SeeCity Centre

The Domain

In colonial times this land was the Governor’s buffer of privacy between his residence and the penal colony. Roads and paths were constructed through the Domain by 1831 to allow public access. Since that time it has remained a place for the people to breath and relax. The Domain surrounds the Royal Botanic Gardens. In times past has been a site of often quite colourful public oratory and site of public rallies and demonstrations. Home to the popular Opera in the Domain, Jazz in the Domain, and Symphony in the Domain events in summer, as well as the Tropfest short film festival. If attending any of these events, arrive in the early afternoon to secure a picnic spot as upwards of 100,000 people attend.

Getting there: adjacent and south of the Botanical Gardens
Price: There are no entrance fees to the Domain, however at times the Domain is used for events and the event organisers may charge admission fees or impose other access controls to the specific areas annexed for those events

Directions Suggest a nearby place

Listing from Wikivoyage: Sydney/City Centre, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

SeeCity Centre
The Art Gallery of New South Wales
the leading museum of art in New South Wales and Sydney, and one of Australia's foremost cultural institutions. It holds significant collections of Australian art, and presents nearly forty exhibitions annually. British Victorian art, along with smaller holdings of Dutch, French and Italian painters of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and a collection of modern British masters, European modernists and European classical art. The collection includes work by Reubens, Picasso, Van Gogh and many others. There is also an impressive collection of Asian, South East Asian, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The new North Building has an extensive collection of contemporary art, including the dark 'Tank' level in the basement - a cavernous and strange area that used to hold fuel for shipping. Not all of the collection holdings are on exhibition at any one time and the gallery occasionally rotates significant works on exhibition. The building itself is a much-photographed sandstone structure with a large formal entrance. There is a popular cafe inside the gallery, with views over Wooloomooloo.
Daily, Wed untilFree admission with charges to some 'feature' exhibitions
SeeCity Centre
Hyde Park Barracks
Built in 1818-1819. Constructed by convicts and housed by them, the Hyde Park Barracks provided housing for convicts working in government employment around Sydney from 1819 until its closure in 1848. Interior is restored with exhibits depicting the furnishings and life of the time. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Daily, closed Good Fri and Christmas DayFree
SeeCity Centre
St. Mary's Cathedral
The Catholic Sydney diocese's cathedral, built in 1868.
SeeCity Centre
Reserve Bank of Australia Museum
Hosted by the Reserve Bank of Australia in its city headquarters, this museum displays Australian bank notes and currency from the earliest issues to the present day. Interesting but basic. Drop in for 15 min or so if you are passing by Martin Place.
Temporarily closed as of June 2025; otherwise open Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, except bank holidaysFree admission