Museum of Contemporary Art MCA, Sydney

Sydney's MCA is the city's second outstanding major gallery (Art Gallery of New South Wales in the Domain is the other - though small galleries are worth checking out too). This is the main contemporary art gallery in the city. Indigenous art features prominently in the collection of more than 4000 works.

Housed on the site of the former colonial-era Commissariat (demolished in 1939), the museum looks over Circular Quay to the Opera House. It opened in 1991 in its current art deco premises - formerly government offices.

Photo: Mark Bowyer Outside the MCA - Museum of Contemporary Art - MCA, Sydney

The MCA was extended in 2011. It's a large exhibition space with a diverse collection of work. Regular special exhibitions are a highlight. Allow a few hours at least - plus time in the open-air rooftop cafe to digest it all and take in the magnificent views of the harbour and the Opera House.

The museum opens late on Fridays (till 9pm) if you want an after-hours experience. Closed on Mondays.


Disclosure
Rusty Compass listings are always independent. We list the places we think you should know about. That's it. We always disclose any commercial arrangements and we received no inducement of any kind for this listing.