The Mint

The Mint in Sydney is the oldest surviving building in the city center and an important historic landmark. Originally built between 1811 and 1816 as the south wing of the so-called Rum Hospital, it first served as a hospital. The ancient Greek-style structure with Doric columns made of cedar is architecturally controversial, but it has been largely preserved in its original 1816 form. Today the heritage-listed building houses the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales and stands on Macquarie Street, close to other historic sites such as Hyde Park Barracks.

From 1855 to 1926, The Mint was the first branch mint of a British colony outside Britain. The first coins struck on Australian soil were produced here, and their reverse sides already bore the inscription Australia, long before the founding of the Commonwealth. After the mint closed, various government offices and courts used the premises for decades. Since 1998, the building has once again been open to the public, with parts of it set up as a permanent exhibition on the history of the building. You can experience the historic atmosphere and linger in the café on site.