Sydney's first LGBTQ+ museum Qtopia opens in former police station

NSW’s first permanent museum for LGBTQ+ history and culture, Qtopia, has opened to the public at the former Darlinghurst Police Station in the Sydney inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst..

Covering the changing legal status of homosexuality and including a memorial to those who died during the AIDS epidemic, the museum has opened in advance of next weekend’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

The museum - the largest centre of queer culture and history in the world - also features exhibitions about Indigenous history, transgender history, the changing legal status of homosexuality, queer media, and police brutality - some of which happened in the same building the museum occupies.

The heritage-listed site was once associated with the jailing of Sydney’s LGBTQ+ community, including the 78ers - a group of marchers in Sydney’s first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras protest in 1978.

Speaking at yesterday’s opening, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who announced $1.5 million in Federal Government funding for further upgrades for the museum, stated “I pay tribute to the bravery of those people in the community who went out there and showed leadership, who gave practical real examples of just celebrating who they were and suffered because of it.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns added “this new centre turns the page on the history of the old Darlinghurst Police Station and writes a new chapter that celebrates and recognises the proud LGBTQIA+ history and culture of our state.

“We couldn’t be prouder to support the establishment of Qtopia Sydney as a testament to the inclusivity and diversity that have come to define our vibrant city and state.

“Qtopia will stand as more than just a testament to any one particular person or government, this centre will stand as a marker for us all as to how far we’ve come in addressing inequality in NSW.”

The new museum will be operated by Qtopia, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the empowerment and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.

The museum previously opened temporarily at nearby Green Park and the National Arts School for Sydney World Pride last year.

Images: 'Dykes on bikes' exhibit at Sydney's Qtopia opens (top) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking at yesterday's opening (below).