Qtopia Sydney: Where Queer History Lives, Breathes, And Throws A Damn Good Party
When: Year-round. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. Free entry every Sunday.
Where: 301 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, with two additional sites at Taylor Square.
Website: Qtopia Sydney
There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when a space built to oppress our community gets reclaimed and turned into something beautiful. That’s exactly what Qtopia Sydney is.
Sitting in the heart of Darlinghurst, inside the heritage-listed former Darlinghurst Police Station, Qtopia is now the world’s largest centre for queer history and culture. Yes, the world’s largest. This is the same building where gay men were locked up in the 1970s and ’80s, where the brave souls who marched in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978 were dragged and brutalised. Now, their stories line the walls. If that doesn’t give you chills, check your pulse.
Qtopia opened its doors in February 2024, timed perfectly with Mardi Gras season, but the dream behind it stretches back nearly 40 years. It was born from the vision of the late Professor David Cooper, a pioneering HIV/AIDS researcher who wanted a space to honour those impacted by the epidemic. That vision was carried forward by David Polson AM, one of the first Australians diagnosed with HIV. Polson participated in 28 clinical trials under Professor Cooper’s care, helping pave the way for the treatments that keep so many of us alive today. Though Polson passed away earlier this year, his legacy is woven into every corner of this place.
Spanning over 1,750 square metres across three distinct sites, Qtopia is more than a museum. The main building houses exhibitions, performance spaces, and educational programs. A short walk away at Taylor Square, you’ll find The Substation and The Underground (also known as The Toilet Block), an adults-only exhibition set inside the infamous public toilet block that was a notorious gay hook-up spot until it was boarded up in 1988. It’s been transformed into a neon-lit, cheeky tribute to that unavoidable part of our history. George Michael would absolutely approve.
The exhibitions are organised around five major themes: Human Rights, Sexuality and Identity, Media Representation, First Nations stories, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. From documenting the NSW Police Force’s official apology to the 78ers, to chronicling 45 years of the Sydney Star Observer, to exploring queer First Nations legacies that predate colonisation, there’s a depth here that rewards repeat visits.
But Qtopia isn’t just about looking back. It’s also a living, breathing performance hub. The Loading Dock Theatre and The Substation host cabaret, comedy, drag, theatre, and music throughout the year. Pride Fest returns in June with a month-long celebration of queer creativity. The 2025 lineup features headliners including A Friend of Dorothy (7-8 June), Skank Sinatra (14-22 June), and The Platonic Human Centipede (25-29 June).
What makes Qtopia emotionally significant is harder to quantify but easy to feel. This is a space that says: your stories matter. Your history is worth preserving. Your joy and your struggle and your fierceness deserve a home. In a world where queer rights remain under threat, having a permanent, government-supported, community-built cultural centre in the heart of Sydney feels like both a victory and a promise.
General admission is $15, with concessions at $10. Under 10s are free. And every Sunday, everyone gets in free, courtesy of the City of Sydney. So there’s really no excuse not to go.
For full details and upcoming events, visit qtopiasydney.com.au.
