Museums & art collections
We are a hub of cultural activities, many of which are open to the public at no charge.
Early philanthropists and collectors donated artefacts, rare books, paintings and other memorabilia to the University of Sydney. These holdings have now grown to represent a significant part of Australia's cultural heritage.
You can see some of the University's historical, ethnographic and artistic treasures in our museums and galleries (open to visitors from 12 to 4pm every day except Saturday). These include the largest collection of antiquities in the Southern Hemisphere and offer an extensive events program open to the public.
- The University Art Collection
Founded in the 1860s, the University of Sydney Art Collection now holds more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures and works on paper by Australian, Asian and European artists.
View the current exhibition at the University Art Gallery
- The Macleay Museum
The Macleay Museum had its origins in the collection of insects begun by Alexander Macleay in the late eighteenth century. It has developed into an extraordinary collection of natural history specimens, ethnographic artifacts, scientific instruments and historic photographs.
- The Nicholson Museum
The Nicholson Museum contains the largest and most prestigious collection of antiquities in Australia. It is also the country's oldest university museum, and features masterpieces of ancient art and objects of daily life from Egypt, the Middle East, Greece, Rome, Cyprus and Mesopatamia.
- The Rare Book and Special Collections Library
The University's Rare Book Library holds 185,000 books and manuscripts which are rare, valuable or fragile, including eighty medieval manuscripts, works by Galileo, Halley and Copernicus and an extensive collection of Australiana.
- The University of Sydney War Memorial Carillon
The University of Sydney War Memorial Carillon commemorates the 197 undergraduates, graduates and staff who died in the Great War of 1914-1918