Customs House

The customs house is indeed a building of significant beauty. The building kind of reminds me of the Town hall from Back to the Future which represents a significant and iconic centre point for everything. This building is similar in style.
The iconic building is located close to Circular Quay station. The building is surrounded by nice cafes and restaurants and the seating outside offer a great view of the building. A great time to see the Customs House literally come to live is during the Vivid Festival in which the building tells a story through projected lights. The building has lights projected onto it. The light show uses the cracks, clock and other features to tell a story of a day in the life of a postman, flower, sunrise and many other crazy things. It is indeed quite awesome.
This visit the Customs house was part of a French festival. The area offered the best of French food and wine. Many stalls lined around with crêpes, croissants, baguettes and of course gorgeous French wines and Champagne.
Circular Quay is on every guide book must visits so while your there make sure to check out this beautiful building while your there.

Customs House is a lovely building just across from the wharf. It is a fantastic place for tourists, as it has lots of history about the city, but it had FREE wifi, which is rare in Sydney! They welcome everyone in. You can read the many newspapers they have available, sit in a comfy spot and surf the web, or enjoy the full scale model of the city underneath the glass floor. They have a café on the top floor that was too pricey for us to try and friendly staff at the information desk to answer your questions. I recommend that anyone visiting the city check it out.

You guys! You can pretend you’re godzilla stomping all over a giant mini model of Sydney!
Okay so there’s actually strong glass protecting the model city, but it’s still heaps fun to walk all over it, the model itself is huge. And there’s always tons of stuff happening inside, from functions to galas to the library on the First Floor (pro tip: there’s tons of kids books if you’re lugging the little ones around Circular Quay and they get tired).
Oh and it’s made of sandstone, my favourite of all building materials. And there’s pretty pictures projected onto it when Vivid is on. And Café Sydney is on the top floor. It’s a triple threat.

What a neat free public space right near the Circular Quay offering amenities to both tourists and locals alike. As you walk in, be sure to look down and take note of the city plan below your feet. There are newspapers to browse for free to the left and people to help you with questions to the right. You can also get free wifi here. There is also an interesting glass model of the Sydney Opera House a few floors up and a fantastic restaurant on the top floor (although that is a bit pricey).

Borrow a book, read and relax with historic and welcoming surrounds, with free wifi; what else can I say? Sydney’s Customs house betrays its quarantine and civic past, but reinforces its welcoming and auspicious core. This is a place every office worker should visit for lunch. I have dozed off many times here in their comfortable leather seats, but only to feel refreshed and ready to charge through the rest of an afternoon.
Good custom is a Customs House.

A great large house of a museum nature (free to pop in anytime it is open) to come in and view (yet learn something) completely magical about Sydney and its origins. A great history lesson and photo exhibition (although not overly exciting) of Sydney; where the city came from to where it is today.
C = capitvating
U = unique
S = something special and serene
T = timely
O = original
M = magical in a sense
S = silent
H = homely
O = overly interesting
U = usually educational
S = stimulating
E = enticing

Customs house no longer functions as a Customs house for Sydney. It is now a free public space for Sydney siders and tourists. Although newly refurbished, It is a heritage site and one of the few historic buildings left in the city.
As you enter and take in the innovative space, do look down at the glass floor which encases Sydney in miniature form. The Sydney city or CBD is depicted with accurate models, from Circular Quay all the way to Central Station.
I love the library inside and it’s a great place to take off your killer heels and immerse yourself in the latest edition of Vogue or Cosmo. The library, spans 3 floors, and if you live in the City you can become a member for free.
There are exhibitions and events all year ’round. But the most popular event space has to be right outside the Customs House. There is always something magical happening in the forecourt and I recommend walking by Customs House daily to find out what’s on!

Caught in the rain /​heat /​cold around Circular Quay with a few minutes or hours to spare? Then this hidden gem is what you’re after.
This is really a library, but you don’t need to be a member to enter. There are tons of daily newspapers and magazines in the reading area in the foyer. There is also free, albeit slow, Wifi. I hear it may be faster on the upper levels.
You can also use the computers in the lobby for 2 AUD per 30 mins. And yes, there is a café /​restaurant.