The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is located in Macquarie St, opposite Bridge Street next to the Royal Botanic Gardens and the entry to Government House. It is recognised as one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia and incorporates a faculty of the University of Sydney, the community-based Conservatorium Open Academy and the Conservatorium High School.

Originally constructed in 1821 as the stables for Government House, the Conservatorium is one of the few surviving works of convict architect, Francis Greenway.
In 1915, the NSW Government under William Holman allocated £22,000 for redevelopment of the stables into a music school. The NSW State Conservatorium of Music opened on 6 March 1916 under the directorship of the Belgian conductor and violinist Henri Verbrugghen with the charter of "providing tuition of a standard at least equal to that of the leading European Conservatoriums" and to "protect amateurs against the frequent waste of time and money arising from unsystematic tuition".
Enrolments in the first year were healthy with 320 "single-study" students and a small contingent of full-time students, the first diploma graduations occurred four years later.

It was home to Australia's first full-time orchestra, composed of both professional musicians and Conservatorium students.
Under the direction of Rex Hobcroft (1972-82), the Conservatorium adopted the modern educational profile recognised today. Hobcroft's vision was of a 'Music University', where specialised musical disciplines including classical and jazz performance, music education, composition and musicology enriched each other.
In 1990, as part of the Dawkins Reforms, the Conservatorium amalgamated with the University of Sydney, and was renamed the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

In May 1997, NSW Premier Bob Carr announced a major upgrade of the Conservatorium, with the goal of creating a music education facility equal to or better than anything in the world.

The Conservatorium's performance activities, and the Conservatorium High School were temprarily relocated to the Australian Technology Park from 1998-2001 and the Conservatorium's Composition, Music Education and Musicology Units housed in an office building in Pitt St.

The redevelopment restored Greenway's historic building and provided facilities of outstanding acoustic and architectural quality in which to serve the music and wider communities, and to educate future generations of performers, musicologists, composers and music educators.

There is no public parking however there is a short stay drop off point for the disabled or deliveries and it is easily accessible by public transport.
ACCESS AND PARKING
By rail: Martin Place or Circular Quay are the closest stations
By bus : Any bus that travels to Circular Quay or along George, Pitt or Macquarie streets will get you close.
By ferry: A 10 minute walk from Circular Quay
Parking:
Domain Car Park
St Marys Road, Sydney, 02 9232 6165
Other parking available:
Secure Parking, Hudson Building 131 Macquarie Street, 02 8912 4900
Sir Stamford at Circular Quay, 93 Macquarie Street (entry Albert Street), 02 9252 4600
Sydney Opera House Car Park. Macquarie St, 02 9247 7599