History & archive collections

Our archives and history resources catalogue provides information about material created by us or former councils now under our jurisdiction, and donated collections.

Correspondence, photographs, historical maps and plans, our reference collection of books and journals, and information about 19th century City of Sydney employees are all now available in the one location.

Historical information about these resources will be added to the database over time.

The Assessment Books record details of ownership, occupation, construction and value for property in the City of Sydney area between 1845 and 1948.

They provide valuable information for family and property history not available from any other source.

The Sands directory was published each year from 1859 to 1932.

The lists of householder and business names it contains have become a fundamental source for research into Sydney's past, especially family history.

This house history guide will lead you through many of the resources available to research the history of your house, apartment or commercial building.

It's intended for City of Sydney residents.

The collection showcases the voices of Sydney people past and present.

In these interviews, Sydney people talk about their history, neighbourhoods, beliefs, work, businesses, relationship with the natural world and myriad experiences of daily life in this city.

An easy-to-search A-Z biographical guide of almost 500 men and women who have represented Sydney's residents on the City of Sydney Council, since its formation in 1842.

The website is also a work in progress, with research ongoing into the other councils that have been absorbed over the years into the City of Sydney, including Glebe, Newtown and Paddington.

Local volunteers worked with our archivists to create the Newtown Project website. The resource brings together historical information about the former Municipality of Newtown, a colourful area of the city which is now overseen by the City of Sydney and Marrickville Council.

Barani is an Aboriginal word of the Sydney language that means ‘yesterday’.

The Barani website provides histories of people, places and events associated with local Aboriginal communities.

It highlights Sydney's Aboriginal journey: its places, history and people.

Put together as a collaborative not-for-profit venture in digital public history, the Dictionary of Sydney is an ever-growing resource you can trust.

Universities, cultural institutions, historical societies and historians, including our historians, are all contributing to this amazing resource.

The site details the history of the entire Sydney metropolitan area, not just areas covered by the City of Sydney.

More than 700 suburbs are included, along with a myriad of people, places, events and subjects. Each entry has maps, images and links to further resources.

Our library network has a wide range of materials available to help you with your research.

The online catalogue can make a great starting point.

Special collections include local history and the Koori collection, dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.