New Discovery of Olde Sydney @ Historic Houses Trust
- The Mint building is so lovely, I realised how important the Historic Houses Trust is, they preserve these valuable parts of our history from exploiters and commercial greed!
I found myself in Macquarie Street Sydney yesterday and visited The Sydney Mint Museum & Cafe and The Hyde Park Barracks….and got lost in a time gone by AND learned a lot about the buildings and about life back then.
Walking around @The Mint & Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney (Hyde Park Barracks) you need to look up AND down – who needs a podcast when you can use all of your senses!!
There was a tour guide (who I later discovered was a volunteer!) regaling travellers and locals with tales of life when Sydney was born (did you know that Run was the most popular refreshment??) I wanted to join them!!
As I moved through the building, I realised that while I ALWAYS visited historic buildings, museums and landmarks in my travels, apart from the major galleries in Australia’s major cities, I did not know and had not been to our very own historic jewels!! As a kid, my parents took us to them but as an adult my appreciation is so different.
- This is the safe door, inside the old gold safe inside The Mint Store
Of course I HAD to visit the store and was pleasantly surprised for 2 reasons! 1. I knew the person working in the store, she used to work in an old customer’s store, from Paper Magnolia days. 2. The products and assortment are REALLY great! We have all been in Museum or Historic Building stores that were ‘twee’ and a little cliche and what I found was a mini ‘The Met’ store!
Inside The Mint store – they use the old gold safe, made by Chubb, for the books and cards!! Sooooo cool!!
I also discovered that Members have a lounge they can use any time with refreshments – an oasis in this crazy glorious city.
The Mint building is so lovely, I realised how important the Historic Houses Trust is, they preserve these valuable parts of our history from exploiters and commercial greed!
This and many other buildings, museums, collections and events are managed by The Historic Houses Trust. Check out the Historic Houses Trust & their Museums, Buildings, Stores & learn about our history online here.
More pictures here or on Facebook here.
Inside The Mint store - they use the old gold safe, made by Chubb, for the books and cards!! Sooooo cool!!
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney