Hyde Park Barracks

Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney is a historic brick building designed by the convict architect Francis Greenway and built between 1818 and 1819. It was originally used under Governor Lachlan Macquarie to house male convicts who worked for the colonial government, and it marked a more liberal approach than the strict camp conditions of earlier years. The building later housed young female immigrants before serving as a courts and office complex until 1979. Today the site is a museum that sheds light on the history of Australia's convict era. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing "Australian Convict Sites," the heritage-protected building stands in downtown Sydney near Hyde Park and the historic Royal Mint.