The Macleay Museum

The Macleay Museum was built in 1887 to house the vast natural history collections of the Macleay Family. When the building was altered between 1914 and 1918, the Collection was re-housed in a new attic.

The Macleays began collecting insects in the late 18th Century. When Alexander Macleay came to Sydney as Colonial Secretary in 1826 he had one of the largest privately owned insect collections in the world. The collection was added to by his son William Sharp Macleay, and expanded to include all aspects of Natural History by William Sharp´s cousin, William John Macleay. Under the terms of William Sharp´s will, William John Macleay donated the collections to Sydney University in 1887, as soon as the Museum Building had been constructed.

Despite its current location in the attic, the Museum still retains the charm of a nineteenth century museum but tackles modern issues! The collection now covers Insects, Natural History, Ethnography, Scientific Instruments and Historic Photographs. The George Masters Exhibition Space is devoted to temporary exhibitions.

The Museum is open from Tuesday to Friday 9am - 4pm, and on Mondays by appointment.