Best Museums In The Inner City And The Inner West

Got spare time, want to learn something new or need to keep the kids entertained for an afternoon?

It’s a great time to explore your local museums and the inner city and inner west have a diverse and quirky collection. Just make sure to check the museum websites for current opening hours and COVID-19 protocols before visiting.

Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital Museum

L8 North, King George V Building, 86-119 Missenden Road, Camperdown

Started in 1933 with the donation of two books by the most famous of all nurses, Florence Nightingale, the museum traces the rich history of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Discover, for example, why an attempted assassination was the catalyst for the hospital’s opening and why it’s a world leader in healthcare innovation.

RPA Museum -- Photo from Sydney Local Health District

Museum of Nursing RPA

Queen Mary building, Grose Street, Camperdown

Nurses and fans of the profession might prefer to do a deep dive into RPA’s Museum of Nursing, where you can view diaries and letters of well-known nurses and examine ancient medical equipment – some of which may leave you feeling grateful to live in the modern era.

RPA Museum --Photo from Sydney Local Health District

Sydney Bus Museum

Old Leichhardt Tramshed, 25 Derbyshire Road, Leichhardt

Entirely volunteer-run by automotive history buffs, here you can see some of Sydney’s oldest transport vehicles in all their carefully preserved and restored glory, from government, private and interstate buses to tow trucks and taxi sedans.

Sydney Bus Museums - Photo from Facebook page

Mounted Police Stables and Museum

7 Baptist Street, Redfern

Ever wondered why NSW still has a mounted police force and who cares for its horses?

Uncover the equine history of the state’s mounted policemen and women. Regular free tours provide a history of the force, insight into the daily life and running of the stables, and what’s involved in police training and care of the animal task force.

New South Wales Mounted Police -- Photo from Wikipedia

University of Sydney Museums

The University of Sydney has three physical (and one online) museums, each with its own extensive collection. The Museum of Pathology houses over 1600 specimens and a vast display of historical medical instruments. The Chau Chak Wing Museum is the place to explore the University’s artefacts, specimens and artworks spanning natural history, archaeology, art, science, and ethnography. An extensive collection of prosections (cadaver dissections) can be viewed at the J.T. Wilson Museum.

Chau Chak Wing Museum - Photo from https://www.sydney.edu.au

Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS)

5 Henderson Road, Alexandria

The new ARHS headquarters in Alexandria, with its striking frontage, is currently open three days a week (Tue-Thu, 10am-4pm). It houses a museum, gallery, transport archives, bookstore and cafe for railway enthusiasts.

Australian Railway Historical Society - Photo from Wikiwand

Powerhouse Museum Ultimo

500 Harris Street, Ultimo

And, of course, we can’t forget Sydney’s beloved Powerhouse Ultimo, the best place in Sydney to explore weird and wonderful exhibitions across science, technology, design, space exploration and much more, on wide-ranging topics from Star Wars or the Olympic Games to the design of future homes.

Powerhouse Museum - Photo from maas.museum