1. Sydney Observatory
  2. People looking out of the Observatory telescope.
    Photograph: Sydney Observatory/James Horan
  3. Valentine’s Day at Sydney Observatory
    Photograph: Supplied
  4. Family looking through telescope
    Photograph: James Horan
  5. Observatory Hill at sunset
    Photograph: Destination NSW

Sydney Observatory

Intrigued by the night sky? Take a guided tour at Sydney Observatory
  • Museums
  • Millers Point
Alice Ellis
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Time Out says

Built in 1858, Sydney Observatory – which sits up on top of the hill at Millers Point in Sydney city – gained international recognition under Henry Chamberlain Russell, the government astronomer from 1870 to 1905, who involved Sydney in the International Astrographic Catalogue, the first complete atlas of the sky. The Sydney section alone took 80 years to complete and filled 53 volumes. Sydney Observatory opened to the public in 1982.

Sydney Observatory offers a range of tours (booking essential) that are well worth checking out. You pay (a fairly decent) price for the tours, but non-guided regular admission to the gardens and museum is free, and there's a great view of the city from up there – including beautiful sunsets. 

Extended opening hours and new guided tours from Wednesday to Saturday allow visitors to explore the historic Observatory grounds that overlook the harbour from Sydney’s highest point. Visitors can book intimate guided historical tours that dive into stories that have shaped Observatory Hill, including its colonial uses for a windmill, defence fort, signal station, timekeeping service and weather station. The tour takes visitors inside the Signal Master’s Cottage and Observatory wing to explore unique artefacts from the Powerhouse Collection before climbing narrow staircases to see Australia’s oldest working telescope alongside a modern 16-inch telescope inside the astronomy domes. Tours run day and night from Wednesday to Saturday.

If you're intrigued by the night sky, you just think it's pretty, or you simply want to get a great view of Sydney, head up to the Sydney Observatory.

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Want more? Here's our guide to the other Sydney bucket-list items to tick off.

Details

Address
Sydney Observatory
Upper Fort St, Observatory Hill
Millers Point
Sydney
2000
Transport:
Nearby stations: Circular Quay
Price:
Free
Opening hours:
Daily 10am-5pm; night tours by booking

What’s on

Sunset Variations

Golden hour in Sydney is a magical time; when the glare of the day fades and the dropping sun coats the city in a buttery glow. And there’s one particular spot in Sydney that seems to catch the light perfectly – a fail-safe sunset spot with views across the Harbour, and one of the best places to stargaze when daylight disappears entirely. We’re talking about Sydney Observatory, and for five Fridays this summer, golden hour at this spot is ramping up to the next level – elevated by a series of three-hour live music sets programmed by the creative people behind Powerhouse. Sunset Variations will kick off on Friday, January 30 with an ambient Afrofuturist performance by Ethiopian Australian sound artist, Nū, to set the tone as the light disappears from the sky above the Harbour City.  Next up, on Friday, February 6, experimental electronic artist e fishpool will soundtrack sunset with a mesmeric performance. Friday, February 13 will welcome the cinematic compositions from the Aarti Jadu Ensemble, performing alongside Emma Ovenden and George Worthy. Then, on Friday, February 20, Luritja singer-songwriter and visual artist Keanu Nelson will take over the heritage site with a spell-binding performance as an ode to his Papunya roots. The series will come to a close with a powerful set from the Setwun: Celestial Bodies on Friday, February 27. The soulful, percussive showcase, led by composer and multi-instrumentalist DJ Josh Panakera-Molony, will blend jazz, groove and dance music...
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