Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art is the only museum of its kind in Australia

Museum of Contemporary Art overlooking Sydney Cove by Circular Quay
Museum of Contemporary Art overlooking Sydney Cove by Circular Quay cc licensed photo by jstuppy

At the Museum of Contemporary Art, which opened in 1991 in the The Rocks, you can explore a wide variety of contemporary art work. Contemporary art is, generally speaking, any art that is modern in theme or created within the last 40 or so years. It uses a wide variety of mediums, some even hi-tech, which means you will discover some truly unique and interesting forms of art here.

The museum was made possible by a bequest to the University of Sydney by the late John Power for the purpose of informing and educating Australians about the contemporary and visual arts. Subsequently, when the Maritime Services Board vacated their building in the Rocks for larger premises, the government of New South Wales donated the building which, after renovations, became the home of the Museum. It is also the only Museum of Contemporary Arts in all of Australia.

Between 2011 and 2012 the museum shut down for extensive renovations, which are now complete and make the museum better than ever. Admission to the museum is free with the exception of the occasional special exhibit.

Nearby attractions include: The Rocks, Sydney Observatory, Customs House, Justice and Police Museum, and Museum of Sydney.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No, except for some special exhibitions.

Museum of Contemporary Art Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Address: 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia

Phone: (02) 9245 2400

Official Website: Museum of Contemporary Art

Museum of Contemporary Art Reviews

Rated 4.4 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Such a special museum. And the outdoor space has an incredible view of the opera house! All for free. We particularly enjoyed the shell offerings from Marilyn Russell and Esme Timbery from the Bidjigal people. They were completely enchanting. The Attention to detail and craft with the shells was incredible, and the final product was a beauty from far away and from up close; watching all of the pieces fit together it was just… Magical. The Shell slippers from Esme were both haunting and beautiful. It’s something that I will always remember. My mama-heart! The museum itself is beautifully laid out with lots of open spaces. It allows for such ambitious artwork as the pavers of Sarah Ujmaia. What a treat it was to walk along these pavers and leave with the imprint on my soul/sole. So many other pieces to mention. The “Sinners Gotto”, “Jesus was a Capricorn”… Gosh, it was just such an incredible celebration of culture, and again, the spaces were big enough to accommodate larger pieces or pieces that needed more space to speak to the world. This is an incredible museum and well worth visiting. The larger rooms also lend themselves to ambitious projects. Projects that need room to breathe. I know I’m not mentioning so many other worthwhile artist and projects, but the ones mentioned above were the ones that hit my heart. Oh, did I mention there is a wonderful rooftop courtyard with views of the opera house! And that all of this is free?! Bravo!
Lockie Hunter - 3 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating Fantastic museum that showcases a diverse range of art from the recent years. There is a lot of First Nations artists being showcased in a variety of ways from physical sculptures to movies. Joined a tour at 11AM and had a fantastic tour guide that went in-depth to quite a few highlight pieces. Very knowledgeable about the artists and even took us to see an art piece behind closed doors as it was still under construction.
Victor Wang - 3 months ago

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5 Star Rating Love it. Large variety of displays. I can easily spend a whole day there. Best of all: Free entry
Noel - 3 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating Visited the MCA many times for both paid and open exhibitions. Great gallery for the modern art lover. Super easy to get there via public transport, it’s a short walk from Circular Quay station. Lots of nice cafes and restaurants near by as well.
Melissa Safar - 2 months ago

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Directions

Line Nearest Station Walking Time
L2, T2, T3, T8 or FerryCircular Quay 3 minutes

How to get to Museum of Contemporary Art by

By Train or Ferry: exit at Circular Quay Station and proceed west. The Museum of Contemporary Art is located in the park at the western edge of the Quay adjacent to the end of Wharf #6.

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