Smithfield, museum and gallery

The Fairfield City Museum and Gallery are located on The Horsley Drive in the western Sydney suburb of Smithfield. The museum (top), built in 1913, was the first council chambers of the Municipality of Smithfield and Fairfield, which was incorporated in 1888. The council chambers moved to Fairfield when it had become the commercial centre in the area and this property was sold and converted into a family residence. The local council recognised the historical value of the property so bought it back and opened it as a museum in 1983. Numerous buildings were also moved or erected on this property to create a village atmosphere of the early 1900s. The Stein Gallery, an art gallery (bottom) built in 1995, was designed and positioned to compliment the style of the old council building.