The Justice and Police Museum, Sydney

The Justice and Police Museum occupies a group of historic sandstone buildings at the corner of Albert and Phillip Streets, near Circular Quay. Constructed between 1856 and 1886, the site originally served as the Water Police Court and Police Station, housing both magistrates’ offices and holding cells. The architecture reflects Victorian Classical design, with arched windows, rusticated stonework, and iron-barred doorways that preserve the atmosphere of Sydney’s early legal institutions.

Inside, the museum presents exhibitions exploring crime, law enforcement, and justice in New South Wales from the colonial era to the present day. Restored interiors include the original Police Courtroom, Charge Room, and Cells, where visitors can step inside the narrow lockups once used to detain offenders. Displays feature historical photographs, crime scene evidence, mugshots, and artefacts from notable cases, tracing the evolution of policing and criminal investigation in Sydney.

Interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations provide insight into real-life stories of bushrangers, detectives, and courtroom drama, alongside more recent studies of forensic science and social change. Managed by Sydney Living Museums, the site retains much of its original character, offering a rare glimpse into the working conditions of 19th-century police and judiciary.