History & archive collections
Our collections include formal City of Sydney archive records and the civic collection. They also include our history websites and local history resources at our libraries.
History & archive collections
City of Sydney ArchivesHistory & archive collections
Civic collectionHistory & archive collections
History websitesHistory & archive collections
Books about Sydney’s historyLibrary collections
Local history collection
Library & information services
How to use our archives collection
The City archives holds more than one million records from 1842, when the Council was established, to recent years.
City of Sydney News
News
Hidden in plain sight: revealing the overlooked stories of Sydney’s inner suburbsShining a light on the untold stories of our local area.29 April 2025News
Sydney's lesser-known war memorialsSome quiet corners in our city carry the memory of Australians who served in the armed forces.26 April 2025News
On the road to justice: remembering the Freedom Ride Four photographs from the exhibition at 119 Redfern Street.12 February 2025News
Rare photos shine a light on prideThe people, parties and parades that made LGBTIQA+ Sydney from the disco era to the fight for marriage equality in the 21st century.25 November 2024News
How to mark Remembrance Day in Sydney Honouring the fallen and reflecting on the sacrifice of generations past.5 November 2024News
Timeless treasures and the master who keeps them tickingFor History Week, we unveil the stories behind Sydney’s most beloved clocks and the skill that preserves their legacy.30 August 2024News
At the movies: Sydney's love affair with cinemasFrom grand picture palaces to cineplex chains, take a front row seat to the story of our theatres from the silver screen's first century.28 May 2024News
Echoes of the past honour the Stolen GenerationsLearn about the survivors of the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls (1912-1969) as Australia marks National Sorry Day.22 May 2024News
Thirsty for history? Order a drink with a dash of old SydneyPull up a bar stool at one of these 7 locations and experience our city's past18 April 2024News
Glebe's groundbreaking shelter Elsie Women’s Refuge turns 50 Local female activists reflect on a powerful feminist moment in the city’s past as we mark International Women’s Day24 March 2024
![MS Hill, City of Sydney, Birdseye Map, 1888 (03/09/1888), [A-01148878]. City of Sydney Archives, accessed 17 Apr 2025](https://images.ctfassets.net/kcmyw5u53voi/5lTYGbsSrK0SlA9wpNiA29/9761c8d9d4e8114cd9b0a2a498231953/A-01148878_page-0001.jpg?w=200)
History
Sydney is a vibrant city and it has an ancient heartbeat. Discover the rich, vivid history of Sydney from early Aboriginal life through to the modern global city.