Museum of Sydney Harbour

A proposal for a world-class cultural tourist attraction for Sydney Harbour and a new home for Sydney Heritage Fleet.

ABOUT

A showcase and portal to the jewel of Sydney – our spectacular harbour.

The Museum of Sydney Harbour proposal is for a contemporary, world-class tourist attraction, located at Berrys Bay. Inspired by our most recognisable natural asset, the Museum offers local residents, domestic visitors and international tourists alike a compelling cultural experience.

As the new home for Sydney Heritage Fleet’s extraordinary operational vessels, the built form of the museum acts as a portal for visitors to experience the stories, history and magic of Sydney Harbour – on the water.

The Museum of Sydney Harbour will be an iconic, sustainable tourist destination, deepening Sydney’s international renown for our breathtaking harbour.

Reactivation of Berrys Bay

This unique enterprise, which combines international tourism with heritage preservation, will pivot around the ‘Museum of Sydney Harbour HQ’, a contemporary built form at a regenerated Berrys Bay. The Museum HQ is fundamental to visitor engagement and forms a recognisable starting point – a portal – to the attraction of Sydney Harbour, through which the visitor can experience the Harbour, its history and stories. The location of the Museum HQ at Berrys Bay provides an opportunity for the adaptive reuse of a long neglected site, and a permanent new home for Sydney Heritage Fleet and self-sustaining legacy from the roadworks for the Western Harbour Tunnel.

Artist’s impression of the Museum of Sydney Harbour

Features of the Museum of Sydney Harbour at Berrys Bay

New adventures
on Sydney Harbour

Woodleys
Shipyard
experience

Café, community spaces & foreshore walk

World-class museum

Sydney Heritage Fleet’s historic vessels

Harbour voices
wall

Interactive tours on Sydney Harbour

Kayak, canoe launching &
storage

Building Sydney tourism

The Museum of Sydney Harbour is set to play a key role in the building of Sydney tourism.

Local and visiting families, international travellers, individuals, tour groups, school groups and more will immerse themselves in a cultural experience at the Museum, one that is unique to Sydney and the world. Through dynamic story telling and interactivity both on and off the water, visitors will engage with the history of our Harbour and its profound impact on life in Sydney.

The more world-class cultural offerings available in Sydney to local and international visitors, the more those visitors see cultural institutions as a necessary chosen part of their discretionary spending.

Artist’s impression of Museum of Sydney Harbour

Creating an icon

Significant cultural offerings define a city and make a statement about its history, ambition and place in the world. The Museum has the potential to affect the way that we feel about our city, giving Sydney a new offering to be proud of.

The proposed Museum needs purposeful attention from strategic agencies within government to bring this valuable tourism offering to life.

Artist’s impression of Museum of Sydney Harbour

LOCATION

Site Plan

The location of the Museum of Sydney Harbour HQ at Berrys Bay provides an opportunity for the adaptive reuse of a long neglected site, a permanent new home for Sydney Heritage Fleet and a self-sustaining legacy from the effects of the works for the Western Harbour Tunnel.