovered from archaeological investigations conducted throughout The Rocks and Darling Harbour since the late 1970s. In addition there are items recovered from roof spaces or under floors which had been left behind by former occupants of The Rocks. In general, artefacts from the collection date from the mid-18th through the 20th centuries and represent the material culture of the time; the incidental record of the past rather than the "collectibles" that were purposefully retained as heirlooms by generations.